The church in the wilderness.
It was no accident that Stephen, a Jewish Christian called Israel the "church in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses. Acts 7:37-38 NKJV 37 “This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,
"Congregation" This is the Greek term ekklesia is used in the sense of an “assembly” and translated "church" in the New Testament, is often used to refer to Israel in the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (LXX). The “Congregation” or “Church” equates to ἐκκλησία / ekklesia is made up of two syllables. The Greek prefix ἐκ means “out of, or away from” and the root verb κλησία which means “to call or invite.” ( A handful of quick references out of the 73 times where our word “church” ἐκκλησία is translated as “assembly in the LXX are Deut 4:10; 9:10; 18:16; 23:1,2,3, & 8; Josh. 8:25; Ps.40:9; 68:26; 89:5; 107:32; Micah 2:5)
Some today teach, "Israel is not the Church and the Church is not Israel. This is important to note because these very same people are those who wrongly teach that the Church is God’s plan B. According to this popular view, God's clock ran flawlessly until the coming of the Messiah. Then suddenly the "prophetic clock” stopped ticking because Israel failed to accept their Messiah, something that humorously we guess they think could not be foreseen by the Omniscient God.
These same people go on to state that during this ensuing parenthesis of time, God turned His focus to the Gentiles and created the Church. The Church, you see, was only a parenthetical stop, then a gap of time unseen by the Old Testament prophets. As a result, the kingdom is no longer near, but postponed." This concept was further developed in the 1830's by J.N. Darby that God has not one, but two separate peoples of God, Israel and the Church. In their eye’s Christ's death was an unfortunate accident brought on by the rejection of His own people the Jews.
We however, believe on the contrary, and feel that God knew the Jews would reject their Messiah. Daniel 9 tells us that the Messiah would be cut off, or killed, and Isaiah 53 speaks of the suffering servant.
The Church is not plan B. Church history begins on the Day of Pentecost. In the book of Acts the Apostles makes it clear that the first people coming into the Church were Jewish. Acts 2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem (Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven).
There were no Gentiles in the church for several years after Pentecost. But God was going to do among many wonders or marvelous things a wonder that would shock the Jews to their core! It was predicted in the Old Testament and also likened to the original Exodus journey. We pointed it out in our second study in this series. We would like to refresh your memory of it, and it’s found in the book of Micah:
Micah 7:15 (NKJV) “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.” (θαυμαστά)
We then noted that this word θαυμαστά is only used 6 other times in our New Testament. Two of them are found in Matt.21:42-43 & Mk.12:11 They both are Jesus’ final response in His parable of the wicked Vinedressers. They are direct quotes from the Messianic Ps. 188:22-23 (In the LXX it is Ps. 117:22-23) where the same word is used: θαυμαστὴ.
Matt. 21:41-43 (NKJV) 41 “They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous (θαυμαστά) in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”
Mk. 12:10-11 (NKJV)10 Have you not even read this Scripture:‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.11 This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous (θαυμαστά) in our eyes?”
The marvelous thing that was going to be seen was that the Gentiles would be grafted into the salvation of the Jews! (Jn.4:22) Let’s get back to the day of Pentecost to view something we find marvelous in the hindsight of our eyes! It is the fact that the apostle Peter in his Holy Spirit empowered sermon on that day while giving the gospel plan of salvation, unknowingly included the Gentiles and prophesied of their inclusion of Israel’s salvation. He does this using the “Afar off” in verse 39 (GR. μακρὰν) It is used only 4 other times after it is used here. (All used by Paul.)
Now first let’s look at the context here. Clearly Peter in preaching on the day of Pentecost and is speaking to Jews! These were Jews were from every nation under heaven – Jewish men of the dispersion. (Along with proselytes!) This is very important to understand here!
Why is that important? Pay close attention to this: It’s because Peter stated that this gospel is to YOU – these people (Jews) from the dispersion (To whom he wrote to later on! (See 1 Peter 1:1) And to THEIR CHILDREN (more Jews)! And then to those who are “AFAR OFF” AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL! These are NON JEWS! Want proof? Here it is…
The Apostle Paul says this about those who are AFAR OFF? And we would ask you if these people fit the description of Jews? We don’t think so and here is why:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off (GR. μακρὰν) have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Eph.2:13
“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off (GR. μακρὰν) and to those who were near.” Eph.2:17
Now we want you to also remember that in Eph.2:11-13 Paul states that these people were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise!”Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were “far off” have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” This does not sound like they were connected to the Jews in any way, shape, or form.
Keep in mind that Pentecost was in or about the year 31 A.D. The apostle Paul proclaimed that this subject of Gentile inclusion was a mystery! (Eph.3:3-12) This mystery was not yet known! Yet God was already from the very start making it known by progressive revelation! But at this time the mystery had not been revealed, the apostle Paul’s conversion was approximately 2 years later. The first Gentile converts were the house of Cornelius about A.D. 38. And here is more proof of our position about Peter unknowingly prophesying about the Gentiles in Acts 2:39 … it was Peter who God used to convert Cornelius and his family, and God had to show him a vision that this was to be done! (Read all of Acts chapter 16) And even after all this, Peter was rebuked by Paul for still harboring prejudice towards the Gentiles.
Gal. 2:11-21 (NKJV) 11 “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Paul really didn’t reach out to the Gentiles till approximately the year A.D. 46 - 49 (Acts.13:46-49) It was about A.D. 49 that we read of the Council of Jerusalem to speak of this wonder of the Gentiles coming into the church. It is here that James the Lord’s brother spoke of the Gentiles coming into the church as the rebuilding of the tabernacle or temple of David?
Whenever the Apostle Paul went anywhere he started preaching in the synagogues of the Jews first, but always reached out to Gentiles (Non Jews). In any place Paul brought the gospel it was his custom to find a synagogue of the Jews first, and to preach Jesus to them for three Sabbaths. Then he would preach to the gentiles! Look at what we read when we see him going to Thessalonica:
Acts 17:1-2 (NKJV)
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”
Later in that chapter we read of him leaving the unbelieving Jews behind and turning to the Gentiles. Right there in Acts chapter 17 we see Paul going to Athens, and what do we see him immediately do? He heads straight to the synagogue there! And notice the distinctions of people there! We read that he reasoned with the Jews and “Gentile worshippers” (God fearers and proselytes!) as well as speaking to ANYONE who happened to be in the market place! Yet we know that he then preached to Gentiles there?! What about the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers he spoke the gospel message to? Where they only Jews as well? We know that is not true!
Acts 17:17-18 (NKJV) 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”
Paul was told by God himself that this would be his mission: “Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you FAR (GR. μακρὰν) from here to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:21 What the apostle Paul was to do was to do what we specified was the definition of the church - ἐκκλησία a word made up of two syllables. The Greek prefix ἐκ means “out of, or away from” and the root verb κλησία which means “to call or invite.” The invitation was for all, Jew and Gentile to go through the Exodus journey and enter the promised land!
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