| "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14; |
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The Two-fold Aspect of the Promises to Abraham
Judah's Scepter and Joseph's
Chapter 2
National Greatness Promised Israel
Yet The Jews Never Received It. Why?
That people of the United States, the British nations, and such Northwestern European nations as Belgium, Holland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark are mentioned in the Scriptures--where are the mentioned? These nations became, in the past two centuries, the wealthiest nations and the most powerful. They have possessed, at their height of power, almost three fourths of all the wealth and resources of the world. All other nations, combined, had little more than a fourth divided among them
Never has there been anything like it in history. Never did a people spread out and grow so rapidly to wealth and power. Never were a people so rich. Why?
Could Prophecy Ignore Us?
Consider, too, our peoples today base our laws on Judeo-Christian principles. It is our peoples who have sent missionaries into every land on earth and have printed and distributed the Bible by many millions of copies in all languages. It is important to note that these millions of Bibles contain two divisions. The first is the Hebrew Scriptures and the second is the New Testament. These two books, within a book, the Hebrew Scriptures, and the New Testament have been widely distributed worldwide so that everybody has access to the Hebrew Scriptures.We know prophecies definitely refer to Russia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Ethiopia, Libya, and Egypt of today. Could these prophecies then, ignore modern kingdoms like Britain and America? Is it reasonable?
Assuredly, it is not and we are not ignored. The fact is we are mentioned more often than any other people are. Yet, our identity in Scripture has remained hidden to the many. Only in a few cases are modern nations mentioned by their modern names of today. Usually they are referred to by the names of the ancient ancestor from which they sprang. Therefore, Turkey is referred to in prophecy as Esau or Edom, because the Turks are the descendants of Esau. In like manner, the Arabs are spoken of as Ishmael, the Russians as Magog.
The Scriptural story of our ancestry and our modern prophetic identity, is the most amazing, astounding, fascinating, and interesting story ever told. That story is the binding story-thread that runs throughout the Scripture binding it together.
From the time of Jamestown, the first permanent British colony in America, the British people have been a FREE people. Although America was a colony of the British and gained its independence later, both peoples are of the same general bloodline and neither were slaves to a foreign nation.
Britain and the United States became great world powers in the nineteenth century. These two--until then small, minor countries--spurted to national power and greatness among nations, as no nations had ever grown and multiplied in wealth, resources and power before.
By the early 1800's, London became the financial hub of the world. The United States had exploded out of its swaddling clothes of the 13 original states and had acquired the expansive Louisiana Purchase. It was sprouting up to become the mightiest nation of all time. However, Britain burst forth to greatness first, and until the World Wars had become the greatest empire, or Commonwealth of Nations, in all history.
Between them the British and American peoples had acquired the lion's share of all the cultivated physical resources and wealth of the world. All other nations combined possessed barely more than a fourth. Britannia ruled the waves--and the world's commerce was carried on by water. The sun never set on British possessions.
Our Wealth Promised Abraham
Centuries ago, this same wealth, power, and national greatness was promised by the Almighty to Abraham. Yet, few have ever noticed this astonishing fact of Scripture.
The promise of the Mashiach (Messiah or Anointed One) and of his kingdom rule is well known by the most superficial student of Scripture. They know that ETERNAL gave the spectacular promise to Abraham of the Mashiach to be born as Abraham's descendant. However, the Mighty One also made another, entirely different, amazing promise to Abraham. Notice how CREATOR called Abraham and the twofold nature of His promise:*
*to get the full meaning read all Scripture in context in your own set of Scriptures.
Genesis 12:1-3 "Now YHWH had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you 'a Great Nation' ...and 'in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"
Notice the Twofold promise:
- "I will make of you a 'Great Nation.'" This is a national, material promise that his flesh-born children should become a great nation--a promise of national prominence.
- "In you all families of the earth shall be blessed." That statement could have two meanings:
a) the greatness of this promised nation would so great that the other nations would be blessed by it.
b) If you believe it to mean the promise of the Mashiach then the same promise is repeated in Genesis 22:18: "And in your seed* shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."
*To see this who this one seed is read our article "New Proof of the Messiah."
Greatness as Well as Blessing
The "great nation" promise refers alone to national greatness--not to the one seed, the Mashiach, but to the plural, multiple seed of natural birth, is made certain by ETERNAL's repetition of His promise in detail later.Gen 17:1-5 "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty SOVEREIGN; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My Covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. ...and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of MANY nations."
Note that the promise is now conditional upon Abraham's obedience and perfect living. Notice the "great nation" now becomes many nations. This cannot refer to the "one seed," the Mashiach. The following verses prove that:
Gen 17:6 "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
Notice, these nations and kings (plural) shall come out of Abraham--physical generation--multiple seed, not just one descendent the Mashiach. This is strictly speaking of national greatness.
