Perhaps the most important question we can ask

This is a big question… perhaps the most important question we can ask. To those who seek a relationship with the Creator of the Universe — how we respond to this question will have profound consequences. If we fail to understand this most fundamental issue, then how we read and understand all of Scripture will be subject to our lack of understanding — and as a result, we will consistently come to errant conclusions regarding The Almighty, His promises, Christ and His coming Kingdom. If we don‘t understand this essential truth — we cannot possibly understand His Word. I believe that when you are done with this study, you will read the Scripture with a completely new perspective. This is not simply a theological exercise as some would have you believe — it is the foundation of our faith.

Understanding WHO Israel is, IS REALLY IMPORTANT!

I would like you to imagine for a moment that you are planning to sail from San Francisco to Hawaii. Did you know that if you are merely 5 degrees off at the onset, you will miss Hawaii by more than 200 miles? The point is that if we begin our journey through the Scriptures in error, our ultimate conclusion will be absolutely catastrophic. I find it interesting that when Christians are “training up” a new recruit they tell him or her to begin in the book of John. But who starts reading a book, any book, near the end? Especially considering the fact that the Scriptures tell us plainly that the Creator declared the end “out of B‘reshit” (Isaiah 46:10). B‘reshit — or the BEGINNING is the Hebrew name of the book we call Genesis. I believe that God knew that Christians would send people to the book of John first. So, I think it no coincidence that in the very first verse of John, He directs us where? “In the beginning”. John uses the very first words of the Scripture to get us to “go back” to B‘reshit! So, without a solid foundation from the beginning, the only logical outcome is error and confusion. This is why there are 38,000 denominations under the umbrella of Christianity. Most are working from a fundamental and foundational error. You wouldn‘t build a house without first laying a foundation, would you?

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3

Before we begin, I have to ask you a question. What is more important…the truth, or what you believe? What if what you believe is contrary to the truth of Scripture? Which are you willing to set aside?

The answers I get from people when I ask the question “who is Israel”, will often vary depending on the perspective of the person I am asking. Ask a Christian this question, and the typical answer will be: “the Jews are Israel”. Ask a Jew this question and he will most likely respond in like manner.

But the real question isn‘t; who do we think Israel is, but who does the Scripture designate as the “Israel of Yahweh”? This is the question I hope to answer in this study. All I ask of you, is that you set aside any preconceived ideas or misconceptions you may have, long enough to see what I am about to show you. If you are unwilling to do that, all the proof in the world won‘t matter. (you might as well stop reading now)

Before you jump to conclusions, or assume I am about to teach a form of replacement theology, I can tell you that I do not support any such errant conclusions. I will also state categorically that I don‘t endorse or agree with the various “Two House”, “Bloodline Identity” or Ephraimite movements. I will go into further detail about these movements at the end of this study.

Yes, The Almighty did indeed designate that His Mashiyach would be the “seed of the woman” from Chavah (Eve) through Sheth to Noach, Shem, down to Avaraham, Yitzhak, Ya‘akov, through the tribe of Yahudah (Judah) to King David, through David‘s son Solomon — and all the way down to Miryam (Mary) who bore Yahshua. This definitely is a “bloodline” that was preserved … for the purpose of fulfilling prophesy as it relates to the identity of the Messiah. But I am convinced that as you go through this study, you will see that Israel isn‘t (and never has been) about bloodline or ethnicity.

And Yahweh hasn‘t replaced Israel with the gentiles (ie: “The church”). He has always had one people. The gifts and calling of Yahweh are irrevocable.

That said, Yahweh Himself does indeed endorse a form of replacement theology… He replaces the “whosoever won‘t” with the “whosoever will”. We see this from Genesis to the maps. He removes the wicked and the unfaithful, and welcomes in those who love and obey Him — regardless of their genealogy. We will talk more about this later when we address Israel according to Paul (ie: the grafted-in and broken off branches).

Replacement Theology

While we are on the subject, do you understand that the entire premise of western Gentile Christianity is based on replacement theology? That may be hard to accept, but it‘s absolutely true. This began with the (so called) “early church fathers” — Marcion, Augustine, Constantine, on down to Luther, Calvin and all those who are influenced by them today. According to these men, God has rescinded the promise made to Israel, and has given it instead to a fabricated entity know as “The Church” (more on the church later). According to Christian doctrine, the church is now “spiritual Israel”.

Even the naming of the so called “Testaments” smacks of replacement theology. “Old Testament” and “New Testament” were terms coined by Marcion in an attempt to invalidate one, and replace it with the other. Marcion was labeled a heretic in his day for teaching that the “God of the Old Testament” is angry, vengeful and wrathful, while the “God of the New Testament” was kind and gentle. So, do we worship two different “gods”? Interestingly, this teaching is the foundation of western dispensational (ie: disposal) Christianity.

Polycarp, a contemporary of John, called the gnostic Marcion “firstborn of the devil”. According to Marcion, the TaNaKh (Old Testament) is “old” hence it has been “done away with”… the latter is “new” and therefore — “better”. Marcion (along with most of the Church fathers) hated the Jews and “God of the Hebrew bible”. Marcion also hated certain “New Testament” books and passages that emphasized Torah obedience. Do a little research and you will quickly conclude that Marcion desperately wanted to distance himself and the western world from anything he deemed “Jewish”.

Constantine and his “Church” simply followed Marcion‘s lead. As far as “Old Testament” and “New Testament” — the Scriptures were never given such labels by the faithful. The so called “Old Testament” was, and still is commonly known as the TaNaKh. This is an acronym for Torah (5 Books of Moses) Nevi‘im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). This is what the Scriptures were called by Jews in the first century — including Jesus and His followers. When Jesus refers to the Scriptures He calls them the “the Law (Torah) and the Prophets (Nevi‘im).” See Matt 5:16-19, Luke 24:44.

By the way, when we are reading in the “New Testament” and we see a reference to “The Scriptures”, or “The Word of Elohim” — the author is always referring to the TaNaKh. There simply was no written “New Testament” in the 1st century. Keep that in mind the next time you read “Be ye not hearers of The Word only, but doers of The Word” (James 1:22-25 and Romans 2:13).

Let me say that again:

When we are reading in the “New Testament” and we see a reference to “The Scriptures”, or “The Word of Elohim” — the author is always referring to the TaNaKh

New Testament

The writings of the Disciples and Shilach‘im (Sent Ones) were not originally called the “New Testament”. The Netzarim (followers of the Branch/Root) and their writings were referred to as the Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Netzarim). The Term “New Testament” was coined by Marcion—the father of replacement theology.

Before we begin, I feel that it is imperative that we dispel a few myths.

Myth #1 — The Church

First, there is no such entity known as “The Church” in the Scriptures. It doesn‘t matter what “Testament” you read … the church is simply not there.

This is where the average Christian will cry out “yes it is… it occurs 80 times in my inspired King James Version!”

First off, please understand that there is absolutely nothing “inspired” about the King James… or any other English translation. Likewise, there is nothing inspired about any German, Latin, or even Greek TRANSLATION. The scriptures (from Genesis to Revelation) were not originally penned in Greek — they were written primarily in Hebrew and Aramaic. This study is about Israel, not the original language of the Scriptures, so I won‘t go into a lot of detail on the issue of primacy here. But let‘s look at one blaring example of how the Greek cannot be original or “inspired” for that matter. Of the extant Greek manuscripts, they differ and disagree with each other, in literally thousands of places. But one verse in which we find unanimous agreement among all Greek manuscripts is Matthew 27:9

Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET BY THE SONS OF ISRAEL” Matthew 27:9

Only one problem, Jeremiah was not the Prophet who spoke (or wrote) these words! It was Zechariah (11:12-13)

In every English version translated from Greek they all state that the prophet was Jeremiah. But there is a set of ancient manuscripts that doesn‘t have this obvious error.

You can find online the Aramaic Bible in plain English (translated from Pishetta). The writings of the Netzarim were first translated into Greek over 100 years after they were originally written. This is easily proven.

Besides, there is no such thing as “original Greek manuscripts” as if we have any original manuscripts written by the apostles themselves — and scholars know this! But for the sake of this study, let‘s agree that the Greek text is older and more accurate than any English translation. In other words, we can solve this “church” issue without going any further back than the Greek translations of the Ketuvim Netzarim (NT).

Actually the Greek word “Ecclesia” occurs 115 times in the New Testament — and it is not always translated as “church” in the King James Version. But why not? We will answer this question in a moment.

The English word “church”

Before we explore the Greek word that we translate church, I would like to dive into the origin of the English word itself. The first complete English bible was the Tyndale bible in about 1524, which did not include the word “church” at all. Before the venerated KJV was commissioned, the Greek word “Ecclesia” was translated as “congregation.” So, when the Messiah says “upon this Rock I shall build My church” (Matt 16:18), He never said “church”. You can see this for yourself in the Tyndale Bible (which predates the KJV). The word Church doesn‘t show up till almost a century later when the 1611 KJV was translated.

So what is the etymology of the word “church”? The English word Church actually comes from the Teutonic word Kirke. To this day, we find the use of the word Kirke to describe places of worship in many languages including Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, & Finnish (kirko).

But “Kirke” is actually a much older word… one that can be traced back to ancient Greece, and (like much of the Greek language) the word Kirke was later adopted by the Teutons and the Slavs (today we would call them the Nordic, Germanic, Saxon and Anglo peoples). So we need to go back to ancient Greece in order to find the true meaning of this word “kirke”. Are you ready? Ok, take a deep breath.

Kirke (Circe) was a witch / Greek goddess who was believed to have turned men into wild boars. Kirke was the daughter of Helios — the Sun god. This is why many Greco-Roman deities on stained glass windows, or church artwork are seen with the halo around their heads. This practice began with the worship of “Helios”. The halo is a solar nimbus — hence they are halo‘ed (hollowed or “holy”) to the pagan sun worshippers. This is also why the worshippers of the goddess Kirke would form a halo or “circle” when worshipping her. That‘s right, from Kirke (Circe) we get the word circle and circus (as in three ring).

So we see that the word Kirke/Circe or in English “Church” is without dispute, a pagan word, and the name of a pagan deity. I promise you, Messiah Yahshua didn‘t have a “halo” around His head, He wasn‘t “hallowed” or “holy”… He was Kadosh! And I promise you, He never built a “church”. All of this is simply repackaged paganism (syncretism) handed down from the Greco-Roman “Catholic Church” — and has continued on in the protestant denominations.

Let’s define “Ecclesia”

Now let‘s return to our look at the Greek term — Ecclesia. As I mentioned earlier we find this word used 115 times in the New Testament. Let‘s take a look at a few examples of this word used by our beloved brother Stephen and recorded by Luke in the book of Acts 7:38.

“This is he, that was in the church (ecclesia) in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” (Acts 7:38)

Hold on a sec, I thought the “church” started at “Pentecost”??? But Stephen is talking about Israel and Mt. Sinai here…. “Houston we have a problem”.

What I hope you might realize from this verse is that the assembly of Yahweh began at Sinai… not “Pentecost”.

(Interestingly the NASB, NIV, NLT, YLT and others don’t translate ecclesia as church in this passage.)

So, if ecclesia means congregation or assembly, why would we ever translate it as “church” any place else in the text? There is a reason why the KJV translators did this (more on that later.) Go back and read all of Acts chapter 7—it’s clear that the ecclesia that Steven is speaking of is not a “gentile church” but the called out assembly of Israel.

How about another example?:

“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church (ecclesia) will I sing praise unto thee.” Hebrews 2:12

Wait a minute… Paul is quoting Psalm 22:22: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” Clearly the Psalmist (King David) is speaking of Israel — and Paul is quoting him. So, when Paul speaks of the ecclesia, he is speaking about Israel. There simply is no other people of Yahweh found in the Scriptures.

The Hebrew word used here in Psalm 22:22 is Strong‘s 6951: קהל “Qahal” (Qof–Hey-Lamed). We will come back to this important word in a moment but for now we need to understand why the word “church” was forced into the text here — and every place else in the Scriptures.

The Church

In 325 AD, “The Church” was created and placed under the control of the Roman state by Constantine — a pagan sun worshipper till the day he died. Constantine‘s church was carried through the Reformation. “The Reformers” were all involved in civil government, such as John Calvin who set up the civil government in Geneva. The pope was the head of the Catholic Church but when he was kicked out of England, King Henry VIII took jurisdiction over the Church. So, when the King James version was commissioned it was very important for them to retain the word “church” because they had jurisdiction over it.

So King James made fifteen specific edicts, as far as the translation goes, and one of those edicts (edict number three) stated that his new bible was to retain the word “church” in the translation and it was not to be replaced (or more accurately, restored) with the word “congregation.” That was his specific edict. But why? Because King James had no jurisdiction over the congregation (assembly of people), but he did have control over the church (physical buildings and what went on in them).

So you can see he never wanted the word ecclesia associated with the original meaning from the TaNaKh (OT) which meant “congregation” — and always referred to Israel. The KJV translators no doubt understood the correct translation, but they didn’t use it — in order to retain control over their “church”. Paul is quoting Psalm 22:22 word for word in Hebrews 2:12. The word “congregation” in the Greek is “ecclesia.” But since King James forbade replacing this Greek word with “congregation” (the true interpretation), it was replaced with a word which has a totally different meaning. Every time the word ecclesia is used in the New Testament it never means a “gentile church”. Never. You will see this as we progress through this study.

Septuagint translation

So how about the Greek Septuagint translation of the TaNaKh?
The Septuagint was translated from Hebrew into Greek about the year 280 BCE, by 70 Hebrew scholars. The number 70 was chosen for a specific reason which you will see later in the study. The Septuagint translation is our bridge between the Greek and Hebrew languages. It is very important for understanding the proper translation of the word ecclesia. We know that the Hebrew word for the assembly is the word Qahal (קהל) — spelled Qof–Hey-Lamed (Strong‘s 6950/6951) . In the TaNaKh we find this word used well over 100 times, and is it always translated as “congregation” or “assembly”. Perhaps most interesting is that Qahal is always used in reference to Israel… and never gentiles. So when the Septuagint translators needed a Greek word to describe the Qahal of Israel, guess what word they used…. You got it “ecclesia”. As a matter of fact, in the Greek Septuagint we see in Psalm 22:22 (the verse Paul quotes above) the word we translate “assembly” or “congregation” (which is clearly describing Israel) is indeed “Ecclesia”! In the Hebrew TaNaKh, the word used in Psalm 22:22 is Qahal… and once again, it always refers to Israel.

Interestingly King Solomon authored a book we call “Ecclesiastes” which means “One who speaks before the assembly”. Did you notice something about this title? It is Ecclesia-stes. So you can clearly see the word Ecclesia in the title of the book. But Ecclesiastes is a Greek word — and since we know that the TaNaKh was written in Hebrew, I think it‘s important to know that the Hebrew title of this book is “Qoholeth” (Strong‘s 6953)

Remember, unlike English, there are no vowels in Hebrew only consonants — the vowels are inferred. When we look at this word in Hebrew it is spelled: Qof–Hey-Lamed-Tav קהל. Qoholeth is Literally the Qahal with a Tav at the end. The NAS Exhaustive Concordance states that Qahal (Strong‘s 6950/6951) is the root origin of the word Qoholeth (Strong‘s 6953). So “Ecclesiastes” means “He who speaks before the QAHAL of Israel”. The “saints” belong to the Qahal — Israel, not “the church” as we clearly see in Psalm 149:1:

Praise ye Yahweh. Sing unto Yahweh a new song, [and] His praise in the congregation (qahal — 6951) of the saints (chasid—2623). Psalm 149:1

Once again, the Qahal is always a term used for the assembly of Israel — more evidence that the ecclesia is Israel… not gentiles.

