Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Israel: from father Abraham until the world to come.

 

Our history starts with our father in the faith, Abraham. YHVH said to Abram in Genesis 12: 1 - 3, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; (2) And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing. (3) And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” According to the transliterated Hebrew words for ‘Go forth’ namely ‘Lech lecha’, Abram was told to get out of the land of his fathers, for his own good. YHVH commanded Abram and on the condition that he obeyed, he was made an eternal promise. From this point forward YHVH started the world with an individual person who obeyed Him.

 

When YHVH told Abram to leave, he did not argue at all, but as we read from Genesis 12: 4, ‘(So) Abram went forth.’ YHVH established Abram, whose name He later changed to Abraham, as the father of Israel. However Abram had to obey and leave his country of origin, namely Ur of the Chaldeans, which was in the land of Babylon, as well as his family and friends behind. He had to go and start all over again in a country where YHVH told him to go. This is similar to the way that YHVH is calling us to come out of the false religious systems that we served in the past, in order to qualify to go and dwell in the land promised to our father in the faith. YHVH promised the land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants, for an everlasting possession. YHVH said to him in Genesis 16: 10 & 11: “This is My covenant, which you shall keep between Me and you and your descendants after you; every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

 

YHVH said of this new nation that He started in Isaiah 43: 21, “The people, whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise.” This specific prophesy will only truly come to fruition in the foreseeable future, when a remnant of Israel will be saved. Few people today realize that there is a principle of duality which runs throughout the plan that YHVH is carrying out here on earth. There was the first Adam, physical and earthly, and there is Messiah, who is the second Adam, who is spiritual and eternal. YHVH made man mortal from the dust of the ground and of the human kind; but through Messiah we may be begotten immortal, spiritual and of the Elohim kind. Similarly there were two phases to the promises that YHVH made to Abraham; One being material and national, and the other spiritual and individual. Most students of the Scriptures are aware of the spiritual promise of Messiah and salvation through Him: Most realize that YHVH gave Abraham a spiritual promise of the Messiah to be born as his descendant, and that mankind will be saved through Him.  Even so, most do not understand what salvation is, i.e. the promise that we receive through Messiah and how and when we receive it.  But, we will discuss that truth later, as we are only focusing on the national and material promises that YHVH made to Abraham, at this time.

 

YHVH made a dual promise to Abram in Genesis 12: 2 & 3, saying: ‘And I will make you a great nation (a promise of race), And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing; (3) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse, And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (a promise of grace or unmerited pardon).’  This last promise is repeated in Genesis 22: 18, as follows: “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you obeyed My voice.” It is at this point where Christianity has fallen into error, or spiritual blindness. As already mentioned, they understand the promise of spiritual salvation through Messiah, but miss the point that YHVH gave Abraham promises of both physical race and spiritual salvation. They incorrectly assumed that believers are promised eternal life in heaven after death. However, the promise of ‘a great nation’ refers to race and not only to the one ‘seed’ spoken about in Galatians 3: 16, in this way: ‘Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is Messiah.’ Yes, we know that Messiah was the Son of Elohim, but He was also a descendant of Abraham. 

 

It was Elohim’s intention for Israel to become a multitude of nations.  Observe and understand the promises given in Genesis 17: 1 - 5, as follows: ‘Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old. YHVH appeared to Abram and said to Him, “I am Elohim Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. (2) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” (3) And Abram fell on his face, and Elohim talked to him, saying, (4) “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. (5) No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.” Also understand that this promise was conditional upon Abraham’s obedience and blameless living. At this time the ‘great nation’ becomes a ‘multitude of nations’ and can definitely not refer to a single seed, namely Messiah only.

 

We read from verse 6 of Genesis 17, “And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you.” This tells us that Abraham’s offspring will become many nations with a number of kings ruling them. We read further from verses 7 and 8 of Genesis 17, YHVH saying: “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your descendants after you. (8) And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their Elohim.”  Please note that the land is promised to numerous descendants of whom YHVH is ‘their’ and not ‘his’ Elohim. The future of all the important nations of the world depended on the promises that YHVH made to Abraham. The hope of life after death for anyone, regardless of their race, depends upon the spiritual promise made to Abraham; the promise of mercy and favor through Messiah, the ‘one seed’ of Abraham.

 

Today, the children of Abraham have indeed become a multitude of nations. Even so, most of them have lost their identity because they started keeping the pagan holidays of the nations amongst whom they were scattered. They forgot the commandments of YHVH and He no longer considers them, to be His people. They have also forgotten the name of Elohim and even though some know that Yahshua died for their sins, they do not know His real name any longer. In addition they do not know that they are Israelites who should be keeping the Torah commands of YHVH, as a model to the nations in the world. Today they worship a three-headed deity whom they call G-d and do not keep the Feast Days of Elohim any more: It is for this reason, that they have forgotten Elohim’s plan of salvation for all mankind. This deception is Satan's way to keep these Israelites from knowing their ultimate potential of becoming sons of Elohim in His everlasting Kingdom on earth.

 

The promises made to Abraham were very important and are foundational to the development of the greatest nations in the world. The original nation of Israel ruled by King David, split in two after King Solomon died, because of idolatry, forming the two nations, known as Judah and Israel. During the years 721 – 718 BCE the nation of Israel (consisting of ten tribes) were invaded by the Assyrians, after which they were exiled. Over time they migrated northwest into what is today known as Europe, but they lost their identity, their culture and language. People throughout the world, but mainly those in the Western world would be amazed if they knew that they are part of the lost ten tribes of the Scriptural nation of Israel. Only a few today are aware of this vitally important fact and because many believe that they are nothing but Gentiles, they are blinded to a great deal of what is written in the Scriptures about specifically the nation of Israel (and Judah). About two and a half thousand years ago YHVH, the Creator of the universe inspired Isaiah to quote Him in Isaiah 46: 9 & 10, saying: “Remember the former things long past, For I am Elohim, and there is no other; I am Elohim and there is no one like Me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Ask yourself: What is the purpose of Elohim spoken about here?

 

Reading from Psalm 33: 10 – 15, YHVH said through David: ‘YHVH nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. (11) The counsel of YHVH stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. (12) Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. (13) YHVH looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; (14) From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, (15) He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understand all their works.’ YHVH created mankind for an incredible purpose, but even the wisest people on earth are totally unaware of His purpose for us. Why don’t these extremely talented and learned people understand the real meaning of what is happening in our world today? The reason for this is twofold, namely:

• They have been deceived by Satan through the false education (and religious) systems of the world, which appeal to the vanity of their intellect causing them to reject Scriptural knowledge that can only be understood by those who have the Set-part Spirit indwelling them;and

• The key to understanding Scriptural prophesies, namely the identity of the lost ten tribes of Israel, and the other nations in the catastrophic events soon to occur, has been lost.

