Expert: Brian Thompson - 3/15/2006

Question
Answer -
Hi Bar

This is a deep subject but basicly you have answered your own question. Spiritual Israel is the Christian Church, so we are not waiting for Israel to convert but for the times of the gentiles to be fulfilled. Nevertheless  physical Israel is  God's time clock and he will fulfill all the things that were prophesied for them including the sealing of the 144,000. There are many messianic jews so I see no problem in this. Physical Israel remains today the catylist which will bring about that final battle in the land of Palistine .Jesus came first to Israel and then the message was carried to the world. First the physical, then the spiritual. It was always God's purpose that His message should be taken to the world but Israel became hung up on being the chosen people and kept it to themselves

The Bride of Christ is the Christian Church, unfortunately the Bride is far from ready

If Israel only knew that the promised land to the Jew, wasn't a piece of dirt, but a PERSON? HE was to be their *abiding Place*, their shelter from their enemies.....

She is not ready, because she is going under the impression that she is, *making herself ready*, by doing things * for God!* She doesn't even believe, that her purpose is to become, conformed, transformed, molded, and shaped into HIS IMAGE. She looks at her inability to be so, instead of at His ability to bring it about. She doesn't recognize the *goal, the mark of the High calling she has in Christ, which is CHRISTLIKENESS.

Ask a christian if it is attainable to walk in this life without sin, and the answer you get is *not likely*, but when Jesus comes....then.....!  Not even realizing that He is not going to sacrifice Himself again for the sake of sin, but that victory has already been won.

She has trouble beliveing the possibility, because she keeps looking at her failings, rather than His victory and how it is supplied.

Likened unto a snake whose head has been crushed, but the tail keeps wiggling. As long as one looks at the tail, they are led to believe the snake must still be alive. Instead of recognizing the crushed head demonstrates its' death.

Rev.19:7,8. ...for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Unfortunetly, the righteous deeds of the saints, are done by the will and strength and unction of the flesh, not that which is led of the Spirit. And only that which is led of the Spirit accounts for the fine linen... The bride thinks she is dressed in fine white linen, when it is in reality, that which HE said, "filthy rags!"

The bride needs a wakeup call, and it is about to take place...

My wife for years has asked what will it take to wake her up? And the answer is this simple....  "When one walks around the corner of a building, with a slingshot in hand, and is confronted with a sherman tank....a sudden realization that what one has, isn't sufficient takes place......"

The sherman tank/darkness is coming, and the betrothed with not only sufficient oil, but the source of the oil will survive...

Ya think?

Bar.

Answer
hi

Not sure where you are going with this, It depends on "what is a Christian". As far as I am concerned, a pentecostal Christian, it is a finished work, Christ paid the price, therefore I am under the covering of the blood. I don't need to strive to remain righteous, I am righteous because my righteousness is in Christ, not in my own efforts. If I have shortcomings, these must be yielded to God. Am I tempted, yes, do I stray, not often.

While ever parts of the Christian Church operates a system where people expect others to exercise a relationship on their behalf it will never be ready, but there are those who know differently, the wise virgins as it were. Bring on your sherman tank and I will show you my ICBM, my slingshot is bigger than your sherman tank.