References of Gentiles (8/20-25)

                       THE REFERENCES OF THE GENTILES

Malachi 1:11 KJV, God said, “… My name shall be great among the Gentiles …” Gal 3:14 KJV, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Eph. 3:6 KJV, “That Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”

THE CHURCH AGE WAS THE TIME OF THE GENTILE’S OPPORTUNITY, SALVATION

Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this Rock I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). It is Jesus Christ who is the Rock, the first and great foundation of the church (1 Cor.3:11). The Greek word ekklesia (church) refers to a meeting of a people called out (Greek ekkaleo) and summoned together. One of the eleven meaning of The Church was: The church is the bride of Christ (2Cor.11:2; Eph.5:21-27; Rev. 19:7-9). This nuptial concept emphasizes both the loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness of the church to Christ, and Christ’s love for and intimacy with His church. [Commentary from The Full Life Study Bible]

THE RAPTURE: Paul said, “For the Lord himself shall descend from the heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD IN THE AIR: so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:16-17). At the point, we called it, “The Rapture” which means caught up in the air.

THE RAPTURE: Jesus said, “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto Him, Where, Lord? And He said unto them, ‘Wheresoever the body is, [there] will the eagles be gathered together” (Luke 17:34-37)

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST: Rev. 19:7 KJV, “…for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 9) “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…”

THE TYPE of JOSEPH’S WIFE, THE GENTILE; THE LAMB’S WIFE, THE GENTILE: Joseph was given a wife, “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:45). Asenath was a Gentile and Joseph married her. Then eventually, the famine came which brought Joseph’s brother to buy food … soon after the second time, Joseph revealed himself to them.

Joseph was the type of Christ who is to be married to the Church, the bride, like Paul said ‘that Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). ).  “… thou being a wild olive tree were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree” (Rom. 11:17).