The Children of Israel Their Promises and Prophecies of Their Future.

CHAPTER 6 THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BECOME TWO NATIONS

QUEEN ELIZABETH IS NOT JEWISH!  THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IS NOT JEWISH!  Those who constitute it are not Jews, and never were! We shall now see that fact conclusively beyond refute. After David’s death, his son Solomon succeeded him to the throne. Solomon taxed the people excessively and reigned in gorgeous splendor, probably never equaled before or since. He also married gentile wives, sacrificed to their idols, and committed other sins. The ETERNAL CREATOR spoke to Solomon saying... 1 Kings 11:11,13. “...you have done this, and have not kept My Covenant and My Statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you ...However, I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe1  to your son for the sake of My servant David...” Israel Separated from David’s Throne Note it!   It is THE KINGDOM, NOT PART OF IT, that will be rent away. It is a PART; only two tribes are to remain. Notice in this verse that the reason “WHY” is given for the split between the tribes. Although Solomon himself deserved to have the entire kingdom rent away, ETERNAL left two tribes, not because of leniency toward Solomon, but “FOR DAVID’S SAKE”! DAVID’S DYNASTY, THROUGH SOLOMON, CANNOT BE BROKEN.   The Mighty One WILL NOT break His Covenant! In preview of what we will cover is that the two tribes that remain are Judah and Benjamin. Of those two tribes, Judah is the NameSake (scepter) tribe and thus the part that is left will be called the land of Judah. Remember in Genesis 49:10, Judah was to maintain their tribal name and their tribal territory was to increase to include the tribal territory of Benjamin. Hence, the Ephraimite village at or near Bethel, on the border of Benjamin and Ephraim, of King David's birthplace will become part of the land of Judah. The Jews were to maintain the scrolls until Shiloh (Mashiach - King David) returns and the full Kingdom is reestablished and the scribal duties are returned to the Levite priests. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam succeeded to David’s throne. At once, the people demanded a reduction in the heavy taxes imposed by Solomon. Their spokesman, Jeroboam (Solomon’s prime-minister), pleaded with Rehoboam: 1 Kings 12:4. “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” ...12:11. “And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” ...12:16. “Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered... ‘We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!” So Israel departed to their tents.” ...12:19-20. “So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.” ...12:21. “Then Rehoboam ...assembled all the House of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin ...to fight against the House of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom...” ...12:24. “Then ETERNAL said, ‘You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the Children of Israel. ...for this thing is from Me.’” Israel Divided into Two Nations Notice it carefully! The House of Judah, including the tribe of Benjamin and Levi, under King Rehoboam of David’s dynasty, was about to fight against the other ten tribes, headed by Ephraim as the first born Royal Tribe and thus was the House of Israel. Do not be confused. David and his descends are not Jewish; but since David is to always have a man on his throne ETERNAL is separating the Throne from Israel. Why? Because ETERNAL decided while the Children of Israel were still in the desert to send Israel into captivity (Ezekiel 20:23). David's Throne is being saved and will later be inserted back into the Ephramite Royal Tribe. The term “Jew” is merely a nickname for the admixture of people of “Judah, Benjamin, and Levi,” comprising the “House of Judah.” The term “Jew” applies to the one nation or House of Judah only—never to the House of Israel. To see the first place in Scripture where the word “Jew” is used, read this in context in your Scriptures. The story flow (2 Kings 16:1-4) is that Ahaz, son of Jotham king of Judah begins to rule at age twenty. He did not walk in ETERNAL’s truth as David did, but followed the pagan religion started by Jeroboam of Israel. Israel and Syria started a war with Judah... 2 Kings 16:5-6 (KJV). “...Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah ...king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave [drove] THE JEWS from Elath...” Ahaz began to reign as king of JUDAH (verse 1). He sat on David’s throne (verse 2). At this time, a man named Pekah was king of ISRAEL. With King Rezin of Syria as an ally, this king of Israel came against Jerusalem in war, and besieged King Ahaz of Judah, but could not overcome him (verse 5). At that time Rezin king of Syria (the ally of ISRAEL fighting with ISRAEL against Judah, the Jews) recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the JEWS2 from Elath” (verse 6). NOTE IT! The first place in Scripture where the word “Jew” is used, they are at war with Israel. Israel’s ally, Syria, DROVE THE JEWS out of the town of Elath! Certainly, this proves that the Jews are a different nation altogether from Israel. It is WRONG to call the Jews of today “Israel.” They are not the nation Israel—the Jews are Judah! Wherever Israel is today, remember that Israel, as a national name, does not mean Jew! Whoever the lost Ten Tribes of Israel are today, one thing is for sure, they are not Jews! Wherever you see the name “Israel,” or “House of Israel,” or “Samaria,” or “Ephraim” used in prophecy, remember this: IT NEVER REFERS TO THE JEWS, BUT TO ISRAEL who was at WAR against the Jews! There is no