The Constituents of the Kingdom of God

Melchizedek (King of Righteousness, King of Peace [Salem]) Serving “Bread & Wine” to Abram after the “Battle of the Nine Kings” atop Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem

It is understood concerning both the constituents and the polity/administration of the Kingdom of God, as seen in Scripture, is comprised of all those willingly coming under the authority of the Almighty; and that both Testaments (viz. the First and New Covenants) affirm the administration/jurisdiction of that Kingdom to be under the headship of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (aka Yeshua Hamashiach)—past, present and future unto the literal reign of the Son of David, the Root of Jesse, the Bright and Morning Star:

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches (aka, “ekklesia”). I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16). “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:” (Matt. 1:1) “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd . . . and My servant David shall be their prince forever . . . Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore” (Ezk. 37:24-28 excerpts). (See also: Matt. 15:22; 21:9; Mark 10:48; 12:35; Jo. 7:42; Rev. 5:5)

Likewise, we are keenly aware that prior to Abraham there were those who in conscience followed the Lord and found “grace [or “favor] in His sight” (e.g., Noah – Gen. 6:8); then from Abraham onward those who would be considered His elect (ultimately including Israel – both Judah and Ephraim/Israel) – were chosen by the Almighty to express His Covenant upon the earth as found in Deuteronomy 12:2:

“For you are a holy people to YHWH your God, and God has chosen you to be his treasured people from all the nations that are on the face of the earth.” “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be called Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you” (Gen. 17:5-7). OF KINGS AND KINGDOMS Ultimately, the Almighty’s “elect” – those so “chosen” would constitute on the earth THE UNITED KINGDOM OF DAVID as seen in Samuel’s text (1 and 2 Samuel). All twelve tribes of Israel were united under King David (1 Kings 2:11 – 7 years King David reigned over the 12 Tribes in Hebron and 33 years over the 12 Tribes in the City of David, Jerusalem). However, prior to this time, there were most definitely the “Kingdoms of this world” (Revelation 11:15); most obvious, was King Amraphel who was the first “king” mentioned in Scripture (Gen. 14:1, 9).

Thus, it was, upon the scene of fallen man, Babylon the Great’s association with “king of Babylon” entered the record—although Nimrod, that “mighty hunter against the Lord”, advanced the concept of the “kingdoms of this world” upon the plains of Shinar in Genesis 10:8.

It was he (king Amraphel) who was identified as the “king of Shinar” who invaded Canaan during Abraham’s time. “Shinar” was the region surrounding Babylon – the original home of Noah’s sons and where the Tower of Babel was built by Nimrod (Gen. 10:0; 11:2-9). How fitting then that “Amraphel” means “powerful people” (Strong’s P. 13/Names)[i] – or better yet: “Power to the People” - for it was the people who first, under Nimrod’s inspiration, built a tower to reach into the heavens in their quest to open a “gate” uniting earth and heaven, thereby breaking the dimensional divide:

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another (i.e., the PEOPLE), ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered aboard over the face of the whole earth’” (Gen. 11:1-4).

Yes, it was Nimrod who initiated the “kingdoms of this world” for we read: “Cush (the son of Ham – who also begat Canaan who was cursed in the “exposure” of Noah’s nakedness) begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before (lit. “against”) the LORD; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.’ And the BEGINNING OF HIS KINGDOM WAS BABEL, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of SHINAR” (Gen. 10:8-10).

In Hebrew, the terms “Babylon” and “Babel” are intrinsically joined to such an extent that there is but one word for both of them (Babylon is Babel and Babel is Babylon). Therefore, Babel/Babylon upon the Plains of Shinar became associated with KINGDOM, whose “Mighty Hunter” was Nimrod its defacto King but was through this “powerful people” that KING Amraphel of SHINAR (King of Babylon) invaded the ultimate Promised Land with a direct assault against Abraham (Abram – Gen. 14:1-17). This King of Babylon (aka Shinar – King Amraphel) was united with other kings (Arioch, king of Ellasar; king Chedorlaomer [ancient Persia or Elam], king Tidal [king of nations]) – these four kings fought against the five kings of Canaan (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela) but these five kings were facing defeat until Abram “came to the rescue” for Abram “heard that his brother [Lot] had been taken captive by the four kings; therefore, he rose up and defeated them. The titles given these four kings, defeated by Abram, were seen headed up by the King of Persia (Chedorlaomer—Gen. 14:5), along with king Amraphel of Babylon/Shinar and by Title, King of Nations (Strong’s H#1471 or Goiim/Goim – i.e., “Gentiles”) and, finally, the king of Ellasar, king Arioch (also located in Babylon).

