The Revealing of the Bride and Her Identity
Israel as an Example
I believe there is a very important foundation that Paul spoke about in Israel being our example. I will share with you my study and you will be able to see what he meant and read the Bible through this important foundation. My eyes were opened once the Lord showed me that.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 NASB 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12
I. Israel as an Example - Insight
1. God Chose Israel as an example. What does it mean to be an example?
- The Lord leads us by example. Joh 13:15
"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
- Paul said to the Philippians to follow his example - there is only one way and one cross. Php 3:16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
Our Lord became poor for us.
2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich
Psa 44:22 No, but for Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [Rom. 8:35-39.]
The love that God expresses for Israel is an example for the love He expresses for all His children. God loves Israel and has written their names on His heart, and took their judgment upon Himself. This is exactly what our Lord did for us.
Exo 28:29 "Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 30 "You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.
Israel is His own forever:
2Sa 7:24 "For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.
Israel was chosen as a people of God, by God Almighty to be a vessel to bring God's Good News of Salvation to the gentiles (heathen) who were without hope or life.
Israel was chosen as an example for us, and their falling away happened to them as an example:
C. Paul speaks about Israel as being our example:
1Co 10:5-12 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
D. "Example" in Greek in Greek means: Τύπος túpos; Gen. túpou,
a. Figuratively of a person as bearing the form and figure of another, as having a certain resemblance in relations and circumstances (Rom_5:14).
b. A prototype, pattern.
c. Particularly of a pattern or model after which something is to be made (Act_7:44; Heb_8:5
Exo_25:40).
Exo_25:40).
d. A type as a model of some reality which was yet to appear, a prototype of that which was yet to be developed and evolved.
e. The outline or archetype or model of some reality which was yet to appear was called túpos.
f. Deriv.: antítupon (G499), that which corresponds to a type, which represents the real thing; entupóō
2. What was Paul saying about Israel?
A. Israel was chosen as a mirror, a prototype, a pattern, a model that represents the "real thing" meaning the real people of God born in the Spirit.
B. Israel was chosen to represent a reality which was yet to come with the people of God (the Redeemed ones).
C. Israel was chosen as an example for the people of God, the chosen ones, the ones born of Him whose calling is to be a light to the nations.
D. Israel's calling was to be a vessel for God's will plan and purpose to manifest on the Earthly realm exactly like in the Heavenly realm.
E. Israel's calling was to show us who we are and be our mirror
F. This is YOUR calling as well – to be an example of our Heavenly Father and ambassadors of His heart here on earth as it is in heaven.
3. Israel reflects YOU as a mirror, however the earthly IS NOT to be replaced with the Heavenly.
A. I have to make it clear that spiritual Israel DOES NOT replace physical Israel and vice versa. Physical Israel is NOT spiritual Israel and the natural land is not the inheritance of spiritual Israel. In other words, the Promised Land spiritual Israel received is heavenly Zion where we dwell now. It is the Lord who is our Inheritance. It is His Promised Heart which He gave us as our Inheritance.
B. The natural is a picture and a type of the true nation of God and therefore they cannot replace one another or be one until Earth becomes like Heaven, and God's true children are revealed on Earth in the natural as it is in the spiritual.
C. As Spiritual Israel we inherit all the blessings of Israel, because Israel is a mirror of who Spiritual Israel is. We inherit all the promises, but also the warnings of God for our earthly flesh.
D. God uses natural Israel to reveal to us the true things of the Spirit.
a. Israel shows us who we are, and what we will go through in our walk with the Lord, how to follow the Lord on our way to the Promised Land, the process of sanctification, the sins of our flesh with its pride, blindness, abominations, wickedness, lust, impurity, division, stubbornness, rebellion and unfaithfulness, the falling away of our forefathers, and our religious practices.
b. God also reveals to us His love for His bride, His faithfulness, compassion, grace, power, might and miracles.
Israel as Our Mirror - Insight
1. Knowing Israel's assignment will help us to understand our spiritual and physical reality. It will open our eyes to understand WHO WE ARE as a nation.
Israel had already been there; fought against the same enemies you are fighting today, going through the same wilderness, executions, persecutions, hatred, sanctification, pits, sins, and death of the flesh.
We saw that God called Israel to be a chosen people for His own possession because He loves them, and because He keeps His promises to their forefathers.
But what were they chosen for?
What were they supposed to do?
What does it mean to be a chosen people?