Gen 17:7-9 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be SOVEREIGN to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan [Palestine], as an everlasting possession; and I will be their SOVEREIGN. ...and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
Notice the LAND--material possession--is promised to the plural seed, of which He is "their," not "his," SOVEREIGN. The plural noun "descendants" is in all three verses.
Abraham's nephew, Lot, had moved to Canaan with him and there was quarreling between Lot's herdsmen and Abraham's herdsman. Abraham gave Lot first choice on where to go and he chose the watered plains. Then after Lot departed ETERNAL spoke to Abraham and said:
Gen 13:14-16 "...Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Again, notice the twofold nature of the promise:
- 'A Great Nation' all the land in all four directions which he could see from the mountains and in addition his seed would be as numerous as the stars.
- 'Families of the earth be blessed' the land was to be his and his descendants forever. That requires eternal life, which ties into the promised Mashiach.
Not Fulfilled in Jews
Again, notice carefully--the JEWS have never been more than one nation. They are not, and never have been, MANY nations.So here is an amazing prophecy, a solemn promise from our Almighty CREATOR that could not be fulfilled in the Mashiach, in the 'Christian' Church, or in the Jews. We must look for a number of NATIONS apart from either the Church or the Jews. Amazing as it is we must do it or deny our Almighty CREATOR's promise!
The Mighty One put Abraham to the test, and Abraham, through faith* obeyed--even to being willing to sacrifice his only son, if need be. Moreover, after that the Covenant no longer was conditional. Now it became unconditional.
* Gen 22:5,8 Abraham knew he could trust the Mighty One.
Gen 22:16-18 "By Myself I have sworn, says YHWH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son; blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
The promise now is UNconditional. ETERNAL has sworn to make it good. ETERNAL does not promise these things if Abraham or his children do certain things. He promises them to Abraham because he already has performed his part of the agreement. If these promises could be broken or annulled, then no promise in the Scripture is sure! Abraham already has performed his part of the agreement. Now the Mighty One must perform His part, without fail.
Notice an additional detail of the promise--the nations who are Abraham and Sarah's family descendants are to possess the gates of their enemies. A gate is a narrow passage of entrance or exit. When speaking nationally, a "gate" would be such a pass as the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Gibraltar. This promise is repeated in Genesis 24:60.
A Nation and a Company of Nations
The Mighty One re-promised these tremendous promises to Isaac and to Jacob. He rejected Ishmael and Abraham's other sons from this Birthright. Esau* Isaac's son and Jacob's twin brother, sold the Birthright and was rejected.* Ishmael and Esau were still given a blessing see Gen 17:18-20 and Gen 27:39-40 respectively, yet neither blessing was nearly as great as to Jacob and his descendants.
The Birthright promise, as confirmed to Isaac, is recorded in Genesis 26:1-5 where it also contains the twofold promise of greatness and blessings.
To Jacob (Genesis 27:26-29) material blessing of wealth in the things of the ground is added, with the prophecy that heathen nations shall be ruled by the Birthright nations of Israel. Also (Gen 28:13-14_ added is another detail that these nations of Israel shall eventually spread around the world. In addition, these Scriptures repeat the twofold promise.
Still later, the Mighty One appeared unto Jacob and changed his name to Israel. Then English word "Israel" comes from the Hebrew word Yisra'el (Strong's #H3478 yis-raw-ale') and means "he will rule as 'God.'
Gen 35:11 "Also, Elohim said to him: "I am El Shaddai [the Mighty One]. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.
So, the "many nations" are described to take shape as a Nation--one great, wealthy, powerful nation--and a Company of Nations--a group, or Commonwealth of Nations allied.
This promise has never been fulfilled in the Jews. Neither can it pertain to any Congregation because they are a collection of called-out individuals scattered through all nations. Yet this amazing promise must stand fulfilled, unless we are to deny the Scriptures and CREATOR's Righteous Word!
The Birthright and the Scepter
Now we come to a most vital distinction, a bit of Scriptural truth, known only by but very few. Note it carefully.Gen 49:10 "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
This verse can be approached two ways. The promises of blessing--the promise of the "one seed," "the Mashiach" is called "the Scepter" by many. The promise of the Mashiach, as nearly everybody knows, will be fulfilled through the Jews. Most students of Scripture will rightfully tell you that "Shiloh to whom the obedience of the people will be" is the Mashiach.
The other approach to this verse is based on the meaning of the word "Scepter." Scripturally a scepter is the staff of the tribal leader and denotes ruling power, authority, or sovereignty. In this vein the promise/prophesy of Gen. 49:8-10 shows that Judah would rule the sons of Jacob until Shiloh (the Mashiach) comes. Recorded history proves this, as all United States Presidents and most Royal families do trace their lineage back to King David. Therefore, we see that through these family lines Judah has prevailed over his brothers.
