A short account of the Faith and Doctrines of the
Christian Israelite Church.
“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, come ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world” Matthew 25:34.
FOREWORD
The Christian Israelite Church was founded by one John
Wroe of Bradford, England, about 1822, when the Spirit of the Lord visited him
in a series of remarkable visions and revelations which continued periodically
during the remainder of his life approximately forty years. During this period he carried on his
Missionary Work, travelling and preaching in many parts of the world
particularly in England, America and Australia where many branches of members
were established.
Of humble origin, John Wroe was, we believe, a Divinely
inspired "Messenger" of the Lord, who was commissioned to revive and
preach the "Gospel of the Kingdom" and the Second Coming of Christ,
with particular reference to the destiny of the "remnant" of God's
"Elect" people Israel - Christian Israel. The special objective of our members is the
ultimate realisation of God's faithful promises to descendants of the twelve
tribes of Israel - at present "scattered abroad" James 1:1 - namely,
the ingathering and full Redemption of their "Whole Spirit and Soul and Body" 1 Thessalonians 5:23 -
immortal life without physical death. "We shall not all sleep (or die) but we shall all be changed” 1
Corinthians 15:51.
This Glory of physical Immortality, God has reserved for
literal descendants of the "Children of Israel". It is an "Inheritance" promised to
them subject to the essential obligation of obedience to both Gospel and Law as
taught and manifested by Jesus Christ (see Matthew 5:17,19;25:34).
“Many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we
lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” 2 John 7,8.
But our Lord often spoke in parables and symbolic
language, and said to his Apostles: "I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit,
when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth". At another time He was asked by them: "Wilt thou at this time restore again
the Kingdom to Israel”. He replied: "It is not for you to know the times
or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power." Paul also said of his day, that they knew
only "in part" - they saw "as through a glass darkly" at
that time.
The Christian Israelite Church believes these passages
indicate that, as many hundreds of years were to elapse before the appointed
time for the complete fulfilment of God's plan, the time was not then ripe for
the full enlightenment of Christ's disciples. We also believe that God has inspired certain "Messengers" in
these later days, in order to illuminate the Scriptures and to revive and
preach the profound truths relating to the Kingdom of God, with special
reference to the Ingathering and distinguished Glory pertaining to the
"remnant" of Israel referred to in Revelations chapters 7 and 14 as
the 144,000 - "the first fruits unto
God and to the Lamb”. According to
Scripture, they are to be wholly Redeemed (Spirit, Soul and Body) without death
on certain conditions, and established in God's Kingdom on this earth when "the kingdoms of this world are become
the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and
ever", as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
The Scriptures abound with prophecies and promises for
the redemption of Israel, which promises our Lord has assured us will
eventually be fulfilled, saying: "My
words shall not pass away". In
the 24th chapter of Matthew and the 21st chapter of Luke, we are given vivid
descriptions of world conditions which will inevitably precede the return of
Jesus Christ. Comparing these Bible
pictures with world events today, there appears to be ample evidence that we
are quickly approaching the Day of our Lord. We should therefore exercise prudence and prepare ourselves for the
Second Coming of Christ, and the fulfilment of His beneficent plan of Salvation. We should ask ourselves whether we are wholly
satisfied with our Spiritual life and outlook. But many people today either entirely ignore the Scriptures or are
sceptical and indifferent as to their meaning and significance.
Here, perhaps, we may give a brief outline of God's plan
for the conduct of our lives and for Salvation generally, before speaking of
the particular doctrines of the Christian Israelite Church.
God created man in "His
own image" to be Immortal (Wisdom of Solomon 2:23) and, in His Wisdom,
set before our first parents Good and Evil with instructions to observe the
good and reject the evil, that by their obedience to His command they might
attain to life in its fullest sense, ie. Immortality of the physical body
without death. But our first parents
disobeyed God and took of the evil, which resulted in the ‘Fall of man’,
consequently Judgement was pronounced upon them, and thereafter mankind became
subject to the evil power with the disastrous results of sin and suffering:
sickness and death.
