In the Old Covenant, the international unity of the world was seen in the one central temple in Jerusalem. All nations were tied to Jerusalem. Those who blessed the Jews were themselves blessed. Those who cursed them were cursed (Gen. 12:3). The Godly gentiles who understood this always acted to build up Jerusalem, because they knew it was for their benefit (see Ezra 1 for an example). In the New Covenant, there is no longer any central earthly sanctuary. Rather, the “gate of heaven” is found in every place that the Church is established. The Church ministers as the Tree of Life to heal the
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