In light of this, Steven‘s description of the ecclesia of Israel at Mt. Sinai in Acts 7:38 is dead on. Why? Because there was never a “church” at Sinai…and there is no “church” in the New Testament. There is simply no such entity anyplace in the Scriptures called “the church”. It is easy to see that what is going on is REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY by the anti-Semitic (and anti-Torah) gentile “church” that was founded by Constantine and endorsed by King James as well as the (so called) “REFORMERS”. We don‘t need a “reformation” what the world needs is RESTORATION of all things! (see Matt 17:11, Acts 3:21).

Ok, enough picking on “the Church”…

What is a ‘Jew’

I want to address another misunderstood and often misapplied term — the word “Jew”. What exactly IS a “Jew” anyway?

This question — much like the question I posed at the beginning — “Who is Israel”, often will produce a wide array of responses. Some say that being “Jewish” is a biological issue. Meaning, not only Semitic — but specifically of the line of Avram, Yitzahk, and Ya‘akob.

Still others insist that if you are a member of any of the various sects within Judaism, then you are a “Jew” — regardless of lineage. But once again, I am not so concerned with the manufactured definitions put forth by religious leaders. No, I am only interested in what The Almighty has to say in His Word.

A few things to consider…. Adam was not a “Jew”. He was a man created in the image of God. As a matter of fact, all the way down to (and including) Noah we find no such description of any person as a “Jew”. From Noah‘s sons: Ham, Shem and Yapeth — came the three primary people groups that repopulated the Earth. This is a fascinating study on its own, but for now I want to focus of one of these three sons — Shem. From Shem we get the Semitic peoples. But are all “Shem-ites” considered to be Jews?

Absolutely not.

In B‘reshit (Genesis) 10:21-31, Shem is described as the father of Aram, Asshur, and Arpachshad: the Biblical ancestors of the Arabs, Aramaeans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Sabaeans, Chaldeans, and of course the Hebrews. So the term “anti-Semite” being applied to exclusively “Jews” is actually incorrect.

From Shem we move forward in time a bit and we are introduced to a very interesting character named Avram — later to be called Avraham (Abraham). Let‘s take a quick look at Avraham‘s lineage as we see in 1 Chronicles 1:4,17-28:

“The Sons Of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth…The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber. Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah and Abram (that is, Abraham). The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.”

Avraham was from Ur Kasdim. Ur is considered by many to be the city of Ur Kasdim mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Ur is mentioned four times in the Torah with the distinction “of the Kasdim/Kasdin”—traditionally rendered in English as “Ur of the Chaldees”. The name is found in Genesis 11:28, Genesis 11:31, and Genesis 15:7. In Nehemiah 9:7, a single passage mentioning Ur is a paraphrase of Genesis.

The Book of Jubilees states that Ur was founded in 1688 Anno Mundi (year of the world) by ‘Ur son of Kesed, presumably the offspring of Arphaxad, adding that in this same year wars began on Earth. “And ‘Ur, the son of Kesed, built the city of ‘Ara of the Chaldees, and called its name after his own name and the name of his father.” (i.e., Ur Kesdim) (Jubilees 11:3)

What can we glean from all of this? Simple — Avraham wasn‘t a “Jew”! Since Avraham was a Chaldean (from modern day Iraq)… Avram was an Iraqi. He was essentially a gentile, living in a pagan country.

So far we don‘t have any “Jews” or even Israelites at this point. That said, Avraham was called the first “Hebrew” which simply means “to cross over”. The modern word “Hebrew” is derived from the word “ivri” (plural “ivrim”). It is traditionally understood to be an adjective based on the name of Abraham’s ancestor, Eber mentioned in Genesis 10:21. This name is possibly based upon the root “avar” meaning “to cross over” and homiletical interpretations of the term “ivrim” link it to this verb. Scripturally speaking, a Hebrew is one who has “crossed over”.

So, we now have Avraham, a “Hebrew” (former gentile) from Iraq, but still no “Jews” yet.

An interesting note: At this point in the text we have no “Jews” and no Israelites, but we see that the Sabbath had been instituted at creation (Gen. 2:2). We see the first use of the word “sin” in Genesis 4:7, but sin can only be committed when you have “law” or Torah to transgress (1st John 3:4). We see that the distinction between “clean” animals and “unclean” animals was understood by Noah (Genesis 7:2, 8:20). We also see that Yahweh commanded Abraham, a “non-Jew” to be circumcised. “He and His entire household” (including servants) were circumcised (Gen 17:27). We even see the Torah (Yahweh‘s Instructions/Law) being kept by Abraham (Genesis 26:5). All of this is very strange considering there were only “people” walking with Yahweh up to this point. No Jews yet. To me, that‘s very interesting.

Perhaps there is a problem with the teaching that “Torah is just for Jews”. Torah existed long before there was ever a Jew on the planet. It was given to “all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Or at least it was given to ALL of the Ecclesia! Torah predates Moses, Abraham, and Noah. Torah was understood “in the beginning” and obeyed by all who Yahweh called righteous.

So, Avraham (the Chaldean) was the father of both Ishma‘el and Yitzchak (Isaac). We know that the promise Yahweh gave to Avraham was through his son Isaac. Ishma‘el on the other hand, was the product of a fleshly act — disobedience, and Abraham‘s lack of faith/trust in the promises of the Almighty. Isaac on the other hand, was the product of “faith” or in Hebrew “emunah” (faithful obedience).

The promise was given to Avraham through his son Isaac, but we still have no “Jews” yet. One thing to consider, is that Yitzhak (Isaac) like his father Avraham, was a “Hebrew”… but Ishma‘el is never called a Hebrew… even though Avraham is his father, as well. Why not? We will answer that question in a moment. First let‘s focus on Isaac.

Isaac fathered Ya‘akob (Jacob) who Yahweh would rename Israel. Israel or “Y‘sra –EL” Spelled Yud-shin-resh Aleph Lamed (ל )-is a Semitic contraction. The first half — Yashar (Jasher) Yud-shin-resh means “Upright” (Strong‘s #3477). As in the book of Jasher (Yashar). The second half of this contraction is El (Elohim) Aleph-Lamed (ל ). Israel literally means the “upright before Elohim”.

The popular Hellenist teaching that Israel means “God strives” or “strives with God” is completely incorrect. Jasher (Yashar) is Yud-shin-resh. Just as Israel is Yud-shin-resh aleph-lamed. Remove the El (aleph-lamed — (ל )) from Hebrew spelling of Y‘srael and you simply have Yud-shin-resh Yashar — “upright”. Ya‘akob was a changed man after his encounter with Yah, and became “Upright before Elohim”. By the way, the result of his encounter is that Yahweh touched Israel‘s hip… and caused him to limp for the rest of his life. What‘s the point? Simply that once you have an encounter with Yahweh… once you become Israel, you never halacha — or walk the same way again. Which is why we read in Ephesians 4:17: “So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk”

“Those who say they follow Him should walk, just as He walked” — 1st John 2:6

Returning to our study, we know that Isaac through his wife Rivkah (Rebecca) would father the twins Esaw and Ya‘akov (Jacob) who was renamed Israel. Was Israel a “Hebrew”? Of course he was. His Grandfather Avraham was a Hebrew, his father Isaac was a Hebrew, and of course Jacob was a Hebrew.

But interestingly, just as Ishma‘el (the son of Avraham) was never called a Hebrew… neither was Esaw, the son of Isaac ever called a Hebrew. Yet, Esaw had the same parents as Jacob. So, what’s the deal? The thing we must understand is that being a “Hebrew” isn‘t a blood issue! It never has been.
“If you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Avraham, and heirs according to promise” Galatians 3:29.

What I am trying to do here is get you to stop focusing so much on bloodline and lineage. Those things only matter as it relates to the Messiah. As it relates to being “Hebrew” or to being “Israel”… the “seed” isn‘t a physical one. If it were a biological issue, Ishma‘el, and Esaw would both called “Hebrews” and they are not. As we progress in the study you will see many people called “Israelites” who have absolutely no bloodline connection to Avraham, Yitzahk and Ya‘akov — at all.

Returning to our study.
We know that Ya‘akov (Israel) would father Joseph — who begot Ephraim and Manashe. But Israel had other sons — and from the sons of Ya‘akov would come the twelve tribes of Israel. That said, the tribes would not be officially established for more than 400 years when the Hebrews, “the children of Israel”, would be led out of Egypt by Moshe (Moses).

The twelve tribes were named after each of the sons of Israel. One of those sons was JUDAH (Yahudah). It was from the line of Judah that the tribe of Judah was established when the children of Israel came out of Egypt. Judah is “Yahudah” in Hebrew, and the plural of Yahudah is Yahudim…this is where we get the term “Jews”.

Finally we see “Jews” in the scripture… they are those who are from the tribe of Judah. But understand this important point — Judah was JUST ONE OF THE TWELVE TRIBES. Are all 12 tribes called Judah? In other words are all Israelites “Jews”? Certainly not.

There would later be a division of the tribes into Two Houses: “Judah” — called “Beit Yahudah” (The House of Judah), would be the name of the Southern Kingdom that stayed in Jerusalem under the leadership of Solomon‘s son Rehab‘am (1st Kings 11:43) .

The House of Judah consisted of those from the tribe of Judah, Benyamin, and some of the Levites who returned from the north (when they saw Jeroboam‘s idolatry and abominations). These three tribes took on the name “Beit Yahudah” (House of Judah) simply because Judah was by far the largest tribe of the Southern Kingdom.

There was also the Northern Kingdom of “Israel” that consisted of all of the other tribes. Since the Northern Kingdom was by far the larger of the two houses, they maintained the name Israel…or “Beit Y‘sra‘el”.

Both houses ended up being kicked out of the land due to their disobedience. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity by the Persians. Later the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken into Babylon.

“And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also” Jeremiah 3:8

The house of Judah would repent and return to the land after 70 years in Babylon. And we should be eternally grateful for this fact. Had Judah not repented and returned, we would have no Scriptures… we would have no Messiah. But the house of Israel was scattered to “the four corners of the earth”, and became mixed “among the goyim” (gentiles). Remember these two important phrases — we will deal with them later. The northern 10 tribes of Israel were scattered and have never returned. But we know from the book of Revelation that all 12 tribes will be restored. We will talk more about this later.

My point here is that prior to Jacob there was no “Israel” — only “people” who walked with Yahweh, and people who didn‘t. And before the tribe of “Judah” there simply were no “Jews” on the planet.

What we also see is that one can be “of Israel” but not a “Jew”. This is an important concept to understand, otherwise the Scriptures will remain a mystery to us.

To be clear, I would never argue that Judah is not “of Israel”… surely the Scriptures say that Judah is not only one of the tribes, but that Mashiyach (The Messiah) would come from the tribe of Judah in particular. I would also never argue that “Jews” as we know them today are not (by and large) descendants of Jacob and his sons Judah, Benjamin (and some Levites). Certainly many — if not most, indeed are. But it is vital to understand that after the split of the two Houses, the house of Judah and the House of Israel were two distinct entities… which they are to this very day. This will become more apparent as we progress through this study.

But before we can truly understand “who” Israel is, we must address another issue.

Does Israel ONLY consist of those who are biological “Hebrews”? What I mean is, in order to be part of Israel, must one be a biological descendant of Ya‘akov (Jacob)?

The answer depends on whether we are trusting in religious tradition — or if we are basing our understanding on what Scripture actually tells us.

Remember that from Adam to Abraham we have only “people”… no “Jews”. And again, it‘s important to remember that Ya‘akov (Israel) was the grandson of a Chaldean — an Iraqi.

But there is something else to consider here. Joseph was the son of Ya‘akov (Jacob) — Joseph was indeed a “biological Hebrew” — if you will. And Joseph fathered Ephraim and Manashe, who became the two tribes under Joseph. But something we miss here is that Joseph married the daughter of Potipher — AN EGYTPIAN! (Gen 41:41-52). We see from the text that Ephraim and Manashe were the product of a Hebrew/Egyptian union.

So much for Israel being made up of just biological Hebrews, as if the term “Hebrew” or even “Israelite” has anything to do with bloodline. Both of these words began as verbs, they became adjectives, and today they are nouns. As I have shown, the first Hebrew was an Iraqi.

We see in Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15 that Simeon (the head of the tribe of Simeon) fathered his son Sha‘ul with a Canaanite woman.

But wait, there is more…

It is unreasonable to assume that there was no mixture, as the children of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years. But we don‘t have to rely on suppositions. The Scripture tells us plainly that Israel — as they came out of Egypt, consisted of much more than just biological Hebrews.

So, who else came out with the children of Israel? Let‘s take a look:

And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And Yahweh gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. Exodus 12:34-38

A “mixed multitude” went along with the children of Israel as they left Egypt. But why?

A “multitude” in Hebrew is “rav” or “rab” (Strong‘s # 7227 & 7231). Look up this word and you will see that this “mixed multitude” that left Egypt (along with the children of Israel) was massive group of people, and they were not biological descendants of Jacob.

A little logic dictates that those among the non-Hebrews living in Egypt saw the plagues and the Mighty power of the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov. They knew that Yahweh was indeed real and that He was working through Moses to deliver the Israelites.

No doubt that they were not all hard-hearted as Pharaoh and his army was. Many (a multitude) of them joined Israel and were absorbed into the fold. It is also important to understand that both Amenhotep the 1st and 2nd (The Pharaohs) were known to bring in slaves from many countries, so the Hebrews, though the vast majority, were not the only slaves in Egypt.
The mixed multitude that left were most likely Egyptians as well as people from other nations. These people became members of the 12 tribes — though they were not biologically “Hebrews”. Whatever that means.

We know this because Yahweh often tells the people that His Torah and His mitzvoth are for the “home born” AND for the “ger-toshav” or the “sojourner” who joins himself to Israel:

“One Torah shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger (ger) that sojourneth (toshav) among you. Thus did all the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moshe and Aharon, so did they. “ Exodus 12:49-50

As you can see, the “ger” (sojourner) who kept Torah was considered as much a child of Israel as was the homeborn (native Hebrew). You are to have one law, for the stranger (ger) and for the native, for I am Yahweh your Elohim” Leviticus 24:22

Here is a good one:
One law is for you of the assembly and for the stranger (ger) who sojourns with you — a law forever throughout your generations. As you are, so is the stranger (ger) before Yahweh. One Torah and one right-ruling is for you and for the stranger (ger) who sojourns (toshav) with you.” Numbers 15:15-16

The reason I like this passage is because Yahweh not only makes the point that Torah is for “whosever will” (and He makes that point twice in two verses), but what really strikes me is that He makes the point that His Torah is forever! The Hebrew word used here is “olam” and in this context it means, well… FOREVER! What I find most amazing about this passage is that in the eyes of Yahweh, all His kids are the same and all are expected to obey: ”As you are, so is the stranger (ger) before Yahweh”.