 

We are almost at the end of 6,000 years of Scriptural history, about to enter the world to come (Olam Haba). Today, we face conditions which the world has not ever experienced before. After World War II, the nations of the world started developing weapons of mass destruction which can erase all life from our planet. Most nations are in deep financial trouble, and their citizens suffer from many incurable diseases. Soon a world-wide famine caused by natural disasters and inclement weather will result in millions starving to death. The major powers of the world, which used to turn to Science and Technology for help in the past, cannot find solutions to their problems any longer and have no-where to turn to. Even those who turn to the Scriptures cannot find the answers, because they believe the Scriptures to be outdated and only offered solutions to the ancient nation of Israel.

 

In fact a large portion of the prophecies in the Scriptures were never written for the ancient nation of Israel, but is about the people and nations alive today. We are also able to see from many of the prophecies in the Scriptures where the people of Israel will reside before Messiah’s return and the coming exodus back to the Promised Land, picturing them in captivity and slavery. Speaking first of ancient Israel, YHVH says in Ezekiel 20: 10 – 12, “So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. (11) And I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live.  (12) And also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am YHVH who sanctifies them.” Nevertheless we read in verse 21 of Ezekiel 20: “But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.” Therefore, we see according to verse 23 that YHVH scattered ancient Israel in national captivity and slavery. Instead of becoming the model nation that YHVH wanted them to be, ancient Israel became trapped in the worship practices of the pagan nations around them.

 

This was the main reason why YHVH made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, where most of the older generation died out. When they eventually entered the Promised Land, it was a new generation, but they witnessed the miracle of the manna provided during their years in the wilderness, as well as Elohim’s presence in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. This new generation of Israelites had a priesthood in operation to help them remember the many blessings that YHVH provided for them and should have forgotten the pagan gods of Egypt, but instead of driving out the pagan nations from among them in the Promised Land, they absorbed the heathen worship practices of their neighbors.  Even after the nation split into two separate nations, they did not obey YHVH, as is witnessed in 2 Kings 17: 22 & 23, like this: ‘And the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of which he did; they did not depart from them, (23) until YHVH removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day.’

 

By studying the Scriptures we find that Jeroboam, the king who took over the kingdom of the house of Israel after King Solomon died, erected two golden calves in Israel, one in Dan and one in Bethel, and instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth of the month, ‘like the feast (of Tabernacles) which is in Judah’ (see 1st Kings 12: 28 – 33). Their idolatry resulted in the fact that YHVH no longer cared for them as a nation, as we read in Amos 9: 7, in this way: ‘“Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” declares YHVH. “Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?”’ They became like every other nation in the world to YHVH, and lost their status of being His chosen people. Even so, as we continue to read this amazing prophesy we see from Ezekiel 20: 33 & 34 that this is in fact talking about the people of Israel today, as follows: ‘“As I live,” declares YHVH Elohim, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. (34) “And I shall bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out.”’

 

During the early part of the last century there were religious groups, who started identifying some of the lost ten tribes of Israel. As time went on, the identity of the various nations making up the lost ten tribes became clearer. Today since the late 1990’s there are groups and even Jewish Rabbis in Israel who agree with and has in fact provided an even clearer opinion on the identity of the lost ten tribes. One source from Israel tells us that the descendants of the lost ten tribes are to be found throughout the world, but mainly amongst the so-called ‘gentile’ peoples of Northwest Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.  The Jews in Israel and those in the Diaspora are mainly descended from the tribe of Judah. The early Israelites are proven to have migrated to the west and over many years formed the nations of France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, The USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The most prominent tribes were Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph’s two sons, and are mainly to be found in the present day English-speaking nations; the tribe of Reuben became the forefather of the French; Benjamin the forefather of Belgium; Zebulon the forefather of the Dutch; Asher gave rise to the Scots; Issachar the Swiss; Dan contributed to the Welsh and Irish and fathered the Danes and so on. Issachar was dominating in Switzerland and Zebulon in Holland, but groups of both tribes were found in each country. The Scots and the Jews are amongst the most intelligent people in the world and many scientific breakthroughs may be attributed to both these groups.

 

It is commonly accepted that the aforementioned peoples have always been attached to the Scriptures, especially the original Hebrew Covenant. Abraham was the first ancestor of the Hebrew nation. The blessings of Abraham was passed on to his son Isaac and then onto Jacob. in the book of Genesis, where we will discover the identity of the lost tribes of Israel, not previously identified. Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt. His family and his children’s families increased greatly in numbers during that time. Elohim changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and it is for that reason that his descendants are called Israelites, a nation that developed whilst they lived in Egypt. Jacob believed that his life was nearly over, so he sent for Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, in order to bless them, as we read from Genesis 48: 11 – 20, in this way: ‘And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, Elohim has let me see your children as well.” (12) Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground. (13) And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand towards Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand towards Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. (14) But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the first-born. (15) And he blessed Joseph, and said, “The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The Elohim who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, (16) The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; and may my name live on in them, and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (17) When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. (18) And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the first-born. Place your right hand on his head.” (19) But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people and he also shall be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”(20) And he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel shall pronounce blessings, saying, ‘May Elohim make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”’

 

We learnt by comparing Scriptural prophesy to our world today, that Ephraim became a commonwealth of nations and Manasseh became a great nation. It is clear today that Joseph became the father of the English speaking nations of the world today. Ephraim is identified as Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and Manasseh as the United States of America. Even though out of sequence, we read the blessing that Jacob gave to Joseph, from Genesis 49: 22 – 26 as follows: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a spring; Its branches run over a wall.  (23) The archers bitterly attacked him, And shot at him and harassed him; (24) But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), (25) From the Elohim of your father who helps you, And by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. (26) The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; May they be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.”

 

Before identifying the rest of the lost ten tribes, I would like to make it clear that, in total agreement and as stated by Yair Davidy in his book entitled “The Tribes”, we are by no means racist. I wish to insert a direct quotation from page 401 of his book, showing that we fully concur with Yair Davidy, a fellow Jewish Israelite: “The Almighty created all mankind and everyone has free will to do right or wrong within the limitations imposed upon him by his surroundings and circumstance. Every person ideally should endeavor to do the best he can as well as he can with what he has which includes his inherited traits as well as his acquired ones. What applies to individuals is even more applicable to groups of common ancestry in which the communal effort re-inforces and empowers all of its members. In the same way as propensities for music and the like are often inherited so too are tribal traits for better or for worse. This does not mean that any group has the right to feel itself racially or otherwise somehow “superior” to any other or to be prejudiced against those who are not family members. By the individual and his group or sub-tribe understanding to what Tribal unit within the overall Israelite framework they belong or are attached to so will they be enabled to consciously contribute in the desired direction.