In actuality, the SCEPTER promise is the combination of these two approaches to Gen 49:10. Primarily the Mashiach comes from the Jews. Secondarily, as we shall see, England's ruling families as well as U.S. presidents are descendants of King David.
Thus, the fact remains that "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah." BUT--and here is the astonishing vital fact so few ever seem to have noticed:
1 Chron 5:1-2 "...his Birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the Birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the Birthright was Joseph's."
Yes the BIRTHRIGHT was Joseph's and it remained with him and was given to his sons. Joseph is the one his brothers sold down into Egypt, where he became food administrator and Prime Minister--Joseph who was called "a prosperous man," even as his descendants were destined to become. "Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler (Scepter promise), although the Birthright was Joseph's.
The Birthright, which Esau sold to Jacob--the promise of national greatness and material wealth--was never given to the Jews who are of the tribe of JUDAH. So naturally, we should not expect to find this promise fulfilled in the Jews today. However, the tribe of Judah DOES HAVE and WILL KEEP the Scepter promise.
The Birthright is Joseph's
But just what is a birthright? It is that which comes by right of birth. The twofold promises to Abraham that passed through his children are both birthrights. Isaac gave both promises to his son Jacob. We will call the promise to Abraham of national greatness and material wealth the Birthright promise. In addition, we will refer to the promise to Abraham of rulership, as the Scepter promise.
Note that Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons and the twofold promised passed separately through different sons. Israel gave the Birthright promise to Joseph* and his two sons. Israel gave the Scepter promise to Judah and his sons.
*Joseph's two sons became two tribes and replaced Joseph, thus there are 13 tribes as we shall see later.
What is a "scepter"? It is the badge of royal power, kingly office. The Scepter was ETERNAL's promise of a continuous dynasty of KINGS, culminating in the Mashiach who shall be King of kings; and therefore the Scepter included the promise of eternal life as mentioned above. So, notice carefully, please! The Scepter promise of rulership went to JUDAH, while the Birthright of material wealth and national greatness went to JOSEPH.
Moreover, the material Birthright includes possession of the land, Palestine, possessing the physical "gates" to enemy territory, and ruling over heathen peoples, spreading and colonizing around the world! At this point, the two phases of the promises to Abraham separate into two different tribes!
The interesting story (Gen 48) of the passing of this Birthright from the aged Israel to the two sons of Joseph tells how Jacob (Israel) ADOPTED these two lads, Ephraim and Manasseh as his own legal sons because they had an Egyptian mother. You should read it there, in its entirety, noticing that Jacob's other sons were also recipients of blessings as recorded in the 49th chapter of Genesis:
Gen 48:16 "Let my [Israel's] name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Hence, they are the "House of Israel." They rightfully own the name of Israel, not the Jews! Israel continues administering the blessing of a great multitude. Let who, grow into that promised multitude? Notice it--NOT Judah, not the Jews--but the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh and THEIR DESCENDANTS.
Together they were to grow to a multitude. Nevertheless, eventually, as indicated by another prophecy, Isaiah 49:20, to be explained later, the descendants of these two lads were to separate, and Ephraim would lose Manasseh, then to become a separate nation. So, continuing, speaking of Manasseh, Israel said:
Gen 48:19 "He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude [a company or commonwealth] of nations.
Therefore, Ephraim, the son of Joseph became the Birthright holder and "the House of Israel" is sometimes referred to by the name Ephraim in Scripture. Who today, are the descendants of Ephraim, and of Manasseh? Somewhere, Ephraim must be a group, or Commonwealth of Nations, while Manasseh must be the greatest single nation on earth! Either it is so, or the Scripture is not true!
David Takes the Throne
After the death of Israel and his twelve sons in Egypt, their children grew in about two and a quarter centuries to a population probably between two and three million in that land. However, Israel's children became Egyptian slaves (Ex 1:6-14; Gen 15:13). Then the Mighty One raised up Moses and fitted him in a special way to lead these children of Israel out of the bondage that had come upon them in Egypt.When they reached Mt. Sinai, ETERNAL made a Covenant with them establishing them as a NATION--His nation--among the kingdoms of the world. Their government was theocratic, with the civil, as well as the religious laws, given directly from their SOVEREIGN. The Mighty One Himself was their King and He ruled them by a system of judges.
Soon the Israelites became dissatisfied with ETERNAL as their King and demanded that a man should be their king as in the Gentile nations around them. So the Mighty One gave them Saul as their first human king. Saul, however, was not a good king, nor was his heart right with ETERNAL. Saul refused to obey and the SOVEREIGN rejected him. His dynasty ended with him.
