Dear Friends,
There are some interesting difference with the Church and Israel. One interesting aspect of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes is that they counted the men, but not the women or children. Jesus performed feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000, before he was crucified, so it was in a Jewish context. In that context, the counts were by men. Counting men only is a Jewish/Middle Eastern concept. That implies there are more women and children besides. In the Middle Eastern culture women are treated like cattle or worse. That is something that is sickening to a biblical Christian, where wives are to be loved to the point of death if needed. How much did Christ love the Church? He willingly died for us.
Jhn 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.
God is your Father, the Church being the Bride of Christ. In Christ, men and women are equal. We of course are different physically, and have different roles, but neither is less. All are children of God.
In contrast in the Jewish culture women aren't counted.
Mat 14:21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Mat 15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Jesus preached to a Jewish audience, before the cross, so there are an unspecified number of additional individuals.
In contrast, Galatians is addressed to a church. Letters addressed to a chuch also collectively are addressed to the Church. We know Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Gal 3:27-29 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
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.
And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It was Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah that did open the window of opporutnity for the Church. That window has been open for nearly 2000 years. The interesting thing about the 144,000 is they are all Jewish males from the 12 tribes. After the Church is gathered, the old method of counting returns.
May the Lord bless you as you study his Word,
theophilos
There are some interesting difference with the Church and Israel. One interesting aspect of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes is that they counted the men, but not the women or children. Jesus performed feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000, before he was crucified, so it was in a Jewish context. In that context, the counts were by men. Counting men only is a Jewish/Middle Eastern concept. That implies there are more women and children besides. In the Middle Eastern culture women are treated like cattle or worse. That is something that is sickening to a biblical Christian, where wives are to be loved to the point of death if needed. How much did Christ love the Church? He willingly died for us.
Jhn 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.
God is your Father, the Church being the Bride of Christ. In Christ, men and women are equal. We of course are different physically, and have different roles, but neither is less. All are children of God.
In contrast in the Jewish culture women aren't counted.
Mat 14:21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Mat 15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Jesus preached to a Jewish audience, before the cross, so there are an unspecified number of additional individuals.
In contrast, Galatians is addressed to a church. Letters addressed to a chuch also collectively are addressed to the Church. We know Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Gal 3:27-29 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
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.
And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It was Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah that did open the window of opporutnity for the Church. That window has been open for nearly 2000 years. The interesting thing about the 144,000 is they are all Jewish males from the 12 tribes. After the Church is gathered, the old method of counting returns.
May the Lord bless you as you study his Word,
theophilos
| 1Th 3:12 "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you:" |