How bout another?:

For him who does whatever by mistake there is one Torah, both for him who is native among the children of Yisra‘ĕl and for the stranger (ger) who sojourns (toshav) in their midst. But the being who does whatever defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles Yahweh, and that being shall be cut off from among his people.” Numbers 15:29-30

Ok, one more:

“When all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh thy Elohim in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this Torah before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner (ger) that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your Elohim, and observe to do all the words of this Torah” Deuteronomy 31:11-12

So, you see — once the “ger” (non-native born) joins Israel they are included among “ALL Israel”. The ger become His people. Again, notice they are called “ger” not “goyim” (gentiles) once they join Yahweh‘s family. As you will see, they become “full-fledged sons and daughters”. Notice also, that if the “ger” rebels against the Torah, he/she is “cut off from among his/her people” — Israel. The “ger” belongs to Israel just as much as the
native born… that is, unless they reject the Torah. Interestingly, David call himself a “ger- toshav”.

“Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I [am] a stranger (ger) with thee, [and] a sojourner (toshav), as all my fathers [were]” Psalm 39:12

“And when a stranger (ger) sojourns among you, then he shall perform the Passover of Yahweh. He shall do so according to the law of the Passover and according to its right-ruling. You have one law, both for the stranger and the native of the land.‘ “ Numbers 9:14

And Yahweh spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra‘ĕl, and say to them, The appointed times of Yahweh, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these” Leviticus 23:1-2

These are the appointed times of Yahweh, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times. Leviticus 23:4

A few important things to understand from this verse. First, Passover is a feast of Yahweh. Notice that it isn‘t the Passover of “the Jews”. They are Yahweh‘s feasts.

What I want you to pay close attention to is the fact that the “ger” who joins Israel is not only required to participate… but to do so according to the law of the Passover (see Exodus 12:48 for details on the law of Passover). Again we see there is “one law (Torah) for the “native and the ger”. These verses and the myriads of verses like them are a real shot to the “Torah is just for Jews” crowd. Especially to Christians who claim to follow the Hebrew Messiah of ISRAEL.

So, we see there were “non-native” (former gentiles) who joined themselves to Israel on their way out of Egypt. And (as we discussed) not all of the non-Hebrews were Egyptians — as you will see right now. Among this mixed multitude was a famous figure to consider. Kaleb (Caleb).

Caleb

Numbers 32:12 and Joshua 14:6 tell us that Caleb was the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite. We learn from Genesis 36 that the Kenezites were of the nation of the Edomites… NOT HEBREWS. The Edomites are not Egyptians, they were the descendants of Esaw. And for the most part the Edomites were bad dudes. Yet, Caleb is said to have “a different spirit in him” (Numbers 14:24). He is faithful to Yahweh and numbered among the Tribe of Judah. It is Caleb who is chosen to represent his tribe as one of the 12 sent into spy out the promised land. As a matter of fact, Kaleb is not only “grafted-in”, he becomes the leader of the tribe Judah! Before Joshua dies, he gives Hebron to Kaleb as an inheritance:

“Then Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed Yahweh the Elohim of Israel.” (Joshua 14:6-14 )

Again let me remind you that before he joined Israel, Kaleb was a “GENTILE”.

Can gentile “become a Jew”??

“And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Yahudim (Jews) had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Yahudim (Jews); for the fear of the Yahudim was fallen upon them” (Esther 8:17)

Can gentile become Jew? It would seem so… guess it really isn‘t about “blood”.

Remember that the book of Ester (Esther) was written AFTER Daniel… as the House of Judah was returning to their land. At this point, the Persians had taken over Babylon. It is clear from the text that many of these Persian sojourners had been “grafted-in” to the House of Judah — through faith. They were now considered “Jews” and full-fledged Israelites — worshipping the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzahk and Ya‘akov. Interesting.

Returning to Caleb… notice this “non-native” is never called a gentile after he joins Israel. Why? Because “gentile” is not something that you are to be called once you come to faith in Yahweh, and walk in the steps of His Messiah.

So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17)

Contrary to popular belief, Gentile does not mean “non-Jew”. This is another error of the Greco-Roman church.

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the desire of the gentiles, having walked in indecencies, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties, and abominable idolatries (1 Peter 4:3)

We will talk more about what a “gentile” is later… But for now, let‘s take a look at yet another famous (former) gentile from the TaNaKh.

Ruth

Most know her story from the book of Ruth. She was a Moabite (pagan/ heathen /gentile) who is “grafted-in” to Israel through faithfulness (not mere belief), worshiping the Elohim of Avraham Yitzchak, and Y’srael.

“Your Elohim will be my Elohim” (Ruth 1:16).

By this confession Ruth became a (Torah obedient) benefactor of the covenant…. and a grafted in Israelite — though not a “home born” Hebrew.

Pay attention to the fact that Naomi (from the House of Judah) would be the one to nurse the child that Ruth and Boaz would bear.. there is a reason for this (as you will see).

Even more amazing is that Ruth was the great grandmother of the Greatest King of Israel — David. So, even David had (so called)”gentile” lineage — as if Abraham being an Iraqi isn‘t proof enough that being a “Hebrew” isn‘t about blood.

Of course we who believe in Yahshua as Mashiyach of Israel recognize that He is from the line of David… and of course by extension, Ruth.

There would be many more famous “non-native born” Israelites. Eliyahu (Elijah) was a Tishbite, OvedYah (Obadiah) like Caleb was an Edomite, Rahab and her family joined Israel after Joshua took Jericho. Uriah was a Hittite — and he fought for Israel under King David. His wife Bathsheba (also a Hittite) would end up giving birth to King Solomon (by King David). And Solomon (1/2 Hittite) was also an ancestor to Messiah Yahshua. There was a group known as the Be‘erothites who were the descendants of the Hivites (from the line of Ham) who were reckoned among the Benjamites in 2nd Samuel 4:2. These people were the descendants of Ham (not Shem)… so they were not “Shem‘ites”… yet they become part of the Tribe of Benjamin.

The point is simply that Israel wasn‘t made up of just “Jews” — meaning those from the tribe Judah… nor did Israel consist of only of home born “Hebrews” — or those from the biological lineage of Avram the Chaldean (Iraqi), or his sons Yitzahk and Ya‘akob.

Furthermore, not every natural born Hebrew or “Israelite in the flesh” was faithful to Yahweh. Some who were of “biological seed” were wicked. I ran through a list of the kings of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, beginning with Yerob‘am (House of Israel) and Rehab‘am (House of Judah) on down.

Combined there were 40 kings, and of them only 8 that could be described in Scripture as good or very good. That means there were 32 wicked kings that were of the lineage of Avraham, Yitzhak and Ya‘akob. My point is that there are wicked and righteous among those who are biologically linked to Avraham, Isaac and Jacob… Not everyone who is of Abraham‘s lineage is “of Israel”.

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Yahshua said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:39)

So, according to our Messiah, the “works of Avraham” are what make one a child of Avraham. Here is where I have to ask: what are the “works of Abraham”?

“because Abraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My ordinances, and My Torah” (Genesis 26:5)

Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as father” For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (Matt 3:8-9 and Luke 3:8)

“If you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Avraham, and heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29)

This is precisely why Paul says:

“For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Romans 9:6)

Paul knew that the promise wasn‘t to a “biological seed” but to those who would keep Yah‘s commandments by “emunah” (faithfulness).

So, if we are Abraham‘s seed, shouldn‘t we be “doing the works of Abraham” as Messiah stated in John 8:39? Just a thought.

Even today, we have many “Jews” who don‘t worship Yahweh — Hence they are not Abraham‘s seed. Many are secular, atheist, agnostic, some are homosexual.. and just as in every culture, some are simply wicked. These people may be biological descendants of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov… but (if they do not repent) they simply are not “of Israel”.

Asaph also tells us WHO Israel is: Elohim is truly good to Yisra‘ĕl, To those whose heart is clean. Psalm 73:1

So, Israel — or Yashar-El (The upright before Elohim) are those who have clean hearts!

Did you know that “The Jews” are not “God‘s chosen people” ?? Gasp! Am I a heretic? No… it‘s just that there isn‘t a single verse in all of Scripture that can be used to support this errant conclusion. Yahweh‘s chosen people is/are ISRAEL :

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name… Isaiah 45:4-6

But now hear, O Yaʽaqob My servant, and Yisra‟ĕl whom I have chosen. Thus said Yahweh who made you and formed you from the womb, who helps you, ̳Do not fear, O Yaʽaqob My servant, and Yeshurun.,whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:1-2)

Side note: “Yeshurun” is a poetical title for Yisra‘ĕl, meaning the Straight One or the Upright One. This poetical title is also found in Duet. 32:15, 33:5 & 33:26. Just more proof that Israel means Yashar-El or “The Upright before Elohim”.

So here we see that it is Israel who are the “chosen people”… not just the “Jews”. Are Jews AMONG the chosen… of course. There are indeed many faithful Jews who love Yahweh and will be part of corporate Israel when Messiah returns to restore the whole House if Israel — bringing the House of Judah back into The Whole House of Israel, as they “look upon the Alep-Tav Whom they have pierced, and mourn” (ZecharYah 12:10).

But Yahweh‘s chosen people, Israel consists of much more than the tribe of Judah… and (again) has nothing to do with biological ancestry — it never has. Ancestry is only an issue as it relates to the Messiah, Himself. So, it is wrong for Jews to teach bloodline identity (and favor). And it‘s equally wrong for Ephraimite “gentiles” to teach this as well. The bloodline foolishness only brings division — this does not please Our Father.

Notice also that in these two verses from Isaiah that Yahweh calls Israel His Elect. The word translated “elect” (and chosen) is Strong‘s #977/972 “Bachar” (Bet-chet-resh). In the Greek Septuagint of the TaNaKh, the Greek word used to describe the “elect/Chosen ones” (ie: Israel) is “Eklectos‘ — Strong‘s #1588 (ἐκλεκτός).

Interestingly, this is the very word used in the Greek “New Testament”:

“And He shall send His messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” Matt 24:31

“And then He shall send His messengers, and assemble His chosen ones from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of the heavens” Mark 13:27

Guess what Greek word we have here for “chosen”? Yup… it‘s “Eklectos”.
Notice that they (His Chosen — Israel) have been scattered to the FOUR winds and to the ends of the earth. Where have we heard that before?

And He shall raise a banner for the nations, and gather the outcasts of Yisra‟ĕl, and assemble the dispersed of Yehudah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12

“If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under the heavens, from there Yahweh your Elohim does gather you, and from there He does take you” (Deut 30:4)

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the whole earth, and none did search or seek [after them]. Ezekiel 34:6

Did Yahweh change? Does he have a new “elect”? Did the Messiah come with a different message than His Father?

And who did Messiah say He came for?:

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra‟ĕl.” Matt 15:24

We see this mission statement echoed by Shimon in the book of Acts 5:30-31:

“The Elohim of our forefathers raised up Yahshua, The One whom you murdered, when you hanged him on a tree.” “Elohim has appointed This One The Head and The Life Giver and He has exalted Him to His right hand, so as to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

No mention of gentiles… and no mention of any church. Don‘t kill the messenger… these are not my words. Remember, Yahweh doesn‘t change (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, 1st Samuel 15:29, James 1:17, Hebrews 1:10-12, Hebrews 13:8) and the Messiah did not come with a different message from that of His Father.

Israel is the elect in the Father‘s eyes, and the Son can only speak the words which the Father has given Him. Yahshua says this so many times:

Yahshua answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me” John 7:16

So Yahshua said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak. John 8:28

“He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me. John 14:24

“The words that I speak to you I do not speak from Myself. But the Father who stays in Me does His works. John 14:10

Yahshua praying to the Father says:

I have given them Your Word, and the world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. John 17:14

Peter says Yahshua IS the Prophet like unto Moshe (Acts 3:22-23).What does The Father say about His Prophet like unto Moshe?:

̳I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I Command Him. ̳And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him. Deut 18:18-19

And Yahshua Himself confirms that He speaks only the Father‘s words:

“Because the Words which You gave to Me, I have given to them. And they have received them, and have truly known that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me”. John 17:8

“Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak”. John 12:49

My point? Simply that when Yahshua says “If you love Me, keep my Commandments” (John 14:15), these Commandments are the same ones given to Israel at Mt. Sinai:

“He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me. John 14:24

The Son does not come speaking His own words — or different commandments. Furthermore, The “Elect” of Yahweh are the same “Elect” that the Son came for — Israel.

So when the Almighty tells Avraham that He will “bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you” (Gen 12:2-3) Yahweh isn‘t talking about just”Jews”. He is talking about all of Israel — His Chosen…. His Elect.
Remember “If you are in Messiah, you are Abraham‟s seed”. But also remember that if you are in Messiah, you will walk as He did.

In Genesis 18;18 we read that through Avraham, all the nations of the Earth will be blessed. Remember, Ishma‘el and Esaw are both of the physical seed of Abraham. So, let me ask you a question… Are the descendants of Ishma‘el and Esaw a blessing to the nations? After all, they are the physical seed of Avraham, are they not? So we must be taking about a different seed — right? The seed that was in Isaac and Jacob must be something other than mere physical seed — right?

Don‘t misunderstand. I am not saying that there are not biological descendants of each of the 12 tribes alive today. There most certainly are. We know that many from the house Judah — or the “Jews” (consisting of Judah, Benjamin and some Levites) are home, in the land. But the Northern 10 — ie: the House of Israel, is still in exile — scattered among the goyim. Most don‘t know “who” they are… they live as goyim (gentiles)… not as “Jews”.

“And what comes up in your spirit shall never be, when you say, Let us be like the gentiles, like the tribes (mishpachah) in other lands, serving wood and stone.” Ezekiel 20:32

The Hebrew word we translate “tribes” here is actually Strong‘s # 4940 “mishpachah” which means “family”. So these Israelites that have become “like the gentiles” are actually “family/tribes” that now live in other lands and “serve wood and stone”.

The House of Israel has forgotten who they are, living as gentiles and mixing their worship with abominable things. Do you think you are not among these people? Do you think you don‘t make “idols” of wood? Read Jeremiah 10:2-4. Is this not a “Christmas Tree”? I know, I know… “it may have pagan origins, but that‘s not what it means to me”. Didn‘t the Children of Israel make a golden calf and use it to worship Yahweh?:

And Aaron saw and built an altar before it. And Aharon called out and said, “Tomorrow is a festival to Yahweh.” Exodus 32:5

Understand that Aaron and the rest were not intending to worship a pagan deity… they made the calf (a pagan worship practice that they learned while in Egypt) in honor of Yahweh. If you don‘t know the rest of this story, I will tell you this much… Yahweh wasn‘t happy about it. They say that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. In other words, Yahweh isn‘t pleased with our repackaged pagan celebrations… regardless of what it means to us.

I am pretty sure he tells us not to repackage the worship practices of the pagans and do it in honor of Him. As a matter of fact, I think He calls these practices an abomination and that He hates them (Deut 12:30-31). If we continue to offer Him that which He detests after coming to realize that He has specifically instructed us not to engage in such activity, then we are doing it for ourselves… not for Him (and He knows it.). But I digress…

Returning to the study, the scriptures are quite clear that the 10 tribes were scattered to the four corners of the Earth:

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12

“And I shall make the house of Yehudah mighty, and save the house of Yosĕph (ie: The House of Israel). And I shall bring them back, because I have compassion on them. And they shall be as though I had not pushed them aside. For I am Yahweh their Elohim, and I answer them” ZecharYah 10:6

“Therefore, see, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when they shall say no more, As Yahweh lives who brought up the children of Yisra‘ĕl out of the land of Mitsrayim,‘ but, As Yahweh lives who brought up and led the seed of the house of Yisra‟ĕl out of the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them.‘ And they shall dwell on their own soil.” Jeremiah 23:7-8

“When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of the lands of their enemies. And I shall be set apart in them before the eyes of many gentiles. ̳And they shall know that I am Yahweh their Elohim, who sent them into exile among the gentiles, and then gathered them back to their own land, and left none of them behind” Ezekiel 39:27-28

I believe we can show that there are Israelites in every race, tongue, country, culture… black, white, brown… Israel was indeed scattered “among the Gentiles”.