Consequently, we could readily say that the King of Babylon (Amraphel) – the Gentiles (Tidal – of “nations”) – was defeated by God’s chosen, Abram (Gen. 15 – via “blood covenant”), in the “Battle of the Kings of this World.” It is immediately after Abram’s victory over these kings and their kingdoms, if you would, Abram is greeted by another figure. This figure is the antithesis of the Kingdoms of this World, for he is MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM who greets Abram atop Mt. Moriah where Solomon’s Temple was to be built—the same geological formation where Golgotha, the place of the skull, where Jesus was crucified. This Melchizedek “brought out bread and wine (to offer to Abram); he (Melchizedek) was the priest of God Most High . . . and he blessed him (Abram) and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of HEAVEN and EARTH; and blessed be God Most High Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he (Abram) gave him (Melchizedek) a tithe of all” (Gen. 14:18-20).

Allow me to insert this observation: This Melchizedek announces “God Most High, possessor of Heaven and Earth” to Abram. This “possessor” who alone occupies and unites heaven and earth can be seen in Jacob’s Ladder described in John 1:51 whereupon Nathanael was told by Yeshua:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” – that dimensional divide is shattered only by the Son of Man (ascending – bringing Man into God; viz. earth) and Son of God (descending – bringing God into Man; viz. heaven) . . . for initially He, the Lord Jesus, was acclaimed by Nathanael as: “You are the Son of God! (bringing God to man – heavenly) – You are the King of Israel!” (bringing Man to God – earthly) (John 1:49).

Therefore, this Melchizedek, blessed Abram in the Name of the God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, Who delivered the enemies of Abram into his hand; yes, this Melchizedek (Grk. Form “Melchisedec”) whose priestly “order” (Psa. 110:4) is amplified in the book of Hebrews to be none other than:

“So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek, of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:5-11). “Where the forerunner has entered for us [into the Holiest of All], even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:20). Yet, this High Priest, Melchizedek, is likewise KING of Salem (Peace) and KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, FIRST being translated (i.e., the name “Melchizedek”) ‘king of righteousness,’ and then also king of Salem, meaning ‘king of peace,’ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like the son of God, remains a priest continually” (Heb. 7:1-3). We must elaborate upon this KING-PRIEST, Melchizedek for He supersedes the priesthood of Levi for: “Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him” (Heb. 7:10) – i.e., Levi, via Abraham, paid tithes to Melchizedek! Consequently, “Perfection” cannot be obtained through the Levitical priesthood: “. . . (for under it the people received the law, what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He (Melchizedek) of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which NO MAN has officiated at the altar . . . For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (Heb. 7:11-17). To suggest that this KING-PRIEST (Melchizedek) reigns over a Kingdom is no conjecture—it is a phenomenal, glorious, divine fact – for now we see, where Paul could say to the saints in Rome in that he knew full-well the superiority of the New Covenant (Better Covenant—Heb. 7:22) over the First Covenant ( – “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Heb. 7:19 and Heb. 9:15—First Covenant). Yes, that “Better Covenant, New Covenant, Better Hope was secured by the very Blood of the Everlasting Covenant (Heb. 13:20-21) – the PERFECT SACRIFICE for Sin to suffice the righteous requirements of the Law by Him Who alone is King of Righteousness, King of Peace (Heb. 9:11-15); therefore, foreseen after the defeat of the Kingdoms of this World – Babylon/Babel/the Nations – we view the Kingdom of God: “For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not eating and drinking, but RIGHTEOUSNESS (King of Righteousness) and peace (King of Salem) and joy in the Holy Spirit (the expression or manifestation of the Kingdom of God in GLORY)” (Romans 14:17). Likewise, to proffer the notion that the Kingdoms of this World seen in the context of the King of Babylon/Nations is in direct opposition – arrayed in battle – against the King of Righteousness, King of Salem – is no quantum leap or conjecture—it’s a fight to the finish—the “battle of the nine kings”. It is noteworthy that Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (ancient Persia/today’s Western Iran) who led the armies of the four kings arrayed against the five kings (Abraham sided with the five kings against these four kings), most likely can be identified with “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.” This principality withstood the angel Gabriel for twenty-one days – whereupon “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia . . . Now I have come to make you (Daniel) understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (Dan. 10:13-14). Behind Chedorlaomer, King of Elam/Persia (“servant of the deity Lagamar”) was, undoubtedly, this “Prince of Persia” resisting the interpretations of the visions given to Daniel by the Archangel Gabriel—so entangled are the “Principalities and Powers” behind the “rulers of this age” (1 Cor. 2:8). Indeed, the battle of the kings persists to this day, along with the formidable “principalities and powers in high places” – those “powers of darkness” who inspire and direct warfare against the saints of the Most High (Eph. 6:10-13) in their vain efforts to thwart the Kingdom of God whose constituents, led by father Abraham, arise to battle these “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” . . . with “the whole armor of God” . . . enabling them “to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13). This is but a glimpse taken from that original warfare with the kings of Babylon and Persia vs. Abraham, the father of faith who believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness (Rom. 4:1-12; Gen. 15:16). We are of the faith of Abraham who is the “father of all who believe” (Rom. 4:13, 18-21). Know this: The Battle is the Lord’s Who comes in celebration as our Melchizedek to administer to us the symbols of the New Covenant – the Bread and the Wine (Gen. 14:18), to sustain in the warfare, to wit:“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins’” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Christ is after the Order of Melchizedek - Hebrew 7:1-10

