[FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Sunday, July 7 [/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.[/FONT] —[FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Gal. 6:16.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] When you read the name Israel[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] in the Bible, what comes to your[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] mind? Do you think of Isaac’s son[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Jacob, who was renamed Israel?[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Or do you think of his descendants,[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] the ancient nation of Israel?[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] What of spiritual Israel? When[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Israel is referred to in a figurative[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] sense, it usually applies to [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]“the Israel[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]of God,â€[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] the 144,000, who are[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] anointed with holy spirit to become[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] kings and priests in heaven.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif](Rev. 7:4; 21:12)[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] But consider[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] the special reference to Israel’s[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] 12 tribes that is found at [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Matthew[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]19:28.[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Jesus said: [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]“You who have followed me will also yourselves[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] sit upon twelve thrones,[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]judging the twelve tribes of Israel.â€[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] In this verse,[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] “the twelve tribes of Israel†[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]are those who will[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]be judged by Jesus’ anointed disciples[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] and who are in line to receive[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] eternal life in Paradise on[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]earth. They will benefit from the[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] priestly services of the 144,000.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] w11 9/15 2:1, 2[/FONT]