At the same time, in the symbolic language of Genesis
3:15, God cursed the Serpent (Satan) and promised that the Woman's seed (Jesus)
should ultimately "bruise" Satan's head ie., destroy his power. In the meantime the evil power flourished,
for which the World was destroyed - except for Noah and his household - but sin
was again perpetuated and is present with us at this day with all its growing
evil consequences.
Some four thousand years after the Creation of our first
parents, and in accordance with prophecy, God sent His Holy Spirit (Christ)
into the World to abide with Jesus, the pure Seed of the Woman, who thus became
Jesus Christ after His Baptism at the River Jordan. He came as a mediator between God and
humanity that, by obedience to His Word, mankind might eventually triumph over
evil and regain the high estate which our first parents lost. Christ came to teach and demonstrate the
purpose and power of God: to practice and to preach the ultimate conquest of
Good over evil. In short, to expound and
manifest the "Will of God" and the way of Salvation for mankind.
Men and Women, however, do not all interpret Scripture
alike, and so the vital question is: what is the Will of God for each one of
us, and how are we to achieve the great rewards of Salvation which God, through
His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ has promised and will undoubtedly fulfil in His
appointed time?
In answering this question, we should carefully note
what Paul says: "Study to show
thyself approved of God . . . rightly dividing the word of truth" 2
Timothy 2:15. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine ... for instruction in righteousness: that
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
Our Lord also taught His followers to labour after
perfection: "Be ye therefore perfect
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48. Surely He would not teach that which is
impossible to attain! He set an example
that we should "follow His
steps" and said: "the works
that 1 do shall ye do also, and greater works than these shall ye do, because 1
go unto my Father".
"RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH”
The Christian Israelite Church believes that, as the
above text indicates, the Scriptures require "rightly dividing" to
show different degrees of Salvation. "There is one Glory of the Sun, another
Glory of the Moon and another Glory of the Stars" 1 Corinthians 15:41,
which stand typical of the various Glories available to mankind. The Scriptures relating only to soul
salvation (partial salvation) require dividing from those referring to full
Redemption. Some parts of Biblical
writings apply only to those of the Common Salvation, regarding the soul after
death, and other parts to those who seek complete salvation, or exemption from
the death of the physical body, which incorporates the spirit and soul.
Speaking of the Latter Days, Isaiah prophesied as
follows: "One shall say 1 am the
Lord's (Christian) another shall call
himself by the name of Jacob (Jew) and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by
the name of Israel." Note that
the latter will associate the name of the Lord with that of Israel. He will indeed become a Christian
Israelite. Many Christians accept the
Gospels but do not observe the Laws of God as given to Moses, whilst some Jews
accept these Laws but reject the Gospels. The Christian Israelite Church believes it is essential to observe both
Law and Gospel for those who desire and are aspiring to obtain the greatest
Glory - Immortality of Spirit and Soul and Body. (See Matthew
5:17-20; John 5:46,47; Luke 16:16,17.)
We believe that at death, the spirit of man returns to
God who gave it, whilst the Souls of those who have died in faith and
repentance, sleep in the grave in happiness until the "first
resurrection" when they will be raised and reunited with their Spirits - "it is raised a Spiritual body" - as
the angels. This is a Glory which Jude
speaks of as the "Common
Salvation", that is to say, it will be a happy spiritual life common
to, or available for, all faithful believers after death at the first
resurrection.
"But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" Revelation 20:5. The Souls of the wicked and unrepentant
(Wandering stars - Jude 13) will also
be raised at the first resurrection, we believe, but will be sent from the
presence of God and receive their punishment, or unhappiness, during the Millennial
period of a thousand years, at the end of which they also will be reunited with
their Spirits (the Second Resurrection) but enjoy a lesser degree of Spiritual
life and happiness. All Souls being
finally rewarded "according to their
works". "For one star differeth from another star in Glory. So also is the
resurrection of the dead" 1 Corinthians 15:41.
