A light to the Gentiles
Isaiah 42:6-7
I YHWH have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isaiah 42:6-7 refers to YHWH’s anointed, His Christ, and our Savior Jesus, Christ who is the embodiment of the New Covenant YHWH made with the children of Israel. Jesus is the light to the Gentiles.
Many millions of Christians, those of body of Christ, today believe that they are of the “Gentile Church” because they believe they came out of the heathen non-Jewish lands of non-Israel.
The Word “Gentiles” in the Hebrew simply means heathen, the nations, people, particularly non-Israelite people.
But today there are billions of peoples “of the nations” who now can be classified as “the Gentiles”, or of the heathen nations, many of them who include Hebrews and those born of the children of Abraham of the Arabic peoples all over the Middle East who came from the line of Shem.
There is therefore much confusion among Christians regarding the word “Gentiles” just as there is regarding the word “ISRAEL” because of a modern concept that teaches the Jews are Israel and everyone not Jewish is therefore a Gentile.
It’s my hope that this study of the Gentiles will help you and shed a “great LIGHT” on the true nature of the Gentiles and show that God was very interested is opening up his salvation to the Gentiles.
Note, since we will be looking at words of the prophets and Words of God, the language is full of words that relate to God’s intended purpose, towards revealing his anointed, his Christ and the coming new age of the New Covenant and the fulfilment of God’s plans.
Our focus is looking at what the scriptures say about the Gentiles in regards to the larger story of the Holy Bible. Therefore, we will not be delving in to explain every detail in the scriptures, rather only that which relates to “the Gentiles.”
If one does a word search of the word “Gentiles” in the Holy Bible one will discover the passages of scripture we are going to study.
The first is Isaiah 11:10. Isaiah was a one of many prophets in Israel whom YHWH spoke his words through. Isaiah’s ministry to the people of Israel was about more than 50 years, around 740-681 BC.
Here the prophet Isaiah speaks in prophetic language of God’s foretelling of a future “Branch” which is a term to denote the coming Christ who shall come out of root of Jesse, or lineage of King David.
Isaiah 11:10
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
To understand this scripture, we need to read the previous scriptures.
Isaiah 11:1-5
¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of YHWH: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The lines of these scripture surely relate to the prophesy of the Christ, and according to Isaiah 11:10 it is he whom the Gentiles will seek.
Further along in the prophetic book of Isaiah, the prophet says God’s servant, the Christ, shall bring judgement to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:1-7
¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 ¶ Thus saith God YHWH, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I YHWH have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Just as in the previous scriptures of Isaiah 11:1-5, God’s spirit shall be upon his servant. We know this is his anointed, the Christ.
Again, Isaiah is referring to the coming Christ of Israel who will one day fulfill a New Covenant God made with Israel and he shall also be a “Light of the Gentiles” to “open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
Continuing on in Isaiah read the next scriptures.
Isaiah 49:3-6
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with YHWH, and my work with my God. 5 And now, saith YHWH that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and my God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Again, YHWH is speaking through his prophets of his coming Christ, his Servant who shall raise up the tribes of Jacob/Israel and restore the remnant of Israel. But Look God says he shall give Christ as a light to Gentiles that he may be God’s salvation unto the ends of the earth, or all the world.
YHWH is not only interested in Israel’s redemption, but also the redemption of the Gentiles, the heathen nations existing not of Israel.
Read on in Isaiah 49:22
Isaiah 49:22
Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
YHWH is going to lift up his hand to the Gentiles. The Gentiles shall help bring out Israel of the heathen lands.
Read Isaiah 54:3
Isaiah 54:3
For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Christ, “thy seed” shall inherit the Gentiles. We know the prophet is speaking about Christ because Isaiah chapter 53 is also speaking about Christ and his sacrifice.
Isaiah 53:3-5
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
As we continue reading Isaiah, you’ll see the next scriptures also refer to Christ.
Isaiah 60:1-5
¶ Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but YHWH shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
The prophesy of Christ speaks of the Gentiles coming to his light. And the force of the Gentiles shall come to him.