It is also important to understand that the scattering of the Northern 10 was not a knee jerk reaction. It was part of Yahweh‘s plan to redeem His people — from very the beginning. He knew that Israel would break the covenant. He knew that He would use their transgression to reap His great harvest from the four corners of the Earth. And He even foretold of the scattering in the Torah He gave to Moshe:

And I will scatter you among the heathen / gentiles (goyim) , and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Leviticus 26:33

And Yahweh shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen/ gentiles (goyim), whither Yahweh shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek Yahweh thy Elohim, thou shalt find [Him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days, you will turn (shuv) to Yahweh thy Elohim, and shalt be obedient unto His voice; (For Yahweh thy Elohim [is] a merciful El;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. Deuteronomy 4:27-31

The scattering was promised if His people turned away. And He promises to re-gather us in the latter days when we turn back to Him. When we seek Him with all of our heart and all of our soul. When we turn our backs on our religion and obey His Torah. This is when He will call us out of “Her” (Revelation 18:4)… that is happening now.

There is a reason why Joseph wore a “coat of many colors”. Just as those called “Joseph”, “Ephraim” or “The House of Israel” were scattered to the four corners of the earth and became mixed among all of the goyim (gentiles) — Yahweh scatters so He can reap a larger harvest. Joseph‘s wearing of a “coat of many colors” (as with everything in the Scriptures) is no coincidence.

Interestingly when Joseph was in Egypt (a type of the world) he looked like an Egyptian… His brothers did not recognize Him as Hebrew. Judah (Jews) today do not recognize those who follow “Jesus” as their brothers either. Perhaps they look too much like pagan Egyptians (the world) and not enough like their Hebrew Messiah.

Messiah Yahshua makes a very interesting statement about the Kingdom:

“He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” Matt 13:33

It takes three measures (or loaves) to make Challah.. the leavened bread of Israel. We know that leaven is an idiom for sin (addition and corruption), but it also represents “time and fullness”. How so? Because leaven requires time in order to cause the loaf to rise, and to become full or “filled up”. As in “The fullness of the goyim (gentiles)”. This is an important phrase that we will explore later. But what‘s with the three loaves?

I believe Ezekiel can help us out with this:

And you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it, ̳For Yehudah and for the children of Yisra‘ĕl, his companions.‘ Then take another stick and write on it, ̳For Yosĕph, the stick of Ephrayim, and for all the house of Yisra‟ĕl, his companions.‘ “Then bring them together for yourself into one stick, and they shall become one in your hand. “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ̳Won‘t you show us what you mean by these?‘ say to them, ̳Thus said the Master Yahweh, “See, I am taking the stick of Yosĕph, which is in the hand of Ephrayim, and the tribes of Yisra‟ĕl, his companions. And I shall give them unto him, with the stick of Yehudah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.” “And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. “And speak to them, ̳Thus said the Master Yahweh, “See, I am taking the children of Yisra‟ĕl from among the gentiles, wherever they have gone, and shall gather them from all around, and I shall bring them into their land. “And I shall make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Yisra‘ĕl. And one sovereign shall be sovereign over them all, and let them no longer be two nations, and let them no longer be divided into two reigns. “And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, nor with their disgusting matters, nor with any of their transgressions. And I shall save them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and I shall cleanse them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim, while Dawid My servant is sovereign over them. And they shall all have One shepherd and walk in My right-rulings and guard My laws, and shall do them. “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Yaʽaqob My servant, where your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell in it, they and their children and their children‘s children, forever, and My servant Dawid be their prince forever. “And I shall make a covenant of peace with them — an everlasting covenant it is with them. And I shall place them and increase them, and shall place My set-apart place in their midst, forever. “And My Dwelling Place shall be over them. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. Ezekiel 37:16-27

So many things to understand from this Scripture. First, Ezekiel 37 is too long to include the entirety of the chapter. These verses come right on the heels of the narrative of the dry bones coming together (blown by the “four winds” ) which will revive and restore the “Whole House of Israel”. I encourage you to stop here and read the whole chapter. It is all about the restoration of the whole house of Israel… but in the verses I have included, I want you to notice several things. First, the “Son of man” reference… clearly The One holding these two sticks is Messiah. But the word stick is a very curious one. The Hebrew word Etz is actually the word for wood and tree as well. My point? Simply that there are two trees in which the one named Yoseph (another name for the northern 10 tribes — also called Ephraim, and The House of Israel) is being “grafted-in” (if you will) to the tree called Yahudah (Judah).

Dare I say that the wild Olive tree is being grafted-in among the natural tree? When we read Matt 13:33 with this understanding we see Judah (the House of Judah) is loaf #1. And we have Joseph (The House of Israel — currently living with/as gentiles) which is loaf #2. And we have all of their companions — just like the “mixed multitude” that came out of Egypt with the Hebrews, this is the third (and I believe largest) loaf.

Because Yahweh has compassion on Yaʽakob, and shall again choose Yisra‟ĕl, and give them rest in their own land. And the sojouner shall join them, and they shall cling to the house of Ya‟akob” Isaiah 14:1

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. The breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat; and their King is passed on before them, and Yahweh at the head of them. Micah 2:12-13 (see also Isaiah 54)

As you just read, when Israel returns once again the sojourner will cling to them. The companions Ezekiel spoke of. This is the “third loaf” will be grafted-in, just as they were when Israel left Egypt. You can see in the passage from Micah that there will be a great noise due to the mass of humanity that has “come out” from among the goyim. That is just about to happen.

“He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” Isaiah 27:6

And [they of] Ephraim shall be like a mighty [man], and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see [it], and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Yahweh. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and return (shuv).
Zechariah 10:7-9

This multitude isn‘t Judah (or Jews). As of 2010 there are only about 14 million “Jews” in the world. That is .2% of the world population. Yahweh told Abraham that ALL the Nations of the world would be blessed through him. Because Israel would be scattered to ALL Nations. This is not a promise of biological seed. We know this because Muslims (by and large) are indeed the biological seed of Avraham. And they certainly are not blessing the world.
Yahweh tells Avraham that his seed shall be as the sand on the sea and the stars in the sky. 14 million Jews are not as the sand of the sea and the stars in the sky. No, The Whole House of Israel includes much more than the house of Judah.

And why “again” will Yahweh chose Israel? Because Yahweh says they became “Lo Ami” — “Not My People” (Hosea 1:9). We will talk more about that later.

But something I find interesting is a comment from Vincent‘s Word Studies — by Marvin Vincent:

“Hosea, it is true, is speaking of the scattered Israelites only, and not of the Gentiles; but the ten tribes, by their lapse into idolatry had put themselves upon the same footing with the Gentiles, so that the words could be applied to both. A principle of the divine government is enunciated “which comes into play everywhere when circumstances reappear similar to those to which the statement was originally applied. The exiled Israelites being mingled with the Gentiles, and forming one homogeneous mass with them, cannot be brought to God separately from them.”

Remember, this quote is from a mainline Christian commentary. Did Vincent really understand what he was saying here? I don‘t know… but this is what the Scriptures say would happen to Ephraim — the Northern Kingdom, they would be “scattered among the goyim” and they would become “melo h‘goyim” (“the fullness of the gentiles”). This phrase will be important later in the study.

So, these three groups in Ezekiel are the “three measures” or “loaves” that Messiah says will make up the Kingdom. Then “David” shall be our prince forever. Some say this is Messiah Himself, while others believe that this is the resurrected King David, serving as our Prince under the Messiah, who is The King of Kings, and the High Priest in the order of Meleck-tzadok. Both positions seem to have merit. We will have to wait and see.

The Three loaves represent the WHOLE HOUSE of Israel, and everyone will have equal status as full-fledged members. There is neither “Jew nor Gentile” in the house of Israel, we will truly be “one” in the hand of Messiah.

You will see later in the study that Judah will be absorbed back into Israel (which they are distinct from right now) and they will no longer be a separate “house”. Among these are the broken off branches that get grafted back in to Israel (Romans 11:23).

Thus says YAHWEH of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the kanaph (fringes / tzitzit) of a Yahudi, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.‟” ZecharYah 8:23

There is also a reason why the scriptures tell us that in the last days ten men from the goyim (gentiles) will take hold of the “tzitzit of the Yahudi”. These “ten” represent the “awakened” ten tribes of the house of Israel that were scattered among the gentile nations (goyim). And they don‘t know Torah. This isn‘t a blood issue, folks. Remember that whenever there is an exodus, an “erev rav” (mixed multitude) joins Israel comes out of Egypt (or out of the world) with them. This is also why Yahshua said He came only for the lost sheep of Israel (Matt 15:24). He didn‘t mention the house of Judah at the time…. But why? I believe it is because they were home. They had repented and returned to the land after 70 years in Babylon. So the “Jews” (those of the House of Judah who returned) were back, in the land, and they knew who they belonged to.

Which is why Yahshua says:

“You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because the deliverance is of the Yehudim” John 4:22

Make no mistake.. our Messiah identified Himself as a Jew. Not a Greek, not a gentile… not a Christian. A Jew.

Interestingly, we see only these three tribes (House of Judah) represented in the New Testament. MattisYahu (Matthew) is called Levi. He is a Levite (a Kohen). As are ZecharYah, Elisheva (Elizabeth) and their son Yochanan (John). We know Paul is of Benyamin (Benjamin). And of course we know Yahshua was of the tribe of Yahudah.

But we see none of the other tribes represented in the New Testament writings… Except in Revelation, when all 12 tribes will be restored and represented — just before the return of our King. The reason there are no members of the northern 10 tribes represented in the New Testament is because The House of Israel (aka Joseph/Ephraim)… was disbursed among the nations after the Persian captivity — and did not return. I do not doubt that there may have been some from the Northern 10 — or their descendants that were able to return to the land after their captivity in Persia. Certainly there were — I believe many of what became known as the Samaritans were indeed those from the Northern tribes who found their way back or perhaps evaded capture when the Persians took the rest away. But the majority were indeed taken into captivity and then dispersed to the four corners of the Earth. As will see later in the study, 1st Century historian Josephus stated that in his day, only the House of Judah had returned. Which is why those who were part of the house of Judah are the only tribes represented in the New Testament.

Hear the word of the Yahweh, O ye nations (goyim), and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] His flock. Jeremiah 31:10

This is why Yahshua says: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold — I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, with one shepherd” John 10:16

“This fold” that Yahshua is speaking of is clearly the house of Judah who was there in the land of Israel in Messiah‘s day… the house of Judah was not “lost”. The “other sheep” are the “lost sheep of the House of Israel” (Matt 15:24) that were scattered:

“And one of them, Qayapha, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know naught, neither do you consider that it is better for us that one man die for the people than that the entire nation should perish.” But he did not say this from himself, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Yahshua was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather together into one the children of Elohim who were scattered abroad. So from that day on they plotted to kill Him” John 11:49-53

If we keep reading John 11, we see something very interesting. Remember that Yahshua said He came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel… And after the High Priest makes this statement about Yahshua dying for the Children of Elohim who have been scattered abroad we read:

“So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. Yahshua therefore walked no more openly among the Yahudim; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples”. John 11:53

Wow, He went into Ephraim… the name given to the Northern Kingdom (called Joseph and The House of Israel)... Coincidence? He no longer walked among “Jews” (i.e. the house of Judah) but went to the Children of Elohim scattered abroad. Ephraim represents the Lost sheep of the house of Israel!

“Therefore you shall guard the words of this covenant, and do them, so that you prosper in all that you do. “All of you are standing today before Yahweh your Elohim: your leaders, your tribes, your elders and your officers, all the men of Yisra‘ĕl, your little ones, your wives, and your sojourner who is in the midst of your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, so that you should enter into covenant with Yahweh your Elohim, and into His oath, which Yahweh your Elohim makes with you today, in order to establish you today as a people for Himself, and He Himself be your Elohim, as He has spoken to you, and as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, to Yitshaq, and to Yaʽaqob. “And not with you alone I am making this covenant and this oath, but with him who stands here with us today before Yahweh our Elohim, as well as with him who is not here with us today. Deuteronomy 29:9-15

From this passage in Deuteronomy we once again see that Yahweh expects the non-native to enter into this covenant as much as He does the home born. Then says they all are being established “as a people for Himself” home born and non-native alike. Then Yahweh makes prophetic statement. He says “And not with you alone I am making this covenant”. He goes on to say that He is making the covenant is with those who are there today (those who came out of Egypt), as well as many in the future who would be grafted into Israel.

These lost sheep — scattered to the four corners of the Earth, are the only sheep the Messiah came for. The promise of the New (or literally Renewed) covenant will be made only with Israel. What we see Yahweh saying here isn‘t replacement theology… “Inclusion theology”. There would be others in the future who would be included in His family. It is the western gentiles that have refused to join Israel… opting instead for their own religious organization they call the church. But didn‘t Yahweh say:

“And let not the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to Yahweh speak, saying, Yahweh has certainly separated me from His people” Isaiah 56:3

Now let‘s go to Jeremiah 23:1

“Woe to the shepherds destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares Yahweh. Therefore thus said Yahweh Elohim of Yisra‘ĕl against the shepherds who feed My people, “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and have not tended them. See, I am punishing you for the evil of your deeds,” declares Yahweh. “Therefore I shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and shall bring them back to their fold. And they shall bear and increase. “And I shall raise up shepherds over them, and they shall feed them. And they shall fear no more, nor be discouraged, nor shall they be lacking,” declares Yahweh. “See, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I shall raise for Dawid a Branch of righteousness, and a Sovereign shall reign and act wisely, and shall do right-ruling and righteousness in the earth. “In His days Yehudah shall be saved, and Yisra‟ĕl dwell safely. And this is His Name whereby He shall be called: Yahweh our Righteousness.‘ “Therefore, see, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when they shall say no more, ̳As Yahweh lives who brought up the children of Yisra‘ĕl out of the land of Mitsrayim,‘ but, ̳As Yahweh lives who brought up and led the seed of the house of Yisra‟ĕl out of the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them.‘ And they shall dwell on their own soil.” Jeremiah 23:1-8

Notice it was the “shepherds” who were supposed to protect Israel… to lead them in truth and righteousness. Instead these “shepherds” led them astray… away from Yahweh‘s Torah into idolatry, and all manner of transgression. It was for this reason that the sheep were scattered to the four corners of the earth. Remember, the disobedient (prodigal) son cannot stay in the Father‘s house. But this word “shepherd” is “Ra‘ah” in Hebrew (Strong‘s # 7462). In the Greek Septuagint it‘s “poimen” (Strong‘s # 4166). This is the word translated “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11. As a matter of fact, the 1611 King James Version actually reads:

“Woe bee vnto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheepe of my pasture, saith the Lord” Jeremiah 23:1 (1611 KJV).