 

On the international level, this is a changing world, in which the same or similar forces and alignments periodically re-appear. It would help all concerned to be conscious of their ultimate familial connections as indicated in the BIBLE and what their interest should therefore be. More specifically, the Western peoples should know that the Jewish hold upon all of the Land of Israel is most desirable from the viewpoint of Scripture and is for the good of everybody. Also that as Israelites all Tribal members (especially those pertaining to the northern group headed by JOSEPH) have an obligation (beyond the duty incumbent on every human being) to do right and to regulate the affairs of humanity in a positive direction. It would pay us all to read the Bible more frequently and to strive for deeper understanding.”

 

The Scriptures clearly show that YHVH is dealing with the various nations at different times, as is recorded for us in the following Scriptures:

• Deuteronomy 32: 8,

• Acts 17: 26 & 27, (blood) (27)

 

We read about the blessing which Jacob gave his twelve sons in Genesis 49: 1 & 2, as follows: ‘Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what shall befall you in the days to come. (2) Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.” We are actually able to identify most of the sons of Israel, by the blessings each of them received from their father. Starting with his eldest son Reuben in Genesis 49: 3 & 4, we read: “Reuben, you are my first-born; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. (4) Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it – he went up on my couch.” The French descend in the main from Jacob’s eldest son Reuben. They possess the dignity and finesse suitable for a first-born son. The Hebrew name Reuben (ראובן) pronounced as Ra-oo-ben. Ra-oo means ‘see’ and ben means ‘son’. Therefore the name Reuben means ‘see a son’.

 

We read in Joshua 22: 9, “And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned home and departed from the sons of Israel at Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession which they had possessed, according to the command of YHVH through Moses.” The Galatians descended from the Israelite tribes of Reuben, Gad and half-Manasseh, had once been located in the land of Israel east of the Jordan River. The area used to be known as Gilead and Bashan. The name of the Galatians was sometimes tendered as ‘Galadi’ and is derived from the Hebrew Gilead. The Galatians had a tendency to join in alliance with the Goths[1]. The Galatians were identifiable in Europe with both part of the Celts and Belgae and with early groups in Germany. Germany like Scandinavia received tribes from Scythia via Scandinavia and westward into Gaul and Britain. Gaul is the inclusive name for modern day France, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland. However, not all of the French were from the tribe of Reuben. The Huguenots identified as Calvinist Protestants from France, were according to Ruth Shecter, an Author and researcher from Beer Sheva University in Israel basically Hebraic in character and mindset.

 

Jews fled from Portugal and Spain during the Spanish inquisition, to France and Holland, Whilst Jews practiced their religion openly in France and Holland. Portugal and the Spanish colonies in the Americas, where the inquisition was imposed, lead to crypto-Jews secretly practicing Judaism. France, because it was next to Spain was a natural point of escape for Jews fleeing across the border. France was a Catholic country and expelled the Jews in 1394. Although Jews were expelled from France from the twelve through the fifteenth centuries, a large number of conversos remained behind in the south of France. The Sephardic remnant was quietly enlarged by ‘New Christians’ Judaizers or Marranos from Portugal and Spain. France officially opened its borders for fleeing conversos from Portugal and Spain in 1550. In 1615 Louis XIII published an edict insisting that all Jews leave France within a month, but the parliament in Bordeaux prevented the expulsion from occurring. In 1656, Louis XIV issued an edict confining all ‘New Christians’ to Bordeaux and its surrounds. As time passed, the crypto-Jews or ‘New Christians’ of southern France were referred to as Jews. However, whilst there were Sephardic communities who openly practiced Judaism, most of the Sephardic Jews in France disappeared; some merged with Catholicism, whilst others later showed up in Holland.

 

The rise of Protestantism in France had a special attractiveness for the Jews. Protestantism had several positive factors that made it attractive for secret Jews, who wanted to appear to be Christian. The mutual enemy of Protestantism and Judaism was Catholicism. In addition Protestantism appealed to traders and the better educated and those who were better off financially. The Sephardic and Protestant or Huguenot areas overlapped. Huguenots were sometimes treated well, but were persecuted most of the time for not being Catholics. Thousands were killed or sent to prison. Because of persecution about 850,000 Huguenots converted to Catholicism and about 160,000 went into exile. Throughout the history of the Huguenots, the French Protestants had an affinity for the Jews. After 1685 about 400,000 Huguenots emigrated to Prussia, Holland, Britain, Switzerland and North America. Among the Dutch-dominated settlers in South Africa, were many of Huguenot origin. Many of the Huguenot family names that showed up in their host countries suggest a connection with Jewish origins. But a large number of crypto-Jews remained in the countries of their origins. Their Jewish names were changed when they were forced into baptism in Catholicism. Today there are many Portuguese names and surnames connected to trees, plants and animals which was a typical way in which crypto-Jews identified themselves after baptism, e.g. Pereira (pear tree), D’Almeida (Almond) or Da Costa (meaning from the coast). These names indicate ancestry going back to the hidden Jews of Portugal. It is for this reason that many Portuguese, as well as many of the French Huguenots and Dutch immigrants who fled Catholic persecution to the USA, Canada, the UK and South Africa, are in fact Jewish. The historian Arthur J. Zuckerman believed that Jews were referred to as ‘Goths’, because they often came from the region of Narbonne which was also known as ‘Gothia’.

 

Continuing in Genesis 49: 5 - 7, we read: “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence.  (6) Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, And in their self-will they lamed oxen. (7) Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.”  Many of the teachers in both houses of Israel are probably from the tribe of Levi, who were scattered in Israel. We also read about Levi in Deuteronomy 33: 8 – 11, ‘And of Levi he said, “Let Thy Thummim and Thy Urim belong to Thy godly man, Whom Thou didst prove at Massah, With whom Thou didst contend at the waters of Meribah; (9) Who said of his father and his mother, ‘I did not consider them’; And he did not acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he regard his own sons, For they observed Thy word, And kept Thy covenant. (10) “They shall teach Thine ordinances to Jacob, And Thy law to Israel. They shall put incense before Thee, and whole burnt offerings on Thine altar. (11) “O YHVH, bless his substance, And accept the work of his hands; Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, And those who hate him, so that they may not rise again.”’