Daniel also says: "Many
of them that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life (at
the first resurrection) and some to shame
and everlasting contempt", but only during the thousand years, because "Christ died for the ungodly" Romans 5:6. He tasted death for every
man (Hebrews. 19). He "gave
Himself a ransom for all" - God is the "Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" 1
Timothy 4:10.
It is evident that Death came into the World through
sin, resulting from disobedience to God, but the Souls of those who have
departed will receive their Salvation at either the first or second
resurrection, according to their faith or lack of it, as evidenced in their
lives on earth - the wicked receiving their punishment (the "Second Death") during the
Millennium which is a thousand years.
We believe that Jesus Christ came into the World for a
two-fold purpose. He came to be "A Light to lighten the Gentiles (at
His First Coming) and (will be) the Glory of thy people Israel" - at
His Second Coming (Luke 2:32). He came
with all Divine Authority at His Command to proclaim not only the Salvation of
the Soul after the death of the physical body; but also the preservation of
Spirit and Soul and Body without death ie., the "Glory of the Sun". Paul tells us: “There are celestial (Heavenly) bodies and bodies terrestrial (earthly) but the Glory of the celestial is one, and the Glory of the terrestrial
is another."
Whilst Paul was commissioned to preach Soul Salvation to
the Gentiles, he was, himself, of the stock of Israel and passionately
expressed his belief and hope in physical immortality He wrote: "And
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole Spirit and
Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians
5:23. He also supports this wonderful
objective by his startling prophecy: "Behold,
I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (or die) but we shall all be changed".
Paul also writes to the Hebrews: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works ... and of resurrection of the dead . . . and this will we do if God
permit" Hebrews. 6:1, and
again he says: "even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our
body" Romans 8:23. He saw the
light of Immortality afar off. He was "as of one born out of due time". "Thrice," St. Paul asked the Lord to remove the "Thorn"
in his flesh”, but the Lord replied, "My
Grace is sufficient for thee". So he was sure of his salvation by Grace - the
Salvation of his Soul.
It is manifest that Paul and others did not experience
the redemption of the physical body of which he spoke, therefore we must assume
that it was reserved for some later generation. We believe, however, that there are three living witnesses of this life
of physical Immortality: Enoch and Elijah - both of whom were translated
without death - and our Lord.
The Salvation of the Soul by the Grace of God, is a
reward for Faith and repentance. But to
obtain redemption of the physical body it is essential to observe and to do the
works of both Law and Gospel - faith plus works - which we of ourselves cannot
achieve, but will be accomplished by those who seek the co-operation and
guidance of the Holy Spirit. "Now to him that worketh is the reward
not reckoned of grace, but of debt" Romans 4:4.
According to John, our Lord makes quite plain what He
means by the more abundant life of which He spoke. He did not will or desire
the death of any man but said:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you; if a man keep my saying he shall never
see death" John 8:51. “And I give unto them eternal life and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand". Here, it is evident our Lord was referring to
the physical body, because Spirit and Soul are eternal - only the body can
perish, or lose its existence.
"BELIEVEST
THOU THIS”
Jesus Christ said He was the bread of Life from Heaven: "If any man eat of this bread he
shall live for ever" John 6:51. "This is that bread which came down from
heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: He that eateth of this
bread shall live for ever" 6:58. "If ye abide in Me and My words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you" John 15:
7. Surely these passages prove without doubt
that death is not inevitable! They are
the words of our Lord and eternal truth.
In addressing His Disciples, our Lord's message was not
only to them but also to their descendants. He prayed fervently for their sanctification. He prayed not that they should be taken put
of the World, but that they should be kept from the evil. “Neither
pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on Me through
their word" John 17:20.
