| "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 6 - Israel's New land
We are ready now to search out the actual location of the lost tribes of the outcast House of Israel. We know they exist today as a mighty nation, and a company or Commonwealth of Nations. They are powerful, looked upon as Gentiles and when we find them, we shall find the throne of David!
Many passages of prophecy tell of these people in these latter days. Prophecies not to be understood until this "time of the end." Prophecies containing a message to be carried to these people, by those to whom the Mighty One reveals it!
First, it is necessary to fix in mind several facts. The prophet Amos wrote, in the days of Jeroboam II, the 13th of the 19 kings of the House of Israel (Amos 1:1) said:
Amos 9:8-9 ""Behold, the eyes of the ETERNAL SOVEREIGN are on the sinful kingdom [House of Israel, as Judah had not yet sinned]. And I will destroy it [the kingdom or government, not the people] from the face of the earth. ...For surely I will command, And will sift the House of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground."
This prophecy usually is applied to the scattered condition of the Jews. However, it has nothing to do with the Jews, or the House of JUDAH. It refers to ten-tribed House of Israel--driven into Assyrian captivity, then migrating from there and scattering among other nations long before the Jews were taken to Babylon. This prophecy says that ISRAEL (not Judah) was to be sifted among other nations. These Israelites would lose their identity, but ETERNAL would protect and keep them so that "not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground."
A New Homeland
It was during this time that the people of the House of Israel were to "abide many days without a king" (Hosea 3:4). That these people did sift through all nations is clear. However, a portion of them had become established in a definite location of their own by Jeremiah's time--140 years after their original captivity.
These Israelites possessing the Birthright eventually were to come to a new land of their own. The ETERNAL states (comp. 1 Chron 17:9):
2 Sam 7:10 "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously."
The context of the whole passage shows this refers, not to Samaria, but to a different land. A land where these scattered Israelites were to gather, after being removed from the Promised Land, while their land of Samaria was lying idle and in possession of Gentiles.
Notice carefully! After being removed from Samaria, being sifted among all nations, abiding many days without a king, losing their identity, they are to be "planted" in a far away strange land now to become their own. Now, NOTE THIS! After reaching this place, they are to move no more! That is, of course, during this present world before the Time of Jacob's Trouble, this brings us to the configurations of the present world.
While other prophecies indicate these Birthright holders were to become a colonizing people, spreading around the world, it is plain that the spreading out must be from this appointed place. They are to spread out from this appointed place, which must remain the "home" seat of government for David's throne.
Mark this clearly! Once the "place of their own" was reached, and the throne of David planted there, THEY WERE TO MOVE NO MORE--until during the Time of Jacob's Trouble as prophecies show. Therefore, the location of this people TODAY is the place where Jeremiah planted David's throne more than 2,500 years ago!
Therefore, prophecies pertaining to this present time or to the location of this people just before the Advent of the Mashiach will tell us the location of Jeremiah's planting. The House of Israel is yet to return, at the Advent of the Mashiach, to Samaria--to again plant grapes in Samaria their original country. Prophecies telling where they shall, in that future day, migrate FROM will reveal the location of "lost" ten-tribed ISRAEL! The two succeeding "overturns" of the throne, too, must be located in this same general locale.
Lost Israel Located
Without further suspense, let us see where prophecy locates these Birthright holders, now possessing the throne of David and having received the richest national blessings of the earth.
Remember they are distinguished from Judah--the Jews--by various names: Ephraim, Joseph, Jacob, Rachel (the mother of Joseph), Samaria, their former home, Israel. Notice the direction they went:
Hosea 12:1 "Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues (chases) the east wind..."
Since an "east wind" travels west, Ephraim must have gone west from Assyria. When the ETERNAL swore to David that He would perpetuate his throne, He said:
Psalm 89:25 "Also I will set his hand [Scepter] over the sea"
The throne is to be "set," planted, "in the sea." In addition, through Jeremiah, the ETERNAL said:
Jer 3:11-12 "...Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: `Return, backsliding Israel,' says YHWH `I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,' says YHWH; `I will not remain angry forever.'"
Israel is clearly distinguished from Judah. Of course, Israel was north of Judah while still in Samaria. However, when these words were written by Jeremiah, Israel had been removed from Samaria more than 130 years and had long since migrated, with the Assyrians, north (and west) of Assyria's original location.
In these last days messengers are to go "toward the NORTH" (of Jerusalem) in order to locate lost Israel and proclaim this warning. In summary, we find the location is toward the north, also west, and in the sea.
Jer 3:18 "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the House of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers."
In the future exodus, at the Mashiach's Advent, they are to return to Palestine out of the land of the NORTH! The next two Scriptures not only add another direction but provide a glimpse into the heart of our loving CREATOR, as did Jeremiah 3:12 above:
Hosea 11:8,10 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? ...My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. ...They shall walk after YHWH. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west."
