The book of Acts teaches us that there was a difference between the Jewish believers and the gentile believers. The Jewish believers at the time of the early church held a higher standard because they were the natural body of believers, while the gentiles were a wild branch or body of believers. They were not conditioned as the Jews were with the law of circumcision and other things. Which were done away with anyway with the new covenant. Paul argued his case before the Jewish believers with James final consent to not lay these burdens on the Gentiles. If you go to Romans 11:24 where Paul teaches about the wild and natural olive tree. He says, in verse 24 how much more will these, who are natural branch's, be grafted into their own olive tree. and in verse 25 he calls this a mystery. But Israel is an olive tree of their own. I may be using a poor choice of words saying it's the Jewish church. But what I mean is Israel when they come into the faith of Messiah.

It looks like to me that the closer we get to Messiahs coming, the more Jewish believers in Israel will come to the faith. I read a report today that many young Jewish people are excepting messiah as savor now. Also, Muslims are now questioning the Quran in favor of Jesus. I can see where there could be a large Jewish body of believers during the last 42 months as one body of witness's and a body of gentiles doing the same. I can also see both bodies of believers being led by two Prophets doing great exploits in the last days.

Also, let me clarify that both bodies of believers come together as one body in the end. The bible tells us that the stranger or gentile is excepted and shares in the inheritance of Jacob during the 1000 years reign. And they are all one body when the new Jerusalem comes. I see the temple as the Messiah and the New Jerusalem as the church being many temples joining Messiah. Revelation tells us that there will be no temple because He is the temple. And John said I saw the New Jerusalem coming down as a bride adorned for her husband. Both bodies come together to be one bride.

Luke 10:16 "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

There's only one body of believers.

1st John 2:3 (the old 123)
"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."

Rev 3:7-11
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,`These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":

8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."

The only "church" which is protected in the hour of trouble is commended for keeping His Command, His Word.

Here is the patience and faith of the saints, that they keep His commandments and have Testimony of Jesus.

I'm sorry, but the church has been disastrously lied to be about the teachings of Paul regarding the law.

ooook, not sure what all that has to with it, but ok. we just disagree.

I'm saying your statements confuse me. You say "Jewish believers" and "gentile believers". I don't see the distinction making them two bodies except if we pretend that people who deny the son can claim to know the Father.

Yes I do understand the distinction between religions, and tribes, and families and such. But the point of Yahshua's sacrifice was to erase all on the meaningless lines that divide us, and simply be One with Him.

I'd also argue that the prophecy says we learn those truths one way or another before His bodily return, recognizing He said He is With Us to the end of the age.

We're choosing which people in the Exodus wilderness do we choose to be. The ones learning the Sabbath and His Law, where our provisions come from and How to live as Free people not needing any task masters, OR those who wanted to be still in Egypt, or those complaining, doubting, even turning to other gods...

It all happens again. And our unleavening of the Word is our wilderness survival guide.

Grace be with you.

I think many forget that a mixed multitude went into the wilderness and the covenant was offered to all people. Promised to the seed of Abraham, orchestrated through Israel, but given to all who would live according to His commandments.

Christopher, this is for Philip and anyone that reads this: Matthew 19:17...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Again; Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yahshua. It takes both. James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. I wrote an article that explains something most Christians do not seem to understand bwid.net/christianity.pdf

I would like to respond, if this thing will work

If we will all admit is, there is a lot we speculate on. especially concerning these two witnesses. All I keep saying is that they are TWO NOT ONE. And they are the TWO OLIVE TREES AND THE TWO LAMPSTANDS because that is exactly what John defined them as. These statements are not my opinion, it is defined in holy write. The bible also mentions both Jewish and Gentiles when it speaks about olive trees. And the bible calls the seven churches lampstands. THESE ARE NOT MY OPINIONS. its simply written in the bible.
Paul also did say that Israel would be their OWN OLIVE TREE, their very own...leaving us with two trees. Here is where I simply come to the conclusion that there must be two. Israel 1. Gentiles 2.

If I am wrong, about Paul's statement , in Romans 11:24 And I am only human . can someone explain this while STAYING ON POINT. Even Paul said that this was a mystery .

And I might add that in Rom 11 Paul was clearly talking about Israel and the Gentiles not Israel and Judah. These are facts not my opinions.

Let me say one other thing, because it seems that when some respond to me, there is some irritation when I seem to divide Jewish believers from gentile believers. I have the GREATEST RESPECT for the Jewish People, in fact I believe God has given them a special anointing that many of us in the west do not have. And If I am wrong about these two Bodys of believers so be it. I am simply trying to learn.

I left a response above, Bob. please don't be offended with me, but so far the responses I get to the SUBJECT of two bodies of believers. [ Israel and gentiles] is gone off the tracks. Everything is off the subject.

Explain to me what Paul meant when he called Israel a olive tree of their own! and then called it a mystery. because if there not Two than its truly a mystery to me. Romans 11:24

@christopher chalfant & @PHILIP JENSEN

Christopher, you wrote:

"I'm saying your statements confuse me. You say 'Jewish believers' and 'gentile believers'. I don't see the distinction making them two bodies except if we pretend that people who deny the son can claim to know the Father."

I think that by 'Jewish believers' Philip meant converted Jews, like Messianic Jews, Jews that believe in Jesus Christ, Jews that don't deny the Son, so that they know the Father. So by calling them 'Jewish believers' we mean that they are Christians coming from Jews that were converted to Christianity.

So maybe this concept of 'Two Bodies' that you mentioned, only means that we have 'One Body of Christians', but one olive tree of Christian believers comes from converted Jews, and the other olive tree of Christian believers comes from converted Gentiles.

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PS: There is something that is interesting also about this Ephraim - about the Gentile Children of Israel - that Israel is hidden in Gentiles all over the world. I don't know if by Ephraim (Gentile Children of Israel) we mean that we all - in some degree - could be a blood descendants of Israel (Gentiles' blood mixed with true Israel's blood). Maybe this is also related to one of the olive trees. I would like to know something more about it.