Read Isaiah 61:1-9
Isaiah 61:1-9
¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because YHWH hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of YHWH, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of YHWH, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of YHWH, that he might be glorified. 4 ¶ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But ye shall be named the Priests of YHWH: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I YHWH love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHWH hath blessed.
Again, these beginning passages of scripture refer to Christ, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” is Christ.
Note the words “strangers” also relate to “the Gentiles.” It says “strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.”
Meaning the Gentiles will one day be feeding the flock of God and his Christ.
Read Isaiah 62:1-2
Isaiah 62:1-2
¶ For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of YHWH shall name.
The Gentiles shall see the righteousness of God through his Christ.
Read Isaiah 66:10-12
Isaiah 66:10-12
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith YHWH, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
This scripture is speaking of Jerusalem but also of “the glory of the Gentiles.”
You’ll see similar language in Isaiah 66:19-20.
Isaiah 66:19-20
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto YHWH out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith YHWH, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of YHWH.
From this scripture we see the Gentiles shall bring out of the nations, Israel, the children of Israel.
For now, let’s read Jeremiah 16:19-21.
Jeremiah 16:19-21
O YHWH, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. 20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? 21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is YHWH.
It says the Gentiles shall come to God from the ends of the earth and God will cause them to know his hand and his might.
Up until now in our study all the verses we have read refer to the nations, the Gentiles, the heathen peoples not of Israel whom God has a clear plan for in his ultimate plan for salvation through his Christ.
These next scriptures you will see refer not to the heathen, but directly to Israel, the children of Israel whom were lost into the heathen.
What do I mean by lost into the heathen? Israel was lost into the Gentiles. Israel, the twelve tribes, was taken away and largely removed from the land of Israel into the heathen peoples.
The first removal of Israel which was witnessed by Isaiah was in 722 BC under the Assyrian Captivity where 10 tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel, or house of Israel, were taken away by the wrath of God on Israel, for their sins against God, by Assyrians. They were removed into the Gentile or heathen lands and did not return to the land again as far as the Bible records.
The ten tribes of Israel were as close to pagans with their worship of other gods of the peoples of the lands around them having largely ignored YHWH and his laws and prophets. The ten tribes of Israel of the northern kingdom of Israel in Samaria were not “Jews.” In fact, the Holy Bible never records any of the ten tribes ever were called as “Jews.”
They were of the house of Israel and were known in the bible as “Israelites.”
Now the southern kingdom of Israel was “the house of Judah” and according to the Bible the house of Judah, comprised of two main tribes of Judah and Benjamin, were in fact later called “the Jews.”
Read 2nd Kings 16:5-6 which is the first place in the entire Holy Bible that the words “the Jews” appear.
2nd Kings 16:5-6
¶ Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
You will notice in this scripture that Israel, the ten tribes house of Israel, came up to war against Jerusalem, the headquarters of the house of Judah, or “the Jews.”
When the Assyrians took away Israel, they did not remove the southern kingdom house of Judah - the Jews, which remained as a remnant by God.
About a 136 years later, after the Assyrian captivity, the Babylonians came sacking Jerusalem and they take away the rest of the remnant of Israel of the house of Judah. This was known as the Babylonian Captivity around 586 BC, during which time the prophet Jeremiah (626-582 BC) was witness to the fall of the house of Judah. According to the prophet Jeremiah the Jews of the house of Judah are to be taken away for 70 years in captivity into heathen Babylon. At the end of 70 years, a remnant of Judahites (less than 50,000) will return to build Jerusalem.
Thus, the house of Israel, Israelites, were taken and removed into the Gentiles, the nations.
The Jews of the house of Judah were taken and by and large all removed into the heathen lands of Babylonian rule, thus they too are taken to the Gentiles.
Thus all 12 tribes of Israel (10 tribes) and Judah (2 tribes) were removed off the land of Israel and forced into “the Gentiles.”
With that understanding we now can study the scriptures relating to the Gentiles.
Lamentations 2:8 -9
YHWH hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together. 9 Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from YHWH.
The book of Lamentations dates to just after the fall of Judah to the Babylonians and at times will speak of both houses of Israel which were taken away by the wrath of God for their many sins.