 

We read in Genesis 49: 8 – 12, “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.  (9) Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? (10) The scepter shall not depart from Judah.  Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (11) He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in the wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes.  (12) His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.” Judah will have the Oracles of Elohim, until Messiah comes to rule His people from Jerusalem. We may twist and turn as much as we like, YHVH does not change. Some insist that ‘YHVH has taken away the Oracles of Elohim, from the Jews, because of their unbelief’.  However, Romans 3: 3 & 4, indicates that those who say so, are nothing but liars: ‘What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of Elohim, will it? (4) May it never be! Rather, let Elohim be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT THOU MIGHTEST BE JUSTIFIED IN THY WORDS, AND MIGHTEST PREVAIL WHEN THOU ART JUDGED.”’ Jews usually have dark reddish-brown eyes and milk white teeth. Yahshua our Messiah came in the form as a man, but was a Jew. I am positive that He looked nothing like some Christian Bibles portray him, i.e. with long blond hair and a refined European nose. There is no doubt that like the Jews of today, He was from the Tribe of Judah. However, as explained earlier, there might have been Jews amongst the Huguenots (French) and Dutch Protestants who fled Catholic persecution, as well as Spaniards and Portuguese peoples who fled the Catholic (Spanish) inquisition. Even so, the modern day Jews descend mainly from the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

 

Talking about Zebulon’s blessing in Genesis 49: 13, we read: “Zebulon shall dwell at the seashore; And he shall be a haven for ships, And his flank shall be toward Sidon.” Zebulon is identifiable with Holland, as only the Dutch dwell on the shores of the sea. The ship is the symbol of Holland. The Frisians are people who are concentrated in Northern Holland, but once spread along the coast from Scandinavia to Holland, Belgium and also into France. Moses blessed Zebulon in Deuteronomy 33: 18 & 19, saying: “Rejoice, Zebulon, in your going forth, And, Issachar, in your tents. (19) They shall call peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer righteous sacrifices; For they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.” Many South Africans are descended from the Dutch. Both Holland and South Africa are somehow busy on the seashores. A large part of Holland is below sea level; on shores of the sea and South Africa finds a good portion of its diamond wealth from the sands of the sea. The stone of Zebulon (on the Chief Priest’s Breastplate) was a diamond. South Africa produces a large percentage of the world’s diamonds today, which are processed and traded in Belgium. Many of the white South Africans are from Dutch descent. The people of Flanders in Belgium also have a Dutch connection.

 

Before going on to another tribe, I would like to insert another quote from Yair Davidy’s book, entitled; “The Tribes” (pages 233 & 234) here, for the sake of my fellow South Africans: “South Africa was colonized mainly by people of British and Dutch descent with others in addition to the presence of several different Negro nations. The white (and therefore also some colored[2]) peoples are those who (in this case) belong to Israel. The Coat of Arms features a lion (from Joseph - Britain), and two deer (a springbok and oryx). The deer was a symbol of Naphtali of whom it was prophesied that he would be greatly blessed and receive the “west and the south” (Deuteronomy 34: 23). The motto on the previous coat-of- arms of South Africa means “Strength from Unity”. The coat-of-arms shown is that of the previous regime. It was emphasized that though Naphtali was primarily to be found in Norway and Zebulon in Holland, Naphtali had also historical connections to the area of Holland and groups relating to Naphtali were to be found amongst the Dutch, many of whom settled in South Africa. In addition, Vikings from Norway had settled northwest England. Vikings from Denmark colonized northeast England. Vikings also settled in parts of Wales and Ireland, and the Tribes of Naphtali and Dan had given rise to the Viking movement. It may well be that amongst both the English and Dutch settlers of South Africa many are descended from Naphtali. On the whole, however, the land should be attributed to the domain of Joseph. Things have now changed in South Africa and it remains to be seen what the fate of white people there will be.”

 

We read in Genesis 49: 14 – 15, “Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds. (15) When he saw that a resting place was good And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, And became a slave at forced labor.” The tribe of Issachar are to be found in present day Finland and Switzerland. Switzerland is a neutral republic, using its financial influence to ward off enemies and making it worthwhile for others to respect its neutrality. Finland also received settlers from Issachar, even though they are like Switzerland traditionally neutral, they defeated the Russians single-handedly in battle. The name Issachar in Hebrew connotes ‘rewards’ or ‘hire’. The Swiss are famous in the world for their banks which take commission for hiring out other people’s money. We also read in 1 Chronicles 12: 32, ‘And the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.’ Switzerland is famous for its reliable and accurate watches and in that sense they ‘understood the times.’ Finland also shows qualities relevant to Issachar and was also inhabited by the tribe of Issachar. (Even though Jacob called his son Issachar a strong donkey, he was actually paying him a compliment. Donkeys who are supposed to carry burdens have great strength. They do not easily fall under the burdens of life). However, we see in verse 14 of Genesis 49 that the donkey is lying down between two burdens. Things can get too much for us at times, even for the strongest among us. That is when we are required to lie down to rest. The two burdens spoken about here in the prophetic sense are the two main branches of the house of Israel, namely: Ephraim (a collective name for the ten lost tribes in Scriptures) and Judah. The two houses, are as we know, divided and must be made into one. The donkey sees a pleasant resting place, as we are told in verse 15. The resting place is the Land of Israel. This is where Ephraim and Judah will eventually be united as a physical and eventually a spiritual nation, and become one in faith and purpose, as we are told in Ezekiel 37. The donkey is a type of our determination to bear the burdens that YHVH gives us, without complaining. If we are called to do the work of YHVH we have no choice: We either serve Him 100% or perish.[3]

 

Continuing in Genesis 49: 16 - 18, we read: “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. (17) Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, So that his rider falls backward. (18) For Thy salvation I wait, O Elohim.”  We read in Jeremiah 31: 21 where YHVH tells Ephraim to: “Set up for yourself roadmarks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your mind to the highway, the way by which you went.” Throughout the Scriptures we find roadmarks or guideposts, which Israel set up along the way they traveled. In Genesis 49: 17, Jacob blessing Dan (mainly the Irish and Welsh nations), saying: “Dan shall be a serpent in the way.” Dan is one of the tribes who named every place, where they set foot. We read in Joshua 19: 47, ‘And the territory of the sons of Dan proceeded beyond them: for the sons of Dan went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. Then they struck it with the edge of the sword and possessed it and settled in it; and they called it Leshem Dan after the name of Dan their father.’  We read further in Judges 18: 11 – 12, ‘Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out. (12) And they went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day.’  Later the same group of Danites came to Laish and called the name of the city Dan (as per verse 29 of Judges 18).

 

Most of us are aware that vowels are not written in Hebrew: the English name Dan is simply written as Dn (דן) in Hebrew. Dn might be pronounced as Dan, but also as Den, Din, Don or Dun – all meaning the same Hebrew name. In Deuteronomy 33, just prior to his death, Moses blessed the sons of Israel. In verse 22 of Deuteronomy 33 we read: ‘And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s whelp, that leaps forth from Bashan.”’ It is believed that prior to 721 BCE when Assyria captured Israel, the Danites left the Promised Land struck in ships and sailed through the Mediterranean Sea and then on to Ireland. Irish history shows that new inhabitants of Ireland at that time were known as the ‘Tuatha de Danaan’ or the tribe of Dan. However the northern colony of the Danites was taken captive with the rest of the Israelites. They eventually migrated with the rest of the Israelites north west into Europe and left landmarks such as Denmark (Dan’s mark), and in the British Isles they left names like Dundee, Donegal City, Dingle, Dunsmor  and Dunraven, amongst others.

