The Power of Two

Two can be a figure both of unity and of division. Man and woman form the basic family unit (Gn. 1:27; 2:20, 24). Animals associate in pairs and enter the ark in twos (Gn. 7:9). Two people often work together in companionship, e.g. Joshua’s spies (Jos. 2:1), and the Twelve and Seventy disciples were sent out in pairs (Mk. 6:7; Lk. 10:1). In addition, at Sinai there were two stone tablets, and animals were often offered for sacrifice in pairs. By contrast two is used with separating force in 1 Ki. 18:21, as it is also implied in the two ‘ways’ of Mt. 7:13-14.

https://bible.org/question/what-significance-numbers-scripture

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15

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Two People:

Jews with Gentiles joined to the nation:

Isaiah 42:6

“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,

Romans 9:4 (T)he people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

The Church: Neither Jews nor Gentiles

Ephesians 5:23 Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 (T)he church submits to Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

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Election

Israel:

Deuteronomy: 7:6

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The Church:

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

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Saints

Israel:

Deuteronomy 33:3

Yes, He loves the people; All His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet; Everyone receives Your words.

Psalm 50:5

“Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

The Church

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Colossians 1:26

the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

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After Life:

Old Testament saints:

Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The Church

2 Corinthians 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

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Israel and Old Testament believers: The resurrection - Prophecy

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time your people shall be delivered,

Every one who is found written in the book.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting [a]contempt.

3 Those who are wise shall shine

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The Church: The Rapture- Mystery

Colossians 1:25 I (Paul) became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the [h]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [m]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.

Two Brides:

Israel: Earthly

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 6:2:4 & 5

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“you will call me ‘my husband’;

you will no longer call me ‘my master.

I will betroth you to me forever;

I will betroth you in[e] righteousness and justice,

in[f] love and compassion.

I will betroth you in faithfulness,

and you will acknowledge the Lord.

I will plant her for myself in the land;

I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.

Hosea 2:14-23

The Church: Heavenly

Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Ephesians 5:25 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Two New Covenants:

A new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah: Hebrews 8:7-13, Jer. 31:31-34

The Church: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:25

Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

Two Jerusalem's

Israel: Earthly- Ezekiel 40-48

Jeremiah 33:16 In those days Judah will be saved,

And Jerusalem will dwell safely.

And this is the name by which she will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

Ezekiel 48:35 (T)he name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

The Church: Heavenly

Revelation 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

10 “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” …and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God.