In order to fully understand God’s Word to those who would spend eternity with Him we must realize that the entirety of the Holy Bible was written to, for and about Israel–God’s chosen people. The Bible mentions Gentiles (heathen) only when they 1) come into contact with Israel or 2) when they become one with Israel by embracing the God of Israel and obeying His Law–Genesis to Revelation. At that point they become spiritual Israelites. Many Scriptures prove this universally rejected Truth. The following are a few of those passages.

Matthew 10:6; 15:24–Here Jesus tells the apostles not to take His gospel to the Gentiles at that time, but to the “… lost (scattered) sheep of the House of Israel.” He then told them that He was sent ONLY to the “… lost sheep of the House of Israel.” Acts 1:6–Jesus has appeared to the apostles who asked Him if He would at that time restore the kingdom to ISRAEK. He replied that they were not to know the times or seasons involved in the restoration. Matthew 1:20,21–The angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph and told him that the child Mary was carrying would “save His people ISRAEL from their sins.” Luke 1:66-77–Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied of his son that he would go before the One Who had been sent by God to “… give to His people (ISRAEL) the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” Ephesians 2:11–The Apostle Paul reminded the biological Gentiles in the Ephesian church that, prior to coming to Jesus, they had all been (spiritual) Gentiles, living in the flesh. First Corinthians 12:2–Paul told Gentiles in the church that they were in time past (spiritual) Gentiles. The biological Gentiles in the early churches had to become spiritual Israelites in order to qualify for eternal life. Likewise, the Israelites, who had been spiritual Gentiles, had to become spiritual Israelites. Nothing has changed. Gentiles (Heb.- goyim–sinners) must repent, receive forgiveness of their past sins (receive justification) and walk as Jesus walked (Rev. 3:21) in obedience to God’s Law (Word/Truth) in order to qualify for salvation upon His return to earth. So also must Israelites, as the prophets and apostles repeatedly reminded their biological brethren. Jesus made this clear in John 15:13,14 where He said that He would die only for those who “… do whatsoever I command you to do.” He was speaking to the apostles at the time.

Gentiles become God’s people ONLY by doing whatsoever He tells them to do (obey the Bible). He said that the Words He spoke were given to Him by His Father. God dictated the entire Bible (Law). Jesus said that in order to receive salvation one must “… live by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEDES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD” (Mat. 4:4). God’s Words were spoken to the prophets, to Jesus and to the apostles by way of the Holy Spirit. This is revealed in 2 Timothy 3:14-16 where the Apostle Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is inspired (given via the Holy Spirit) ….” The prophets, Jesus and the apostles spoke and wrote God’s Words. Those Words would serve as instructions for the church at the end of the age (1 Cor. 10:11). In Ephesians 2:20 Paul said that the church was founded on the teachings of those prophets and apostles. We are told that we must live by faith. Salvation-providing faith comes only by believing the Word of God (Rom. 10:19) that was spoken and written by “holy men of old” (2 Pet. 1:21). What is written and believed must be obeyed. EVERYONE, WHETHER BIOLOGICAL ISRAELITE OR BIOLOGICAL GENTILE, MUST BELIEVE AND OBEY THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES IN ORDER TO BE SAVED. ALL MUST BECOME SPIRITUAL ISRAELITES BY WALKING AS JESUS WALKED UNTIL THE END (MAT. 10:22). THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

In about 96 A.D. we find the Apostle John confined on an island prison for preaching the Word of God. While there the Lord showed him a vision of what would take place later in the lives of God’s servants, His true saints. That vision concerning the time of the end is what is called The Apocalypse or Revelation. L.J.