place in Scripture where the term “Israel” refers to the “Jews” exclusively. When the usage of the noun is not national, but individual, then the term “Israel” alone or “Children of Israel,” or “men of Israel” may, and sometimes does, include the Jews, where all thirteen tribes are included. Jews are Sons of Jacob a Hebrew, just as Texans are Americans. However, MOST Sons of Jacob are not Jews, just as MOST Americans are not Texans. The Jews are the House of Judah only a part of the House of Jacob. All of the Children of Jacob are Hebrews. All Jews3 are Hebrews, but not all Hebrews are Jews. However, when Scripture speaks of these people as NATIONS rather than as collective individuals, the term “Israel” never refers to the Jews. “House of Israel” NEVER means “Jews.” The three tribes at Jerusalem under the Davidic king were merely called the House of Judah. Concerning Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, the dying Israel said, “Let my name be named on them” (Genesis 48:16). Consequently, they truly now bear the name of ISRAEL. Take special note that there are only two tribes of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh, and Ephraim is the firstborn.4 In any configuration of other tribes, the alliance uses the name of the son that carries the birthright Blessings. From this point on, the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi are called “JUDAH”—not Israel. The ten tribes headed by Ephraim and Manasseh from this point on are called “ISRAEL.” They are not Jews and never were called Jews! From this time forward, the children of Israel, thirteen tribes in all, were divided into TWO NATIONS, the nation of Israel, and the nation of Judah! Now, for the first time, the BIRTHRIGHT goes into one nation, ISRAEL, headed by Ephraim-Manasseh, while the NAMESAKE and SCRIBAL duties remain in the other nation, called the “House of JUDAH.” ETERNAL divided the two phases of the promises to Abraham BETWEEN TWO ENTIRELY SEPARATE NATIONS! For many generations Israel and Judah remained as separate nations, in adjoining territories, having their own separate kings. Why should ministers, rabbis, and professed Scripture students be in ignorance of this when four whole books of Scripture, I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles, are devoted to explaining this very thing and recording the history of these separate, rival kingdoms? Look at the maps in the back of your Bible. There you will see the territory of each nation plainly shown. Judah retained the city of Jerusalem, its capital, and the territory known as Judea (Palestine) of which Bethel is now included. Israel occupied the territory north of Judea. Samaria became its capital city, and the House of Israel is often called “Samaria” in prophecy. This, too, is a vital “key” to understanding prophecy. “Samaria” never refers to the Jews in prophecy—but always to the ten tribes, the House of ISRAEL. We want to impress, here, that Israel and Judah are not two names for the same nation. They were, and still are, TWO SEPARATE NATIONS; YET both shall be united at the Advent of the Mashiach. The “House of Judah” ALWAYS means “Jews.” This distinction is vital if we are to understand prophecy. Because most of the so-called Scripture students are in ignorance of this basic distinction, they are unable to rightly understand prophecy! In the next section, the House of Israel will be driven out of their homeland and lost from view; yet; the term “Israel” still applies only to Ephraim and Manasseh or to nation groups that they lead. Israel Driven Out and Lost! Immediately on becoming king over the House of Israel, Jeroboam (tribe of Ephraim) set up two golden calves, thus introducing idol worship in the kingdom (I Kings 12:28-33). This idolatry combined with Sabbath-breaking (Ezekiel 20:10-24) was the great national sin which became such a curse to Israel. For generation after generation, the Mighty One pleaded with the House of Israel to turn from tradition—from their fathers’ ways—and to turn to keeping the CREATOR’s Commandments. Yet, through nine different dynasties under 19 kings, Israel continued these national sins, sins so great in the CREATOR’s sight that finally He caused them to become a conquered, captive nation. In the years 721-718 BCE, the House of Israel was conquered and its people were soon driven out of their own land, out of their homes and cities, and carried away to Assyria on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea! That is where and when they became lost from view! 2 Kings 17:18. “Therefore ETERNAL was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.” Who did the Mighty One remove? ISRAEL! Yes, Israel was removed and driven from ETERNAL’s sight until they became lost from the eyes of the world. Who is left? Judah ONLY—only the Jews! Israel had gone into captivity! They became known as the LOST Ten Tribes and are so designated today. Remember the NameSake promise to Judah was that only the Jews were to keep their tribal name. In Leviticus 26, we find the CREATOR’s solemn warning to all of the children of Israel. If they would worship Him alone, avoid idolatry, keep His Sabbath, walk in His Statutes, and keep His Commandments, they would inherit the national material promises to Abraham. They would become great, rich, and powerful, the dominant nation of all earth. However, they refused and rebelled, and were finally punished by the stripes of men, which resulted in captivity and slavery (2 Samuel 7:11-14). Only during the reign of Solomon was there a time of peace for all of Israel. However, because of the continued worship of the “baals”5 by the people being led by Solomon and the majority of the successive kings, both nations went into captivity. Consequently, the promise to Abraham was only delayed, not forgotten. Any promise given by The Mighty One is sure. His promise of the birthright to Joseph will be fulfilled. We will explain this delay later. Why Israel Became the Lost Tribes Israel simply had to obey their SOVEREIGN, keep His Commandments, and not commit spiritual adultery by worshipping idols (the “baals”) in order to receive His blessings: Ezekiel 20:20-21. “Observe My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am ETERNAL your SOVEREIGN. Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them...” Because the House of Israel lost the identifying SIGN of the Sabbath, the sign that identified them always in the true worship of the true CREATOR—the day that pointed back to creation. Creation is the PROOF of who The Mighty One is. It identifies Him as the true CREATOR. The intended purpose of the Sabbath is to keep man in the true knowledge of the true SOVEREIGN. When Israel threw aside ETERNAL’s Sabbath, they soon threw aside ETERNAL as well and went into idolatry. The Sabbath identified Israel as the CREATOR’s own people because all other nations had long since departed from its observance and gone into idolatry.   Because Israel rejected this SIGN, they were driven out and lost their identity (Ezekiel 20:10-24). Judah, too, went into captivity largely because of Sabbath rejecting (see Jeremiah 17). However, because the House of ISRAEL turned their back on the Sabbath, they utterly LOST THEIR IDENTITY! They even lost the knowledge of their national name. They came to be considered GENTILES! Exodus 31:12-17 records that ETERNAL made the Sabbath the Covenant Sign between Him and His people. A sign identifies. At creation the CREATOR rested on, blessed, sanctified, and set apart the seventh day for man’s rest and worship, which could keep him always in the true worship of the true SOVEREIGN. Seventy years later those Jews who returned under Ezra and Nehemiah had learned their lesson. They became legalistically strict Sabbatarians, but added so many of their own restrictions to it that the Sabbath became a pain instead of a delight to keep. However, in maintaining the Sabbath the Jews maintained their tribal name and scribal function. To this day Orthodox Jews have retained the time of the original Sabbath.6 Because the Jewish people who descend from the Ezra-Nehemiah leadership have retained ETERNAL’s Covenant identifying SIGN, the world today looks upon them as ISRAEL! Israel Never Returned – Why Israel’s problem at the time of Jeroboam was that they discarded the Sabbath and thus discarded their sign and link to their SOVEREIGN, then... 2 Kings 17:22-23. “...They LEFT the land of Samaria and have never returned! Assyria placed Gentiles in their homes and cities [verse 24], and these Gentiles were known as Samaritans at the destruction of the second Temple.”7 Now the House of Israel began to “abide many days without a king” (Hosea 3:4). Since THEY were the people who carried the title “Israel,” it is THEY, not Judah, who must become LOST in identity! Now they must lose their language, their spiritual heritage, and their land.8 We will briefly summarize to this point. The House of Israel did NOT return to Palestine with the Jews in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, as some erroneously believe. Those who returned to rebuild the temple and restore worship in Jerusalem at that time, 70 years after JUDAH’S captivity, were only those of the House of Judah whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away to Babylon. Note well these facts: 1. In 721-718 BCE, Israel began to be carried away out of their own land to Assyria (2 Kings 17:23). Soon they were all removed completely. There was none left except the House of Judah only (2 Kings 17:18). Only Judah with Benjamin remained with some Levites. 2. Nebuchadnezzar more than 130 years later carried away the Jews of Judah to Babylon. Very few, if any, of the House of Israel dwelt in Palestine at the time of this captivity of Judah. 3. Those who returned to Palestine to rebuild the Temple and restore worship 70 years after Judah’s captivity were ALL of the House of Judah (which included Benjaminites, and Levites)—all JEWS—of those whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away. They returned “unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city” (Ezra 2:1). 4. Only those of the tribes of Judah, together with remnants of Benjamin and Levi, who constituted the House of Judah, returned at that time (Ezra 1:5). Consequently, those in Jerusalem in the time of the destruction of the second Temple were of these three tribes, none being of the House of Israel. 5. The House of Israel became known as the LOST Ten Tribes! They are now known by other names, speaking different languages! In addition, they kept the false religion that Jeroboam introduced, which we will cover later. 6. The Ten Tribes have two leading tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. Jacob adopted them on his deathbed and only these two carry the name Israel. The other eight tribes are Asher, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun. What names are these lost 10 tribes known by today? Whoever they are, wherever they are, it is THEY, and not the Jews, who are the BIRTHRIGHT possessors. It is THEY, not the Jews, who, beginning in the early 1600’s CE, must inherit the UNbreakable promises to Abraham of national greatness, resources, wealth, and power. Ephraim was to become a great Commonwealth of Nations and then MANASSEH was to become the world’s greatest single nation! Who can they possibly be today? Continued in Chapter 7

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