God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. (Psalm 47:8-9)
When Jacob was near the end of his life, he called for his sons to gather together so that he might “tell you what shall befall you in the last days” (Genesis 49:1). This assembly of the twelve tribes has long been interpreted as being a prophetic foreshadowing of what would occur at the end of days when Messiah would ascend His Throne. In fact, as Messiah prepared to ascend into heaven from the Mount of Olives, His disciples asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6), which is understood to mean, “Will you at this time gather all the scattered tribes together as one?”
Messiah’s response, in a manner of speaking, was that they shouldn’t be concerned about the timing of that event but needed be equipped to take the Good News into the world. In other words, this was required first so that the gathering of the people of God who were scattered throughout the world could occur as prophesied in the appointed time. Clearly the gathering, or shall we say the regathering of God’s people — the natural born of Israel and those who have been grafted in — is an important and recurring theme throughout the Scripture. It is, in fact, the primary reason for Messiah’s ministry and suffering. In referring to the reconciliation between Jew and Gentile, Paul said the Messiah suffered in order “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” (Ephesians 2:15-16).
If we believe we are living in the last days, then we must conclude that we stand at the threshold of what the psalmist describes in the verses above — when Messiah reigns over all the nations from Jerusalem. When He ascends to His Throne and puts down His enemies. He will also gather all of His people, the seed of Abraham, Jew and Gentile, unto Himself. And so, if we are in a season when He is focused on gathering, we should not be scattering. If His heart is for reconciliation then we should not be promoting dissension and division. No, we should be working in concert with His Will, which is to say, we should be about our Father’s business and His business is to bring His people together in Messiah. Therefore, let us be faithful witnesses of the resurrected Messiah that He might draw men unto Himself.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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