We know in the word that to be CHOSEN means to be ready to die to self. It means to follow the Lord, submit to Him, obey His voice, worship and serve Him alone, to be consecrated, devoted, trusted, loyal, be ready to be changed and transformed. It is to change the mind, thought life, ways, habits, customs, traditions, and everything about ourselves, or who God is.
When we follow God we are being transformed, renewed, changed, we become a new creation. When we are chosen, we know today we will be persecuted, afflicted, hated, crushed, broken, be put low, and die.
2Ti 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted"
This is part of what Israel was chosen for.
Israel as a nation did go through persecution, famine, distress, sword, and nakedness, being scattered, being in exile, away from the Lord, being crushed and almost annihilated several times in history. . The enemy has been trying to destroy Israel from the day he knew that the seed of the woman will crush his head.
We know that spiritual truth that we all suffer persecution as God's chosen people not for ourselves, but for others. (Rom 8:35) "for your sake we are being put to death all day long"
The Lord is our example and we follow in His way. Everything He went through on earth, we will go through as well. (2Co 8:9) (Col 1:24) (Psa 44:22)
Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations (heathen) and shine God's love, light, truth, laws, statutes, precepts, righteousness, God's ways to a dark world so earth can be like heaven "on earth as it is in heaven".
God wants earth to be like heaven, and He first chose Israel for the task.
But there is much more than just to be a light to the heathen. There is a deeper meaning of what God chose Israel for.
God chose Israel for a very difficult assignment and calling. They were chosen as an example. They were chosen to reflect to us today who we are in the Lord.
Israel was chosen as a role model, as a mirror, as an exact prototype of us today. God gave them to the world as Paul expressed it "as examples for us" and he said "these things happened to them as an example and they were written for our instruction" (1Co 10:5-12)
Do we understand that this was their assignment? This is our assignment as well.
Do we understand that everything they went through in the physical was in order to show us what we will go through in the spiritual?
Do you understand why Joseph went ahead of his brothers so God can save a remnant from them?
Israel was chosen as a type, a model of the reality which was about to come – this is us, the spiritual nation of the Lord. They were sent ahead so the Lord can bring His other fold in. This is the spiritual reality we live in today.
God chose Israel so we will benefit from His great plan of Salvation.
We should be thankful to Israel as our firstborn brother, the first born in the flesh who open the womb and makes it ready for all the other children to be born. Israel is the firstborn in the flesh who prepares the way for the others to be born.
Some of us know what it means to be a first born. The burden, the new doors you open and make it easier for your siblings to enter.
2. Israel was chosen as a pattern to reveal to us:
A. Who we used to be (slaves to sin, worshipers of Baal (other husband), enemies of God, rebellious, selfish, wicked, impure, dead spirits)
B. Who we are today – wife, bride, beloved, friends, children, priests, lambs, brothers, ONE united body of the Lord, Nation devoted to God (Holy), no longer Gentiles, citizens of Heaven, ambassadors, disciples, family, the redeemed, dead to ourselves, alive in Messiah.
C. What happened to us - we were in bondage, working for Satan, God gave us grace and bought us by His blood. He brought us Home.
D. How to follow the Way (Yeshua) in the wilderness on Earth.
E. What will happen to us on the Way to the Promised Land
F. Who are our enemies who will come against us.
G. How to go to war.
H. How to deal with our enemies.
I. What it means to fall short from the glory of God
J. How it feels to be in the pit, in darkness, low, separated from God.
K. How to come out of the pit.
L. Repentance, humility, brokenness (Lamentations, Psalm).
M. Worship and praise.
N. Serving God as priests. – Commitment, faithfulness, obedience
O. Righteousness and justice.
P. How to approach God.
Q. How to be victorious.
R. How to die.
3. I believe that we will not fully understand or know who we are as the body of the Lord unless we look at Israel as our mirror. I truly believe that understanding the assignment of Israel will also help us deepen our relationship and our walk with the Lord.
We need to ask the Lord to open our eyes to see, and give us wisdom and understanding to discern where we are at and what are the things to come.
Who are we? Let us look at Israel and know a little bit who we are.
The Mirror reflects the Truth – Insight
Looking at Israel as a nation will help us discern and know the spiritual state of the Lord's body (Church). Israel is our example and every thing she is going through is an example of what is happening in the spirit realm.
1. The gathering of the Jewish people back to the Promised Land. – is the time of the gathering of the REMNANT to the Lord from the four corners of the Earth.
