Plucking the Eagle's Wings

2001 to 2008 and the Fullness of the Gentiles

to explain how God would transfer His blessings from the nation of Israel to another nation that would bring forth fruit in its season (Matthew 21:43). I have shown how the British lion symbolically represents America being birthed by England, and how America has been the leading Gentile nation in terms of proclaiming the Gospel for over 225 years. Paul used the analogy of the olive tree to represent Israel, and the grafting of a new branch onto the olive tree to represent the Gentile church. When the fullness of the Gentiles is complete, the Gentile branch will be removed and replaced by the original, natural Jewish branch. Israel and the Church When God made a covenant with Abraham, He promised Abraham many children. In fact, Abraham's descendants would be a group so large in number that it would compare to the number of "the stars of heaven and the sand which is upon the sea shore" (Genesis 22:17). This promise revealed that through Abraham, God would produce a natural seed (Israel) through Isaac and a heavenly seed (the church) through Christ. The sand symbolizes Israel and the stars represent the church. There are five different factors that distinguish the earthly and the heavenly seed of Abraham: • Israel was given earthly promises, and the Gentile church is given heavenly promises. • Israel was promised an earthly kingdom, and the church was promised a spiritual kingdom. • Israel will rule from an earthly Jerusalem, and the church will rule from a heavenly Jerusalem. • Israel is the theme of the old covenant, and the church is the theme of the new covenant. • Israel is promised the Second Coming of Christ, and the church is promised the Rapture. Israel, God's original vineyard, was given the responsibility of following the Law, along with the institution of Divine service in the Tabernacle and the Temple. For centuries, Israel was a fruitful, spiritual nation. By the time of Christ, religion was formalized and powerless. Traditions of men had replaced the truth, and Temple services became

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