 

Irish history tells of a strong colony of the tribe of Dan that arrived and settled in Ireland by ship, before 700 BCE. Later in King David’s days, a colony of the line of Zarah arrived in Ireland from the East. In the years 569 BCE, an elderly prophet (called a ‘saint’) came to Ireland and it is believed that he was none other than the prophet Jeremiah. He brought with him the princess daughter of a middle-eastern king, with the Hebrew name Tea-Tephi as well as a scribe named Shimon Baruch. His party included the king of Ireland who was in Jerusalem at the time of the siege. He got to know the princess and married her shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 585 BCE. Jeremiah also brought an ark, musical instruments including a harp and a stone called the ‘stone of destiny’ or ‘Lia-fail’, with him to Ireland. In fact many kings in the history of Ireland, Scotland and England, including Queen Elizabeth II have been coronated sitting over this stone.  This stone used to be kept in Westminster Abbey in London, and the coronation chair built over it has the inscription ‘Jacob’s Pillar Stone’ (Genesis 28: 18) on it. The stone was moved to Edinburgh Castle on 30 November 1996, the 700th Anniversary of its removal from Scotland. The stone came to Ireland with Jeremiah, where after it was taken to Scotland. In 1296 it was taken to England as the coronation stone of England. Ireland is but one of the nations belonging to the lost 10 tribes, which we are able to identify by following the roadmarks that they left along the way. Ireland has a harp on its coat of Arms and the flag of Wales depicts a dragon; another symbol of the tribe of Dan. 

 

We read about Gad in Genesis 49: 19, as follows: “As for Gad raiders shall raid him, but he shall raid at their heels.”  The tribe of Gad dominated Sweden, whose major constituent divisions bear names reminiscent of Gad and his sons.

 

Jacob’s blessing for Asher appears in Genesis 49: 20, like this: “As for Asher, his food shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.”  The olive tree was the traditional symbol for the tribe of Asher. Asher was eventually found mainly in the northern part of England and Scotland where they intermarried with the descendants of Joseph. Moses blessed Asher in Deuteronomy 33: 24, saying: “More blessed than sons of Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, And may he dip his foot in oil.” We know that this refers to the oil found in the North Sea area between Scotland and Norway. Asher is positively identified as being the Scots. They are also the only tribe liked (or favored) by most of the other tribes.

 

We read about Naphtali’s blessing in Genesis 49: 21, as follows: “Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words.  The Naphtalites were from the 10 Tribes of Israel and were reported to have migrated via the Russian Central Asia to Scandinavia. The Naphtalite Vikings eventually became the Norwegians.

 

Finally, we read about Benjamin’s blessing in Genesis 49: 27, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil.” Part of the tribe of Benjamin became the basic stock of the so-called Normans. The Normans used the symbol of a wolf, which is the same symbol used by the tribe of Benjamin. The rest of the tribe of Benjamin, are found in the modern day nation of Belgium.

 

YHVH has from the time that He called Israel out of Egypt planned for them to be His model nation.  He wanted them to show the other nations of the world how to live and serve Him. Because YHVH never changes His plan is still in force and will remain so for ever.  The Scriptures are filled with references to the nation of Israel from Genesis to Revelation.  (Even those who are not bloodline Israelites have the opportunity to become the Israel of Elohim, as we read in such scriptures as Galatians 3: 26 – 29, Galatians 6: 16 and Romans 9: 6). The Israelite seed of Abraham were European colonist from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. The overall effects of colonialism were in the most beneficial, despite claims to the contrary. British, Dutch and French colonialism put an end to mutually destructive warfare, ended human sacrifice and slavery, founded and improved irrigation systems, reformed agricultural practices and public hygiene, built bridges, roads, public works and many other beneficial things in the nations that they colonized. The colonial powers made large investments and improved the lives of the population greatly. The investments benefited all parties – which is part of the blessing of Abraham, with which all the nations whom Israel came in contact with, were blessed.

 

The restoration of all Israel is based upon the unqualified promise of YHVH. Even though the House of Israel is scattered throughout the world and think of themselves as Gentiles, not a ‘least grain’ will be lost. In Hosea 1 we see that Hosea’s wife bore him a child named Jezreel. Jezreel stands for Yisre’el, meaning Elohim sows in Hebrew. The word Yisre’el is very similar to Yisrael (Hebrew for Israel) with the prophetic meaning, as seen in chapter 2 of Hosea that Elohim is about to scatter or sow the House of Israel amongst the nations as punishment for their sins. We see that this punishment is specifically for the House of Israel, whilst YHVH will have compassion on the House of Judah, as recorded in Hosea 1: 7 as Follows: “But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by YHVH their Elohim, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses and horsemen.”

 

The House of Judah consists of the majority of the Jewish People alive today. We know that there are only about 16 million Jews around the world today. They retained their identity, because they remained faithful to Torah for the past 2500 years. As mentioned before, the house of Israel consisting of ten tribes was carried away in captivity by Assyria around 721 - 718 BCE. They never returned (in great numbers) to rejoin their brothers Judah. It was during the time of their scattering amongst the nations that Hosea tells us that these Israelites would lose their identity. Hosea’s second and third children were named Lo-ruchama (meaning not-pitied) and Lo-ammi (meaning not My People). This essentially meant that during their captivity amongst the nations, they would not receive any pity from YHVH and that they would no longer be known as His people. Even though the Jews were also dispersed throughout the nations, they have always retained a relationship with YHVH their Elohim and have always kept their identity.

 

Fortunately YHVH does not want to leave the house of Israel scattered amongst the nations of the world. We also see that Hosea prophesied that at the time when the number of the descendants of Israel will be as ‘the sand of the sea’, this immeasurable group who used to be known as ‘not My people’ will again come to be known as ‘sons of the Living El.’ This means that they will regain their identity – they will realize that they are not Gentiles, but belong to the so called ‘lost ten tribes of Israel.’ We have seen this prophesy about this bringing back of the lost tribes of Israel, in Deuteronomy 30:  3 – 6, as follows: ‘Then YHVH your Elohim will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where YHVH your Elohim has scattered you. (4) If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there YHVH your Elohim will bring you back. (5) And YHVH your Elohim will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. (6) Moreover YHVH your Elohim will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.’  A second witness to this is found in Leviticus 26: 40 - 45.