“Pastors” have been neglecting the sheep, and leading them away from Yahweh‘s Torah since the days of Jeroboam… sadly they are doing the same thing today. But notice in this passage from Jeremiah that Yahweh tells us that the sheep have been scattered to “all the lands”… and the “Good News” is that The Branch (Son of David) who will be called “Yahweh our Righteousness” (a Messianic title) will gather us from among the nations. “In that day” both the house of Judah and the house of Israel will be saved… and we will again be “one flock” called “The whole House of Israel”.

Today the house of Judah (in part) is again in the land… soon the House of Israel will return home and Judah will no longer be separated but will be part of the whole House of Israel — which will be made up of people coming from every nation, tribe and tongue… except that we will no longer speak the defiled languages of the nations. Its true… even the term we use for the form of Greek that the New Testament manuscripts are predominantly preserved in is “Koinos” — Strong‘s #2839 means “profane: — common, defiled, unclean, unholy”. Koine Greek is literally “defiled” Greek. This is the very word Paul uses for “unholy” or “profane‘ in Hebrews 10:29:

“Of how much worse punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of Elohim, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy (koinon) thing, and has done insult unto the Spirit of grace?” KJV

Koinos is the word Peter uses in Acts 10:14 when he says he has never eaten anything “common or unclean”. It‘s also the word just a few verses later we see that Yahweh has shown Peter that he should not call any man “koinos or akatharton”. When Messiah returns we will all speak the Lashon Kodesh

(Set apart language) — HEBREW:
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the Name of Yahweh to serve him with one consent. Zephaniah 3:9

No doubt the “lost tribes” are soon to be regathered from all the nations with the return of Mashiyach. It is from these tribes (as well as Judah and Benjamin) that Yahweh will gather 144,000 witnesses to preach Mashiyach and repentance to all the nations. These are not 144,000 “Jews”… only 12,000 will be from the tribe of Judah. I personally believe that these 144,000 are indeed physical descendants of the 12 sons of Israel and they have a great mission. Whether or not these witnesses are physical descendants, they are clearly not ALL of Israel… because Israel isn‘t about blood… being “Y‘sra –EL” begins in the heart. It always has been a heart issue — as we saw in Caleb and so many others.

Ephraim is the Prodigal son!

And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come home; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Luke 15:11-32

Let‘s briefly address the p‘shat (plain reading) of this text. It clearly has to do with the love of the father for his son, and that when the son repents and returns, all is forgiven.

The remez level understanding is also easily understood. When we as individuals repent and return to Yahweh, He too is quick to forgive us and receive us back into the home. But notice, that transgression of His Torah was not permitted while the son was in His house… nor would it be when the son has truly repented and returned home. In the parable, the father considered the son as dead. It‘s foolish to teach that we can come into Yahweh‘s House (The Kingdom) but refuse to obey His House rules.

The prodigal demonstrates sincere repentance and is then restored to his father‘s house. Likewise, Yahweh is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (teshuvah). Teshuvah — from the root “shuv” is the act of returning to the covenant and keeping the Commandments. This is the word we saw back in Zechariah 10:7-9. John tells us that sin is the transgression of the Torah:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah. 1st John 3:4

Sin is transgression of the Torah. Repentance (teshuvah) is the act of returning to a life of obedience to His Commandments.

Now let‘s look deeper into the parable of the prodigal son. Let‘s go below the surface — to the sud (seed) level understanding is one that is hidden… waiting to be discovered. In order to do this we need go back and look at the scattering of Israel.

Remember that Ephraim and Manashe were the two son‘s of Joseph, and were blessed not by their father Joseph but by their grandfather Ya‘akob (Israel). This is a very unusual event… but it‘s significant when we pay close attention to what Ya‘akob does… and what he says. This will be important to remember. The entire house of Ya‘akob (Israel) would later be comprised of two houses or kingdoms. Ephraim (called the house of Israel) and the house of Judah. These two houses are the twelve tribes of Israel representing the twelve sons of Jacob and the mixed multitude that left out of Egypt during the mass exodus as described in the book of Exodus — making up the entire house of Israel. When Ya‘acob blessed his sons with their inheritance, he included Joseph‘s two sons, they are Manasseh and Ephraim. By doing this he added an additional tribe to the lineage making the number thirteen, but Yahweh set aside the tribe of Levi to be priests unto Him, therefore receiving no land inheritance.

By the way–these are the only people entitled to a “tithe” according to Scripture. I am not telling anyone not to give if they have been blessed. Our Messiah clearly instructs us to give to the poor, the hungry, the widows… to those in need. He never instructed us to hire paid professional preachers or to build fancy white buildings with comfortable pews and air conditioning. If you have been blessed, you better be blessing others. But for the church to demand a tithe is to claim something they are not entitled to. They are once again wielding confiscated authority over the masses. Furthermore, the tithe is a Torah commandment and the church claims that they are not subject to the Laws (the Torah) of Yahweh. It is totally hypocritical for the church to demand a tithe.

Continuing on, the Levites are instructed to care for the house of Yahweh and so doing He is their inheritance. As mentioned, the Tribes where divided into two kingdoms after the reign of Solomon. Ten tribes went to the North with Yerob‘am (from the tribe of Ephraim), they are called the Northern Kingdom. And 2 and 1⁄2 tribes remained in the South under Rehab‘am (from the tribe of Judah), which is known as the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom is called Ephraim because his clan eventually outnumbered the other tribes. The Southern Kingdom is called Judah because his clan was also predominant in the Southern Kingdom.

Levi was scattered within the two kingdoms, so it is very likely that the Levites who returned to Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah were not the total sum of that Tribe. It is possible to find Semitic peoples from South Africa to Russia who claim lineage back to the Levitical priesthood. This fulfills the promise given to Father Abraham that he will have a seed of multiplicity within the earth, and that through him ALL the clans of the earth will be blessed. Again, it also gives a deeper sud level meaning to the fact that Joseph wore a coat of “many colors”.

I want to take a moment to address the commonly held belief that the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was re-united with the House of Judah shortly after the Babylonian Captivity of Judah was ended (537 BCE). The problem with this belief is two-fold. First, there is absolutely no record of this having happened. This teaching lacks any historical or Scriptural support whatsoever. It is pure speculation, nothing more. Jewish literature that survives from the Persian, Greek, and Roman periods unanimously testifies that the northern Ten Tribes of Israel remained in Exile far to the north, scattered among the Gentiles. There are many references but I will touch on a few for the purposes of this study.

First, there are those texts which scholars refer to as the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, most of which were written from 300 BCE into the 1st century of our era. While I do not consider the Apocryphal writings as Scripture, nor are they authoritative — they are historical documents that demonstrate what most Rabbinical Jews believed at the time they were penned. It is from the Apocrypha that we learn of the miracle of Chanukah — a celebration that our Messiah kept (John 10:22-23).

The Testament of Moses says:
Then some from the tribes will go up and come to their appointed place and once again surround the place with walls [referring to the 539BCE return from Babylon]. And the two tribes will continue in the faith appointed for them…. And the ten tribes will be fruitful and increase among the Gentiles during the time of their captivity (4:7-9; cf. 2:5).

Here one sees that a clear distinction is made between the two (Judah and probably Levi) and the other ten. 2nd Esdras is even more explicit, stating that those exiled by the Assyrians were taken first across the Euphrates, but subsequently migrated far beyond:

But they formed this plan for themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the nations and go to a more distant region….a journey of a year and a half; and that country is called Arzareth [meaning, Another Land] (13:39-45).

Texts such as Ben Sirach (36:11-15), the Psalms of Solomon (17:28-31), and the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs imply a similar dispersion, long after the Babylonian return.

But the bigger problem for the proponent of the “Israel was reabsorbed into Judah” myth is the testimony of one Yoseph Ben Mattithyahu (Matthias) — known by the Greco-Roman name Josephus. Falvius Josephus was a Jewish military leader from the Galilee of the Priestly class who somehow managed to survive the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE). He went on to become a Roman citizen and served Rome during the Flavian Dynasty, hence the taking of the title “Flavius”. The fact that he lived through the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 CE, makes him of extraordinary importance as a historian of the period and is proving invaluable in pin-pointing the location of the scattered Ten Tribes of Israel during his lifetime. So let‘s see what Josephus has to say about the “Two Houses”?

“When Esdras had received this epistle, he was very joyful, and began to worship God, and confessed that he had been the cause of the king’s great favor to him, and that for the same reason he gave all the thanks to God. So he read the epistle at Babylon to those Jews that were there; but he kept the epistle itself, and sent a copy of it to all those of his own nation that were in Media. And when these Jews had understood what piety the king had towards God, and what kindness he had for Esdras, they were all greatly pleased; nay, many of them took their effects with them, and came to Babylon, as very desirous of going down to Jerusalem; but then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country; wherefore there are but two tribes [Judah and Benjamin] in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes [the House of Israel] are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers. Now there came a great number of priests, and Levites, and porters, and sacred singers, and sacred servants to Esdras. So he gathered those that were in the captivity together beyond Euphrates, and stayed there three days, and ordained a fast for them, that they might make their prayers to God for their preservation, that they might suffer no misfortunes by the way, either from their enemies, or from any other ill accident; for Esdras had said beforehand that he had told the king how God would preserve them, and so he had not thought fit to request that he would send horsemen to conduct them”. Antiquities of the Jews — Book XI (Ch. 5)

Remember that is Josephus speaking about the lost tribes, near the end of the first century! The very “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” that Yahshua said he came for!

Only two tribes existed in Judea in Josephus‘ day. But Josephus said much more. Below we read how Josephus details how the Assyrians also desired to take the Kingdom of Judah, not just the already captive Northern Kingdom of Israel:

“It was now the fourteenth year of the government of Hezekiah, king of the two tribes, when the king of Assyria, whose name was Sennacherib, made an expedition against him with a great army, and took all the cities of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by force; and when he was ready to bring his army against Jerusalem, Hezekiah sent ambassadors to him beforehand, and promised to submit, and pay what tribute he should appoint. Hereupon Sennacherib, when he heard of what offers the ambassadors made, resolved not to proceed in the war, but to accept of the proposals that were made him” Antiquities of the Jews — Book X (Ch. 1)

Now let‘s read as Josephus gives an intriguing descriptions of both the Jews (House of Judah) and Israelites (House of Israel) being carried captive across the Euphrates:

“And such was the end of the nation of the Hebrews, as it hath been delivered down to us, it having twice gone beyond Euphrates; for the people of the ten tribes were carried out of Samaria by the Assyrians, in the days of king Hoshea; after which the people of the two tribes that remained after Jerusalem was taken [captive] by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon and Chaldea. Now as to Shalmanezer, he removed the Israelites out of their country, and placed therein the nation of the Cutheans, who had formerly belonged to the inner parts of Persia and Media, but were then called Samaritans, by taking the name of the country to which they were removed; but the king of Babylon, who brought out the two tribes, placed no other nation in their country, by which means all Judea and Jerusalem, and the Temple, continued to be a desert for seventy years; but the entire interval of time which passed from the captivity of the Israelites, to the carrying away of the two tribes, was a hundred and thirty years, six months, and ten days” Antiquities of the Jews. Book X (Ch. 9)

So Josephus confirms that the “Two Houses” were taken into their respective captivities separately… and that up to the 1st century CE the Northern House of Israel was a huge multitude and still had not come back. Interesting.

And interesting dialog found in the Talmud (which was completed around the 5th Century CE) shows us that the Rabbinical view at the time was that the Northern Ten Tribes were still scattered:

“THE TEN TRIBES WILL NOT RETURN [TO THE PROMISED LAND], FOR IT IS SAID, AND CAST THEM INTO ANOTHER LAND, AS IS THIS DAY: JUST AS THE DAY GOES AND DOES NOT RETURN, SO THEY TOO WENT AND WILL NOT RETURN: THIS IS R. AKIBA’S VIEW. R. ELIEZER SAID: AS THIS DAY — JUST AS THE DAY DARKENS AND THEN BECOMES LIGHT AGAIN, SO THE TEN TRIBES — EVEN AS IT WENT DARK FOR THEM, SO WILL IT BECOME LIGHT FOR THEM.” Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 110b

How about another compelling admission from an 18th century Rabbinical commentary:

“When they [House of Judah] were allowed to return from Babylon the Ten Tribes [House of Israel] did not return only some of Judah and Benjamin and a minority of them. Most remained in their places of exile. In the future however all the tribes that were exiled to the north, and are still hidden in the north, will return.”

“The scripture depicts the ingathering of the exiles in the end of days at the time of the Messiah. The children of Judah and the children of Israel will then be gathered together. It was different when the exiles returned from Babylon to build the second Temple. Only those from the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin had been exiled to Babylon and some of them returned.. the other tribes were exiled earlier to other locations and they never returned. The Scripture refers to the children of Judah who had been exiled in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. Not all of them returned in the days of Ezra but in the future, they [Judah] and the children of Israel — the Ten Tribes, together will appoint one head over them. This refers to the anointed Messiah, son of Joseph who will be their head and leader at the outset of the redemption (Ezekiel 37). Together they will go up out of the land of exile, from every land where they happen to be and ascend to the land of Israel…. Me‘Am Loez RM Ditho

So, we have proof that the Northern Ten Tribes are still scattered among the gentiles from 1st century historian Josephus, as well as proof that Jews believed this as recent as the 18th century. Let‘s not forget what Christian commentator Marvin Vincent said:

“Hosea, it is true, is speaking of the scattered Israelites only, and not of the Gentiles; but the ten tribes, by their lapse into idolatry had put themselves upon the same footing with the Gentiles, so that the words could be applied to both. A principle of the divine government is enunciated “which comes into play everywhere when circumstances reappear similar to those to which the statement was originally applied. The exiled Israelites being mingled with the Gentiles, and forming one homogeneous mass with them, cannot be brought to God separately from them.”

We know that Ephraim (House of Israel) would completely lose their identity shortly into the Persian (Syrian) captivity and their subsequent dispersion: “For the head of Syria [is] Damascus, and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be too shattered to be a people” Isaiah 7:8

Ephraim never made it back- that much is clear. While the house of Judah returned after 70 years in Babylon, the House of Israel was not prophesied to return until the last days. Remember it was Ephraim (the son of Joseph) who‘s descendants would “fill up” the goyim (gentiles) — literally “fullness of the gentiles”. This is essential to understand. We will talk more about this shortly.

The Two Houses of Israel:

Now, let‟s take a closer look at these Two Houses…

The Two Houses of Israel:

Southern Kingdom Exiled 586 B.C.
Northern Kingdom Exiled 722 B.C.

• Judah
• Benjamin
• Levi (portion)
• Reuben
• Gad
• Simon
• Issaskar
• Zebulun
• Dan
• Asher
• Naphtali
• Joseph — (Ephraim /Manasseh)
• Levi (portion)

Ephraim Is — Double Fruit

Ephraim was the youngest son of Joseph. Ephraim means doubly fruitful. As I mentioned Ephraim‘s mother was Asenath who was the daughter of an Egyptian priest. When Jacob was brought to Egypt after the identity of Joseph was revealed; he embraced Joseph‘s sons and blessed them as his own (Genesis 48:11-14) giving them an inheritance along with his birth sons. Jacob, in blessing the two boys crossed his arms and laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and the left hand on Manasseh giving the first born blessing to Ephraim. Joseph tries to stop his father thinking that he is making an error due to the state of Jacob‘s eyesight, but Jacob says:
“I know my son, I know he [Manasseh] also becomes a people, and he also is great. And yet, his younger brother is greater than he, and his seed is to become the completeness — melo [Fullness] of the goyim (gentiles). Genesis 48:19

There you have it -the “Melo h‘goyim” or “The Fullness of the gentiles” If that sounds familiar, it should; “For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise in your own estimation, that blindness in part has come over Yisra‟ĕl, until the fullness of the gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25

It was Joshua (Yahushua in Hebrew) of the tribe of Ephraim who lead the children of Israel into the Promised land. Just as another Yahushua (The Messiah) will lead the restored whole House of Israel into the ultimate promised land at the Greater Exodus! (Jeremiah 16:16-21 and Jeremiah 23:7-8). Messiah Yahshua was of the Tribe of Judah who brings redemption and will lead the people, set apart to the One True and Living Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob into the land of promise.

