Stephen Jones — Ecclesiology
b2 — The Restoration of All Things
Tabernacle as Type of the Heavenly Temple: Church and Israel
Jones argues that the arrangement of the Israelite tribes around the tabernacle is an earthly representation of the heavenly throne room:
“The order of encampment around the tabernacle under Moses was meant to portray on earth that great heavenly temple revealed in Rev. 4:7.” — Stephen E. Jones, The Restoration of All Things, Ch.8
The four leading tribes bore the banners of the four living creatures from the Noahic covenant (Gen. 9:9-10):
- East: Judah — the lion (Gen. 49:9; Num. 2:3)
- West: Ephraim — the ox (Deut. 33:17; Num. 2:18)
- South: Reuben — the man (Gen. 49:3; Num. 2:10)
- North: Dan — the flying eagle (Gen. 49:17; Num. 2:25)
The same four creatures appear in Revelation 4:7 around God’s throne. Jones identifies three witnesses for this pattern:
“three distinct witnesses—Moses, Ezekiel, and John—who tell us that the four living creatures in the covenant with Noah are represented around the throne of God. Although the tribes of Israel depict this in their order of encampment, they are essentially acting as types that represent the whole earth.” — Ch.8
Interpretation: For Jones, Israel is not the endpoint but the type — an earthly depiction of a universal heavenly reality. The Church inherits this typological function as representative of all creation.
Church as ‘Glorified Church’: Universal Worship in Revelation 5
Jones describes the role of the glorified Church in eschatological worship as specifically distinct from the overcomers:
On Revelation 5:12-14 — first the overcomers (those who reign on the earth) sing, then all of creation sings:
“And every thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.‘” — Rev. 5:13, cited in Ch.8
Jones quotes Rev. William Milligan (The Expositor’s Bible, Vol. 6, p. 854, Eerdmans):
“The redeemed creation is once more singled out for special mention. At chap. iv. 8, 10, they began the song; now we return to them that they may close it. All creation, man included, cries, Amen. The glorified Church has her heart too full to speak. She can only fall down and worship.” — cited in Ch.8
Jones also cites Commentary on the Whole Bible (Zondervan, p. 567):
“the four living creatures ratify by their ‘Amen’ the whole creation’s ascription of the glory to Him.” — cited in Ch.8
Jones adds:
“the divine plan is not completed until the four beasts say AMEN to the glory of God.” — Ch.8
Interpretation: The glorified Church is not a silent bystander for Jones — she initiates the song (Rev. 4:8, 10) but at the universal completion is “too full to speak.” This underscores the distinction between the Church as firstfruits and the final outcome encompassing all creation.
Church as Ambassadors: Covenant Structure and Mission
Jones describes five progressive covenants as the framework for God’s plan. The Abrahamic covenant establishes the people through whom this plan is realized:
“the seed of Abraham, first physical and then spiritual, are the ambassadors of Christ with the word of reconciliation to the rest of the world.” — Ch.8
The covenant structure as Jones presents it:
- Noah: scope of the plan (all creation)
- Abraham: the people as executors (“ambassadors”)
- Moses: the standard of righteousness
- David: who will rule (Jesus Christ)
- New Covenant: made possible by the cross
On the foundation of universal reconciliation (Col. 1:20):
“through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” — Col. 1:20, cited in Ch.8
Interpretation: The Church as “seed of Abraham” has an active missionary function — not as the goal of God’s plan, but as its instrument.
God’s Inheritance: Character over Genealogy
Jones argues that God’s inheritance encompasses all nations and is given to Jesus Christ — not to ethnic Israel:
“All the nations are God’s inheritance—not merely Israel or Judah.” — Ch.9
On Psalm 82:8:
“Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is Thou who dost possess [inherit] all the nations.” — cited in Ch.9
On Psalm 2:8:
“Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.” — cited in Ch.9
Jones connects this directly to the Church:
“In the New Testament we find that this is not given to genealogical Israelites, but to those who believe in Jesus Christ and who are found worthy to rule those nations righteously.” — Ch.9
On Matthew 5:5 as an ecclesiological qualification:
“Jesus says in Matt. 5:5, ‘the meek [humble] will inherit the earth,’ putting the qualifications for rulership upon character, not upon genealogy. In this, Jesus only quoted David in Psalm 37:11.” — Ch.9
Interpretation: The ecclesia as a universal people of believers from all nations is for Jones not only an eschatological future prospect but also an ecclesiological criterion: the meek, not the ethnically privileged, constitute the ruling body.
Church and Mission: Israel’s Blessing as Conduit
Jones connects Psalm 67 with Peter’s preaching in Acts 3 as an ecclesiological mission paradigm:
“God blesses ‘us’ by turning us from our wicked ways, so that we will have a testimony and gospel with which to bless the other nations.” — Ch.9
Jones cites Psalm 67:4 as foundation:
“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for Thou wilt judge the peoples with uprightness.” — cited in Ch.9
And then observes:
“Most people think of God’s judgment upon the nations as a condemnation that produces great fear and weeping.” — Ch.9
Interpretation: [TENSION with prior source] In b1 (Creation’s Jubilee) Jones describes the Church as structurally imperfect (“leavened,” the Saul-kingship). Here in b2 the Church as “ambassador” and “seed of Abraham” receives a more positive missionary function — the tension between the institutional Church as falling short and believers as active carriers of reconciliation is not explicitly resolved.