The Subjects
of the Kingdom
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Christ’s
Earthly Ministry to Literal Israel
To whom did Jesus
first send the twelve disciples?
“These twelve
Jesus sent out with the following
instructions: “Do not go
among the Gentiles or enter any town
of the Samaritans. Go
rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Matthew 10:5,6.
When the woman of
Canaan came to Christ, beseeching Him
to heal her daughter, what did He
say?
“He answered, “I
was sent only to the lost sheep of
Israel.” Matthew
15:24.
When she persisted
in her request, and fell down to
worship Him, what did He say?
“He replied, “It
is not right to take the
children’s bread and toss it to
their dogs.”
Verse 26.
Note – By her
persistent faith, this woman,
although a Canaanite, showed that she
was really a true child of Abraham.
While dining with
Zacchaeus, what did Christ say?
“Jesus said to
him, “Today salvation has
come to this house, because
this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Luke 19:9.
What did He say to
the woman of Samaria as to the source
of salvation?
“You
Samaritans worship what you do not
know; we worship what we do know, for
salvation is from the Jews.”
John 4:22.
Gentiles Become
Spiritual Israelites
When the Jews
rejected Paul’s preaching of the
gospel, what did Paul and Barnabas
say?
“Then Paul and
Barnabus answered them boldly:
‘We had to speak the word of God
to you first. Since you reject it and
do not consider yourselves worthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the
Gentiles.” Acts 13:46.
Note – From all
this it is plain that had not the
Jews as a nation rejected Christ,
they still would have maintained the
preeminence as the children of God,
and as God’s light bearers to
the world. But because of this
rejection, they were rejected as
God’s peculiar people, and
others took their place, and now bear
the name of Israel in common
with those who were first called by
that name.
Under what figure
are the Gentile believers represented
who have become a part of the true
Israel of God?
“And some of the
branches have been broken off, and
you, though a wild olive shoot,
have been grafted in among the others
and now share in the nourishing sap
from the olive root, do not boast
over those branches. If you do,
consider this: You do not support the
root, but the root supports
you.” Romans 11:17,18.
Lest the Gentile
grafts should boast, saying that the
Jews were broken off to let them come
in, what warning was given them?
“Granted. But
they were broken off because of
unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do
not be arrogant, but be afraid.
For if God did not spare the natural
branches, he will not spare you
either.” Verses 20,21.
What encouragement
is held out concerning the branches
that have been broken off?
“And if they do
not persist in unbelief, they will
be grafted in, for God is able to
graft them in again.” Verse
23.
Before the Gentiles
become Israelites, in what condition
are they?
“Therefore,
remember that formerly you who are
Gentiles by birth and called
“Uncircumcised” by those
who call themselves “the
circumcision” (that done in the
body by the hands of man) - remember
that at that time you were separate
from Christ, excluded from
citizenship in Israel and foreigners
to the covenants of the promise,
without hope and without God in the
world.” Ephesians 2:11,12.
God’s Last-Day
Remnant People
How are God’s
remnant people described?
“This calls for
patient endurance on the part of the
saints who obey God’s
commandments and remain faithful to
Jesus. Revelation 14:12.
Whose names are in
the foundation of the Holy City?
“The wall of the
city had twelve foundations, and on
them were the names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.”
Revelation 21:14.
Whose names are on
the twelve gates of the city?
“It had a great,
high wall with twelve gates, and with
twelve angels at the gates. On the
gates were written the names of the
twelve tribes of Israel.”
Verse 12.
Who will walk in
the light of the city?
“The nations
will walk by its light, and the kings
of the earth will bring their
splendor into it.” Verse 24.
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