By “eating and drinking” of His body and His blood – we are refreshed from the “battle of the kings” – we are nourished by His Life, served by our Melchizedek—King of Righteousness, King of Peace—our KING-PRIEST—by His Royalty, His Priestly covering and supply. Seemingly, I have had to lay the foundation of the past, unto the present Kingdom of God, and of the struggles with those earthly and heavenly powers which inhibit the manifestation and reign of the Kingdom of God. THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD The United Kingdom of David was, during the reign of King David, comprised of all the 12 Tribes of Israel – the 2 of Judah (Judah and Benjamin) and the 10 Tribes of the North (aka Israel, Ephraim, Jezreel, Samaria). Ostensibly there were three kings initially within the United Kingdom with the center of worship at Mt. Zion, Jerusalem, and ultimately, the Solomonic Temple. Saul, David and Solomon, oversaw the expansion of the Kingdom – whereas, after the “Breach of Jeroboam” the United Kingdom was broken up so that 19 kings of Israel (the northern tribes) and 20 kings of Judah (the southern tribes) – 42 kings in all, reigned from 1045 BC unto 929 BC (Saul, David, and Solomon – 120 years 6 months) – and from 929 BC to 721 BC (the kings of Israel-Ephraim – 208 years) – and from 929 BC to 586 BC (the kings of Judah-Israel – 343 years) or together, the reign of the Kings of Israel was from 1045 BC unto 586 BC, some 459 years.[i] Here, we use the “traditional dates” of the demise of Samaria (10 Northern Tribes) capital in 721 BC and the 9th of Av destruction of the Solomonic Temple in 586 BC for Judah. The massive deportation of the 10 Northern Tribes commenced cir. 745 BC and persisted under Assyrian domination[ii] for some 33 years unto the defeat of King Sennacherib’s Assyrian horde of some 185,000 at the gates of Jerusalem by the Angel of the Lord cir. 712 BC (2 Chron. 32: 20-23; 2 Kings 19:35-37) during the reign of Judah’s King Hezekiah. The 10 Northern Tribes were NOT swallowed up by Judah but, according to Hosea, were assimilated among the Nations of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires: “Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them . . . the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces . . . aliens would swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the Gentiles (aka “nations”) like a vessel in which is no pleasure. For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers. Yes, though they have hired among the nations, now I will gather them; and they shall sorrow a little, because of the burden (lit. “the oracle or proclamation”) of the king of princes” (Hosea 8:5-10, excerpts). Thus, Israel (the 10 Northern Tribes) played the “harlot against God” (Hos. 9:1); indeed: “My God will cast them away, because they did not obey Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations” (Hos. 9:17). Israel’s Ten Northern Tribes were given a “certificate of divorce” – whereas Judah was not divorced; however, Israel, because the LORD had said “I am married to you” was promised He would regathered them because “I am merciful,” says the Lord . . . “I will not remain angry forever” (Jer. 3:6-14, excerpts). Yes, the constitutes of the Kingdom were scattered to the four winds of the earth, divorced due to her adulterous behavior, but would be extended mercy by the Almighty, for though she was a sinning harlot, yet He had betrothed her forever and would find a way to remarry her based on Paul’s revelation of the mystery kept hidden from ages past but now revealed as mercy was extended beyond the Law of Moses, to wit: “Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” (Rom. 7:1-4). The man Israel-Ephraim married was none other than the RESURRECTED CHRIST – He is Jehovah (YHWH) of the First Covenant – His law could not be broken; therefore, He, as her first husband, had to die, so that she would cease from adultery, and be married to another, yes, her first husband for He would NOT break His marriage vow—“to Him who was raised from the dead!” When I first saw this through Dr. Douglas Hamp’s outstanding presentation of Israel’s divorce and remarriage to the resurrected Christ[iii], I was dumbfounded . . . think of what the hosts of heaven pondered this most imponderable act of mercy! “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD . . . It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer,’ says the LORD; ‘I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel (the 10 Northern Tribes; meaning: “God will sow”). Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’” (Hosea. 2:19-23) Do you see what He, in His great mercy has done for Israel’s Ephraim? The constituents of the Kingdom of God are those who have been shown such mercy – they have become, once again, MY PEOPLE: “. . . and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Nations (Grk. “ethnos” – aka, Gentiles or Goiim)? As He says also in HOSEA: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.’ And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ (viz., “certificate of divorce”) there they shall be called sons of the living God.’” (Rom. 9:23-26; Isa. 42: 6-7; 49:6; Luke 2:32; Rom. 3:29; Hos. 2:23; 1:10; 1 Pet. 2:10). He kept His law when Israel’s first husband died – she was free to remarry another, even the resurrected Christ! They were assimilated among the nations and were no longer called the “people of God” – but now, they have been brought back under the Tabernacle of David into the United Kingdom of David: “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Nations (Grk. “ethnos” – aka, Gentiles) to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the word of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David (lit. “the 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 (LXX, “Edom” or “Adam”) may seek the LORD, even all the Nations (Gentiles) who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things” (Acts 15:13-17; Amos 9:11-12). Ephraim has been brought back under the United Kingdom of David—THAT is a biblical fact which is incontrovertible and just as Obed-Edom and the Edomites with him (70 in all) became the gatekeepers in the Tabernacle of David in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:11-12; 1 Chron. 13:13-14; 15:21, 25; 16:5, 38). Yes, “Jacob I loved, Esau I hated” (Rom. 9:13) . . . but He has included all in disobedience that He might have mercy on us all! (Rom. 11:32). Why? “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you (speaking to the believers in Rome), were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy” (Rom. 11:29-31).