In Joshua 17:17-18, Joshua was trying to give one lot (of land) to the children of Joseph, but it was not enough. The children of Ephraim and Manasseh asked for additional land because of their size and received a double portion of land in the hill country. {Remember Jacob‘s blessing}. Melo Ha Goyim — Multitude of nations or fullness of the gentiles. (Genesis 48:19; Romans 11:25).

Ephraim represents a major portion of the house of Israel, which is inclusive of the ten northern tribes of Israel after they split from the southern tribes (the House of Judah or known as the “Jews” today).
The Northern tribes are called “Israel”, “Ephraim”, and “Joseph”. These terms are used synonymously throughout the Scriptures. And Ephraim is often shown as distinct from Judah (ie “Jews”):

“O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away.” Hosea 6:3

We see the two houses mentioned separately in the promise of the New Covenant — Jeremiah 31:31-34 (we will talk more about this in a little while).

We read in the book of Hosea the story of our people many years ago who fell into hands of the Assyrians in 722 B.C. because of their disobedience to Yahweh‘s Torah (Teachings and Instructions/ Commandments). If you will read the book of Hosea you will see that like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Hosea also speaks of two groups of people: Ephraim (aka Joseph and the House of Israel) and Judah. Again, Ephraim was the tribe of Yerob‘am, and the largest of the House of Israel. Judah was the tribe of Rehab‘am, and the largest tribe of the House of Judah.

I think it‘s no coincidence that the camp of Judah was set up to the East (Numbers 2:3) whereas the camp of Ephraim setup on the west (Numbers 2:18). Where have the scattered tribes of the house of Israel settled? In Matthew 15:24 our Messiah Yahshua says that He came not but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As mentioned earlier, in Ezekiel 37:15-17, Yahweh instructed the Prophet Ezekiel to take a stick and write on it the name of Judah and another stick and write on it the name of Ephraim and put them in His hand, and they shall become one in “Your hand”. And that third “loaf” will be the companions that “come out of her” with them. If we continue in Ezekiel 37:21-22, Yahweh says that He is taking the children of Israel from among the gentiles wherever they have gone and he will gather them from all around and He will make them one nation in the mountains of Israel, and One Elohim over them, no longer two nations, but one. The disobedient children of the Northern Kingdom that were dispersed out into the world because of their idolatrous ways, were our forefathers.

“then He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not for you. “Yet the number of the children of Yisra‟ĕl shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor counted. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, „You are not My people,‟ they shall be called, „You are the sons of the living Ěl.‟ “And the children of Yehudah and the children of Yisra‟ĕl shall be gathered together, and appoint for themselves One Head, and shall come up out of the earth, for great is the day of Yizreʽĕl! Hosea 1:9-11

Did you catch the phrase “Sons of the living Elohim” Hosea 1:10? Sound familiar?:

But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” John 1:12

Again, who did Yahshua come for: “I have not come but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Matt 15:24 So, when Yahshua called His Disciples He told them: “I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19, Mark 1:17) we need to consider that these men being “fished” for are of the lost house of Israel. This sheds light on the mysterious number of 153 fish:
“Shimʽon Kĕpha (Simon Peter) went up and dragged the net to land, filled with one hundred and fifty-three big fishes. And though there were so many, the net was not broken” John 21:11

But how does this number of 153 fish represent the House of Israel? Remember, nothing in the Scripture is there by accident. And Remember that the “Sons of Elohim” in Hosea represent the scattered house of Israel (i.e.: the lost sheep). There is a Hebrew discipline known as Gematria. The Hebrew Alep-Bet (where we get the word alphabet originally) is very deep, with many layers. Each letter is a picture… which can be better seen in its ancient form. Each letter is also a musical note, and each letter has a numeric value.

The ancient Hebrews did not have a numbering system — they used their alphabet. So we see that each letter has a corresponding numeric value. And 153 is the gematria (Hebrew numerical value) of the phrase “Ben‘i h‘Elohim” (Sons of Elohim):

As just discussed Judah would set up camp to the East and Ephraim to the west. This is interesting when we consider where these 153 fish would come from. Yahshua told the disciples to cast their nets into the Sea (of Galilee). The Hebrew word for sea is Yam, but is also the word for West. Just a coincidence? Of course the scattered House of Israel went into many different lands after being released from Assyria. Nova and A&E have produced videos funded by the Jewish community on this subject. Yahweh scattered His seed all over the world to reap a greater harvest, now the ingathering has begun. Many in the Orthodox Jewish community are looking for their brother and there are many who believe that we (Believers in Messiah) are Ephraim (The Northern 10 — The House of Israel). This not to say that ALL who follow Messiah Yahshua are “home born” Israelites… remember that when Yahweh scatters, He doesn‘t get just one stalk of wheat… He brings in the erev rav (mixed multitude) who become “grafted-in” to the natural tree- Israel. Those that are grafted into the tree (regardless of bloodline) are counted as equals in Israel… not 2nd class citizens.

With this in mind, scroll back up and read the Parable of the Prodigal son again. Hopefully you can now see the sud level understanding. Judah (Jews) — are the older brother who stayed home. Whereas Ephraim was the younger brother who left and went out into the world… lived a life of sin, wickedness and idolatry (was scattered among the goyim).

We can see from the parable that the younger brother went out and lived as a heathen (goyim). You will understand what a heathen is according to Scripture in a few moments. The younger brothers “riotous living” is a picture of what Ephraim (The House of Israel) did when they took on the worship of idols from the goyim. Just as Catholicism and yes, this includes Protestant Christianity has done — See Duet 12:30, Duet 18:9, Jeremiah 10:2- 4 and Jeremiah 16:19) but in these last days Ephraim is awakening to who he is (an Israelite) and is returning to the Father — and the rules of His Kingdom — Torah. He is “coming out of Her” (Revelation 18:4). True Israel has the Messiah and the Torah (read Revelation 12:17, 14:12, and 22:14 — then compare to Isaiah 8:20). What I find particularly interesting is that when the prodigal repents and returns home, his brother is jealous. The older brother is Judah — who has been “at home with The Father keeping Torah” (or at least he thinks he has):

“Ephrayim has surrounded Me with lying, the house of Yisra‘ĕl with deceit. But Yehudah is still wandering with Ěl, and is true to the Set-apart One.” Hosea 11:12

One of our responsibilities was to “provoke Judah to jealousy” (Romans 11:14) so they would embrace Mashiyach. But for two thousand years, Jews have not been the least bit jealous — nor interested in the Church‘s Greek anti-Torah “Jesus”.

A little advice… First, you don‘t provoke someone to jealousy by killing them. You also don‘t provoke someone to jealousy by teaching that Elohim rescinded the promise He made to Israel and has handed over to gentiles… lastly, you don‘t provoke people to jealousy by teaching that their Messiah showed up and trashed Yahweh‘s Torah. Jews are not the least bit jealous of Christians… trust me. But guess who they are getting jealous over….
Yep, those that keep Torah of Elohim AND have the Testimony of Messiah Yahshua (Revelation 12:17, 14:12, 22:14, and Isaiah 8:20). We, the followers of Messiah — keeping Torah, binding His Word to our doorposts, keeping Biblical Kosher, The Shabbat, The Feast days, blowing the shofar and wearing tzitzit…. Yes, Jews hate it.

But for the first time in 2000 years, they are paying attention.
And we also see Jewish “anti-missionary” groups popping up all over the place. The adversary is stepping up his efforts too! Why? Because through our faith AND our obedience, we have finally begun to provoke our brother Judah to jealousy…

Many Jews are also reading our “New Testament” and seeing a TORAH OBESERVANT HEBREW MESSIAH!!! One with a very important HEBREW Name — not a Greek pagan name. A Messiah, that called people to repent (teshuvah /return) to His Torah.

As we see in the parable of the prodigal son, the older brother (Judah) isn’t happy about the little brother’s return. Likewise, the prophet Ezekiel tells us that when the House of Israel (the younger brother) finally comes home, the older brother Judah will not be happy about it:

Again the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying, Son of man, thy brethren, [even] thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, [are] they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jews) have said, “Get you far from Yahweh: unto us is this land given in possession” — Ezekiel 11:14–15

Wow… our Jewish brothers (House of Judah) in Jerusalem will be jealous when we come home! According to Ezekiel, they do not want to share Yahweh or The Promised Land with their younger brother (the house of Israel). VERY interesting.

Did you know that you cannot be a citizen of the nation of Israel unless you can prove that your mother is Jewish? You can be an atheist, communist, homosexual… it doesn’t matter, as long as you can prove that you are biologically descended from the house of Judah through your mother. And don’t you dare come to Jerusalem preaching Yahshua… that will get you on the next plane home.

Do you think it is a coincidence that Yahshua included the fact that the older brother would be jealous when the prodigal brother came home? Why else would we need this detail? It is really superfluous information if we are only going to accept the p’shat (plain reading) of the parable. Nothing in the Scripture is there by coincidence.

And how can we know that the House of Israel (the little brother) that Ezekiel is speaking of will be from among the “gentiles”? We just need to keep reading:

Therefore say, Thus saith Yahweh; Although I have cast them far off among the gentiles (goyim), and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore say, Thus saith Yahweh Elohim; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their Elohim — Ezekiel 11:16–20

We will revisit this passage in a little while… there is more to learn from it. “See, I am taking the children of Yisra’el from among the gentiles” — Ezekiel 37:21

Okay, so if Israel indeed includes those who are not of “the house of Judah,” we would expect to find confirmation of this in the New Testament… and indeed we do:

Romans 11:26 “All Israel will be saved.” This is Yahweh’s “mission statement,” if you will. But does it mean “all Jews” will be saved? Absolutely not! Doesn’t Paul say that not all who are “Israel” (i.e., home born) are “of Israel”? Remember all the wicked kings of Israel? As we know, there are wicked in every culture, race, tribe, and tongue. It’s no different among “Jews.” Some Jews are good, some love Yahweh, and some are wicked and self-serving. Not “all Jews” will be saved… that’s not what Paul said. But ALL ISRAEL will be. “All Israel” are those who have responded to Yahweh in love, teshuvah (repentance), and emunah (faithfulness). All who do this ARE Israel — literally “Yashar El” or “The Upright before Elohim.” Remember that when you become Israel, like Jacob… you don’t halakha (walk) the way you used to. Again, this is why Paul says (to former gentiles in Ephesus):

Remember, Paul isn’t talking to “Jews” here… he is talking to former gentiles (Ephesians) who have been “grafted-in,” telling them to no longer “halakha” as the gentiles do! He is telling them that they are Israel now! Time to act like it.

Yahweh promises He will make The Renewed Covenant with two groups: ISRAEL and Judah:

So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk — Ephesians 4:17

“Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YAHWEH” — Jeremiah 31:31–32

Did Yahweh promise a renewed covenant with “the gentile church” or with Israel?

This verbiage is also echoed in the book of Ezekiel chapter 36:

“Moreover the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. Wherefore I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had poured out upon the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols; and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they came unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned My set-apart Name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Yahweh, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had regard for My Set-apart Name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Adonai Yahweh: I do not this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My set-apart Name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye went. And I will sanctify My Great Name, which hath been profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, saith the Adonai Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.” — Ezekiel 36:16–27

Okay, so we see once again that the House of Israel was scattered among the nations — to the four corners of the Earth. We see that they (we) defiled His name and ultimately forgot His Name:

“They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget My Name, just as their fathers forgot My Name for Baal” — Jeremiah 23:27

Do you know what the definition of the term “Lord” is? Strong’s (#1168) defines “Baal as LORD”. As a matter of fact, the name Beelzebub is “Baal-Zebub” and it means “The LORD of the flies” (or literally “The LORD of those who flit and fly”).

Have the gentiles replaced the name of YHWH (Yahweh) with the LORD? Interesting.

Did you know the 3rd commandment (Exodus 20:7) says not to render the name of Yahweh thy Elohim to “shoah” = “utter destruction”. We translate this word as “vain or vanity”, but it is actually the Hebrew word for “holocaust”. In other words, Yahweh is saying DO NOT render My Name to nothingness — Do not destroy My Name.

Have we not done that very thing by removing His name from the text, replacing it with the title “LORD” which we now understand means “ba’al”? For more on His Name see my study “The Name”.

Continuing on, we also know that the dispersed of the house of Israel (Ephraim) will consider the Torah of Yahweh a “strange thing”:

Israel is swallowed up now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. I have written to them the great things of My Torah, [but] they were counted as a strange thing. — Hosea 8:8–12

This passage cannot be talking about Judah (Jews)… it isn’t Jews who consider the Torah a strange thing. Jews are the lawgivers (Gen 49:10, Psalm 60:7, Psalm 108:8). No, this is another group who has replaced His Name with Ba’al (LORD) and who has considered the Torah to be a strange (“Jewish”) thing… something to be “freed from”.

Who might that be? Hmmm.

One last clue is that these dispersed of Israel refuse to walk in Torah when shown the truth, even though Yahweh says that to walk in His ways is “good” and will give “rest to our souls”:

Thus saith Yahweh, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the ancient (eternal) paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein]. — Jeremiah 6:16

They don’t know His Name, they have replaced it with Ba’al or LORD. They consider Torah a strange or foreign thing and they refuse to walk in it. All of this sounds a lot like what has been taught by the gentiles for the last 1600 years.

Returning to Ezekiel 36, we saw that Israel was scattered among the nations, but in the last days, He promised to give us HIS Spirit which will cause us to walk in His Laws! Let’s take one more look at Ezekiel 11 for a moment. I know we just read this passage as it relates to the house of Israel coming from among the gentiles, but let’s take another look — this time to see that there is yet another description of this “New Covenant” with Israel, where ISRAEL is promised the Ruach h’Kodesh (Holy Spirit) and Torah written upon the heart:

“Therefore say, Thus saith the Adonai Yahweh: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come. Therefore say, Thus saith the Adonai Yahweh: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their Elohim.” — Ezekiel 11:16–20

Again we see Israel is “far off” (don’t forget that phrase) — they have been scattered among the nations. I believe the detestable things that we will remove are the mosques that litter the land. So far, Judah has done nothing to remove them (there is a big one on the Temple Mount). The little brother (called Ephraim/Joseph and The House of Israel) will gladly remove them when we get home. Israel will come from “far off” — the four corners of the Earth and “From among the goyim” (gentiles). That phrase will be important too. Today, Israel is being called out from among the goyim. They are being given ONE HEART, a NEW SPIRIT, and we desire to obey His Torah.

The New Covenant with the House of Israel

John states:

“And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us” — 1 John 3:24.

How do we know He lives in us? Because we desire to walk in His Torah. This is clear. From both Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Ezekiel 36:16–27, Ezekiel 11:16–20, we see that the New Covenant was made ONLY with The House of Israel, which Paul reiterates:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares Yahweh: I will put my Torah into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people” — Hebrews 8:10.

