For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
WESLEY BARNARD
The view that Israel and the ‘ekklēsia’ are different is clearly taught in the OT and NT. Biblically speaking, the ‘ekklēsia’ is completely different and distinct from the 12 Tribes of Israel, and the two are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture that the ‘ekklēsia’ is an entirely new creation that came into being ‘before the foundation of the world’ inside of the Messiah and will continue until ‘she’ is taken back to heaven at the rapture (Ephesians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
This ‘ekklēsia’ is easily identified in both the OT and NT as ‘the saints, the anointed, the ancient ones, the firstborn, the remnant, the first fruits, the chosen elect, the called, the sanctified, the bride or the body of the Messiah, etc. At Revelation 7:1-9 they are numbered as 144,000, with 12,000 out of ‘all the tribes of the children of Israel.’
The ‘ekklēsia’ has no relationship to the curses and blessings for Israel, although when sent to earth, they are born ‘in sin’ as descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and suffer along with Israel during her enslavements, thus requiring the process of ‘quickening, redeeming, cleansing and enlightenment’ in preparation for their marriage to the Messiah. (Eph 2:1-10) The covenants, promises, and warnings are valid only for Israel.
Israel has been temporarily abandoned in Jah's program during these past 2000 years of dispersion and enslavement because of idolatry. However, after serving a 400-year sentence of enslavement and oppression in America, their ‘curses’ are transferred to her enemies. (Genesis 15:13, 14; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Deuteronomy 30:1-7)
The first event at this time is the ‘great tribulation’ (Matthew 24:21, 22; Revelation chapters 6-19). That ‘great tribulation’ has begun, the Messiah has returned to the earth invisibly, but manifesting his presence through ‘the remnant’ of the ‘ekklēsia’ on earth today. The world is currently being judged for rejecting the Messiah and the ‘remnant’ of the ‘ekklēsia’ on earth are announcing the ‘return’ of the Messiah, but few can ‘hear.’ Meanwhile, Israel is being prepared through the trials of the ‘great tribulation’ and the pleadings of the ‘remnant’ to receive their ‘quickening’ in recognition of the ‘second coming of the Messiah.’ These developments are in process today.
After the ‘ekklēsia’ return to heaven, (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Jah will restore Israel as the primary focus of His purpose. The Gentiles will have to seek their salvation through the Messiah of the tribe of Judah. Recall, ‘the Jew first, then the Gentiles?’ The Israelites which have been scattered all over the earth survive the ‘great tribulation’ and will be saved.
Then Jah will establish His kingdom on this earth with Jerusalem as its capital and the Messiah reigning as King, Israel will be the leading nation, and representatives from all nations will come to Jerusalem to honor the King, Yahshua HaMashiach. The ‘ekklēsia’ will return with the Messiah and reign with him for a literal thousand years (Revelation 20:1-5).
Both the OT and the NT support a premillennial understanding of Jah's purpose for Israel. Even so, the strongest support for premillennialism is found in the clear teaching of Revelation 20:1-7, where it says six times that the Messiah’s kingdom will last 1000 years to conduct the final stages of cleansing the earth – the imprisonment of Satan, the resurrection and education of the dead, the release of Satan, who culls the earth of the rebellious, their total destruction in the ‘lake of fire’ and at last, things have been brought back into order and Jah’s original purpose for the earth has been restored (Daniel 12:1-3).