It is obvious from the above that there will be nations and kingdoms that serve God's Israel, and that those nations and kingdoms are not lost but saved. However, they are not Israel, not the Church.

Let us think for a moment about the current Christian teaching that the Church is a spiritual kingdom destined to abide in Heaven while the writings of the Hebrew Prophets have to do with an earthly Israel. If this doctrine is true our model is incomplete.

If the current teaching is true, the government of the Kingdom of God will be divided into two parts: (1) a heavenly government made up of the members of the Church, the Body of Christ; and (2) an earthly government consisting of the nation of Israel—the Jews by race.

It is our point of view that the doctrine of the Church being a heavenly government while the Jews by race constitute an earthly government is incorrect and introduces chaos into one's thinking concerning the Kingdom of God.

It seems to us that there hardly could be a doctrine more confusing, more destructive of sound biblical interpretation, than the concept that the Lord Jesus Christ has two brides, two bodies, two kingdoms; and that there will be two comings of the Lord, one for His heavenly bride and one to His earthly bride.

The Apostles Paul and Peter were Jews by race and yet members of the Church. Are Paul and Peter part of a spiritual government in Heaven or are Paul and Peter part of the future government of Israel on the earth?

Think about the following passage:

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)

It does not seem reasonable that the Apostles of the Lamb would be ruling over Jews on the earth while the "Gentile Church," which is the fruit of their teaching, would be living in bliss in the spirit Paradise. Do you agree?

According to the Lord Jesus, one cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God until he has been born again (John 3:3,5). Being born again makes one a member of the Church, the Body of Christ; for it is Christ who is born in us.

How can any teacher of the Scriptures seriously hold the concept that there will be a nation of Jews on the earth who never have been born again and yet who are in the Kingdom of God?

Or are there two kingdoms?

To our knowledge, the Scriptures never, in any instance, speak of two kingdoms. There is one King, one Lord, one Kingdom, one Israel of God, one Wife of the Lamb, one holy city, one fold, one Shepherd.

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Jews and Gentiles] one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)

"One new man."

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

To be continued.