Hello Arlene and Doves
I read the link in your 10, March, 2012 letter " for John and all Doves"
What about Ephraim ?
Dear sister
Much of this theology refering to the church as spiritual Ephraim is making it's way throughout the world, and it is NOT new.
It is a part of a dangerous teaching of replacement theology.God's plan for Israel is His plan for Israel in the last days. Many try to call the CHURCH spiritual Israel. Not so !
God said in Jeremiah 17:1 The sin of Judah is written with "a pen of Iron, and with a point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your alters;
God s promise to Israel to bring them back and restore them is happening NOW....and during the tribulation is where the tribes are sealed. If you study, you will see that Joseph was given a double portion at Jacob's time of blessing. (Above) the others.
The church is the church and Israel is Israel. God has a plan for both. The only time the TWO become ONE is when a Jew receives Jesus Christ as Messiah ! Then WE are ONE NEW MAN in Christ. The Jew is then called Complete.
I assure you I Have Ears to Hear, and Eyes to see.
Understand please that the grafting in of Jew and gentile is in the PERSON of JESUS CHRIST, and He is the ROOT and we are the branches; if we abide in him, He abides in us. He came unto His own and His own received Him not.
The gospel was given to the Jew first and THEN the gentile. The first gospel was preached by 12 Jewish men, born again in the spirit of Jesus Christ and through these have WE heard the gospel. Praise God !.
Never do WE THE CHURCH replace Israel in God's eyes and heart. Isreal will become the Head and not the Tail, during the 1000 yr reign of Christ here upon the earth. This is when Israel will go throughout the world preaching CHRIST, who IS ruling and reigning on His throne in His temple in Jerusalem. Israel must TURN back and receive Messiah ! They will , but this is the purpose for The Tribulation. Daniel's 70th week. This is also why when Christ comes " In His Glory" at the end of tribulation , The world, all nations and peoples will mourn ! Every eye shall see Him.
Tribulation / The book of Revelation; IS the revealing of The SON by The FATHER to the World. Israel's EYES are opened.
Ephraim is many nations of peoples, scattered throughout the world, but I believe according to my studies the the United States are a large part of Ephraim as well as Britan. Today Britan has greatly fallen away from the faith. America is also on its way to destruction, after the Rapture of the body of Christ/believers.
There are THREE members of the human Family
1. Gentiles
2. Jews
3. Christians
After the Rapture there will be no more christians, only sheep and goat nations, and jews = gentiles and Jews.
There were no Jews until Abraham, There were no Christians until the resurrection of Jesus Christ, There have ALWAYS been Gentiles from the beginning of creation. Adam was gentile. Men (were) counted righteous because they BELIEVED GOD, until the death, burial and resurrection , then the new creation / christian. We are a NEW creation, a New Man in Christ Jesus. We are promised to be LIKE Him.
Some study links
http://www.servantsnews.com/sn9705.htm
http://www.isralite.info/
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=h669
http://bible.org/seriespage/hosea
http://bible.cc/jeremiah/31-20.htm
http://www.hebroots.org/hebrootsarchive/twohouse.html
IS THE CHURCH EPHRAIM ?
http://www.lehigh.edu/~gdb0/simcha/ephraim.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhXWh4_hQfs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJl4t0mAkk&feature=related
Jeremiah 31:18
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child ? for since I spake gainst him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.
As Dan will have to say; " I have waited for thy salvation 'O Lord ", Ephraim will be gathered from the four winds.
Acts 17:11
II Timothy chapter 3
Blessings to you
KML