Helper of your Joy

Brother Ron’s Prayer

My prayer is to be a vessel of understanding for others.  Here is a verse that resonates in my heart:

2 Corinthians 1:24

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Paul is the apostle of us gentiles and has authority, but he says that he isn’t there to have dominion over us – that describes religion and denominationalism.  As a Pauline grace minister, my job is to be a helper of your joy in understanding God’s word because by faith ye stand.

Every day my number one prayer is, “Father, let me be so clear in my teaching and grasp of scripture so that I can be a vessel for others.  Give me great understanding so that I can share it.”  God uses man:

1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The scriptures, the written word of God, is here for a record.  You can read the word for yourselves; but God has chosen that it be communicated through human vessels and the spoken word.  I had a brother tell me that he would read a passage and get some understanding, but... "when we are assembled under your teaching when you are expounding with expository teaching and preaching on those same verses, it comes alive."  Praise God!  My prayer has been answered.

Acts 18:26

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

God made it that way.  That is why we need preaching in local assemblies and through this type of media.  That is my part in the body of Christ and I take it seriously.  It is a humbling thing.  It is a privilege and honor, but also a fantastic responsibility. 

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Hearing from many of you that you are benefiting from my teacher means so much to me and makes me want to study more and gain more understanding so that I can give it to others.  That is why I love to do these Q&A’s.  I give the heavenly Father thanks and praise for answering my prayer when I hear from brothers and sisters that they are being helped in their understanding of God’s word.

Colossians 1:9

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Peace defined

Peace is the end of all strife.  It is rest from worry.  God wants you to have his peace.  I tell people that God is not up there worrying about things. 

If you watch the news, it is nothing but worrisome, with very few positive stories put forth.  Sometimes you need to simply turn that stuff off. 

Wonder why they call it the “news”?  I saw this verse years ago and thought, "That’s where it comes from!"  

Acts 17:19-21

(For all the Athenians [now the Athenians …were strangers there, including Jews] nothing else but to tell or hear some new thing.)

I found that interesting—they were there just to get “the news.”   

Now a person likes to keep up with what’s going on, see the sports or check the weather.  But, the ‘news’ is of heathen design to get you to worry more.  Just watch the news tonight and see if it’s bad news.  As they say: “If it bleeds, it leads.”  If it’s something bad, then they are going to report on it. 

You aren't going to have peace if you let that stuff get to you.  

 >>>>A transcribed excerpt from a message by Ron Knight in a series 

on the book of Second Thessalonians.<<<<

Grace defined…

G-R-A-C-E

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!

Grace is all that God is free to do for you through the finished work of Calvary’s cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 1:6-8

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

When we talk about grace, we need to keep in mind that grace is freedom with responsibility and consequences.  Religion thinks we are going to use the law to keep us from sinning, but God’s grace is freedom to act responsibly--or not; however one can expect to suffer the consequences of unsound and unwise choices. 

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

When God put Adam on the earth, God gave Adam total freedom to serve him.  Essentially what he said to Adam was I want you to be my regent in the earth.  But, he gave him responsibility: 

‘Adam, you can freely eat of all the trees of the garden.

But of the tree which is in the midst of the Garden, God said, ‘with your free will, you need not sin [there’s the responsibility to not sin] against me. 

Then God said, ‘in the day that thou eat thereof, thou shall surely die. There’s the consequence.

That is life as a human being.  You have freedom with responsibility, and consequences—whether good or bad.    You can actually do good things and get the good benefit as a grace believer.  In your freedom, you are allowed to do evil things, but you get the evil consequences. 

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Again, that is grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense; it’s freedom [as opposed to bondage].

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(This makes me think of prisoners—people incarcerated in prison.  That prison is to show them that their morality is ‘dead.’  Prisoners can’t be out in society anymore.  What put them there is bad morality.)

When Christ says “free,” he says Whom the Son sets free is free in deed [John 8:36 KJB].  As you grow in Christ, you become more and more free.  As your morals get worse (as in making wrong decisions/choices), you start to be more in bondage of sin.  But, as you grow in Christ, the bondage of sin comes off you and you have more freedom.  That is what God wants; he wants to free you up through the grace message (that message given to the Apostle Paul to give to us in this present disposition). 