King David dancing before the Lord in bringing up the Ark of the Covenant into the City of David’s Tabernacle of David, Jerusalem

The inclusiveness of the Almighty, through Messiah, is utterly awesome: “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: AND . . . WHAT IS THIS MYSTERY OF MESSIAH? “That the Nations (Gentiles) should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:1-7). “That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him” (Eph. 1:10). “Therefore remember that you, once Nations/Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ . . . “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances (lit. Grk “dogma” – δόγμα), so as to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN FROM THE TWO, THUS MAKING PEACE, and that He might reconcile them both to God in ONE BODY through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off (the Nations and Ephraim so scattered among them) and to those who were near (Judah) . . . Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD” (Eph. 2:11-19, excerpts). REVELATION 7 & 21 We have in this brevity witnessed the Kingdoms of this World, with the Kings of Babylon and Persia juxtaposed to the King of Righteousness and King of Peace (Salem), our Melchizedek and Abraham’s interactions with the “nine kings” in warfare and how that eventually morphed into the United Kingdom of David and how this Tabernacle of David fell into ruins in toto having to transverse through the reign of the 42 kings of Israel and Judah – then how its ruins were raised up through Ephraim’s divorce and remarriage via the death and resurrection of Christ with the “rest of mankind” (Edom/the Nations) included under David’s Tent known as the ONE NEW MAN, the ONE BODY, the COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, and eventually the Temple, Building or Dwelling Place of the Living God (Eph. 2:20-22) – this is the Lord’s gathering, His Ekklesia (3:10) through whom the “manifold wisdom of God might be made known” to those same “principalities and powers in heavenly place” (Eph. 3:10) who originally contended with Abraham and Daniel. Moreover, upon further consideration after decades of pondering, researching and praying over Revelation 7, 11, and 21, as well as other portions of John’s Revelation, I have reached the conclusion that Revelation 7 mirrors the uniting together of the TWO—mirroring the conclusions reached by James in Acts 15:13-17, to wit: Acts 15:16 bespeaks of Revelation 7:1-8 regarding the United Kingdom of David; and Acts 15:17 comports with Revelation 7:9-17—the “rest of mankind” is indeed that “great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” – altogether their diversity constitutes the elect of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of our LORD, and of His Christ destined to prevail against the Gates of Hades—answering to the earth (Rev. 7:1-8) and to the heavens (Rev. 7:9-17) wherein it shall be announced on that immediate day forthcoming: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever . . . Because You have taken Your great power and reigned” (Rev. 11:15, 17). The New Heaven and New Earth can no longer wait, for the King of Israel, the Son of David, comes to rule and reign with His saints (2 Peter 3:10-13). Therefore, is it any wonder that Jacob’s Ladder revealed to Nathanael extends between Heaven and Earth is His very Person: Son of God-Son of Man – the King of Israel? Furthermore, how difficult, then is it for us to see that the 12 Tribes are sealed with the “seal of the living God” (Rev. 7:1-8) – these be the 144,000 destined as the 12 Gates of the Holy City, Jerusalem bearing 12,000 furlongs by 12,000 furlongs or 12,000 X 12,000 = 144,000,000 sq. furlongs and whose wall is 144 cubits or 12 X 12 (Rev. 21:16-17) – the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles of the Lamb (the 12 gates and the 12 foundations of the Bride, the Holy City, New Jerusalem – Rev. 21)?

Revelation 7 - The 12 Tribes of Israel - The “Great Multitude” - Rev. 11 - the Two Witnesses - Rev. 21 - the New Jerusalem

