this side Jordan

Nu 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.

Nu 32:13 And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Nu 32:14 And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

Nu 32:15 For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

Nu 32:16 And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

Nu 32:17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

Nu 32:18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.

Nu 32:19 For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

The things concerning Israel were all to teach us spiritual things, for our day. Everything which shall be, was shown in those twelve tribes of Israel. We can learn a lot of things by allowing God to show us these things, spiritual, for our day.

For a long time, I have been seeing, in some verses in Ezekiel, that it seems to me that there will be a people, who do not lose their souls in hell, but who also do not inherit a glorified body. I have not taught on this, yet, for I wanted to study it more and be sure of it.

It still needs much study. But for now, I want to show you the above verses, and how they seem to me, to be verifying this concept. Now, get this….I am not sure of this yet. I am not saying positively that this is how it is. But it certainly seems to be so to me.

I normally will not even touch on a thing until I am sure. But I want to show this, and see if we can get some feedback on it.

Notice, that the children of Israel were getting ready to cross Jordon and go into the promised land of Canaan.

But two and a half tribes wanted to inherit theirs on that side of Jordon, and not over on the other side. They had much cattle, and this land was good for cattle, so they did not wish to inherit on that side of Jordon.

Now think of what this is showing. They loved the carnal things more and did not wish to cross over into the ‘other side’. They did not wish to go into the promised land of Canaan. They said, we will not inherit on that side of Jordon with the others.

Eze 48:15 And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

Those last chapters in Eze are showing the same thing as this in Numbers. Only this time it is spiritual. It is showing when Jesus returns and takes over this world, and divides it to his saints. It is laid out in the same ‘pattern’ of things as that concerning old Israel. That with them was only types and shadows.

A ‘profane’ place shows a natural, carnal place. I believe it is showing that there will be people, who will actually live on and on, in this natural world, without coming into the glorified state. I cannot absolutely prove this right now. But I honestly think this is right.

The people who do not serve God with the whole heart and soul, but who did try to live for him, and still love this side of life, I believe will be given life, and not hell, but still not be glorified into the eternal image of God.

I believe that only few will make it to that glorified state. And I think this explains a lot of why there are such divisions of understanding with God’s people. Some of us desire to bear 100% fruit. We wish to go all the way with God, while others are content just to say I have repented and am saved. They never really give their whole life to following God.

I do not believe for one minute that they will receive the same rewards as those who have given their all to serving God.

Paul made it clear in 1Cor. 15, that there will be differences in the glory of different stars, and that all will not have the same kind of body. This has to mean something.

I believe those two and half tribes who wanted to inherit on that side of Jordon, without going over, represent these who do not inherit a glorified body, for they were content on that side of Jordon and did not go on into the PROMISE.

I believe this promise represents the Promise of the Holy Ghost. They did not want that, but only to follow God afar off.

By: Jo Smith ~~ Aug. 26, 2008