In a separate prophecy for the latter days, Jeremiah records another direction:
Jer 30:24-31:1 "The fierce anger of YHWH will not return until He has done it, And until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it. At the same time, says YHWH, `I will be the SOVEREIGN of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.'"
Jer 31:8 "Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth..."
This prophecy is for consideration in the "latter days" and is addressed to "Israel" (Vs 2, 4, 9), "Ephraim" (Vs 6, 9), and "Samaria" (Vs 5). Here is added another hint--"the coasts of the earth" (Vs 8)--evidencing they are dominant at sea and indicating they have spread abroad widely by colonization
Hence, Israel of TODAY--Israel of the day of Jeremiah's "planting" of David's throne--is located specifically as NORTHWEST of JERUSALEM, and IN THE SEA! Let us locate this land more specifically!
The same 49th chapter of Isaiah begins the first verse with this: "Listen, O Isles, unto Me." The people addressed, Israel, are called "O Isles" and in the third verse and "O Israel." This term "isles" or "islands" is sometimes translated "coastlands." In addition, the next three verses add some interesting information.
Jer 31:9-10 "...I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. Hear the word of YHWH, O nations [Ephraim, Manasseh], and declare it in the isles afar off..."
Isa 41:1,8 "Keep silence before Me, O coastlands ...But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend."
Jer 31:7 "...Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ` O YHWH, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!'
Thus we see that today, as in Jeremiah's day, the House of Israel is in the isles, which are in the sea, the chief of the nations, northwest of Jerusalem. A coast-dwelling, and therefore sea dominant people!
Certainly, there can be no mistaking that identity! Take a map of Europe. Lay a line due NORTHWEST of Jerusalem, across the continent of Europe, until you come to the sea, and then to the islands in the sea! This line takes you directly to the BRITISH ISLES!
There is much PROOF THAT OUR ANGLO-SAXON, English-speaking peoples of today--Britain and America--are actually and truly the Birthright tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh of the "lost" House of Israel. There is so much we shall have space for but a small portion of that proof in this booklet.
Many authors have researched this topic, a few of them are Yair Davidi, Stephen Collins, E. Raymond Capt, Colonel J. C. Gawler, and Walter Baucum--see our article "Tracing Dan." Of course, I must not fail to mention J. H. Allen the author that Herbert Armstrong used almost exclusively.
A major proof of who are the Birthright nations is to see who controlled ALL of the gates of their enemies (until the gates have begun to be lost). Who controlled gates such as the Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Straight of Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Khyber Pass, Malta, Singapore, and many, many other area? In other words, who fulfilled the prophecies of Gen 22:17; 24:6 and controlled these important areas? There are no others than the United States and Briton.
Linguist Proof
Another proof we will cover briefly is that of languages. A most interesting fact is the Hebrew meaning of the names of the British people. The House of Israel is the covenant people. The English word "covenant" comes from the Hebrew word "beriyth" (Strong's #H1285 pronounced ber-eeth'). The English word "man" is sometimes translated from the Hebrew word "`iysh" (Strong's #H376 eesh). Pronouncing the two Hebrew words together would give us "ber-eeth'-eesh" and transliterating the sound into English, gives us "British." Putting the meanings of the two Hebrew words together we have "covenant-man" showing that English word "British" actually means "covenant-man."
Thus, the word for "covenant-man," or "covenant-people," is thus simply "BRITISH." So, is it mere coincidence that the true "covenant-people" today are called the "BRITISH"? In addition, they reside in the "BRITISH ISLES!" To review a promise to Abraham that we covered earlier:
Gen. 21:12 "But CREATOR said to Abraham, ...for IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."
Even though Sarah was barren and was in her old age, the Great CREATOR intervened and she gave birth to a son and named him Isaac, (Gen. 21:2-3). Isaac had two sons Esau and Jacob. The Birthright of Isaac passed to Jacob (Gen. 25:24-33). Jacob's name was changed to Israel, (Gen. 35:10). Thus all the sons that Israel (Jacob) had became known as the "sons of Israel," and the resulting nation became the nation of Israel. Yet, the overriding name would still be the "sons of Isaac" who was Jacob's father.
In the late 1800's, some Assyrian cuneiform clay tablets were discovered and they were later translated in the 1930's. These tablets were Assyrian records of the 8th century BCE Israelite deportation. There were records of four deportations, which proved the ten tribes of the northern Nation of Israel were assembled into Assyrian culture and became identifiable as the Camerians, the Sycthians, and the Goths. Our records of ancient history show that over several hundred years, and through different paths, the Sycthian, Camerian and the Goths migrated essentially to northwest Europe and became known as the Anglo-Saxon Celtic people.
Gen. 48:16 "The Angel which redeemed me (Jacob) from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac."
Armstrong states that linguistic analysis by Dr. W. Holt Yates of Yale University of the word "Anglo-Saxon" shows the word "Saxon" to mean "sons of Isaac." This is exactly what ETERNAL promised to Abraham and again to Jacob:
Amos 7:16 "Now therefore, hear the word of YHWH: You say, `Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the House of Isaac."
