I don't buy into the popular Dispensationalist Eschatology System, but there is virtue in it.
Even if it is wrong, the priority is good: be spiritually prepared today!
The salvation of God's People is both physical AND spiritual. The division is gone between the two. Our spiritual salvation is also a physical one. The People of God are both physical and spiritual. There is no Jew or Gentile in this. It is One Salvation. The Millenium is for the Church, because the Book of Revelation is addressed to the Church.
None will enter that Kingdom who are not in Christ.
Any who use Malachi and Zechariah to counter that point need to view such passages through the Word revealed to us by Christ.
We are "those who gain victory with God", which is the meaning of "Israel". All those who believe God, New or Old Testement, are found in Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5-MpVNfwc [video=youtube;TF5-MpVNfwc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5-MpVNfwc[/video]
SolidGround, I agree with most of what you said, but I would have phrased your comment on the Millennium a little differently. First of all, I would not have used the word CHURCH, because it is not in the Greek New Testament. The Greek actually uses the word Assembly, when Jesus said He would built His Assembly.
Matthew 16:18 (YLT)
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18 [/SUP]
`And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;
Why do I think that is important over and above the Word CHURCH? Because it leaves out the first half of the Assembly He is building.
Psalm 40:10 (HCSB)
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10 [/SUP] I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal Your constant love and truth from
the great assembly.
Psalm 111:1 (NASB)
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1 [/SUP] Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all
my heart, In the company of
the upright and in the assembly.
Psalm 40:10 (YLT)
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10 [/SUP] Thy righteousness I have not concealed In the midst of my heart, Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation I have told, I have not hidden Thy kindness and Thy truth, To
the great assembly.
Ezekiel 13:9 (KJV)
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9 [/SUP] And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in
the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and
ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
I believe that the LORD has been building HIS Assembly starting with Adam. No not everyone sitting in a House of GOD is a member of the Assembly that He is building; but faith cometh by hearing the Word of GOD taught. That is why we leave the phonies there, because maybe they will eventually HEAR with spiritual understanding and become genuine believers.
My understanding is:
OT Saints believed that God would send the Messiah, and they were willing to submit to HIM as Lord.
NT Saints believe that God did send the Messiah, and they are willing to submit to HIM as Lord.
It is the SAME FAITH of the SAME Assembly that HE is building. It is the Faith of Abraham.
Therefore, the Millennium is for the immortal resurrected Assembly, and for the mortal 144,000 Jews as a continuation of the everlasting Covenant with GOD that gave them the Land of Canaan as an everlasting inheritance.