I understand that the Little Flock (i.e., Peter's church, or aka the 'Jerusalem church') was sealed. However, after the Lord saved Paul wasn't the kingdom gospel still going out and weren't some Jews still getting saved into that program? If so, were they sealed as well or did they have to endure?
As for your first question of whether or not the gospel of the kingdom was going out after Saul was saved, and if so, were those Jews who believed it "saved" into that kingdom program, it is my understanding from scripture that yes, after Paul was saved on the road to Damascus the gospel of the kingdom was still being preached by the kingdom saints! I say this because nobody knew about the change for awhile until Paul made it clear to the other Jews (Barnabas, the 12 Apostles, etc.). So yes, the gospel of the kingdom was still being preached!
But the question of whether those Jews who believed the gospel of the kingdom after Paul's salvation went into that program or into the church, the body of Christ can be debated. I personally believe from scripture that even those Jews who believed the gospel of the kingdom after Paul's salvation—during the transition period of the book of Acts—became part of the church, the body of Christ and not into the kingdom church, even though they still fellowshipped with the little flock, and here's why:
· Israel's Program was finished at Paul's salvation! God had set Israel aside and was not dealing with them as a nation anymore, and therefore the gospel of that nation was no longer in commission; although, it did take time for the Jews to know and understand that. Therefore, all those Jews in Israel who heard and believed the gospel of the kingdom preached by the 12 after Paul's salvation went into the body although they still lived and fellowshipped with the kingdom saints (just like Paul himself did when he visited Israel)!
God had to begin a new dispensation when Israel fell (at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7) because according to the Lord Jesus, himself, no blasphemer of the Holy Ghost could be saved and that is exactly what Saul was!
Matthew 12:32
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
1 Timothy 1:13
[Paul] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
So God had to change the program in order to save Saul; therefore he had to first suspend that kingdom program. And He suspended the kingdom program at Saul's salvation, and then everyone who believed in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (whether preached by Peter or Paul) went into the body!
· Once God set Israel and their program aside, Israel became the enemies of God and God began dealing with the gentiles through a new message.
Romans 11:28
As concerning the gospel [of Grace], they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election [to be in His earthly kingdom after the dispensation of grace ends], they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 11:11
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.
· Another reason why I believe that all those that believed the gospel of the kingdom went into the Body after Paul's salvation is because you actually see it in Acts 10. Notice that Peter with Cornelius, speaks about the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, which is the information that needs to be believed to be saved, although it is from the kingdom perspective!
Acts 10:39-40
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Acts 10:44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Notice again that the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord was the issue here, even in the gospel of the kingdom! And it is that death, burial and resurrection of our Lord that is the main focus of our Apostle Paul's gospel (although Peter preached Christ according to Prophecy, that is, as King of the earth, and Paul preached Christ according to the Mystery, that is, King of the heavenly places)! Cornelius believes in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and that moment, by God's grace, through his faith, plus nothing, he gets the Holy Ghost (which is eternal life)!
So although Peter preached his gospel of the kingdom to these men, when he mentioned the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, and they believed that, God accepted them. And I believe that most likely they went into the body of Christ, since that was the program in effect!
· Lastly, but certainly not least, I believe that all those who believed on the Lord after Paul's salvation, even those who heard the gospel of the kingdom went into the body of Christ because of what our Apostle Paul himself says in his epistles:
1Timothy 1:13-16
[Paul] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Here we see that Paul not only was before a blasphemer, and therefore not able to be saved under the old gospel of the kingdom program, but that it was by the grace of God that he was saved, not by works like the Jews. Add to that, that he was the chief sinner saved, that is, the first in a long line of sinners—which is made clear when he also says "in me first"!
So Paul was first in line and first to be saved by God's pure grace without works which is the essence of this present Dispensation of Grace! He was the pattern for all else!
So because of all these things, I believe that all those —during the transition period of the book of Acts—who believed in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, after Paul was saved, whether through the gospel of the kingdom or the gospel of the grace of God were saved eternally into the body of Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:3-11
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
(I also personally believe that God is so good and so gracious that even people who are sitting in denominations today and who are not being taught Paul's message and who are being thoroughly confused by their teachers/preachers can and are being saved the moment that they hear and believe that Christ died on the Cross to pay for their sins and that He rose again—even though the message they preach confuses the prophecy program for Israel in the past and in the ages to come with the mystery program for the church, the body of Christ today.)
Philippians 1:15-18
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel [of grace, not of the kingdom]. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Hopefully this
helps!
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