 

We read further from Jeremiah 31: 10 where YHVH says: “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” In verse 27 and 28 we read: ‘“Behold, days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. (28) And it will come about that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares YHVH.’ This is not only talking about the re-gathering of the house of Judah to the Land, but of joining the house of Judah with the whole house of Israel.

 

Let us now consider a few scriptures which confirm the above and also tell us what lies ahead for those of us who now know that we are part and parcel of the lost ten tribes of Israel:

• We read in Isaiah 11: 11 – 12, (12) This full gathering seems to come with the appearance of the standard (or Messiah), but many scriptures show that the initial stages of the reunion begin earlier in less notable ways.

• Jeremiah 3: 6 - 18 states the following, (7)(8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)(14) (15) (16)(17) (18) Judah has already gone back to the land and we see more and more Jews returning to the land. Both houses will eventually return, to be associated again with a Davidic king. This great return will rival the Exodus from Egypt, when the new covenant will come about with the restoration of all Israel. We read about this in Jeremiah 23: 3 - 6 as follows: (4)(5) (6)

• In Amos 9: 8 – 10 Israel lose contact with Elohim and are scattered, but in verses 11 and 12, their return is again linked with a restoration of a Davidic kingdom. The apostles understood these scriptures and immediately prior to Messiah ascended to heaven, they asked Him in the last part of Acts 1: 6 as follows:

• In Zechariah 8: 13 we read: If some of us are concerned for our children at this time, it is comforting to read Zechariah 10: 9 & 10 as follows: (10)

• However, we read (YHVH)’s warning through Hosea from Hosea 14: 2, in this way: The prophet encourages Israel to take words, meaning Torah and to return to YHVH in repentance; to reflect on the commandments that they have transgressed; confess their sins and return to Him in obedience to His teachings. This is a call for all of modern day Israel to return to our heritage - It is time to realize that those who captured us, cannot save us, as we read from verse 3, as follows: Not many years from today, the oil which we have come to rely upon so much will be depleted. The transport so essential to our economies will grind to a halt. So will all the gadgets that we came to depend on with our lives, come to an end. It is too late to turn around - even if we try to prevent it from happening. Mr. Al Gore, the man whom I believe should have become the President of the United States a few years ago, and was swindled out of victory by George Bush at that time, is doing a sterling job in trying to get world government leaders to work on a strategy, to at least try and preserve some of the blessings that we have experienced and destroyed, for our children. However, honorable as his attempts are, it is all in vain: YHVH has given mankind a period of six thousand years, to prove to ourselves that life without Him is meaningless. His plan of salvation, depicted by His annual Set-apart Days, tells us that He is about to intervene in our lives. Suddenly all of what we have become so accustomed to will disappear; we will not ride on horses, or on motorbikes, or in cars any longer. Our manmade idols will be useless, and cannot save us. Throughout the Scriptures, Elohim demands mercy for the orphan, consequently Israel is assured of His compassion.

We need to repent and return to the way of Elohim, because He is our Father and is prepared to forgive us, as we read from verses 4 to 8 of Hosea 14, in this way: ‘I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them. (5) I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. (6) His shoots will sprout, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. (7) Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. (8) O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress, from Me comes your fruit.’ The ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy will be millennial, since all of Israel has not repented at this time. YHVH is only calling a remnant from the lost ten tribes, scattered throughout the nations of the world, to repent and follow Him. If those of us called at this time, overcome Satan, the world and the self, we will become kings and priests under Yahshua to rule those who survive the great tribulation and live on during the millennium. Elohim’s love for His people is beautifully expressed here in metaphors of the lily, the wine of the Lebanon and the olive tree. As explained in verse 8, YHVH and not idols will take care of the united Israel – He, and not Israel or Judah, is the tree providing both shelter and prosperity.

 

1.1 Two House Teaching in the Renewed Covenant:

 

Ephesians 2: 11 – 22 is considered a major two house teaching from the Renewed Covenant. We start reading from verses 11 & 12 of Ephesians 2, as follows: ‘Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Un-circumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands- (12) remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise (given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), having no hope and without Elohim in the world.’ Before we were called out of the religions of the world, we were without Elohim in the world. The Scriptures inform us that YHVH is the One and Only Elohim, meaning that whatever most believed in before, were non-existent gods. In addition, we thought that we were Gentiles, and lived accordingly; we worshipped on Sunday and without even realizing it, we were worshipping the non-existing sun god. We did not know that most of us are Israelites who lost our identity, religion and language. We read from verses 13 - 16, that whereas we were lost in the past, we have now been brought back by Yahshua, in this way: ‘But now in Messiah Yahshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups (the house of Judah and the house of Israel)  into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances (as per Galatians 3, Yahshua took away the curse or punishment due to law breaking, for those who become obedient - those who obey the law only reap its blessings), that in Himself He might make the two into one new man (the Israel of Elohim), thus establishing peace, (16) and might reconcile them both in one body to Elohim through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.’ Yahshua was sent to save those of us who have lost the way of Elohim, after we were dispersed among the nations. We adopted the false religious practices of the nations through which we traveled, as well of those amongst whom we live.

 

Continuing from verse 17 of Ephesians 2, we read: ‘AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY(us), AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR (the Jews); (18) for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Elohim’s household, (20) having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yahshua Himself being the corner stone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Master; (22) in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of Elohim in the Spirit.’Rav Shaul (Paul) is telling us here, that we from the lost ten tribes have by faith in the Jewish Messiah, become part of the community of Israel once again. It is our duty at this time to make our Jewish brothers jealous, by keeping the same Torah command that they are keeping, as we read from Romans 11: 11, as follows: ‘I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgressions salvation has come to the Gentiles (rather those Israelites form the lost ten tribes, who think that they are Gentiles, including some genuine Gentiles), to make them jealous.’ It is as we read from the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15: 11 – 32; we are the prodigal son who left our Father, whilst Judah remained with Him. But like we are told in the parable, as they see us returning they are becoming jealous.

 

1.2 What about the world to come (Olam Haba):

 

As mentioned earlier there are presently Jews in Israel, who know that we are part of the lost ten tribes of Israel and who are working zealously with the Israeli government in an effort to eventually allow some of us, who know that we are Israel, to return to the land. The foreword of the second edition of ‘The Tribes’ by Yair Davidy written by Rabbi Avraham Feld, says the following: ‘We are blessed with another edition of The Tribes by Yair Davidy, where directions are given helping people find their way back home.’

