Page 175 - Jesus is coming - Class version

172 JESUS IS COMING.

definite description of the location of each tribe, as they
shall be settled in this great future restoration. See Ch.
48.
Confusing Israel with the Church.
It would seem that such overwhelming testimony would
convince every fair-minded reader, that there is a glorious
future restoration in store for Israel. And yet, many say,
that we must interpret all this Scripture "spiritually," and
they fritter away the point and the force of such explicit
declarations, in attempting to apply them to the persecuted
Church.
This is a very great error, and we believe it has arisen,
principally, from a misunderstanding of Paul's arguments
in his epistles. He does not confound Israel with the
Church when he says, "They are not all Israel which are of
Israel." Nor does he confound the Church with Israel
when he makes us children of Abraham by faith; but he
demonstrates that we all stand by faith alone. In 1 Cor.
1T
10 :32, he makes a clear distinction between the Jews, the
Gentiles, and the Church of God.* There are special bless-
ings for the Church, and special blessings for Israel. He
plainly shows that not all the natural seed are true Israel-
ites. He only is a Jew who has circumcision of heart in
18
the spirit. And though multitudes of Israel have passed
away in unbelief, still Paul distinctly declares that there
is a remnant WHICH SHALL BE SAVED. 19 He so loved them
that he could sacrifice himself, and even be separated from
20
Christ for their sakes. He saw their future glory, as the
*The Jews who accept Christ in this dispensation become
part of the Church. See page 88.
(17) 1 Cor. 10 :32. Give none the number of the children of
offence, neither to the Jews, nor Israel be as the sand of the sea,
to the Gentiles, nor to the church a remnant shall be saved.
f *'

heart, in the spirit, and not in
the letter; whose praise is not (20) Rom. 9:3. For I could
Of men, but of God. wish that myself were accursed
(19) Rom. 9:27. Esaias also from Christ for my brethren, my
crieth concerning Israel, Though kinsmen according to the flesh.