God, our Father, is using the lively stones of the Joshua company and the stones, which have been in the dust from the Zerubbabel Company to rebuild the true temple. The Jerusalem which is above is uniting with the Jerusalem below. The remnant of the church and the remnant of Jerusalem are being joined together as a kind of firstfruits offering to God to bring about his restoration in these days. Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of Grace. Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

For centuries there has been a rift between Christians and Jews. But the time to rebuild the house of the Lord has come. God is using the “lively stones” and the stones which have been in a heap in Jerusalem to rebuild His temple. Zerubbabel will bring forth “the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Joshua’s filthy rags are being removed and a new robe is placed on him so that he might stand before the Lord without guilt and be united with the commonwealth of Israel. “For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” “…for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.” Psalms 102:13,16 “For the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations (the Torah) of this house; his hands shall also finish it; For while the Jews have despised the day of small things (the birth of Christ)… they shall rejoice and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with the seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” Psalms 126 “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream...then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

In the book of Genesis, chapter 41:45 Joseph is given a wife named Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On, a city in Egypt. Now we know that Joseph is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. Here he is seen taking a gentile bride who is a type and picture of the Church, the bride of Christ. Jew and Gentile become one…”having made known unto us the mystery of his will.” Even as this mystery unfolds before us we can begin to see the heart of God in these last days. For from this union comes two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph whom Israel, the father of Joseph later blesses.

Many passages of scripture refer to the bow of Ephraim and the mighty man, and Manasseh, to which we will speak later. But it is from this union between Joseph and his gentile bride that all of Israel is saved during the seven years of famine in the land of Egypt. Egypt is a type of the world and the seven (perfect) years is symbolic of the seven years of tribulation (sooner or later we all face tribulation). This mystery is unfolded to us in another way. We begin to see God applying his word to the body of Christ and his chosen people in the earth. He is bringing a new awareness to his two Witnesses in the earth. Through his word he is uniting the two, so they may become one. Jew and Gentile are becoming one. The middle wall of partition is brought down. “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;” Eph. 2:15 God is always taking two’s and making them into one’s. And what is the outcome of this phase of the Reformation? It is God saving all of Israel and the Church from his judgments in these days. But it also means the salvation of the world since this is the purpose of God to show forth a people who walk in obedience and grace in the earth. “For this Gospel shall be preached in the earth and then shall the end of time come.”

Now, when Israel blessed the two sons of Joseph he did a peculiar thing, he gave the eldest blessing to the youngest. Ephraim received the impartation from the right hand of Joseph’s father... “but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.” Gen. 48:19

Imagine, that a half Jew would grow into a multitude of nations. Ephraim received the double portion. The double portion was always reserved for the eldest son. Here the Lord shows his loving kindness to the gentiles by giving them the blessing. Remember when Esau lost his double portion? Jacob dressed himself to feel like Esau under the direction of Rebekah, his mother. Here, again the youngest gets the double portion. Gentiles all over the world make up this people of the double portion. Don’t feel sorry for Israel. “…what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Rom 11:15) There’s no end to the number the Lord has added to the church these past two centuries. “And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47)

“His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horn is like the horns of unicorns: and with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth:” (Deut. 33:17) If Ephraim is going to push the nations with his horn he is definitely going to gore them or open them up with his horn. When he opens them up they are going to bleed. He is literally going to cut the covenant with all people or be responsible in the figurative sense to bring the gospel to all nations.

“I have bent Judah for me and filled the bow with Ephraim.” (Zach. 9:13) Here we see God using Judah and Ephraim together for instruments of war. Judah is symbolic of the nation Israel. Israel is a bow and represents all the covenants God has made while Ephraim is pictured as the arrow, which Israel shall shoot. This arrow will pierce or gore that at which it is aimed. Together, the church and the Nation Israel conquer the Nations of the World.

We can further our understanding by embracing the book of Zechariah and Haggai. These are two witnesses that speak very clearly of the two witnesses in the earth. The Bride of Christ and the Nation of Israel who are emerging together to show forth the manifold wisdom of God in his earth: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” (Eph. 3:10)

The prophet Zechariah speaks of Joshua and Zerubbabel while Haggai unfolds to us the importance of rebuilding the house of God that has been in shambles. It is the Nation of Israel and the Church who will unite together to complete the intent and purposes of their God.