Ephesians 3:3-4

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

As you grow in Christ, your life will be more free—in spirit, soul and body—to allow Christ to live out his purpose through you. 

Galatians 2:19-20

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

The true Bible understanding that you need to know!

In this short video, Pastor Ron Knight clearly and distinctly 'gives the sense' of the bible, Genesis to Revelation, from the dispensational viewpoint of Paul, the apostle to the nations, so as to be able to understand and enjoy the precious word of God, so perfectly preserved for us in the King James Bible.  

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I [Paul, the apostle to the nations] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

The Least in the Kingdom

Why will John the Baptist be considered least in the kingdom?

I know what you are saying, but actually John will not be considered least in the kingdom, even though it is normally read that way in two passages.  The Lord Jesus Christ mentions John the Baptist as well as someone who will be least in the kingdom.

Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

It looks like he is saying that John is the very least in the kingdom, but he is not.  Let’s look at one more verse.  Obviously John won’t be the least in the kingdom; he will be great and I will show you why.

Luke 7:28

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

The Lord is talking about the current world.  When he was on earth before the kingdom was actually established, it was at hand; it was within Israel’s reach.  That was John’s message:

Matthew 3:1-2

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

It was the Lord’s message:

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And it was the 12 apostles’ message to Israel:

Matthew 10:7

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

But it wasn’t there yet.  The Lord was trying to show the significance of actually entering into the coming kingdom.  We can see how much he exalted John’s office as a prophet when he said, ‘Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet’ and, by the way, the man himself.  Of men born of women there was not a greater man, not a greater prophet than John.  The Lord holds John in high esteem.

From the beginning of John’s ministry in the wilderness he did the will of God.  John was a godly man and he will have a great reward in the kingdom.  The Lord was trying to show, that in that current world/dispensation of his day before the kingdom which was at hand but not there yet, that John was great at the time, but that current age/world was not the issue.  The issue was to get into the kingdom.

By comparison, the Lord says that even though John was great in the current age at that time, what really mattered was getting into the kingdom.

Luke 16:16

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

He is saying that the law and the prophets were the issue in Israel until John the Baptist showed up – the voice crying in the wilderness.

Matthew 3:3

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias [Elijah], saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

He became the spirit and power of Elijah.  When he came proclaiming, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ to prepare for Messiah’s coming, he was telling Israel that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

Luke 1:17

And he [John the Baptist] shall go before him [Messiah – the Lord Jesus Christ] in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Christ is not saying that John will be the least in the kingdom.  He is saying that although in that age (when John, the Lord Jesus and the disciples were preaching the coming kingdom), John was very great; there was none greater; but by comparison the person who will be least in that kingdom will be greater than the greatest in the current age (John). By the way, the Lord actually says who will be least and great in the kingdom.

Matthew 5:19

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So here we have who will be great and who will be the least in the kingdom.  But the bigger issue is actually getting into the kingdom.  In prophecy, in order for Jews to get into the kingdom they had to continue on.  It wasn’t enough just to believe on the Lord (Messiah) even in Christ’s day nor will it be in the future after our dispensation is over; they had to and will have to endure to the end.

Matthew 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

John 8:31

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Hebrews 6:6

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

They will have to endure and not take the mark of the beast in the future as well.

Revelation 14:11

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

They can believe on the Lord Jesus as their Messiah, but when persecution comes and they flee away from him and his word, they will not get into the kingdom.

John 6:66

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

The Lord was saying that John (and all Israel) needed to get into the Kingdom.  That was the point.  The issue was not who was the greatest at that time, but who was getting into the kingdom because that man who gets into the kingdom but is the least, will be greater than even the greatest man in that current world.

Matthew 11:11-13

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

So what is the issue?  John is part of that old economy of the law and the prophets, at least until he started preaching.  But when John’s preaching of Messiah began, the kingdom of heaven became the issue.  Let’s sum it up this way:  Christ was not saying that John will be the least in the kingdom; he was saying that although John was the greatest at that time, when the earthly kingdom that Christ will set up begins (future from us; the dispensation of grace is not in view here; that was the mystery given to Paul), John still needs to get into the kingdom.  The least in that future kingdom will be greater than the greatest in the world (Israel) before the kingdom in the prophecy program.

