In Jane Lead's messages to the Philadelphia Society in the years surrounding 1700, this spiritual alchemist prophesied a future time when all the denominations would come together as one and be viewed corporately as Babylon, which she identified as the Woman of Revelation 12. After a time, there would begin a continuing exodus from these churches. In effect, this Woman would experience a slow death as her numbers became less, while those coming out would begin to form a manchild, a new, single spiritual entity. By her death, she would at the same time be giving birth to this manchild. Lead spoke of this future event concerning the denominations in terms we are familiar with today: the coming down of the walls that separated these churches. The child to whom this Woman would give birth was a corporate "he" who would rise to rule the nations.

Shockingly, but maybe not really, Lead also prophesied that the catalyst for the rise of this spiritual entity would be a type of the biblical ABRAHAM AND SARAH, the birth parents of the true Isaac in the Old Testament.

All of this describes our situation today. To the "revivalist" leadership, the denominations are Babylon, now tearing down their walls for the sake of unity, and the thousands who are coming out are giving birth to a new spiritual entity. The Woman is dying, but a child is being born out of that death. A major part of our protection against being deceived into this "global church" movement is to know the truth of what Scripture says regarding the Church and Israel in the last days. Paul said that God is not done with natural Israel, but he also said that those who are in Christ are "of the household of God" (Ephesians 2). The main difference between the "new" Israel of the "revival" and the "household of God" as described in Ephesians 2 is this:

• the "new" Israel - the "revival" proposes to conquer the world for Christ, as Christ, in His power, name and authority and take back the earth for Him

• the true "household of God" (as opposed to the "revival version") - the Church will obediently wait for the return of the true Jesus Christ after the tribulation period, when by His power and authority He will conquer and rule over the nations personally as Lord of lords and King of kings

The mention of the various Israels can be confusing. The word of God speaks of Israel in different contexts, while others have used the word in new forms outside the context of Scripture. The various forms we hear about today are:

1. Natural Israel who won't believe (those who do not believe in Christ, and won't even to the end [2/3]). This is Scriptural.

   (Rom 2:28-29 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

   (Zec 13:8 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

   (Rom 11:23-26 KJV) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. . . . {25} For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

2. The Remnant who will believe (natural Israel which accepts Christ at the end of Daniel's 70th week [1/3]). This is Scriptural.

   (Zec 13:8 KJV) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

   (Zec 12:10 KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

   (Rev 1:7 KJV) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

3. The "household of God" or The Church (those [both Jew and Gentile] who do believe in Christ). This is Scriptural.

   (Rom 2:29 KJV) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

4. The "New" Israel (the Latter Rain "Israel") This is not Scriptural.(1)

   This is built on a foundation of a "new" Abraham and a "new," redefined, Abrahamic Covenant. It appears that this redefined covenant opened the door for John Wimber's "new" Israel to take the Abrahamic (Toronto) Blessing to the nations, so that ALL peoples become "Israel" and have dominion over the earth.

It's undeniable that the true, natural Jews are being gathered to Israel in these times. God purposed that they would be gathered so that He could show them His salvation one last time before the age comes to an end. He's still their God and is still calling to them, but man-made doctrines are confusing this true gathering. Some, for example, teach wrongly that the Gentile nations are really Jews because of intermarriage. But God knows who are true Jews and who are not, and we can trust Him to gather them as promised in spite of any deceptions which may try to cloud the picture. We need to watch and pray for Israel and the Jews who need to be gathered, and also for the remnant that God says He will preserve. God has preserved them for 2000 years during the dispersion and He has not cast them off.

Most important to discerning such false movements is to first know the truth of what Scripture says and to cling to it. Sometimes the confusion is too great to do otherwise, because groups within these false movements don't all agree with one another, and individuals within the groups also disagree. It's best to know that the various movements exist, emphasize the truth of Scripture and be discerning.

In this series I will discuss the Latter Rain's contention that God is supposedly done dealing with "old" Israel, and that the Latter Rain movement is the "new" Israel through whom God will unite all humanity. Because I have a little research experience on the subject, I want to build on what I have written in the past so that we can understand the "revival" in its proper context. This series is not a "deep" exposition of the "revival," but simply an accounting of the foundations on which I believe it has grown.

I'll be exposing the "revival's" ties to various untruths, and also be taking a look at the true Church, the remnant, the Gentiles and natural Israel in regard to what place each has in God's bringing the times to final fruition. It is necessary to repeat myself through some rewriting of old material because what I believe the Lord showed me to expose in the past has been right, and current events are building on that. This "new" Israel is based on the establishment of a "new" Abraham, a "new" (redefined) set of promises, a "new" Isaac, and a "new" (redefined) Abrahamic Covenant. This deception will continue to be very attractive in the days ahead.

I believe that who the Church is, and who Israel is, are only two of the areas of contention we will face before the global church rises to power. Hopefully this series will give us some stability in entering those times by pulling together past information and some new facts that will aid our discernment. And hopefully, it will keep us clinging to the truth as it is in Christ as these days descend upon us.

End of Introduction.

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