Colonel Gawler quoting Wilson "Watchmen of Ephraim," says that "Nineveh marbles record the rebellion of a people called Esakska, who had called themselves in their own country `Beth Isaac,' or `House of Isaac.'" He also states that "the word `Saacae,' is fairly, and without straining or imagination, translatable as "Isaacites."
Thus, we have linguistic proof from different sources for the connection between the Birthright promise and the Anglo-Saxon peoples of today. The first is directly from the Hebrew language. And the second from the present day English which evolved from the "Old English" or "Anglo-Saxon" language which, itself evolved from "Teutonic" or "Germanic" language branch of the "Indo-European" family* of languages, the proof is there.
*The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Vol. 9 article "English Language."
Dan a Serpent's Trail
Since ETERNAL intended that "lost" Israel was to be located and found in these last days, we should expect some kinds of signs or markers to have been left along the trail by which ancient Israel journeyed from Assyria, the land of their original captivity. Notice what the Mighty One tells Ephraim:Jer 31:20-21 (TLB) "Ephraim is still My son, My darling child. I had to punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. As you travel into exile, set up road signs pointing back to Israel. Mark your pathway well. For you shall return again, O virgin Israel, to your cities here."
In Scripture, we find the road signs, which they set up along the road they traveled. Jacob, foretelling what should befall each of the tribes, states "Dan shall be a serpent by the way..." (Gen 49:17). J. H. Allen states that a better translation of the original Hebrew is: "Dan shall be a serpent's trail." If you have ever noticed the trail of a snake in sand you will have noticed that each time it curls and pushes forward a small curved mound is formed behind it that points back the way it came. It is a significant fact that the tribe of Dan, one of the ten tribes, named every place they went after their father Dan. (See our article "Tracing Dan.")
The tribe of Dan originally occupied a strip of coast country on the Mediterranean, west of Jerusalem.
Joshua 19:47 "And the border of the children of Dan went beyond these, because the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem and took it. ...They called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father."
Judges 18:11-12 tells us that Danites encamped at Kirjathjearim, and "called that place Mahaneh-Dan unto this day." "Mahaneh-Dan" means "camp of Dan" (comp. Judges 13:25).
A little later the same company of 600 armed Danites came to Laish, captured it, and "they called the name of the city DAN, after the name of Dan their father" (verse 29). So notice how these Danites left their "serpent's trail" by the way--set up road signs by which they may be traced today.
Remember, in the Hebrew, vowels were not written. The sound of the vowels had to be supplied in speaking. Thus, the word "Dan" in its English equivalent could be spelled, simply, "Dn." It might be pronounced as "Dan," or "Den," or "Din," or "Don," or "Dun"--and still could be the same original Hebrew name.
The tribe of Dan occupied two different districts, or provinces, in the Promised Land before the Assyrian captivity. One colony lived on the seacoast of Palestine. They were principally seamen, and it is recorded Dan abode in ships (Judges 5:17).
When Assyria captured Israel, these Danites struck out in their ships and sailed west through the Mediterranean and north to Ireland. Just before his death, Moses prophesied of Dan: "Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan*" (Deut 33:22). Along the shores of the Mediterranean, they left their trail in "Den," "Don," and "Din."
*Strong's #H1316 (baw-shawn') "a region E. of the Jordan" and along the coast of the sea (Num 33:32).
Irish annals and history show that the new settlers of Ireland, at just this time, were the "Tuatha de Danaans," which means, translated, "Tribe of Dan." Sometimes the name appears simply as "Tuathe De," meaning the "people of `God.'" Moreover, in Ireland we find they also left these "road signs": Dans-Laugh, Dan-Sower, Dundalk, Dun-drum, Don-egal Bay, Don-egal City, Dun-glow, Dingle, Dunsmor (meaning "more Dans"). Moreover, the name Dunn in the Irish language means the same as Dan in the Hebrew "judge."
However, the northern colony of Danites was taken to Assyria in the captivity and thence with the rest of the ten tribes they traveled from Assyria by the overland route.
After leaving Assyrian captivity, they inhabited for some time the land just west of the Black Sea. There we find the rivers Dnieper, Dnister, and the Don.
Then, in either ancient or later geography, we find these road signs: Dan-au, the Dan-inn, the Dan-aster, the Dan-dari, the Danez, the Don, the Dan, and the U-Don, the Eri-don, down to the Danes. Denmark means "Dan's mark." When they came to the British Isles, they set up the "road signs" names of Dun-dee, Dunkirk, Dun-raven; in Scotland the "Dans," "Dons," and "Duns" are as prolific as in Ireland.
And so the "serpent's trail" of Dan sets up road signs that lead directly from the British Isles back to the Promised Land! (See our article "Tracing Dan.")
We have followed the road signs of the serpent's trail, but is the Throne of David to be overthrown?
Continued in Chapter 7
[ Chapter 7 ] [ The Promises to Abraham - Introduction Index Page ]
