Publisher's Synopsis
The text reveals that the United Kingdom of David is, in reality, the Tabernacle of David. The "Jerusalem Council" in Acts 15:6-29 deliberated upon the incursion of the Nations (aka Gentiles) into the early Ekklesia. "Certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'" (Acts 15:1). Peter contended that such a "yoke" placed upon ethnic believers coming into the Ekklesia from among the nations were not able to bear such a yoke--even, Peter said, our forefathers could not bear such (he was likely alluding to the "Breach of Jeroboam" in which the "yoke" was resoundingly rejected by the 10 Northern Tribes; consequently, the 10 Northern Tribes (aka Israel, Jezreel, Samaria, Ephraim) broke away from Judah (this was a divinely orchestrated division due to King Solomon's idolatry). However, the 10 Northern Tribes refused to keep Jerusalem/Zion as their center of worship and established foreign gods (cows) in Ephraim and in Dan to be their centers of worship. Eventually, James concluded the matters by citing Amos 9:11-12 as the immediate fulfillment of that prophecy to be what was happening there and then in the early Ekklesia - it was not a "taste" of future millenarian bliss as some evangelical commentators presume but an immediate fulfillment of Amos' prophecy, to wit: "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David [aka United Kingdom of David], which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind [lit. "Edom" as per Amos 9:12; likewise the Septuagint Version] may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles [aka "the nations"] who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things.'" (Acts 15:15-17)The test is in keeping with the current outburst of Commonwealth Theology sweeping the Church proposing that the "extremes" of Reform/Catholic Theology which claim that they exclusively are the Israel of God and Evangelical Dispensationalism which claims they have nothing to do with Israel since the Church is shrouded in Mystery and is wholly apart and separated from Israel of the earth/flesh - both are outside the real meaning of THE ISRAEL OF GOD (Gal. 6) and ALL ISRAEL (Rom. 11). Ephraim was "swallowed up" of the nations/Assyrian Empire according to Hosea 8. What happened to these "Ten Lost Tribes?" They became a bridge to the Gentiles, to the Nations into which they were assimilated; only to be found by the Great Shepherd of the Sheep who was sent to them for their redemption and inclusion, once again, into the very Commonwealth of Israel. This text goes into critical detail in fulfillment the accounting which took place in John 11:49-52: "And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE, and not that the whole nation should perish.' Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year HE PROPHESIED that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of god who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called EPHRAIM, and there remained with His disciples" (John 11:49-54). What was happening here was extrapolated by John, the apostle, to be a major prophetic fulfillment. The crucifixion of Christ would not only provide salvation through His death but bring God's children together who were scattered abroad into ONE! This is the COMPLETE GOSPEL message: Personal Salvation to all who would call upon the Lord through His death and ultimate resurrection and Peace between hostile peoples!