 

Our brother Judah in Israel is keen for us to return to full Torah observance so that we may join them and return to our homeland, but so is our Father YHVH. Ezekiel 37: 15- 28 is the most significant Scriptural passage about the re-unification of the Two Houses of Israel under the Greater David, who is Messiah Yahshua, as follows: "The word of YHVH came again to me saying, (16) 'And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, "For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions";  then take another stick and write on it, "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions." (17) Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. (18) And when the sons of your people speak to you saying, "Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?" (19) say to them, "Thus says YHVH ELOHIM, 'Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.'" (20) And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. (21) 'And say to them, "Thus says YHVH ELOHIM, 'Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; (22) and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. (23) And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their Elohim. (24) And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them. (25) And they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons, and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant shall be their prince forever. (26) And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. (27) My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their Elohim, and they will be My people. (28) And the nations will know that I am YHVH who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’

 

When reading these verses carefully, you come to the conclusion that this prophecy has yet to occur and the Two Houses of Israel have yet to be reunited. At the time of this prophesy neither the house of Judah nor the house of Israel; have returned to the Land of Israel. The Greater David, or Messiah Yahshua, is not reigning over United Israel, consisting of both houses from His throne in Jerusalem, yet.  Messiah has not yet returned to earth, and Judah and Ephraim do not dwell securely in the land. All of Israel is not observing the statutes and judgments of YHVH and obeying Him like they should. The unification spoken about in Ezekiel will only occur later. However, I believe that a remnant of the two houses will also come together, to perform the role of two witnesses prior to Messiah’s return.

 

There has been lots of speculation about the identity of the two witnesses spoken about in the Scriptures. Some believe that they will be Moses and Elijah, whilst others believe it could be Enoch and Elijah, or even John (one of Yahshua’s disciples who are allegedly still walking the earth) and Elijah. However, let’s see what the Scriptures have to say about this topic. Commencing in Revelation 11: 3 – 12, we read: “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days (3½ years), clothed in sackcloth. (4) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before YHVH of the earth. (5) And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed (similar to the fire send down by Elijah on the two arrogant captains of fifty sent by king Ahab to summon him to come and tell the king, whether he will survive his illness or not in 2 Kings 1). (6) These have the power to shut up the sky in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire (like the plagues unleashed by YHVH on Egypt through Moses). (7) And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Master was crucified. (9) And those from the people and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. (11) And after the three and a half days the breath of life from Elohim came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them. (12) And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them.”

 

We are told here that there are two witnesses, but we are not told whether they are two people, or two groups?  I am of the opinion that these are two groups who will be Torah observant (or at least striving to be fully Torah observant). In addition, the second group has also recently started using the Set-apart Names of YHVH and Yahshua. The first group represents Moses, who are observing and teaching the Torah of Elohim, and the second group represents Elijah, who teaches that YHVH is our Elohim and are also moving towards full Torah observance. Both groups teach obedience to YHVH and His Torah and will for that reason be hated by the people of the world.  We are admonished in Malachi 4: 4 - 6 to return to the faith of our fathers in the faith, as follows: “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. (5) Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of YHVH. (6) And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” From the underlined section, we see that the fulfillment of this prophesy will occur just prior to and as Yahshua our Messiah returns.

 

Both Moses and Elijah are related to Abraham through faith: The two witnesses will be called out ones from both the ‘so-called’ gentiles (the Israelites who lost their identity, due to idolatry) and Jews. We read in Romans 9: 23 – 27: ‘And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, (24) even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. (25) As He says also in Hosea, “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’ AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”(26) “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING ELOHIM.” (27) And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED.”’

 

Even so some modern day descendants of Israel believe that because our Jewish brothers rejected Yahshua, they are lost forever. But, we should not forget that Yahshua himself said in Matthew 15: 24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This means that Yahshua came specifically to save the lost ten tribes of Israel, and not for the Jews: YHVH divorced Israel (see Jeremiah 3: 8) and even though Judah also sinned, He did not divorce them and they remained loyal to Him. Their role is primarily to preserve the oracles of Elohim, as well as the Hebrew language. The reason that YHVH has blinded them to the fact that Yahshua is the Messiah for the past 2000 years, is described in Romans 11: 1 – 12, as follows: ‘I say then, Elohim has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (2) Elohim has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with Elohim against Israel? (3) “YHVH, THEY HAVE KILLED THY PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN THINE ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”  (4) But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” (5) In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to Elohim’s gracious choice. (6) But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.  (7) What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; (8) just as it is written, “ELOHIM GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” (9) And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND RETRIBUTION TO THEM.  (10) LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOR EVER.” (11) I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. (12) Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!” YHVH wants both houses to repent and return to Torah so that we may once again be known as the United kingdom of Israel.

 

We read further in Romans 11: 15 – 21, like this ‘For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (16) And if the first piece of dough be Set-apart, the lump is also; and if the root be Set-apart, the branches are too. (17) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. (19) You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (20) Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; (21) for if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.’ The purpose of us being called at this time is to make our Jewish brothers jealous. The last thing that we can afford to do is to be arrogant.  By blinding the Jews to Yahshua at this time, YHVH is calling the remnant from the lost ten tribes, so that we may provoke our Jewish brothers to jealousy, by keeping the same Torah commands that they do.

 

We have seen an example of what will happen to our Jewish brothers, when Yahshua returns in John 20, after His resurrection in verses 25 to 29, as follows: ‘The other disciples therefore were saying to him, “We have seen the Master!” But he said to them, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (26) And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Yahshua came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” (27) Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” (28) Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!” (29) Yahshua said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Yahshua did not rebuke Thomas for calling Him Elohim, instead He said that we who have not seen Him and believe that He is our Elohim, are indeed blessed.

 

We know that this is exactly what will happen to our Jewish brothers at Messiah’s return to come and rule us from Jerusalem. We read accordingly in Zechariah 12: 9 – 14, “And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. (11) In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (12) And the land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; (13) the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; (14) all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.’  This will happen on Yom Teruah (also known as Rosh Hashanah), when Yahshua returns, finding our Jewish brothers observing this important Feast Day in their synagogues, with the men separate from their wives, as per their custom.

 

The two witnesses; one a Torah observant group and the other, a group honoring the Set-apart Names of Elohim, testify to the Oneness of Elohim, as may be read in Isaiah 43: 10 – 11, as follows: “You are My witnesses,” declares YHVH, “And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Elohim formed, And there will be none after Me. (11) “I, even I, am YHVH; And there is no savior besides Me.” We as the remnant of Israel, together with the Torah observant Jews will witness that YHVH is our Elohim, that He is our savior and that there is no other god, besides Him. The two witnesses are the called out Israelites and Jews that will be preaching that YHVH is one; that His Torah is binding forever; and that He is our Savior.

 

At this time we are commanded by Yahshua to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of Elohim to the entire world as a witness to all nations (not to convert them), and then the end shall come, as per Matthew 24: 14. But, we need to understand, that by doing so, we will be persecuted, as explained in Matthew 24: 9 as follows: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.” Are we prepared to die for our faith in Yahshua? We are going to be persecuted for using the name of Yahshua and for keeping the Torah of YHVH, as we read in Revelation 12: 17, ‘And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of Elohim and hold to the testimony of Yahshua.’  We are reminded that Moses recorded the Torah for us and Elijah showed Israel that YHVH is our Elohim.

