Before justice can prevail on the earth the sin and rebellion must be removed from it. The sin and rebellion will be removed at the hands of Christ and His mature saints. Christ—Head and Body—is the Servant of the Lord announced in the Book of Isaiah. Another name for Christ—Head and Body—is Israel.

Before Israel can return with the Lord and establish justice on the earth, each member of Israel must be built up in the Head to full maturity—full maturity as measured by the fullness of Christ. Then and only then can Israel, the royal priesthood, return with the Lord.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

The Scriptures, Old and New Testament, are written primarily to God's Israel. When the Lord Jesus came to earth He did not come to the world but to Israel. He came to the children of Abraham that they might become oaks of righteousness.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)

The Old Testament Prophets addressed Israel primarily:

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1)

For the most part, the Word of God is directed toward those who are of true Israel, both Jews and Gentiles, not toward those who are not of Zion.

The coming of Christ was to the Jews:

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Luke 2:34)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

The warnings in the Gospel accounts are to the Lord's servants:

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12)

The term Christ means "the One anointed with oil." The Lord Jesus was anointed with the Spirit of God to build up Israel until each member is strong in the Lord, living in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees [oaks] of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion"! Not in the world but in Zion! We are emphasizing this because the churches often view their responsibility as that of saving and delivering the world. The Lord has His sheep and they know His voice. We show our love for the Lord when we feed His sheep, that is, the members of the royal priesthood.

To be continued.