The Messiah’s Covenant

Consider when the Messiah says:

“This is my blood of the renewed covenant, which is shed in exchange for the many for the release of sins” — Matthew 26:28 (see also Luke 22:20).

These men sitting with Messiah were Israelites and all knew the Scriptures. They understood His words and who this covenant was to be made with. Yahshua said He came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

No Covenant with Gentiles

Do you know there isn’t a single covenant made with gentiles in all of Scripture? How can the church claim the promises of Israel (the renewed covenant) while refusing to have anything to do with Israel? Israel was the only people who were promised the New Covenant. The church claims to be “under the New Covenant” while refusing to walk in His Torah, an essential component to the renewing of the covenant. It defies logic.

Yahweh’s One Bride

As we now understand, there is no entity called “the church” in the Scripture, and Yahweh is not a polygamist. He has always had one love and one bride. Her name is Israel.

“For you shall break forth to the right and to the left, and your seed inherit the nations, and make the deserted cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you shall not be put to shame, nor hurt, you shall not be humiliated. For the shame of your youth you shall forget, and not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of hosts is His Name, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’el is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of all the earth. For Yahweh has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when you were refused,” declares your Elohim. “For a little while I have forsaken you, but with great compassion I shall gather you. In an overflow of wrath I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I shall have compassion on you,” said Yahweh, your Redeemer. — Isaiah 54:3–8

Yahweh as Our Savior

What was our Redeemer called when He walked the Earth? YAHushua! Y’shua or Yahushua literally means “Yah is Hoshua” (Hosanna). To put it another way, “Yahweh is our Savior/Redeemer”.

“Because He shall save His people from their sins” — Matthew 1:21.

“I, I am Yahweh, and besides Me there is no savior” — Isaiah 43:11.

If you have a savior, it’s Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel.

Israel’s Restoration

Let’s go back to Jeremiah 31 for a moment. What’s even more interesting is what Yahweh says in the following verses:

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put My Torah in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Yahweh. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Thus says Yahweh, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar — Yahweh of hosts is His name: “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says Yahweh, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” — Jeremiah 31:33–36

The Unification of Israel and Judah

Did you notice something in verse 33? Jeremiah failed to include Judah here, but just two verses earlier, He mentions BOTH houses. Why is Israel now the only house mentioned? Because Judah will not be a separate “House” (distinct) from Israel forever.

Yahweh is restoring the Northern 10 as He draws people back to His Torah, and He will bring Judah back into Israel — His only people. We will be “one flock” or, to put it another way, the Two sticks/trees will become one in the hand of the Messiah! As we already saw, He goes into more detail on this reunification in Ezekiel 37:15–17. We will be One people with One Elohim, One Torah, and One King — Mashiyach.

Understanding “Gentiles”

This is a good time to address the issue of the term “gentiles”. But before we proceed, we must establish the SCRIPTURAL definition of the word. It’s very different than what we have been taught in our churches and synagogues. If you asked most Christians if they would describe themselves as “Gentiles,” they would most likely respond, “Yes, I am a gentile.” But if you asked them if they would describe themselves as a “Heathen,” they would look at you like you have three heads. Most would respond with an emphatic “No!” Guess what… Same word.

The Greek word we translate as gentile(s) is the word ethnos, which we find defined as: Strong’s #1484. ethnos eth’-nos a foreign one (usually, by implication, pagan): — Gentile, heathen.

The Hebrew Perspective

Even more interesting is what we find when we research the Hebrew word we translate as Gentile. I believe it can be shown that Hebrew is the “lashon kodesh” or Set-apart language — that was designed by Yahweh, Himself. I believe it can be clearly demonstrated that ALL Scripture was originally penned in Hebrew — yes, even the “New Testament”. For more on that, see my study titled “Hebrew or Greek?”

The Hebrew word we translate gentile is “goy” (gimel-wav-yud). The plural of goy is goyim. But this word has a meaning that most who read only English translations miss. In the King James, we find the word goyim translated as “gentiles” 30 times in the “Old Testament” (the TaNaKh). That said, the same word (goyim) is translated “heathen” over 143 times in the KJV of the Old Testament!

The Goyim and the Wicked

In the following verse, we find the Psalmist equating the goyim with the wicked:

“You have rebuked the heathen (goy), you have destroyed the wicked, you have put out their name forever and ever” — Psalm 9:5.

How about a couple more:

“Learn not the way of the heathen (goyim)” — Jeremiah 10:2.

“Why do the heathen (goyim) rage” — Psalm 2.

Gentiles and Covenant

What is my point? Simply that being a “gentile” has nothing to do with bloodline, nothing to do with lineage… if that were true, Caleb would continue to be called a gentile, and he isn’t. Caleb was an Israelite the moment he chose to be obedient to Yahweh. Did you know that in the Tanakh, when a non-native born person chooses to repent and join Israel, they are not called a “goy” or “goyim” but a “ger toshav” — and are adopted as full-fledged sons.

But there is a catch…. The grafted-in “ger” have to keep the same rules — TORAH — as does the native born. Yahweh doesn’t have two separate sets of people, and He doesn’t have two sets of rules. Remember:

“One Torah shall be to him that is home born, and to the stranger (ger) that sojourns among you” — Exodus 12:49.

As you can see, gentile (goyim) means pagan, heathen, outsider… a gentile is one who does not have a covenant relationship with The Almighty. And we can’t apply modern, western definitions to words used in the Scripture. “Gentile” means “outsider” and “heathen” in the Scripture, so that is the definition we must use as well.

The Stranger Among You

“Let the stranger (ger) who dwells among you be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself. For you were strangers in the land of Mitsrayim. I am Yahweh your Elohim” — Leviticus 19:34.

“And let not the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to Yahweh speak, saying, Yahweh has certainly separated me from His people,’ nor let the eunuch say, ‘Look, I am a dry tree.’ For thus said Yahweh, ‘To the eunuchs who guard My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast to My covenant: them I shall give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters — I give them an everlasting name that is not cut off.’” — Isaiah 56:3–5.

The Church’s Misunderstanding

Isn’t this exactly what the “gentile church” has done? The church says, “They are Israel… we are the church… we are separate.”

According to Scripture, a gentile DOES NOT KNOW Elohim:

“For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! — that you should abstain from whoring, that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect, not in passion of lust, like the gentiles, who do not know Elohim” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5.

Paul makes this statement to FORMER gentiles in Thessalonica. Like his exhortation to those in Ephesus that they no longer walk as the gentiles do, the assembly in Thessalonica are not biological “Jews” living in Jerusalem. But Paul does not consider these Greeks to be “gentiles” any longer. They are now grafted-in Israelites!

Peter’s Perspective

Peter also tells us that being a heathen (gentile) isn’t good:

“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the desire of the gentiles, having walked in indecencies, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties, and abominable idolatries” — 1 Peter 4:3.

Messiah’s Mission

Who did Messiah Yahshua say He was sent for? THIS MAY COME AS A SHOCK TO YOU, but these are HIS words (not mine):

“I have not come but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” — Matthew 15:24.

He didn’t come for gentiles. No doubt this verse gets little air time in most churches.

The Significance of Seventy

But there is something else to consider as we think about the Messiah’s words about the lost sheep of Israel in Matthew 15:24. In Luke 10:1 we read:

“And after this the Master appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of Him into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.”

Messiah Yahshua sent His talmidim (disciples) out to the dispersed of Israel. But why 70? We can only understand the reason Messiah sent out seventy when we know how many children of Israel came into Egypt during the famine:

“All the beings of the house of Yaʽaqob who went to Mitsrayim were seventy.” — Genesis 46:27.

“And Moshe went up, also Aharon, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Yisra’el,” — Exodus 24:9.

“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Yisra’el.” — Deuteronomy 32:8.

The sons of Adam would be separated out, and given their lands according to the number (yet unborn) children of Israel. It seems Yahweh knew He would scatter Israel among the goyim before there ever was an Israel. From these 70 nations will return the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”.

The Festival of Sukkot

Interestingly, during the Feast of Sukkot, the Kohenim sacrifice 70 bulls for the 70 nations (Numbers 29:12–35). It is at this Festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) that the Messiah was born, and it is at this Festival that He will gather us — The Whole House of Israel, to Himself — when He will “Tabernacle” among men for 1000 years.

Gentiles and Scripture

Returning to the subject of “gentiles” and what the scriptures say about them. Let’s take a look at another interesting passage:

“Why do the heathen / gentiles (goyim) rage, And the peoples meditate emptiness? The sovereigns of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh and against His Messiah, and say, ‘Let us tear apart Their bonds, And throw away Their ropes from us.’ He who is sitting in the heavens laughs, Yahweh mocks at them. Then He speaks to them in His wrath, And troubles them in His rage, saying, ‘But I, I have set My Sovereign on Tsiyon, My set-apart mountain.’ ‘I inscribe for a law: Yahweh has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have brought You forth. ‘Ask of Me, and I make the gentiles Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth Your possession. ‘Break them with a rod of iron, Dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ And now, be wise, O sovereigns; Be instructed, you rulers of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be enraged, And you perish in the way, For soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him.” — Psalm 2.

The Gentiles Against Yahweh

Wow, from this passage in Psalm 2, it seems that it is the gentiles that are against Yahweh and His Messiah. I know your King James Version says “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed”. But you can see for yourself that the gentiles take counsel together against YAHWEH AND HIS MASHIYACH. Again, never just trust me… take a look at the interlinear. The word the KJV translated “anointed” is #4899 (Mem-Shin-Yud-Chet) Mashiyach or in the English MESSIAH.

The Messiah in Daniel

“Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times. And after the threescore and two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined” — Daniel 9:25–26.

Clearly, this word Mashiyach in Daniel 9:25–26 is referring to THE MESSIAH.

The Messiah in Psalm 2

Can the word "Mashiyach" be translated as "anointed"? Yes, in the proper context, but it's clear from the overall context of Psalm 2 that this isn't just an "anointed" figure, but the Messiah that the gentiles are against.

"But I, I have set My Sovereign on Tsiyon, My set-apart mountain." "I inscribe for a law: Yahweh has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have brought You forth. 'Ask of Me, and I make the gentiles Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth Your possession. 'Break them with a rod of iron, Dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.' And now, be wise, O sovereigns; Be instructed, you rulers of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be enraged, And you perish in the way, For soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him."

If this isn't speaking of THE Messiah, who else could it be? Once again, the King James Version obscures the passage. Surprised? We see from Psalm 2 that the gentiles hate the "bonds" (Yahweh's Torah) that both Yahweh and His Messiah laid out for mankind. This passage states that the gentiles take counsel to abolish Yahweh’s Torah.

Constantine and the Sunday Law

On March 7, 321 A.D., Constantine passed his infamous Sunday law:

"On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed."

Source: Codex Justinianus, lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; trans. in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol.3 (5th ed.; New York: Scribner, 1902), p.380

And who "thinks to change Yahweh's Torah"? Daniel tells us that those indwelt with the spirit of the anti-messiah will:

"Speak words against the Most High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of the Most High, and it intends to change appointed times and laws, and they are given into its hand for a time and times and half a time." — Daniel 7:25

Hint: it's not a "good guy" who changes or abolishes Yahweh's eternal commandments (Matthew 5:17-19).

Who Was Constantine?

I want to take a moment to talk a bit about Constantine. While it was men like Marcion the Gnostic who originally taught that the "God of the Old Testament" was evil, and the "God of the New Testament was kind," it wasn't until Constantine established his "Church," syncretizing his pagan Sun god worship with that of the Netzari faith, that Greco-Roman (pagan) Christianity took hold.

If you don't know who Constantine was, Christians consider him the "First Christian Emperor." His so-called "conversion" is said to have taken place in 312 CE. However, Constantine murdered his wife Fausta and son Crispus at the request of his mother Helena just 14 years later in 326 CE.

Can a bad tree bring forth good fruit? While it was never confirmed, it was widely suspected that Constantine had an unnatural relationship with his mother Helena. Constantine commissioned several statues in the likeness of his "sun god" Mithra (AKA: SOL INVICTUS). Before he died in 337, the Emperor also had a coin minted in his image, and on the reverse, an image of Mithra (Aka: SOL INVICTUS) with the phrase "Sol Invicto to Comiti" — "Committed to the Invincible Sun."

The Influence of Constantine

This wasn't uncommon as we have found coins with the same sun god on them with Constantine's pagan predecessor Marcus Aurelius Probus on the reverse. Constantine decreed that resting on what he called the "Jewish Sabbath" was forbidden, and everyone was required to rest on the venerable day of the Sun — Deis SOL or "SUN-Day." Constantine remained a Sun worshipper pagan till his death. A few minutes of research and you will find that December 25th was the birthday of Sol Invictus. Coincidence? I STRONGLY advise you not to just trust me on this. Look into Constantine… you will see he was a wicked man who was the dominant influence on Western GENTILE Christianity as we know it today. Make no mistake, there is only one reason you "go to church" on "SUN-Day."

Yahweh's Day

Yahweh's day has always been the 7th day:

"If thou turn away thy foot from the Shabbat, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Shabbat a delight, the holy of the LORD (Yahweh)." — Isaiah 58:13-14

It was one indwelt with the spirit of anti-messiah that changed Yahweh's day — at least for those who went to Constantine's "Church" (remember what the word Church really means).

The Role of Gentiles

Returning to our study, we now understand that it is the gentiles (heathen outsiders) who "rage" and who don’t know Yahweh. It is gentiles who conspire to change His laws, and it is gentiles that take counsel with each other against Yahweh and His Messiah. It is the gentiles that Messiah shall "dash to pieces." It's not good to be a gentile! The Renewed Covenant was not made with gentiles.

Gaining Access to the Kingdom

So how do those who desire to "come out" from "among the gentiles" gain access to the Kingdom of Yahweh? Paul addresses that:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." — Romans 11:25

Do you see that? Israel has been partially blind since they were scattered among the gentiles in 722 BCE. I bet you thought Paul was talking about "Jews" — Didn't you? Notice the phrase "fullness of the gentiles" or in Hebrew "Melo h'goyim"… the very term used by Ya'akob (Jacob/Israel) when he told his grandson Ephraim that his descendants would be the "melo h'goyim" (Genesis 48:19). Do you think it was by accident that Paul chose this phrase while speaking with the assembly in Rome? These are not "Jews" Paul is writing to, nevertheless, he considers them to be Israelites.

Israel's Salvation

Once again, we have to keep reading to understand what Paul is talking about:

"And so all Yisra’el shall be saved, as it has been written, 'The Deliverer shall come out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Yaʽaqob, and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.'" — Romans 11:26-27

Paul is saying that these "blind gentiles" are waking up to who they really are! They are blind to the fact that THEY are Israel! Like the prodigal son, they are "coming to themselves" and beginning to return to their Father and His "covenant with them." In verses 26-27, Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:20-21, in which Yahweh is speaking of His covenant with whom? Yes, with Israel. There is no covenant with "gentiles" in the Scripture.

The Commonwealth of Israel

Then in Romans 11:25, Paul says this "fullness of the goyim" (which we saw in Genesis 48:19) will "Come in," but come into what? The commonwealth of Israel (Romans 11:26 and Ephesians 2:12) — of course. Read on in Ephesians chapter 2, as Paul explains this in more detail. The "fullness of the gentiles be come in" is what makes Israel complete!

