Other Sheep to Visit
I want to tell you the truth: I have other sheep—not from this land, not from Jerusalem, not from anywhere I’ve already visited. These people I’m talking about haven’t heard my voice yet. I’ve never shown myself to them. But the Father has commanded me to go to them. They’ll hear my voice and be counted among my sheep. One flock, one shepherd. That’s why I’m going to them.
A Record for the Gentiles
Now, write down what I’m telling you. After I’m gone, my people in Jerusalem—the ones who saw me and walked with me—may not ask the Father to reveal you to them through the Holy Spirit. They may not ask about the other tribes they don’t know about. So these words you’re writing will be preserved and given to the Gentiles. Through the Gentiles, the scattered descendants of Israel—scattered because of their unbelief—will be brought back to know me, their Redeemer. Then I’ll gather them from the four corners of the earth. I’ll fulfill the covenant the Father made with all the house of Israel.
The Gentiles are blessed because they believe in me through the Holy Spirit, who testifies of me and the Father. Because of their belief in me, says the Father—and because of your unbelief, house of Israel—in the last days the truth will go to the Gentiles first. Everything will be made known to them.
Warning to the Gentiles
But the Father says: Trouble is coming for the Gentiles who don’t believe. They came to this land and scattered my people, the house of Israel. My people have been driven out, trampled underfoot. The Father has shown mercy to the Gentiles. He’s also brought judgment on my people, the house of Israel. I’m telling you the truth: after all this—after my people have been struck down, afflicted, killed, driven out, hated, mocked, and despised— the Father commands me to tell you this: When the Gentiles sin against my good news, when they reject everything I’ve offered them, when they become arrogant—thinking they’re better than every nation and every people on earth—when they fill themselves with lies, deceit, cruelty, hypocrisy, murder, religious corruption, sexual sin, and secret evil—if they do all this and reject my good news, the Father says: I’ll take it away from them.
Then I’ll remember my covenant with my people, the house of Israel. I’ll bring my good news to them. I’ll show you, house of Israel, that the Gentiles won’t have power over you. I’ll remember my covenant with you, and you’ll come to know the fullness of my good news.
A Door Left Open
But if the Gentiles turn back to me and repent, says the Father, they’ll be counted among my people, house of Israel. I won’t let my people, the house of Israel, march through them and crush them—not if they repent. But if they refuse to turn to me, if they won’t listen to my voice, then I’ll allow it. My people, the house of Israel, will march through them and trample them down. They’ll be like salt that’s lost its flavor—worthless, fit only to be thrown out and walked on by my people.
I’m telling you the truth: the Father commanded me to give this people this land as their inheritance.
Isaiah’s Promise
And when the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled—the ones that say: “Your watchmen will raise their voices and sing together in perfect harmony. They’ll see clearly when the Lord restores Zion. Break into joyful song together, you ruins of Jerusalem! The Lord has comforted his people. He’s rescued Jerusalem. The Lord has shown his holy power to all the nations. Every corner of the earth will see God’s rescue.”