The "sheep" the Lord has separated out do not enter the Kingdom as we do. We of the Church are the royal priesthood. We have the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit. We will bring the Holy Spirit to those of the nations whom Christ has chosen to save into His Kingdom. The "sheep" are so named because they have assisted the Lord's brothers when the brothers were in prison, or sick, or cold, or in need of some kind. On this basis they are ushered into the Kingdom of God, that is, into the spiritual blessing provided by the Lord's brothers.

The spiritual principle is, whatever an individual does for a disciple in need, he or she is doing this for the Lord Jesus Himself. And whatever he does for the Lord Jesus he is doing for the God of Heaven.

For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined. (Isaiah 60:12—NIV)

The above verse means the nation that will not assist God's elect, His Israel, will be destroyed by the Lord.

One of the harmful errors of the philosophy of Dispensationalism is that it prevents us from seeing the Church in the proclamations of the Prophets of Israel. Peter tells us that the Prophets were speaking about us, and so they are!

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (I Peter 1:12—NIV)

God's Israel is one, from Abraham through to the last individual, Jewish or Gentile, that God brings into the Olive Tree. The Olive Tree, the Seed of Abraham, is Jesus Christ. Those who become part of Christ are the Seed of Abraham, whether Jewish or Gentile by physical birth.

Whenever the Prophets spoke of the Messianic Kingdom they were telling us what is eternally true of Christ and all who are part of Christ.

The sixtieth chapter of the Book of Isaiah, when it speaks of the nations serving Israel, is referring to the new Jerusalem. It certainly is not true that the nations are serving physical Israel today. The reference is to the nations serving God's elect in the time to come.

Notice the following:

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. (Revelation 21:22-26—NIV)

To be continued.