 

According to Romans 11 we are known as an olive tree. As called out ones, it is our duty to keep the Torah teachings of YHVH to the best of our ability. We should be thankful that YHVH has at this time blinded our Jewish brothers, allowing those whom He has called from the lost ten tribes, as well as from some genuine gentile groups, to share our place in the olive tree. We are also warned in Romans 11 not to be conceited, but to fear, lest YHVH break us off as well. If we perform the function that we were called for well, then all Israel shall be saved as we read in Romans 11: 25 - 27, ‘For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation (those who believe that they have been given the authority of the Sanhedrin, to determine the Set-apart Days of YHVH, because our Jewish brothers were unfaithful), that a partial hardening has happened to Israel (talking about the Jews) until the fullness of the Gentiles (those of the lost ten tribes who have forgotten that they are Israel) has come in;  (26) and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” (This is talking about Yahshua being a Jew, who removed the indebtedness, for breaking the Torah of YHVH, from both houses of Israel.) (27) “AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”

 

We read in Matthew 7: 16 – 19 that as part of the olive tree, we need to bear fruit, as follows: “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? (17) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. (18) A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” We need to be serious about our calling, since we are being judged at this time, as per 1 Peter 4: 17. Revelation 11: 4 also mentions the two lampstands that stand before YHVH on the earth. Lampstands are supposed to give light. We read in Matthew 5: 14 – 16, Yahshua saying: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Many in our faith have because of their past experience with false religions, become so inward turned, that they prefer to practice their faith in the privacy of their homes. The problem with so doing is that they do not let their lights shine before men, as Yahshua instructed.

 

According to Revelation 11: 6, the two witnesses will have the same powers that both Elijah and Moses had. Like Elijah, they will withhold rain during the days that they prophesy, and like Moses they will smite the earth with every plague, as often as is required. They will not be Moses and Elijah, but will be in the spirit of Moses and Elijah, and will eventually pay with their lives. This will all occur prior to the terrible day of YHVH. The two witnesses will be killed by the beast that comes out of the abyss. They will lie in the street of the city called Egypt and Sodom. I do not think that this is talking about Jerusalem. At Passover we came out of Egypt, which is a symbol of sin. Sodom is also a symbol of sin. The cities in which most Israelites dwell today are evil, and no better than Sodom was at the time of Abraham. It is for that reason that I believe the dead bodies of the two groups or two witnesses will lie in Israelite cities throughout the world. They will be killed but will be resurrected and taken up into heaven after 3½ days. They will be with the ones who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of Elohim, mentioned in Revelation 15.

 

When Yahshua returns, the dead in Messiah will be resurrected as we read in Matthew 24: 29 & 30, as follows: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, (30) and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. We also read in Zechariah 14, that when Elohim comes to the earth He will bring back the Set-apart ones with Him. These are the two witnesses, as well as those resurrected and changed at Messiah’s return. Continuing on in Matthew 24: 31, we read: “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

 

The two witnesses are two groups representing Moses and Elijah, and to become part of the two witnesses we will eventually have to join our brother Judah. However, to be able to join them, we will first have to become fully Torah observant. It will be then when our Father YHVH will inform them about our return, as we read in Isaiah 66: 20 & 21, as follows: “Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to YHVH, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says YHVH, “Just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of YHVH. (21) “I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says YHVH.’ Here we have confirmation that those of us whom YHVH is calling out of the world at this time, may if we qualify, by overcoming our sins; returning to full Torah observance; and have faith in Yahshua, become kings and priests with our Jewish brothers, during the millennium rule of Yahshua.

 

 Many Christians do not want to accept the fact that they are Israel and that the Jews were destined to preserve the Oracles of Elohim for all Israel, over the past 2000 years. They preserved the Hebrew language, the timing of the Sabbath, Set-apart days of Elohim and the oral Torah regarding the Koshering of food, etc. Similarly there are also some Nazarene Jews/Israelites who do not want to accept that the Rabbinical Jews of today have the Oracles of Elohim, and by so doing they contradict (or deny) the Word of Elohim.  I pray that by this exposure of the identity of the Tribes of Israel, many will begin to realize the value of the Word of Elohim in their lives and will as a result determine to obey the Word of Elohim, rather than the doctrines of men.

 

During the millennium both houses of Israel, of those who will survive the great tribulation will come together and live together as the United Israel of Elohim. After the millennium those of the two houses of Israel who never knew Yahshua and kept Torah, will be resurrected  and be shown the way of Elohim. Those who out of their own free will accept Yahshua as their savior and are willing to follow the way of Elohim, will be changed into Spiritual children of Elohim. We read from Revelation 21 & 22 when the New Jerusalem will come down to earth it will only have 12 gates; one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. There will be no gates for the various denominations of Christianity or for any other religion for that matter. The laws applicable in the Kingdom of Elohim will be the same ones given to Moses at Mount Sinai.  We will keep the Feast Days as given in Leviticus 23 and the Kosher Laws given in Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14, Genesis 32: 32 and Leviticus 3: 16 & 17. That will truly be the restored Israel of Elohim, otherwise known as the Kingdom of Elohim.

 

Fellow Israelites this is wonderful news and it seems that YHVH is calling us back to return to Him and His way in our generation. He is calling hundreds of Israelites who previously thought that they were Gentiles and have only known their G-d through the watered down faith called Christianity, to return to Him. If we heed His call, then He will restore us together with Judah to be His United Israel again. However, we will have to return fully to Torah to start this walk with our Father YHVH: We will have to keep the weekly and annual Sabbaths; eat Kosher; believe that YHVH is One and only One; call on His Name and be circumcised in both heart and flesh. It is clear from the afore-going that this is the will of our heavenly Father. Let us therefore do our small part in restoring the two Houses of Israel, which we know will only come about fully, when Yahshua returns to usher in the Kingdom of Elohim!

 

Most of the material about the 12 tribes of Israel used in this chapter comes from Yair Davidy’s book and web page. I believe that each and every one of us should make an in depth study of his books and the material available on his web page. Yair Davidy may be contacted at:

Brit-Am Israel, P.O. Box 595, Jerusalem. 91004. Israel. E-mail: britam@netvision.net.il

 

 

 

[1] The name Gad in Hebrew could be pronounced as ‘Goth’ meaning the deity or god named ‘troop’ or Luck.

 

[2] Bracketed comments mine.

 

[3] The bracketed section at the end of the blessings given to Issachar even though not verbatim, comes from a Parasha given by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi T. Mordecai Mitchell.