While these two groups of God’s people have been pointing the finger at each other it is important for us to see the finger of God at work for these past 2000 years. The relationship between the Christian and the Jew is much like Joseph with his brothers. His brothers became jealous of their father’s affection for Joseph and they sought to kill him. Instead of killing him he was sold into slavery. The Christian church by the third century had pretty much destroyed and alienated their relationship with their Jewish brothers. But we must not harbor hidden resentments because of the many evils that have fallen upon the Jewish nation all in the name of Joshua (Jesus) or the so-called body of Christ. We must remember that true Christians died during these times as well as the Jews. The Apostle Paul, once called Saul in Acts 8:3, was responsible for the first persecution against the Church. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” He even consented unto Stephen’s death. In Acts 6, the story is recorded that there arose certain of the synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.” And they stirred up the people and the elders, and the scribes and came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council…” The results of this trial led to the death and stoning of Stephen and he became the first martyr of the church. His death was at the hands of his own brothers. His own people killed him.

This is not to minimize the horrible atrocities against the Jewish people throughout the ages. “But all who live Godly will suffer persecution.” What is important for this age is that a true ministry of reconciliation takes place within the family of God. We must hear and feel the weeping words of Joseph. “…And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Gen.50:18-20)

The suffering of the Jewish nation and the death of Jewish brothers and Christian brothers will save much people in our day. God will avenge the blood of his saints. Only, let Israel weep and forgive and let the Christians in the earth rid themselves of all their suspicion and guilt throughout the ages, ”lest any root of bitterness spring up where many are defiled.” “And let us not despise the chastening of the Lord.” For he has torn us but he will heal us, that we may become partakers of his divine nature.

While the Jewish people where scattered the wild olive branch emerged. The hand of God opened the door for the Gentiles into his Kingdom. “ . . . Through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles.” There are two olive trees and two candlesticks standing before God of the earth. (Rev. 11:4)

Jer. 11:16 speaks, “A green olive tree fair and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.” It was God who kindled the fire, not man! The Lord pruned the stock of Israel to a stump. Paul in Romans 11: 18, 20, 21 warns the Gentiles who have become the wild olive branch to be careful about boasting even though the branches were broken off. We should bear much fruit. The Master’s hand has been pruning throughout the centuries his two olive trees so that the may bear much fruit.

We’ve only to turn to church history to see how Asenath, the gentile bride of Christ has behaved toward the Jews and toward God, especially by the third century. She has only the name of her husband. This church has even changed her name and taken on many names of her lovers in the form of denominationalism. She has returned to idols and embraced her many icons throughout the centuries. She is like Rachael, sitting on the icons. The Church throughout the ages has turned from the power of the Spirit and began to rely on the arm of the flesh. But let us remember that through this union Ephraim and Manasseh were born. This is the remnant of the church, which has not bowed its knees nor worshipped strange gods in the land. They only worship the true God even as the Jewish people only worship the true God. “Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one God.” Only these two remnants remain, holding forth the power and the love of Christ in their midst. And it is this remnant that yearns to unite with his brother to bring about the salvation of the world. They along with Israel are “the sons of oil.”

Joshua stood in the presence of the Lord in filthy rags with Satan as his accuser. So deep was his sin and guilt that truly he deserved no mercy and should have been handed over to Satan. But God would not have it so.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the Fire? And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. (Zech. 3:2-4)

Truly, God is giving the Church, represented as Joshua, a chance to be redeemed in these days. The church is the body of Christ standing before God in filthy rags “not knowing they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:…” (Rev.3:17) If this was Jesus standing in the presence of God he would not need a new robe nor be standing in filthy attire. Joshua is better pictured as the church in her apostate form needing the council of God to become effective again in the world that God loves. He will rebuild with Zerubabbel the old wasted places. “ For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” “And mercy and truth shall kiss each other.”

the voice

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