The Gospel according to John is worthy of close
study. It is a most inspiring book and
provides much convincing evidence of our Lord's promises regarding the perfect
life of physical Immortality for those who obey His Word. "This
is the disciple which testifieth of these things and wrote these things; and we
know that his testimony is true", says the Bible.
After His resurrection, our Lord appeared to Mary at the
tomb, but later demonstrated His Glorified Immortal body before the assembled
disciples when He said: "Handle me
and see, for a Spirit hath not 'flesh and bones' as ye see me have". To Thomas He said: "Be not faithless but believing". Without any possible doubt, His was a
Glorified body of pure "Flesh and
Bone" - without blood - within which dwelt the Spirit of God, it being
the Immortal life of it. He was, and is,
the supreme example of what the true Israel is to become in God's own time.
Is it not reasonable to believe that what God
accomplished for His Son Jesus Christ, is also possible for Him to accomplish
in those who strive to obey His Laws and Commands? That is to say: to remove the evil power from
within, and replace it with His Holy Spirit! We are told to "Look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our 'Vile' body, that it may
be 'fashioned' like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He
is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" Philippians 3:20,21.
No, there is nothing, absolutely nothing impossible with
God. How can we doubt this when we
consider all the manifold miracles of creation and life around us in this
wonderful world? But the key word to the
Perfect life of Immortality is Obedience. "Be ye doers of the Word (says James) and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves". As the “Fall
of man" with all its consequent evil was the result of disobedience;
so the complete redemption of man will result only from his final obedience to
God's Laws and Commands. This is made
possible by the Spirit of Christ working in the heart of man, the Spirit which
Jesus says "shall be in you". This, we believe, is the "Will of God" for Israel.
Our Lord says, "Without
Me, ye can do nothing". It is
therefore very necessary to remind ourselves that we, of ourselves, cannot
achieve this Perfection which He speaks of. We must continue to strive through Faith and Prayer and, above all, by
Action; in order that we may be drawn into, or "clothed" with, the Spirit of Christ as a preparatory
step. We must arrive at that stage
before His Spirit will dwell within us. We must be "grafted" into Him before He will be "grafted" into us, ie., within us, which will precede
Immortality: Perfection. When this is
accomplished, He says: "At that day,
ye shall know that I am in My Father and ye in Me and I in you" John 14:20. He has promised‑faithfully promised‑to complete His work in
those who shall "stand when He
appeareth".
"He
that overcometh shall inherit all
things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son". Physical
Immortal life in God's Kingdom upon earth is to be the inheritance of God's "Elect" people, Israel. "Thy
people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever" says Isaiah (60:21). And Paul writes: "For whom He did foreknow, He also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son". These will be the "called" and the "justified" and also "Glorified"(Rom.
8:29,30). They will "purify themselves even as He is pure". They will be
"righteous even as He is righteous" (1 John 3:3,7). These will come "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ" Ephesians 4:13.
We believe this Glory of physical Immortality will be
the reward of true Righteousness and that true Righteousness consists in the observance
of the Laws as given to Moses - apart from the sacrificial laws - in
conjunction with the Gospel precepts and commands. The Bible is teeming with prophecies and
promises for Israel and Immortality.
But the question may be rightly asked: Who are the true
Israel? At this time, no one can say who
are Israel and who are not, as they are "not all Israel that are of Israel", and we do not profess to
know which generation will live to inherit the promises. At the same time we do sincerely believe we are
living in or near the "Latter
days" and that the Second Coming of our Lord is near at hand, so we
continue on with hope and confidence that this great work of Immortality will
assuredly be accomplished in God's own time, and according to His purpose. We believe that, wherever it may be, this
latent seed of Israel at present awaits the awakening fire and urge of the Holy
Spirit, to usher in the work of Israel's ingathering and full Redemption, and
the establishment of God's Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness on earth.
So when the last trumpet shall sound and "this mortal shall have put on
Immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in Victory". "The last enemy that shall be destroyed
is death."
"In the way of Righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death" Proverbs 12:28. |