The 2 Houses Of Israel

[gbausc]

Shlama Akhi Rob,

I believe in the eventual gathering of all Gentiles and all Jews to The Messiah.
Is that essentially what you mean by the restoration of all things and the two houses of Israel ?

Blessings in Him,


Dave

[Zechariah14]

Shlama Akhi Rob,

I believe in the eventual gathering of all Gentiles and all Jews to The Messiah.
Is that essentially what you mean by the restoration of all things and the two houses of Israel ?

Blessings in Him,


Dave

Hi Dave, I think you were addressing your question to me and not to Rob.

I believe that the Scriptures teach that once you come to faith in Messiah, you are no longer considered a "gentile." My understanding in the New Covenant Scriptures of this concept is from Ephesians 2: 11-12 and that section of Scripture. In this passage, those coming to faith from the nations become part of the commonwealth or polity of Israel. People are no longer aliens when they come to Messiah.

Another familiar example of this is Ruth, who was born a Moabitess, becomes part of Israel when she makes her confession of faith.

But to specifically point to your question, the Prophets (particularly Amos and Hoshea) tell us that the northern kingdom would be scattered to the nations, forget the Torah (it becomes a "strange thing" to them, Hoshea 8: 12), and become as "gentiles" (Hoshea 8: <!-- s8) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" /><!-- s8) -->. This is exactly what the Patriarch Ya'akov prophecied in Genesis 48:19, which states: "But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." The Hebrew for fullness or multitude of nations is melo ha goyim . Now check Romans 11: 25. The phrase MuOLo;oA D'EaM_MeA means the same thing. The verse which follows tells us that then all Israel will live or be saved.

Certainly a key part of bringing the gospel of Messiah to the nations is to regather the northern tribes of Israel back to their Maker in answer to the prophecies that say that Israel/Joseph/Ephraim (the northern kingdom) would be gathered together with Judah (as in Ezekiel 37). It seems to me that this event is completed upon the coming to fullness of the future Covenant of Peace (Isaiah 54: 10, Ezekiel 34: 25 and 37: 26).

Blessings and Peace,
Wayne

[Christina]

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.

[Dawid]

*shudders* Yahudah and Yashua are two of my pet peeves. Please, they are Yehudah and Yeshua. Yehudah is not "praiser of YHWH" but "he will praise." The yod is a prefix making it imperfect 2mpl.

Shalom,
Dawid

[Joseph]

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[Joseph]

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[Joseph]

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[Alita]

Most of them probably became Christians when the apostles went east, spreading the gospel ("Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"). Early records have the tribes being evangelised almost a decade before Saul's encounter on the road to Damascus, his conversion to Paul and his commission to the gentiles. Many of these early missionaries went as far east as China and built churches and made many disciples until the time of Genghis Khan and Mohammedanism effectively put a stop to it all. An interesting book to read is 'The Lost Tribes' by Asahel Grant (Harper & Bros, NY, 1841). The author often waxes romantic but his research of ancient texts is sound.

I do agree with the first poster though, that in a political sense at least, we are nowhere called to seek out or identify the so-called lost tribes of Israel. If it were otherwise, God would have made it quite clear what we are to do regarding them. Thanks!