THE GATES OF NEW JERUSALEM PROVE THAT GENTILE CHRISTIANS ARE NOW KNOWN AS THE ISRAEL OF GOD AND THAT THE 7TH DAY SABBATH IS FOR US TOO

There is a very plain Biblical truth that the majority of churches and professed Christians in this world completely miss. This truth is so clearly spelled out in God's Word that anyone with eyes to see will see it, which is what we will seek to do on this page and share it in a plain, simple way for all to see. Now many churches today teach that the literal nation of Israel is still God's special chosen nation and that there is a distinction between the nation of Israel and Gentile Christians. For instance, the 7th day Sabbath, they say, is only for the Jews, but Gentile Christians do not need to keep the 7th day Sabbath. Thus they make a clear distinction between Gentile Christians and the nation of Israel. But is this what God does too? No. And we will show you this from the Bible. Now the book of Revelation shares something very interesting regarding this topic, look:

Revelation 21:10-12 ...'And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.'

Do you see? All of the gates to New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel!

Now how do you think us Gentile Christians are going to enter New Jerusalem? Does the Bible say there are gates for the Jews and another gate for Gentile Christians? No. Revelation doesn't reveal any other way into New Jerusalem apart from those twelve gates. The only way into New Jerusalem is through one of those gates, and what names do the twelve gates bear? The names of the twelve tribes of Israel. So ALL the redeemed, whether Jew or Gentile will enter into New Jerusalem through one of those gates. There is no 'back entrance' for the Gentile Christians. We ALL pass through those gates. The question is, why will all Gentile Christians pass through a gate bearing the name of a tribe of Israel? It is because we ALL become part of Israel through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:26 ...'But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.'

Who is Jerusalem above the mother of? ALL of the redeemed and we will ALL pass through those gates bearing the names of the tribes of Israel, because that is what we become part of in Christ - Israel. The problem is, most churches and professed Christians don't understand what the name 'Israel' actually signifies. They just apply it to the literal nation of Israel and miss the all important spiritual application of it. As we know, it was Jacob whom God gave the name 'Israel' to, look:

Genesis 32:24-28 ...'And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but ISRAEL: FOR as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.'

Do you see why Jacob was renamed 'Israel'? Because he OVERCAME his sin against Esau and Prevailed with God. The meaning of the name 'Jacob' is 'supplanter' and 'deceiver.' This matched his character as we know from the story of Jacob deceiving Esau and Isaac to gain the birthright. But through his time of trouble when Esau was coming to see him, Jacob 'wrestled' with the angel, repented of his sin and overcame. Thus his name was changed to 'Israel', which means 'to contend with God and OVERCOME.'

This also applies to Gentile Christians who overcome through faith in Christ, which is why Jesus' letters to the 7 churches in Revelation all end with a message of overcoming, and which is why we ALL enter New Jerusalem under the names of the twelves tribes of ISRAEL.

This truth that we all become part of the Israel of God, is so clear from the New Testament. Not Israel of the flesh, but the TRUE Israel of God, as God does not regard the flesh, or of what 'stock' you were born, but rather that you are BORN AGAIN in the Spirit. Look at the very clear words the apostle Paul spoke regarding this:

Romans 11:17 ...'And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert GRAFTED IN AMONG THEM, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree.'

1 Corinthians 12:13 ...'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.'

Galatians 3:28-29 ...'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.'

Could the apostle Paul make it any clearer? No, it could not be clearer than this! We Gentiles are grafted in among Israel. We are baptized into ONE BODY, whether Jew or Gentile. We are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. And this was God's plan all along. To have one body of people, holy and set apart for Him and the cross of Christ brought this into effect. There is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile as Paul so clearly confirmed in Galatians 3 above. Through Christ and faith in His atoning work, we ALL become ONE BODY in Him - the Israel of God. Which is why we ALL pass through the gates to New Jerusalem bearing the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. We are ALL the Israel of God!

Is there any difference between Israel and Christians in God's eyes? No. It is only the world that puts a difference between Israel and Christians due to very faulty theology. Time and time again God called His people "Israel" all throughout the Bible. Matthew 2:6 is just one of many examples. But what did God promise in Hosea 2:23? That "I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people; and they shall say, thou art my God." The apostle Peter also confirmed this in 1 Peter 2:10 saying, "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God." This is speaking of the Gentiles who would become the 'people of God.' And who are the 'people of God'? ISRAEL. Do you see this? Whether Jew or Gentile, in Christ we are THE PEOPLE OF GOD - Israel. Which is why we ALL pass through those gates bearing the names of Israel.

John 10:16 ...'And other sheep I have, which are not of THIS FOLD: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD, and one shepherd.'

What 'fold'? Israel. So if there was to be 'one fold', and Gentiles are 'grafted in' among Israel and we all become 'ONE in Christ Jesus', 'baptized into ONE BODY', then what do we ALL become through Christ? ISRAEL! A people who 'contend with God and overcome' through faith! This is what 'Israel' means.

The apostle Paul was a 'Hebrew of Hebrews' (Philippians 3:5) and yet he knew that simply being a Jew of the flesh meant NOTHING in the eyes of God. Paul told us in Romans 2:11 that "there is no respect of persons with God." So much so that there are actually TWO Israel's today. Did you know that? There is the Israel of the flesh which means nothing with God, and there is the TRUE spiritual Israel which means everything to God. Look:

Romans 2:28-29 ...'For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.'

Romans 9:6-8 ...'Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.'

