The physical nation of Israel to this day has preferred to be a part of the family of nations rather than a people holy unto the Lord. Physical Israel has suffered greatly because of this rebellion against the Lord. In our day some of the leaders of the nation of Israel are striving so hard to be accepted by the secular nations they are contradicting and blaspheming their own Scriptures rather than humbly trusting in their Lord. It gives us no pleasure to say that more trouble is heading toward physical Israel if this attitude continues.

The Christian people also in numerous instances have refused to keep themselves separate from the world and have attempted to be like the world and please the world. Great suffering is ahead for the Christian churches because they have lost their "salt."

In the day in which we are living, God once again is asking chosen individuals, both Jews and Gentiles, if they will consent to be His family, His special treasure among the nations. God wants His own people to be separate, holy unto Himself, continually lifting up holy hands and singing praises to Him. Whoever will yield to God will become a part of the faithful remnant that is being drawn from the multitude of Christian churches. The majority of "believers" already are becoming part of "Babylon the Great."

We are not advising people to leave their churches. Being separate to God is a condition of the heart. Perhaps the time will come when God's true elect will be forced from the "Christian" assemblies, but that time may not be here as yet.

The Pattern

The three thousand-or-so years from the birth of Christ to the judgment of the White Throne, that is, to the final phase of the Judgment Seat of Christ, may be considered as one period of redemption. The first two thousand years we are referring to as the Church Age and the final thousand years as the Kingdom Age.

The pattern of two thousand and then one thousand may be observed in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The volume of the Holy Place was two thousand cubic cubits. The volume of the Most Holy Place was one thousand cubic cubits.

The purpose of the Church Age is to call out the members of the royal priesthood from the ranks of mankind. The purpose of the Kingdom Age is to perfect the royal priesthood and to reconcile the saved nations of the earth to the Lord.

The thousand-year Kingdom Age (often referred to as the Millennium) is the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement observed by the Jews. We may term this period the Age of Reconciliation, because during this time the members of the Bride of the Lamb will be wholly reconciled to the Lamb, and the members of the saved nations will be reconciled to the rulership of God in Christ in His saints. The world will come to know that God has sent Christ and that He loves the saints as He loves the Lord Jesus.

I in them, and thou in me, they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)

To be continued.