John 3:15, 18

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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Study Bibles and Commentaries

Is there a mid-Acts study bible out there?  If not, are there any study bibles you would recommend?  I am curious because the bible you use in the videos is huge and I thought maybe it was a study bible.

Is there a mid-Acts study bible?  Not that I know of.  I have heard saints say over the years that they wish we could have a Bible with commentary notes that are Pauline dispensational.  That would be a huge endeavor.  If the Lord tarries and he is willing and gives us the time and resources to do it, I would love to undertake that project.  I would love to have a Bible to recommend that has study notes from a Pauline dispensational viewpoint.  That would be awesome!  My passion is to give people an understanding of God’s word rightly divided.  That is my number one prayer.

I am assuming that you are referring to the recordings of our assembly’s meetings on Sundays and Wednesdays.  The large-print bible I am using was a gift from my beautiful wife Krista.  It is a Keystone Giant Print Deluxe Edition bible copyright 1997 by the National Publishing Company.  It does contain maps that are helpful.

I don’t study with or preach from any bible that contains commentary.  The bible I preach from is the same bible I use for study.  But I make my own notes.  Over the years I have written my own commentary on every page of my Bible as I read through the scriptures to refresh my mind in any free time that I have.  I would need at least a year to go through those notes in my bible and write commentary for a mid-Acts dispensational study bible.  My notes are made from my own understanding of the rightly divided, Pauline, mid-Acts, dispensational point of view. 

For example, if I am reading something in Genesis, I will read it with an understanding of the mystery, the dispensation of grace, and Pauline right division.

Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Other commentaries and study bibles don’t do that.  They might give you a good explanation of a passage, but they won’t do it in light of the Pauline revelation.  That is what we need.  We need to rightly divide the word and understand it from that perspective.

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

So we need to know the bible from a Pauline, dispensational viewpoint.  Maybe one day I will be free to write a commentary from that perspective for a study bible.  I have learned over the years in ministry that I don’t like to have my mind affected by other peoples’ commentary – particularly by those who don’t rightly divide the word.  Most ‘study bibles’ are obviously not dispensational.  I like to keep my mind pure. 

Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalm 119:140

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

I don’t want it affected by what some ‘scholar’ says.  Not that they are all bad.  Sometimes I will read them, but only after I have studied a passage or topic exhaustively and come to an understanding of it.  So the Bible I use for preaching and study has no study notes, no margin notes, no reference verses or anything other as a study aid.  It is just the pure King James Bible – the perfect word of God for English-speaking people.

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Another bible that I use is a Zondervan KJB Study Bible.  It has study notes that I rarely look at; but it is small and easy to use as I answer questions by audio and video.  When I prepare for these Q&A’s, I use a King James Bible on the computer that has a search feature to find where a word is used in Scripture (such as BibleGateway.com).  It is a helpful study tool.  But when I read and study I use the bible I teach and preach from that has no study notes or cross references.  I know right division; I know how to handle scripture now as a workman, so I gain more understanding by studying that way.

After I have exhausted a subject in my own understanding I can then read a commentary, and if it agrees with what I see, it is good; but if it doesn’t, I take it with a grain of salt and go with what I see from scripture.  With the Spirit of God and with a heart that desires to understand our Father’s word; through prayer, much study and built up understanding of doctrine in my soul over the past couple of decades, I trust my understanding of God’s word more than I do commentaries. 

1 Corinthians 2:13

… which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I have learned some things from them such as geography in the Middle East, But when it comes to doctrine, study notes and commentaries are not very helpful.

The best study bible that I have seen is the KJB Scofield Reference Bible.  Scofield introduces the Pauline epistles that follow the book of Acts (Romans through Philemon) by stating that they alone are exclusively for the body of Christ today for doctrine and for our walk, etc.  He says this but he doesn’t teach this way in his study notes.  He understands a little bit about Paul’s epistles being for the body of Christ in this present dispensation of grace.