The “Daughter of Zion” expresses Judah, the house Judah “her gates are sunk into the ground” and “her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from YHWH.”
The king and his male children were all taken away to Babylon where most of the royal family died there.
Judah, here, is among the Gentiles.
Read the next scripture from the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 4:13
And YHWH said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
Ezekiel was a prophet of God who witnessed the fall of Judah and the Babylonian captivity. His writings date from 593 – 571 BC extending to the time during the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
The children of Israel will be among the Gentiles “whither” YHWH will drive them.
Let’s read the next scripture from the prophet Hosea.
Hosea 8:6-8
For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 ¶ Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
The prophet Hosea lived in the earlier time of the fall of Israel (around 752-722 BC) the ten tribes house of Israel who were taken away by the Assyrians. Note “the calf of Samaria” is a reference to the ten tribes worship of idols, of a golden calf in the mountains of Samaria which brought YHWH’s wrath upon the house of Israel. Ephraim is a reference to the house of Israel. God’s prophet says “Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.”
Next read the words of YHWH through the prophet Micah.
Micah 5:7-8
¶ And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from YHWH, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. 8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Micah prophesied to Israel and Judah and witnessed the decline of Israel and Assyrian captivity, around 738-698 BC. Micah prophesies the remnant of Jacob (Israel) shall be in midst of many peoples, (Gentiles). The “remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles.”
Read the last of Old Testament scriptures concerning the Gentiles in Malachi.
Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith YHWH of hosts.
The prophet Malachi prophesied in returned Judah in the 400s BC, possibly during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah who returned to build Jerusalem after the 70-year Babylonian Captivity.
The prophet says YHWH says his name shall be great among the Gentiles and great among the heathen.
As has been shown already that YHWH had a plan for the Gentiles to receive God’s salvation through his Christ.
We also see that God will use the Gentiles to bring out of captivity Jacob/Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel.
Where are the twelve tribes in their captivity?
They are lost in the Gentiles, the heathen nations themselves.
Within the Gentiles are in fact the remnant of Israelites of the two divided houses of Israel (10 tribes) and Judah (2 tribes).
Roughly more than 700 years before Jesus the Christ is born, the ten tribes of Israel were long gone taken away by the Assyrians 722 BC. Its estimated over 70% of the 12 tribes of possibly millions of Israelites disappeared into the Gentiles. They were taken away by Assyrian empire. The Assyrian empire within about 86 years would begin to fall. The Israelites were largely dispersed into the heathen lands and disappear into the surrounding areas (modern Iran, Armenia, and the Caucuses). The Bible does not record them returning to the land of Israel rather they are lost into history.
Unlike the Jews they will not be identifiable as “Jewish” for the simple reason they were not Jews to begin with, but had long before their captivity worshiped other gods and forsook YHWH’s holy laws and prophets. They were no more a people of God.
Hosea 1:4-10
And YHWH said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. 6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. 7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by YHWH their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. 8 ¶ Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
This is Israel “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered,” lost into the Gentiles. They would enter into the heathen nations further moving and take up the heathen idols becoming pagans just as Moses said they would.
Deuteronomy 4:23-31
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of YHWH your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which YHWH thy God hath forbidden thee. 24 For YHWH thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. 25 When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of YHWH thy God, to provoke him to anger: 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 27 And YHWH shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither YHWH shall lead you.28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But if from thence thou shalt seek YHWH thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to YHWH thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 31 (For YHWH thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
All of the house of Israel was removed into history, but God saved a remnant of the twelve tribes saving Judah, the house of Judah, the Jews. Judah existed in the land 136 years until they were taken, roughly 90% of the majority of Judah, away into Babylon, largely to remain in the region of the Babylonian ruled empire for 70 years. Then a small remnant (less than 50,000) returns of the Jews to build Jerusalem. The overwhelming majority of Judahites remained in Babylon and did not immediately return from the exile. Babylon would later fall to the Medes and the Medes would later fall to the Persians.
The Jews, or Judahites of Judah, would retain their Jewish identity and traditions as Jews, because they would keep alive the religion of the Jews, not only in the land of Israel, but in the diaspora.