2. The building of a nation in a day – the Lord focuses on the True Bride taking her OUT OF the world after many generations of being scattered in the world. The true and the false bride lived together, however this was a time for the revealing of the Lord's nation.
3. The division between different religious groups in Israel – the division and strife in the body of the Lord with many different denominations.
4. The small group that believes in Yeshua as the Messiah in the Jewish people – is a reflection of the remnant from the spiritual Israel who will turn to the Lord.
5. The security problems – being attacked by the enemy, losing our kingdom.
6. The enemies – Iran, Muslims, Palestinians – reflect our spiritual enemies and how we do not know how to deal with them.
7. Economical state – poverty, homeless, unemployment in the body.
8. Social state – a divided society that struggles to live, only united in times of trouble.
9. Educational state – have knowledge and wisdom of the world. The children are not lead to God.
10. Spiritual state – a minority is truly seeking God. Most people know about God and have no relationship with Him. The nation is run by religion. Each religious group believes they hold the truth. Many false prophets, witchcraft and abominations. Many pagan worshippers.
Any area in Israel's life as a nation reflects the Lord's body – spiritual Israel.
11. The "incidents" with neighboring enemies and the verbal threats of Iran to eliminate Israel from the face of the Earth – is prophetic about the threats of Satan to eliminate the body of the Lord.
12. Jerusalem in the hands of the enemy when the state was established – the existence of the bride but her captivity in the hands of the enemy.
13. The release of Jerusalem in 1967 from the hands of the enemy - the bride is being built and is no longer in the hands of the enemy.
14. Jerusalem the BrideI believe that natural Jerusalem being in the hands of the enemy is an example and a prototype of the spiritual Jerusalem being captured by the enemy.
When the Jewish people came back to the land of Israel and a nation was built in a day, Jerusalem was not in their hands yet.
The nation (as one people) was in the process of being built as God has been gathering the people from the four corners of the Earth.
15. The bible says that not all Israel are Israel. Meaning, many had been gathered to the nation but it does not mean they are all Israel. This truth is true in the flesh but also in the Spiritual Israel. A nation was formed in a day but Jerusalem (the bride Rev 21:9) was still in the hands of the enemy.
16. Jerusalem was captured by the Jewish people in 1967, but it is still divided into four quarters. Only one quarter is Jewish. All the other three are the Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters. Jerusalem was free to be built and restored again, but she is not fully in the hands of the Jewish people yet. Four religions are still having control over the bride – Islam at her heart, Judaism, Armenian and religious Christianity.
17. Jerusalem is surrounded and controlled by religion. Even the Jewish quarter is in the hands of the religious people. Spiritual Jerusalem is still religious and needs to be free.
18. Jerusalem in the natural is in the process of being rebuilt and much disputes and fights are over who will control her. The bride is wanted by the different religions, and she is still in the process of being rebuilt. Her true identity in the eyes of the world was lost but will be revealed in the last days.
19. The Jewish quarter is divided between religious and non religious neighborhoods. – the bride is also divided between Protestants and Catholics.
20. Until this day the Muslim shrine stands right at the heart of Jerusalem where the Temple of God stood on the Temple mount. The city expanded beyond her walls and new neighborhoods are being built – Many were added to the bride beyond her walls, and in the heart of the city there is still a foreign temple. The bride's heart is still in the hands of the enemy.
The physical is a manifestation of the spiritual.
Summary
1. Abraham and the Birth of a Nation - "And I will make you a great nation." (Gen 12:2)
2. God made the nation of Israel as an Example for us.
Israel was chosen as a mirror, a prototype, a pattern, a model that represents the "real thing" meaning the real people of God born in the Spirit. Israel was chosen to represent a reality which was yet to come with the people of God (the Redeemed ones).
Israel was chosen as an example for the people of God, the chosen ones, the first born of the Spirit, born of Him and called to be a light to the nations (heathen). A calling to be a vessel for God's will plan and purpose to manifest here on Earth exactly like in Heaven.
This is YOUR calling as well.
Part of Israel's calling was to show the bride of the Lord who she is and be our mirror.
Prayer
I pray the Lord will reveal to His beloved Bride her true identity – who she really is. That she will be able to see herself through His eyes and who He says she is. That true will be revealed and as we find who the Lord is for us, we will be able to see who we are in Him. Lord, reveal Your glory, Your image, Your true identity to us, so the sons of God will find who they are and be revealed. Thank you Father for revealing Your Son to us. We love You, Your heart and who You are in our lives.
God bless you,
Elana Polinger
No comments:
Post a Comment