Part 8 of 8 - The Book of Revelation

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Distinction Marks Paul's Epistles.

Some think the "seven churches of Rev 2-3 are churches of "the body of Christ," but they are not. As I’ve written earlier, there’s a simple Scriptural fact we must note with regard to who the various books of the so-called NT books were specifically directed. The facts are based upon what we know from Jesus’ words and what He commanded "the twelve" (below). Any books written by any of "the twelve" Apostles must no doubt be addressed to and concerning Israel only.

Matthew 10:5-7 (KJV) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, GO NOT INTO THE WAY OF THE GENTILES, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand (to come to earth).

The conditional promises of Revelation reveal books that are written to Israel. If you look closely you find conditional statements directed toward "the seven churches" of Revelation 2 and 3. We must ask; where is the salvation "by grace through faith, without works" to be found in these verses here below?

Revelation 3:5 (KJV) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:16 …because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and KEEPETH MY WORKS UNTO THE END, to him will I give power over the nations:

Based upon Jesus’ words, all the epistles and gospels that were written Peter, James, and John had to be unto the "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," ­not to the Gentile "body of Christ." Therefore, Revelations is written by John prophetically to the churches of "THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL" for learning and their encouragement in the time of the Tribulation. This is why these above speak of conditional promises for those who "overcome" (v 3, 21, 26) and "to the end" (2:26) – that is the end of the Tribulation. If you "lukewarm" (v16) you are then lost. I’m thankful I am "saved by grace through faith, without works of the Law."

There is not a word in the book of Revelation that applies to "the body of Christ." Revelation is entirely applicable to the future of the Nation Israel. The Lord will return to Israel at the Mount of Olives in His second coming as it was prophesied to set up the millennial kingdom on earth. This 2nd coming will occur several years after "the body of Christ" has been removed from earth to heaven by the rapture.

Here in Joel we have the account of the judgments upon the earth and Israel and their hope in "the great and terrible day of the Lord."

Joel 2:30-32 30 And I (the Lord) will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Let’s now look at a portion of the book of Revelation

Revelation 7:1-8 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till (until) we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Who are these servants – what is their nationality?

 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Clearly Revelation is a book that not only acknowledges, but mainly concerns Israel as being distinct from all other Nations and people on earth, as being peculiar to the Lord. Remember the point of Part 1 of this series; "distinction" always marks a dispensational book applying to Israel alone. There is no such distinction among people under the grace gospel for "the body of Christ."

Under Paul’s "gospel of the grace of God" under "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:2) all men stand on equal ground and none is elevated above another. All are lost, all may be saved and all the saved are one in Christ whether they are Jew of Gentile.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Galatians 3:28 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.

Such distinction not only marks the books applying to Israel but also ones that do not apply to "the church, which is the body of Christ" (Eph 1:22b-23a).

Revelation 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

No doubt the "beloved city" here is not Los Angeles or NY. It refers to Jerusalem, Israel. The New Jerusalem is the city of the "Temple of God" returned to earth.