Outside of the land of Israel a new religious current called Judaism arises out of Babylon from the Babylon exiles holding to a new development of an oral law based loosely upon the written Law of YHWH. This oral law was new and included a new interpretation and commentary on written Law of YHWH which in time led to a corruption of God’s holy laws and what would later become the basis of Pharisaical Judaism.
Pharisaical Judaism became Talmudism, Talmudism became Medieval Rabbinicalsim, and Medieval Rabbinicalism became Modern Rabbinicalism.
The Jews, therefore, retained their Jewish identity among the heathen up to the days of Jesus, and indeed to present day Jews are identified by their faith in Judaism.
Thus, we have Jews who cling to Judaism today, comprised of both ancient Israelite Judahites and Jewish Gentiles, who were converted to Judaism as Jews.
Jesus openly opposed Judaism and its corruption of the Law of his Father.
When Jesus, the Christ, died and bled his blood on the Cross he fulfilled the first Old Covenant and the Second New Covenant God had made with children of Israel for the remission of their sins. Under the Old Covenant God specifically said that those strangers or Gentiles who take hold of his covenant will receive inheritance with the twelve tribes of Israel.
So, today we have Gentiles which are true born Gentiles, that is they were not descended of Israelites.
We also have Gentiles which are in fact descendants of Israelites of the ten tribes of Israel of the twelve tribes of Jacob.
We also have Gentiles who are descendants of lost Judahites (some of whom mingled their seed with peoples of the lands.)
As stated already, the word Gentiles means the nations (not of Israel) but one can be a Hebrew and also be of the nations, such that those descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael of the Arabic peoples.
“Gentiles” also today would include anyone born of Ham, Shem and Japheth according to the Holy Bible who make up the world’s people descended from Noah and his three children.
Anyone born not of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a “Gentile” of the nations of the world.
The prophesies of Israel’s prophets, as we have shown, all state that God will extend his salvation to the Gentiles and this salvation shall only come through His anointed, his Christ –JESUS our Lord and Savior.
What did Jesus our Lord say to his disciples before he left them and ascended up to heaven to his Father, YHWH?
Acts 1:6-8 ¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus was not interested in an earthly kingdom, but the Kingdom of God on earth where God’s people would receive his Holy Spirit indwelling in themselves and God’s salvation as children of God.
Look where Jesus will send his disciples.
“Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea (house of Judah) , and in Samaria (house of Israel), and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”(the Gentiles of which the lost 12 tribes of Israel are hidden).
Jesus left a commandment to his disciples:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Note what Jesus taught his disciples.
Luke 24:44-48
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Lastly, we’ll look at what the apostle Paul taught.
The apostle Paul was Christ’s vessel to preach to the Gentiles.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Now let us look at what the apostle Paul taught.
Romans 1:14-17
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:26-30
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 9:1-8
¶ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6 ¶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Romans 9:24-27
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 ¶ As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Romans 9:30-10:9
¶ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1 ¶ Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 11:11-14
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Galatians 3:16-29
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 ¶ Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
As you can see, it doesn’t really matter who you are born from today or in ancient days, if you are in Christ Jesus.
I sincerely hope you now comprehend the depth of love and Grace God has for the Gentiles, the nations of all men, women, and children and his chosen people Israel of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Today God is gathering his lost people Israel, one by one, through Christ Jesus, and bringing them into his body of baptized believers, the Church!
If you are a Christian, I hope this article has caused you to have a new understanding to help give you a burning passion for reaching the lost, not in Christ; to preach the Gospel, the good news of God’s Kingdom on earth and salvation to all men women and children regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity.
When Jesus died on the Cross, he died not only save Israel from her sins, but all nations of the world’s peoples and their sins. Jesus died for all. Jesus bled for all!
Praise YHWH for his great Love and Mercy he has shown for all of the human race; that anyone who should join themselves to the New Covenant God made in Jesus the Christ and believe in His saving name, Jesus, that they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and receive everlasting life.
So, I ask you, are you a Gentile?
Are you an Israelite?
Are you a Jew?
Do you know for sure where your ancestors came from?
Do you know Jesus?
He died for your sins!
Are you covered by his holy blood?