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Colossians 1:25-26

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

I listen to other brothers and we have Q&A’s.  I am very edified by all the questions I receive from people.  Our assembly has at least an hour of Q&A on Wednesday nights as well as on Sunday mornings.  I am edified by all those things and they each play a part in my understanding. 

Hopefully this helps!  

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No need to reinvent the wheel!

In my view, it is better to use the English King James Bible to translate the Bible into other languages, since it is the preserved word from the original languages.  But could one translate from the Textus Receptus and the KJB and achieve identical translations?  This is an issue I am unsure about and would appreciate your input.

I agree that it is better to translate directly from the King James Bible.  When we talk about the Bible in English, we’re referring to the Authorized Version (the Textus Receptus) as the text for the King James Bible.  The KJB is used to make translations into other languages because it is the perfectly preserved word from the original languages.  What we have in English is exactly what was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek.

One could use either the Textus Receptus or the KJB to translate into another language, but remember that the King James translators were a group of 40+ men.  Each one was a believer and a scholar in the original languages.  For an individual to translate from the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greeks texts today, it would be almost impossible even if he knew all three languages. 

The safety of the King James translators was that they were scores of believers with a heart to get the scriptures translated into English.  They had the backing of the king (who was also a believer), so there was no hindrance.  This was their charge from the king with his authority.  There was safety in their numbers.  Each group would translate a section and the other groups would check their work, so their work was purified.  You can’t have that with only one person translating.

Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

I could type something right now and read it myself and miss mistakes.  My wife could read it and find some typos.  Someone else could read it after her and find even more errors.  It could be proofread seven times.  If seven different people read it with the same understanding and knowledge that I have, the final product would be the best it could be.  The same applies to having a group of translators who check each other’s work.

If a brother in the Lord knows the original languages perfectly he could use the Textus Receptus to translate from those languages into a modern language.  But why reinvent the wheel when we already have the King James Bible in English?  The work has already been done by those translators in the 1600’s.  If he is bilingual and speaks English, he doesn’t need to learn Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to be able to translate into a second language.  He could if he wanted to take the time to do it, but it would be foolishness because skilled men have already done that.

Why not just take the English KJB and translate it word for word into the other language?  Appreciate the work that those men did because we can trust the King James Bible.  It is the preserved word of God for English speaking people.  So it is not necessary to go back to the original languages to translate the Bible into any language spoken today.  God wants us to have all his word and a translator today would have to know three (ancient) languages if they were to translate directly from the Textus Receptus.

English is understood all around the world.  There are even signs written in English in many countries.  God in his providence knew what he was doing when those men translated his word into English.  It was perfect timing because English would become the most popular language in the world.

I know a brother in the Lord who learned about right division and the grace of God here in America.  He took the KJB back to his country and translated it into his own language and is now collecting money to help print Bibles.  He translated the King James English word for word.

So the best way to make translations today is to use the King James Bible.  Like a relay race at the Olympics – just pick up the baton from the KJB translators and continue on.  Why run the whole race from the beginning all by yourself? 

Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!

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"Without the camp" and into the Body?

Someone I know and respect has the belief that any Little Flock members who were alive in 70 AD when Hebrews was written were told to go without the camp and become a part of the body of Christ.  I asked if that wouldn't preclude the twelve from sitting on 12 thrones in the Kingdom (assuming any were still alive in 70 AD) and he said it wouldn’t. What are your thoughts on that?

Hebrews 13:13

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

First of all, that is assuming that Hebrews was written in 70 AD.  I wouldn’t battle over that but I think it was written earlier than that.  My personal belief is that when Paul wrote 2 Timothy, which would be about 66 – 68 AD right before he died, it was the last book of scripture written.  But I won’t battle over that.  People think that Revelation was written as late as 95 AD.  Hebrews was definitely written during the Acts period and before the temple was destroyed.  The Hebrews were obviously worshipping in that which was about to be abolished.

Hebrews 10:11

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Hebrews 13:10-11

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

So the temple was still standing when Hebrews was written.