Wow! Do you see this plain truth? A Jew who is a Jew merely of the flesh, by descent, is NOT a true Jew in God's eyes. Look at what Paul said. "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." In other words, they are not all TRUE spiritual Israel of God which are of the literal nation of Israel. TWO Israels! One of the flesh which is nothing in the sight of God. And one in heart and spirit - those who are truly converted in Christ - which is everything in the sight of God. These are TRUE Israel and this applies to ALL, 'whether Jew or Gentile', for we are 'ALL ONE in Christ Jesus' and 'baptized into ONE BODY.'

We have a page - THE ISRAEL DECEPTION, WHO IS TRUE ISRAEL TODAY? - which goes much more indepth into this.

The 7th day Sabbath has everything to do with this. Not only was the 7th day Sabbath 'made FOR MANKIND' as Jesus confirmed in Mark 2:27, we also know that the 7th day Sabbath was instituted at creation week BEFORE there was any sin in the world and BEFORE there were any Jews. God confirmed the 7th day Sabbath in the 4th commandment, pointing back to creation week in that commandment, linking the 4th commandment with creation week, NOT the Jews. With this truth in mind, God did also say that the Sabbath would be a 'sign' or 'seal' between Him and His people 'Israel.' Sadly, most churches today believe the Sabbath was a 'sign' between God and the literal nation of Israel only. Take a look at the following quote from a popular Evangelical ministry in America:

"Are you a child of one of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel from the Old Testament? That's super-important because the sabbath, which God repeatedly tells Moses is a 'sign between me and the children of Israel', is not given to anyone who is not a child of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. If you answered yes, congrats! You may continue with the test. If you answered no, game over, you're definitely not a biblical sabbath keeper because you don't qualify. Sorry."

I haven't given the source for the quote because I'm just not prepared to send people to a website that promotes gross error. But the above quote is typical of what Sunday keeping Christians believe. As you can see from the above quote, they believe you have to be a Jew of the flesh to 'qualify' to keep the 7th day Sabbath and that the Sabbath for 'Christians' is now Sunday. Thus they separate (** and please understand that point **) they SEPARATE Christians and the Israel of God. But is this in accordance with what we have clearly shown you above from the New Testament? No. Now take a look at what Paul, the 'Hebrew of Hebrews' says: PLEASE read this carefully!

Ephesians 2:11-22 ...'Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.'

Oh I hope and pray you can see the amazing truth above! Can you see the difference between the theology of the churches today and the Bible? The churches today separate Israel and Christians, whereas the Bible makes us ONE. That 'wall of separation' has been 'broken down.' Us Gentiles were once 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel', but now in Christ we are 'fellowcitizens with the saints and household of God.' In other words, we are now GRAFTED in and have become the ISRAEL OF GOD - part of the 'fold' that Christ spoke about above. Also, did you know that in Revelation 21:14 it says that the foundations of New Jerusalem bear the names of the twelve apostles? And what did Paul say above? That Gentiles and Jews IN CHRIST are ONE BODY, built upon the 'foundation of the apostles and prophets.' And we ALL walk through the twelve gates that bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, because we are ALL one body and one Israel of God TOGETHER!

So yes, as Exodus 31:12-17 confirms, the 7th day Sabbath is a 'sign' between God and HIS PEOPLE Israel forever. And as we have learned in this study, we ALL become Israel through Christ. Therefore the 7th day Sabbath is also for us Gentile Christians. It is a 'sign' that we acknowledge God as our creator, ruler and redeemer and to HIM alone we give our allegiance. It is a sign that we have become part of that 'one fold', the 'commonwealth of Israel.' This is why the 7th day Sabbath will also be kept throughout all eternity on the new earth as Isaiah confirmed:

Isaiah 66:22-23 ...'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.'

As you can see, this is dealing with the new earth, and we will keep the Sabbath on the new earth forever. Yes, we will also go to worship God every new moon, or every month, because as Revelation 22:2 confirms, the tree of life bears her fruit EVERY MONTH. Now tell me this. Will Jews who have been saved go to worship God on a different Sabbath to Gentile Christians who have been saved on the new earth? Of course not. We will go to worship God on the SAME Sabbath day. So why on earth would God CHANGE the Sabbath for Christians after the cross and then CHANGE it back again so that we all keep the same Sabbath day on the new earth? That makes no sense whatsoever! But when you see the truth that we Gentile converts become part of Israel and that Christ never changed or did away with the Sabbath, then you realise that the 7th day Sabbath is for us Gentiles also TODAY. And this is why we ALL walk through the twelve gates of New Jerusalem bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. We ALL become part of the Israel of God in Christ.

So, going back to the statement from that Christian ministry above. Am I a child of one of the twelve tribes of literal Israel of the flesh from the Old Testament? No. But that means nothing to God. Am I a child of the TRUE Israel of God through faith in Jesus Christ and are now part of the same body and commonwealth with the TRUE Israel of God? Yes! Then the 7th day Sabbath IS for me!

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES into the city" (Revelation 22:14). What gates? The twelve gates bearing the names of the twelve tribes of ISRAEL.

1 John 5:3 ...'For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.'

Revelation 14:12 ...'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

For more studies regarding Israel and the true Sabbath day of God, please see our following pages:

THE ISRAEL DECEPTION - WHO IS TRUE ISRAEL TODAY?

DID THE APOSTLES CHANGE THE SABBATH TO SUNDAY?

SUNDAY CHURCHES MISS THIS KEY POINT OF FAITH REGARDING SABBATH

A TREE, A RIVER AND THE SABBATH - DOES IT MATTER WHICH DAY?