Part 3 – Two Kinds of Sheep

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Two Israels and “the Body of Christ”.

In considering the two Biblical Israels, we need to note two kinds of sheep among the Nation Israel when Jesus began to minister to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (cf. Rom. 15:8). Jesus referred to “other sheep I have” in John 10:16 (below). This phrase refers to the believing “remnant” of Israel who believed to received Jesus. These are Jews who came “out” of the “fold” of unbelieving National Israel, by the grace of God’s “election” and faith in Jesus, the Nazarene. These were among the first of Jesus’ little flock” of sheep that heard and followed Jesus as their “One Shepherd.”

9I (Jesus) am the door: by me if any man (of Israel) enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go IN and OUT, and find ‘pasture10 I am come that they (those of Israel) might have life (Zoë, spirit-life), and that they might have it more abundantly. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling (works for money), and careth NOT for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine….  16And OTHER sheep I have,’ which are not of this FOLD (Gk., aule, a pen, then Apostate Israel): them also I must bring, and they shall ‘hear my voice;’ and there shall be one fold (Gk., poinme, one FLOCK), and ‘one shepherd.” (John 10:9-16)

The FOLD (v16 above): A “fold” is an animal stock pen where stray sheep or animals were held until their rightful owner came to claim them. Jesus referred to Apostate Israel as that ‘pen.’ Jesus said he was the door in and out of the fold or pen (v9 above). Yes, the Godhead established Israel as the fold or pen to hold His people separate from the pagan Gentile world… until Jesus, the Messiah, would come as the Great Shepherd to lead them “out.”

So, Israel had been called of God but had consistently rejected God by killing His prophets during the Old Testament. Yet, a small number of Israelites did receive John the Baptist’ baptism of repentance and his “Kingdom at hand” message as Jesus’ forerunner, and then the same message of the Kingdom “at hand” from Jesus Himself… so these believers came “out” of Apostate Israel.

We should note that John 10 follows John 9 where we read that the blind man received his sight by Jesus healing him. The result for this blind man who received his sight was to be “cast out” by Israel’s religious leaders (cf. Jn. 9:34). I can personally relate to being “cast out” of religion’s Christian folds. Each time, in my walk with Christ, I received greater light on His word and leading for me, I too have been cast out of the Christian organizations of men. That’s why in the past 50 years I have been a Baptist, I’ve been a Pentecostal, I was one who helped found an independent church, and I participated in yet another independent church… only to be “cast out” of all these manmade Christian ‘folds.’ Since 1998 I am content to simply be a member of His invisible church, which is “the body of Christ,” following Him who leads me from within and by His word.

Sadly, the so-called ‘right hand of fellowship’ that accepts you into religion’s ‘folds’ often become ‘the left foot of disfellowship’ when your following of the Lord comes into conflict with the hierarchy of religion. Being cast out may be the lot for many of those today come to “see” the truth of Paul’s mystery gospel of “Christ in you” as the all-sufficient life supply for the members of “His body.” So, we today recognize that just as there was the true remnant of Israel within National Israel there today are the true members of His body within the religious church organizations of men, of Christendom.

The FLOCK:  It’s important to note an important translating error for the 2nd mentioning of the word “fold” in verse 16. It was incorrectly translated as “fold” (a stock pen). The Greek “poinme” actually means “a FLOCK.” Those of this “flock” are the sheep of Jesus’ “little Flock” who will receive “the Kingdom.”

Fear not, ‘little flock’; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Jesus spoke of two (2) kinds of Israelite “sheep” in His John 10 parable.

  1. Jesus said some sheep will not hear His voice, and
  2. there are those sheep who “hear (His) voice” (v16), and “follow” Him (v 16).

The record is clear that the vast majority of the sheep in the “fold” of the Nation Israel did not hear and receive Jesus – rather, they called for killing Him by Roman crucifixion! These who rejected Him were Israel’s leaders who, as Jesus said by parable, would essentially be saying; “we will not have this man (Jesus) to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). Apostate National Israel rejected Israel’s God-sent Savior, King, and His Kingdom, thus they did not become part of Jesus’ “other sheep” (v16) who make up Jesus’ “little flock” who would co-reign with Jesus in His coming kingdom on earth (Rev. 5:10, 20:6). Jesus said: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

Please note that none of these “sheep” have anything to do with the mainly Gentile “church… the body of Christ.” Jesus of Nazareth said He had come to address “the lost sheep of the house of IsraelONLYnot the Gentiles (Matt. 15:24). All that He spoke concerned Israel. Jesus identified His followers that came out of National Israel, as His “little flock.” Apostate Israel is not Jesus’ “flock” and neither is “the body of Christ” His “little flock,” as so many Christians wrongly assume.

The words “little flock” refers only to Jesus’ believing sheep who became united in following their One Shepherd.” I picture a flock-life of these sheep in the open green pasture” (Jn. 10:9) beside the still waters” of the 23rd Psalm, secure in following their “One Shepherd” who cared for them! By contrast, I view the sheep in the “fold” as captive sheep, eating dry straw and barely existing, and under “the hireling (paid worker)” who “careth not for the sheep” (Jn. 10:13).

In summary;

  1. The fallen Apostate Nation of Israel held the sheep of the fold, choosing not to receive Jesus.
  2. The “other sheep” are Jesus’ believing “remnant” called the “little flock.” They received Him and became the remnant (of Israel) …  according to election” (below). These are His “elect,” who will ultimately serve Him in His Kingdom on earth. This believing “remnant” of Israel still existed at the very same time as the new Gentile church, “the body of Christ,” during the book of Acts.

Even so then at this present time (the time of Paul’s writing was around Acts 20) also there is a remnant (of Israel) according to the election of grace…  7What then? (Apostate) Israel hath NOT obtained that which he (the Lord) seeketh for; but The Election (remnant) Hath Obtained It, and the rest were blinded(Rom. 11:5, 7)

  1. The Church, “the body of Christ” will be Raptured to heaven to co-reign with Christ eternally in the heavens (2 Tim. 2:12, 2 Cor. 5:1) several years before Christ literal returns to Judge the world and Israel, and to set up His Millennial kingdom on earth.