Finally, I can say with utter confidence, that what is seen in Revelation 7:1-8 is the United Kingdom of David having the “sealing of the Living God” which parallels the interpretation of Acts 15:17 seen by the Early Assembly as the Tabernacle of David—all 12 Tribes United under King David, with Revelation 7:9-17, as the “rest of mankind” who together form “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” BOTH form the New Jerusalem, the United Kingdom of David in accordance with Acts 15 and Amos 9:11-12 – they are ONE PEOPLE, ONE ELECT. Yes, they are distinct in their diversity, but are inseparably HIS ELECT, His One Bride. The distinction of the 12 Tribes of Israel is altogether the manifestation of His mercy upon us all—whereby the Nations, the Goiim, the “ethnos” have seen and believed the Father sent the Son into the world that we might be saved (John 17). Why, O why, have I not seen this so clearly until now? Open our eyes, dear Lord, to witness the diversity within the Kingdom of God but all under the Tabernacle of David, all assembled before the Lamb, in white garments, made white “in the blood of the Lamb . . . therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple” (Rev. 7:15). And again, the 144,000 bear the insignia of the New Jerusalem atop Mount Zion – there is but ONE VISION of God’s People with the Lamb of God: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their forehands” for they “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12) – indeed, these be the same elect, the chosen of the Lord, who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17) – the same ones who “sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:3) – the same ones described as the Two Olive Trees and the Two Lampstands of Revelation 11:4. Much, much more can be and should be said concerning the CONSTITUENTS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD but the day fast approaches when WE WILL ALL HEAR: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser (Grk, “categorizer”) of our brethren, who categorizes (accuses) them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives to the death” (Rev. 12:10-11). Douglas W. Krieger [i] This same Amraphel has been, by some anthropologists/historians to be associated with the Hammurabi of the monuments (Source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/592565?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents – Retrieved on June 26, 2020) [ii] Lambert Dolphin’s chart on the Kings of Judah and Israel is by far the most accurate and comprehensive chronology of the Kingdom of Israel/Judah/Ephraim: Source: http://www.ldolphin.org/kings.html – Although Lambert initiates the reign of King Saul from 1050 BC, some 5 years earlier than I or some 464 years. In 1 Kings 6:1 some 480 years transpire between the Passover in Egypt unto the 4th year of Solomon’s reign when the foundation of the temple was laid. This would mean that the Passover, using Lambert’s calculations, would have occurred in 1440 BC, whereas I have calculated the more traditional years of 1444/1445 BC to be the commencement of the first Passover/Exodus (See: https://www.scribd.com/document/341382331/02-exodus-pdf – Retrieved on 6/25/20) [iii] King David’s numbering of the tribes, which brought down the wrath of God upon the Kingdom, records upwards “. . . in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword [ages 20 to 50 years], and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men” (2 Samuel 24:9); whereas 1 Chronicles 21:5-6 gives the number to be: “Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword . . . but he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.” The total number of “men who drew the sword” in Israel were 800,000 (2 Sam. 24:9) but in 1 Chronicles 21:5 the number was 1,100,000 – a discrepancy of some 300,000. The total of both Israel and Judah in 2 Samuel 24:9 is 1,300,000; whereas the total in 1 Chronicles 21:5 is 1,570,000 – a differential of some 270,000. Again, the difference MAY have been in counting certain ages differently and/or omitting the men of Levi and Benjamin; however, the higher number of Judah occurred in the account found in 2 Samuel 24:9 (500,000) vs. the lower account of 450,000 in 1 Chronicles 21:5 (with the caveat that Levi and Benjamin were omitted from the latter account which could be reasoned that some 50,000 of Levi and Benjamin MAY have made the count in 2 Samuel 24:9. In any event, the Northern Tribal count of some 1,100,000 (on the high side) may have included additional ages of men not within the 20-50-year bracket. That said, the count took place some time in the latter part of King David’s reign in that he began to prepare the materials for the Solomonic Temple (“So David made abundant preparations before his death.”). If we accord the reign of King David between the years 1010 BC and 969 BC (40 years and 6 moths he did reign) with 965 BC as the “fourth year of Solomon’s reign” [1 Kings 6:1]; therefore, if we accord the year of the census to have been in the latter part of King David’s reign some five years before his death (cir. 974 BC) – then at the time of the census the total population of the 10 Northern Tribes could easily have been 1,100,000 + all other ages and gender or a factor of 5/6 meaning 1.1M X 6 = 6,600,000 people (cir. 974 BC) of Israel’s 10 Northern Tribes. Thus, given normal attrition and population growth between 974 BC and 745 BC (the commencement of the Assyrian deportations – some 229 years or some 12 generations (20 years being the normal generation) – the population of the 10 Northern Tribes could have been well within the range of 15/20M. Such a demographic, ostensibly between just north of Jerusalem to the River Euphrates (the land occupied by the 10 Northern Tribes – with most of today’s Syria and Jordan and today’s northern Israel, including parts of today’s Lebanon, such a population density could have been easily sustained upon the land. The so-called Ten Lost Tribes and their DNA could literally be “absorbed” throughout a vast majority of earth’s nigh 7.5 billion population of 2020 AD given the fact that 745 + 2020 = 2,765 years, nigh 140 generations as so calculated, using “20” to reproduce another generation. [iv] Dr. Douglas Hamp’s presentation in the new release, COMMONWEALTH THEOLOGY ESSENTIALS (Authors, Douglas W. Krieger, Dr. Douglas Hamp, Dr. Gavin Finley and chief editor, C. W. Steinle – 2020 – by the Commonwealth of Israel Foundation) contains a chapter by Dr. Hamp on the “divorce and remarriage” of Ephraim which is perhaps one of the finest commentaries on Romans 7 this author has ever read. Its clarity of presentation is breathtaking! (See: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088X3ZJBR )