Then the Mighty One placed David, a Jew, and a man after His own heart, of no relationship to Saul, upon the throne of Israel. David sat on the ETERNAL's throne. Because of his obedience, sincerity, and honesty of heart, David, like Abraham, received a most astonishing unconditional promise from the Almighty, which is as little known as the Birthright promises to Abraham.
The Davidic Covenant
We only have space to quote briefly from the Scriptures setting forth this amazing Davidic Covenant. Like the Covenant with Abraham, the Mighty One made the Davidic Covenant UNconditional and unbreakable. David wanted to build a great Temple as ETERNAL's house in Jerusalem. The Almighty replied:2 Samuel 7:12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
This, of course, was his son Solomon, who succeeded David to the throne and ETERNAL continued:
2 Sam 7:13 "He [Solomon] shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."
Notice it! The throne of David, passed to Solomon, and Solomon's throne was to be established FOREVER! If that throne ever ceased to exist, then the Mighty One's promise has failed! Nevertheless, some will try to say the promise was conditioned upon the obedience of Solomon and the future line of kings or their people. Notice the scriptural answer to this:
2 Sam 7:14-15 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
"BUT" ETERNAL states, yes, notice this BUT--"But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you." Saul's dynasty ceased. The SOVEREIGN CREATOR promises He will never take away this throne from David's line in this manner. David's dynasty through Solomon shall never cease! Continuing, next verse:
2 Sam 7:16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.
Again, we run into a twofold promise, this one is about the Scepter, the kingly line, and the eternal throne that comes through Judah. However, we do not have space here to pursue both parts, please, refer to our article, "New Proof of the Messiah" for a full explanation.
Through all Generations
Not only was David's House and Kingdom established forever through Solomon,it was to exist continuously forever--through all generations!Psalm 89:3-4 "I have made a Covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: 'Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.'
Note it! That David's seed, through Solomon, and his throne was to stand forever "as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven" (verses 28-37).
Jeremiah 33:17 "For thus says YHWH: 'David shall never lack a man* to sit on the throne of the House of Israel
*The Hebrew word 'iysh usually means man but it is a contraction of the word 'enowsh which simply means "a mortal" or "person" (The Theological Word Book of the Old Testament by R. Harris). In this case, "person" would be a better translation, as we will see later.
As far as is historically known, the last king of David's dynasty to sit upon that throne was King Zedekiah of Judah. He died in 585 BCE with the Jews a captive people, with all his sons killed along with all the nobles of Judah. There is no historic record of any continuance of that throne from that year. Did David "lack a person" to sit upon the throne, and continue his dynasty, from that day on?
Some say the man from Galilee took over the throne. But alas, he did not, because he also died. However, at the Advent the Mashiach and soon now, the Mashiach will sit upon that very throne as the King of kings. But wait, how can the Mashiach take over and sit upon a throne that ceased to exist long ago?
Will the Mashiach Come to a Nonexistent Throne?
IF the throne of David ceased with Zedekiah, then it does not exist today. Moreover if it does not exist, how shall the Mashiach sit upon a non-existent throne? In addition, since it was to continue through all generations, what about those many generations between Zedekiah and the coming Advent?Jer 33:20-21 "Thus says YHWH: 'If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne
Day and night still continues. Do David's descendants, through Solomon, still sit upon a throne? Nevertheless, what do the people say?
Jer 33:24 "Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, 'The two families which YHWH has chosen, He has also cast them off'? Thus they have despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.
However, what does our ETERNAL SOVEREIGN say?
Jer 33:25-26 "Thus says YHWH: 'If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'"
Strong words those! "Unless you can stop this old earth from turning on its axis and unless you can remove the sun and moon and stars from heaven," says the Almighty. You cannot prevent Him from keeping His Covenant to maintain continuously, through all generations, forever, from the time of David and Solomon, a descendant of Solomon in one continuous dynasty on that throne!
He would not necessarily have to rule over ALL the House of Israel, or even the Jews--but at least some of them, and enough to form a nation. Remember again, the Scepter promise, which includes this line of kings until it culminates in the Mashiach at the Advent.
Gen 49:10 "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh [the Mashiach] comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people."
The Test of Scriptural Truth
Has the Scepter departed from Judah? Has the throne ceased? Or does it, as ETERNAL in such a binding manner promised, exist today so that the Mashiach can take over and sit upon a functioning, continuous throne when he returns? The infallibility of the Scripture is at stake! ETERNAL's word is at stake!Continued in Chapter 3
[ Chapter 3 ] [ The Promises to Abraham - Introduction Index Page ]