Secondly, going without the camp was not about ‘becoming a part of the body of Christ.’  It refers to continuing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and not becoming a part of the unbelievers in Israel.

‘Going without the camp’ refers to what happened to the Lord when they cast him out of Jerusalem to be stoned.  The Hebrews also cast Stephen outside of the city to be stoned. 

Acts 7:58

And cast him [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Going without the camp meant rejection by the mainstream of Israel.  The Little Flock was going against the grain by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; but it definitely does not mean that they became part of the body of Christ.  Someone can become part of the body of Christ only one way: through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross for their sins. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  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:

That was not the message that God gave the Little Flock.  They were to believe that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God.  That is what made them part of the Little Flock.

John 6:69

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

There were at least some of the apostles who were still alive in 70 AD such as James the brother of John – one of the original twelve apostles during the Lord’s earthly ministry.  We know John was alive.  They kept trying to kill Peter but God kept him alive.  He had a significant writing ministry late in his life, particularly 2 Peter.  But none of the Little Flock became members of the body of Christ and I will tell you why.

Let’s say that the twelve and all the remaining members of the Little Flock who were still alive when the book of Hebrews was written (which was probably a significant number) all went into the body of Christ – then who would fulfill their purpose in the Kingdom?  God’s purpose for the Little Flock (the believing remnant of Israel – those who were believing on Jesus Christ when Paul was saved and the dispensation of grace began) is to have them judge Israel in the Kingdom.

Romans 11:7

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election [the Little Flock of believers] hath obtained it [the kingdom], and the rest [unbelievers in Israel] were blinded.

They are all dead and with the Lord and will come back with him at his second coming (not for the body of Christ but for Israel and to set up his throne on this earth) and they will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 

Luke 22:30

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

They could not be in the body of Christ because our sphere of influence is the heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:6

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

The body of Christ goes up to the heavenly places and we stay there to rule God’s kingdom in the heavens for all eternity.

1 Corinthians 6:3

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life

God would not promise the twelve and all the other members of the Little Flock that they would sit with him in his kingdom here on the earth if it was not going to happen.

Luke 12:32

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

That is their calling and their hope.  We have to rightly divide the word of truth and understand Paul’s ministry.  If we do, we will understand that every member of the body of Christ (beginning with Paul) will serve God in the heavenly places.  So all the Jews who were believing on Jesus Christ as their Messiah before Paul was saved got into the kingdom and they could cease from their own works; but until that time they had to continue on in faith and works.

John 8:31

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Once Paul was saved, God dealt with everyone who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ based upon grace; but that didn’t mean that the Little Flock became members of the body of Christ because God has a purpose for them.  The twelve apostles and all the Little Flock will serve God in his kingdom on this earth.  That is their calling.  When you rightly divide the word of truth, you see that members of the church the body of Christ have a heavenly calling.  If any member of the Little Flock at any time became a member of the body of Christ, it would mean that they will rule and reign in the heavenly places (and not in the earthly kingdom).  Every member of the body of Christ will be in the heavens.   Again, that would take them away from what God originally called them to do in serving him in the kingdom on this earth.

If the twelve went into the body, how would they sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel here on this earth?  That is their calling and their hope.  We must understand the Pauline revelation of the Mystery and the calling of the body of Christ.  Compare and contrast the book of Ephesians (the calling of the church the body of Christ) with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and understand that the Little Flock has a place in the kingdom on this earth.  The body of Christ has a place in the kingdom in the heavenly places.

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

In Ephesians Paul says that the way God is going to fill the heavenly places that Christ may be all in all is through the church the body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:20-23

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

In summary we, as members of the body of Christ, are going to be in the heavens, and if the members of the Little Flock became members of the body, they would also have to go into the heavens because that is the purpose for the church the body of Christ which is created by God to rule and reign and serve him in the heavens.  But in order to fulfill their calling as judges, leaders, rulers and elders in Israel in the earthly kingdom they could not have become members of the body.

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You cannot use your mind in a greater capacity than to think upon the word of God and to have him in all your thoughts, so thank you for your question.  I love questions.  They keep me sharp and thinking about God’s word.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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