01-08-2008, 12:20 PM
Very contravercial topic. It must firstly be noted that many of northern Israelites did move to the southern kingdom of Judah (2 Kings records king Asa welcoming many of these northern refugees) so we cannot say that all the northerners were "lost", Luke's gospel mentions Anna from the tribe of Asher being present at Yeshua's dedication in the temple.
Paul Younan was quite right to say that the Assyrians annihilated most of the northerners when they took them into captivity. However a remnant still survives to this day, as Younan has already mentioned.
As for the Ephraim theory/gentiles being Israelites, what must first be grasped is that the Hebrew word Yahudah (Judah) from which "Jew" is derived from simply means "praiser of YHWH" as Leah "praised YHWH" when she gave birth to Yahudah (Judah), and that's why she gave him this name. Therefore when "Jew" is mentioned in Scripture, it doesn't always neccessarily mean "Jew" the way we define it. If you praise YHWH, the God of Israel, then you have the right to call yourself a Yahudi (Jew) because that's what you are, provided that is what you mean by the term.
As for being an Israelite, in Scripture nationality is defined not by bloodline but by citizenship, that is citizenship of God's kingdom. And God wants all people to join His kingdom (Israel). Accepting Yeshua as your personal saviour is the only way to gain entry into God's kingdom, have you accepted Yeshua as your saviour? If yes then you are citinzen of God's kingdom (Israel), then you are an Israelite.
Non-believing Israelites (the Jews/Israelis) are unfortunately currently outside the kingdom like the ancient lepers were outside the cities, but in due time I truly believe that YHWH will heal them and restore them, and they will repent, and we will welcome them as "long lost brothers" (makes you wonder which tribe is actually lost).
The assumption that some gentiles might be the descendants of the northerners is possible but not conclusive. I don't know who my ancestors were from 3000 years ago, maybe some were Israelites, maybe not. It's possible but it's not provable. Scripture says that "Ephraim will become a multitude of nations". I don't think that this refers to the US, UK or any country or nationality but to believers in Yeshua. Ephraim is a spiritual typology of the Body of Meshikha - all the gentiles being grafted into Israel, as promised to Abraham, and confirmed by Paul.
Paul Younan was quite right to say that the Assyrians annihilated most of the northerners when they took them into captivity. However a remnant still survives to this day, as Younan has already mentioned.
As for the Ephraim theory/gentiles being Israelites, what must first be grasped is that the Hebrew word Yahudah (Judah) from which "Jew" is derived from simply means "praiser of YHWH" as Leah "praised YHWH" when she gave birth to Yahudah (Judah), and that's why she gave him this name. Therefore when "Jew" is mentioned in Scripture, it doesn't always neccessarily mean "Jew" the way we define it. If you praise YHWH, the God of Israel, then you have the right to call yourself a Yahudi (Jew) because that's what you are, provided that is what you mean by the term.
As for being an Israelite, in Scripture nationality is defined not by bloodline but by citizenship, that is citizenship of God's kingdom. And God wants all people to join His kingdom (Israel). Accepting Yeshua as your personal saviour is the only way to gain entry into God's kingdom, have you accepted Yeshua as your saviour? If yes then you are citinzen of God's kingdom (Israel), then you are an Israelite.
Non-believing Israelites (the Jews/Israelis) are unfortunately currently outside the kingdom like the ancient lepers were outside the cities, but in due time I truly believe that YHWH will heal them and restore them, and they will repent, and we will welcome them as "long lost brothers" (makes you wonder which tribe is actually lost).
The assumption that some gentiles might be the descendants of the northerners is possible but not conclusive. I don't know who my ancestors were from 3000 years ago, maybe some were Israelites, maybe not. It's possible but it's not provable. Scripture says that "Ephraim will become a multitude of nations". I don't think that this refers to the US, UK or any country or nationality but to believers in Yeshua. Ephraim is a spiritual typology of the Body of Meshikha - all the gentiles being grafted into Israel, as promised to Abraham, and confirmed by Paul.