When they come in, "All Israel will be saved" — because once they are grafted-in among "them" (faithful members of the house of Judah — The Natural Branch), these former gentiles (The Wild Branch) are/will be as much a part of Israel as their brother Judah is. When these (former) gentiles come "out of her" — out from among the nations, and out of the "her" which is an obvious reference to the pagan (female) entity called the "Kirke" (Church). Remember the goddess Kirke and her cup… this is the same cup we read about in the hand of Mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots. This is not a coincidence. She is fraught with abominable practices like Ishtar (Easter) SUN-day worship. Those who come out of "her" will join Israel; only then will "All Israel be saved."

The Dispersed Israelites

Remember, we saw that the disobedient children of the Northern Kingdom who were exiled into Persia then dispersed out into the whole Earth because of their idolatrous ways, were our forefathers. Paul says something interesting in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4:

"For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were immersed into Moshe in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed, and the Rock was Messiah."

Notice Paul says "all our fathers." But who is Paul talking to here — Jews? Nope… he is talking to Corinthians! Paul understood that the House of Israel was scattered to the four corners of the planet. But it is important to note that the gentiles were supposed to "come in" to Israel, through Faith in the Messiah of Israel. They were not supposed to "go off" and start a new religion separate from Israel — and they definitely were not to join the Greco-pagan "Kirke."

Gathering in the Synagogue

As a matter of fact, throughout the "New Testament," we see followers of Messiah (be they native born Israelites or grafted-in Israelites) gathering where?

"Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of Yahweh. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of Yahweh." — Acts 13:43-44

A note here… in Acts 13:43, the word "congregation" is not "ecclesia," it is synagogue. But again, don't take my word for it — take a look at the Greek/English interlinear. So, we have not only "Jews" (of the house of Judah) but (former) goyim in the synagogue together, and they want to know more about this Yahshua character. The word "proselutos" is Strong's #G4339. This is a person that is not born as "Jew." In other words, they are "former gentiles." Yet, they are no longer called gentiles once they come to faith in Yahweh. Even more amazing… the "ger" (stranger/sojourner) isn't even supposed to be called a stranger once they have joined Israel according to Paul:

"Wherefore remember, that you were once Gentiles (according to) the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Mashiyach, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without Yahweh in the world…. So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim" — Ephesians 2:11-19

The Continuity of Covenants

Notice "covenants" is plural. A prior covenant is not annulled or replaced by the former covenant. The former covenants provide the foundation for future covenants. The latter is layered (or established) upon the former. Which is why Paul says:

"And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of Elohim in Messiah, the Torah, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." — Galatians 3:17

Former covenants are never undone or annulled by latter covenants. If the "Adamic Covenant" had been annulled by the latter covenant with Noah, then we would no longer die, we wouldn't eat bread (work) by the sweat of our brow, and women wouldn't bear children in pain/sorrow. If the covenant with Noah were annulled by the covenant with Abraham, then Yahweh's promise to never flood the whole Earth would no longer apply. But we see that rainbow in the sky to this very day, do we not? I guess the covenant with Noah is still "in force." If Yahweh's covenant with Abraham were annulled by the latter covenant with Moses, then circumcision would not have continued to be a commandment, and the promise that Abraham's seed would be a blessing to the whole Earth would no longer be true. Likewise, the covenant with David (that the Messiah would come through him), as well as the promise of the Renewed Covenant (which is His Spirit writing Torah written upon the heart), and the coming "covenant of peace" do not in any way invalidate, annul, or "do away with" the written Torah (covenant at Sinai).

The Permanence of Torah

Which is why our Messiah said:

"Till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah" — Matthew 5:18 & Luke 16:17

From Gentiles to Israelites

Returning to Ephesians 2:11–19, these former gentiles were “at that time separate from Mashiyach, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise,” but now they are “no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim.” The Household of Elohim is Israel! This is why Paul said these former gentiles were once “alienated from Israel.”

The phrase “strangers and sojourners” referred to those who were not “homeborn” but were among Israel as they came out of Egypt. It is these “sojourners” that were being “grafted-in” and becoming Israelites. That is what Paul is referring to here! These “gentiles” are NO LONGER sojourners but FULL-FLEDGED Israelites! They WERE “in time past” Gentiles (heathen outsiders)… now they are as much “Israel” as anyone ever was. It doesn’t matter what their biological ancestry is. Now they are part of the “covenants of promise”… ALL OF THEM.

Worship Together

In Acts 13:43, we saw that ALL the people (regardless of lineage) worshipped together in the synagogue — both Yahudim (the House of Judah) along with those who are not “native born.” In the TaNaKh, these people were called “ger” or “sojourners” until they had “joined themselves.” Once they did, they were full-fledged members of Israel. Remember:

“And let not the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to Yahweh speak, saying, Yahweh has certainly separated me from His people,’ nor let the eunuch say, ‘Look I am a dry tree.’ For thus said Yahweh, ‘To the eunuchs who guard My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast to My covenant: them I shall give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters — I give them an everlasting name that is not cut off.” — Isaiah 56:3–5

And:

“Let the stranger (ger) who dwells among you be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself. For you were strangers in the land of Mitsrayim. I am Yahweh your Elohim.” — Leviticus 19:34

Against Racial and Religious Elitism

In Leviticus 19:34, we see the problem with the “Two House” “Ephraimite bloodline identity” groups. They teach that if you “Love Yahshua and Torah,” then you must somehow be “Jewish” biologically speaking. This is not only silly, it flies in the face of the scriptures we have just seen.

How many faithful “non-homeborn” Israelites have we seen in the Scripture so far? Are the adopted sons and daughters any less loved by Yahweh? Are they any less His people? “Messianics” who teach the Ephraimite bloodline identity are no different than Jews who say that “non-Jews” are not part of Israel and treat anyone who isn’t “Jewish” as less than human. Regardless of where it comes from, this is nothing more than racial and religious elitism, and Yahweh hates it.

Yahweh’s Impartiality

In short, Yahweh doesn’t care about your ancestry, and He is no respecter of persons:

“For there is no partiality with Elohim” — Romans 2:11

I can prove my “biological lineage” back to Judah and possibly both houses, but that and $7 will get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks as far as Yahweh is concerned. I could still be wicked… I could still be an unbeliever. Then I too would be a “goy,” a “heathen/outsider,” would I not? I only share this about myself so that I cannot be accused of anti-semitism when I say that Jews who treat non-Jews as 2nd class citizens are very wrong for doing so. The elitist practice of “Shabbas goy” is abominable, sickening, and unscriptural. Doesn’t the commandment to rest include “your manservant, nor your maidservant, your cattle, and your stranger that is within your gates”? Even the animals are given rest on this day! When we cause ANYONE to work or serve us on the day Yahweh commanded us all to rest, we violate Torah. Period. Racial and religious elitism is sickening, whether it’s Jews acting as if they are better than non-Jews or Christians who treat others as lesser people.

Equality in Israel

Being biologically “Jewish” doesn’t make someone better or worse. Some of the greatest and most righteous Israelites in Scripture were not physical descendants of Jacob at all. But it’s important to remember that Avinu (our Father) expects the same from all of His kids, regardless of their bloodline:

Remember, you are grafted-in to Israel and now heirs to the covenants (plural) of promise, but you can’t lay claim to the covenants of promise while you reject the rules that come with being among the Israel of Yahweh. That is gentile thinking — and it is unscriptural. But did things change once one became a follower of the Messiah? Or did these grafted-in Israelites still keep Torah and attend Synagogue? We shall see.

The Synagogue and the Torah

But first, let’s take a look at another verse the church has twisted:

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to Elohim: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old, hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.” — Acts 15:19–21

What you see here in Acts 15 is that the boys get together to discuss these (former) gentiles who have repented and want to join the faith. Ya’akob (James) uses an interesting phrase in verse 19 — “from among the Gentiles.” The Greek word used here for “from” is apo — Strong’s G575. Strong adds a note to this word “it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation.” In other words, those coming to faith are coming out of the world of the gentiles (heathen/foreigner/outsider)… Just as the children of Israel came out of Egypt.

The Door of Faith

“And when the whole Ecclesia (not church) had gathered together, they were relating everything that Elohim had done with them and that he had opened the door of the faith to the Gentiles.” — Acts 14:27

So this door of faith was opened by the Hebrew ecclesia (of Israel) to the Gentiles in order for them to come “out” from among the gentiles and “come in” to Israel! Which is why in the last days He will once again call His people out of “her.” We will talk more about “her” later.

Conversion to the Hebrew Faith

“And being brought on their way by the ecclesia (not church), they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” — Acts 15:3

Conversion of the “who”? I thought it was Jews who were supposed to convert? So we see that it is gentiles being converted to this HEBREW faith… not the other way around.

It wasn’t “Jews” being converted… the home-born Israelite who continued in belief was considered the “natural branch” still part of the tree. It was the wild-branch (former gentile) that was “grafted-in,” i.e., converted. I hear Christians talk about “Paul’s conversion.” Paul never converted to Greco-Roman Christianity. Paul was a Hebrew, an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, and a Pharisee.

Paul’s Identity

Paul tells us that He IS a Pharisee in Acts 23:6… not “was” a Pharisee:

“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” — Acts 23:6

While Paul became a Netzari (Acts 24:5), he wasn’t a “Christian” nor was he a “convert” to Constantinian Christianity. Just as Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, and the rest, Paul was a Torah observant Hebrew. An Israelite who followed the Mashiyach of Israel. It is gentiles who must “come in” and be grafted-in amongst the natural branches.

The Role of Gentiles

Remember that gentiles are those people who are outside of covenant and do not know Elohim (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5). We can see from Acts 15:19–21 that these (former) gentiles are joining Israel. But the thing that really struck me was that this phrase “from among the Gentiles” in Acts 15:19. This phrase sounds familiar to me… where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, I remember:

“Say to them, ‘Thus said the Master Yahweh, “See, I am taking the stick of Yosĕph, which is in the hand of Ephrayim, and the tribes of Yisra’el, his companions. And I shall give them unto him, with the stick of Yehudah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.” “And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. “And speak to them, ‘Thus said the Master Yahweh, “See, I am taking the children of Yisra’el from among the gentiles, wherever they have gone, and shall gather them from all around, and I shall bring them into their land. “And I shall make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Yisra’el. And one sovereign shall be sovereign over them all, and let them no longer be two nations, and let them no longer be divided into two reigns. “And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, nor with their disgusting matters, nor with any of their transgressions. And I shall save them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and I shall cleanse them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim.” — Ezekiel 37:19–23

A Return to Torah

DID YOU SEE THAT?? Again, Ezekiel says “the children of Israel” will come “FROM AMONG THE GENTILES”!!! Oh, and when these (former) gentiles “come out,” they will turn back to the Torah. See “What is the New Covenant?” Just as Ezekiel says will happen in these last days, these former gentiles will no longer defile themselves with pagan worship practices (i.e., Idols and pagan holidays) — Peter, James, and Paul forbid exactly those practices in Acts 15:20. Those coming out from among the gentiles were given four pagan worship practices that they were required to stop doing immediately, in order to what??? Read the next verse! (Acts 15:21): In order to Come into the synagogue to learn Torah (Moses) who is preached in the synagogue every Shabbat!

Learning in the Synagogue

I have heard people who ignore Acts 15:21 say that these four prohibitions are the only commandments given to “gentiles.” Well, I would argue that NO COMMANDMENTS were ever given to “gentiles” because gentiles are outside of the covenant (Ephesians 2:11–12). But following in the reasoning of the church, I would have to ask: “So, does that leave murder, stealing, and bearing false witness on the table for gentile Christians?” Of course, that can’t be true. These four directives were pagan worship practices that these (former) gentiles must stop immediately if they are to come into the synagogue and learn the Torah on Shabbat… with the rest of the Israel of Yahweh. Interestingly, these practices were each expressly forbidden in the TORAH itself. So in a sense, these former gentiles are given specific Torah directives right off the bat, with the expectation that they will “come in” and learn the rest of the Torah (Moses) in the “synagogue every Sabbath day.”

Followers of Messiah in the Synagogue

But did these followers of Messiah actually attend Synagogue? Let’s look at one more example:

“For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool.’” — James 2:2

As I am sure you know, James (Ya’akob) is the brother of Messiah and the head of the assembly (Qahal) in Jerusalem. Here is where I shout “BEWARE THE TRANSLATORS!” Because the word that is translated “assembly” in this particular passage (verse 2) is the Strong’s Greek word 4864 “Synagogue,” translated into English as “synagogue” 55 times in the New Testament. But strangely, the English translators chose (in this instance) to use the word assembly here. Why? Maybe because they didn’t want us to see that James and the other followers of “Jesus” (The Jew) were attending Synagogue.

The Original Movement

So, we have followers of the Messiah, under the leadership of James, and others (since James is writing to those who lead other synagogues — filled with followers Messiah) and they are gathering for worship and fellowship where? Yes, the Synagogue… not a “church.” Once again, I urge you not to take my word for it — take a look at the interlinear.

So they weren’t in a “Kirke/church”? NO WAY! They are Israelites… be it native born or grafted-in (former) gentiles… and they are all meeting in SYNAGOGUES!!! And what day do we attend synagogue? SUN-day? Nope. For more info on the Biblical Shabbat, see my study “The Case for Sabbath.”

The Netzari Movement

Could it be that they were attending Synagogue because this was originally a movement of Torah obedient Hebrew/Israelite followers of the Messiah, until it was corrupted by pagan anti-Torah, lawless gentiles like Constantine? The fact is that the followers of Yahshua h’Mashiyach continued attending Synagogues (and even running them) for at least 100 years after the Messiah ascended. Followers of Yahshua were known as Netzari — not Christians, at least not until Greek pagans in Antioch started mocking them — calling them by the pejorative term “Christianos” or “little christos” (Acts 11:26). Among the followers themselves, they were called Netzarim (Acts 24:5). Not Nazarenes — Nazarene is a corruption of the Greek Nazarois, which is a corruption of the Hebrew Netzarim. Netzari (singular) comes from the Hebrew root word Netzer. But why this name? Because they followed “THE Netzer” Messiah Yahshua:

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Netzer (Branch) shall grow out of his roots:” — Isaiah 11:1

“…thus to fill what was spoken by the prophet, ‘He shall be called a Netzer.’” — Matthew 2:23

The Lineage of Yahshua

Yahshua was born in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem) but raised in Netzarit (Nazareth). A Netzer is a “tender shoot” (Isaiah 53) that comes off of the base or trunk of a tree. Often a “cut down” olive tree will send out shoots, and a tree will sprout up — sometimes many years later and distant from the trunk. Both Miryam (Mary), a descendant of Solomon, and Yoseph (Joseph), a descendant of Nathan, were both biological descendants of King David (who was from Beit Lechem). But David’s descendants would later move north and settle in the Galilee. Their village was called Netzarit because they were “Netzers” from King David of Bethlehem. Meaning, they (as a group of people) were a “shoot” from the cut down trunk of David and had sprouted up many years later and distant from Beit Lechem — David’s ancestral home.

This is also why both Miryam and Yoseph headed south to Beit Lechem to register, as they were David’s descendants. Yahshua is indeed the “Netzer” of David, and rightful heir to The Throne (Isaiah 11:1).

The Sect of the Netzarim

So, the followers of “The Netzer” — known as the “sect of the Netzarim,” were recognized as an “Israelite sect” (Acts 24:5) along with the sect of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Zealots, the Essenes, the Ebionites, the Herodians, the Sicarii, and the Therapeutae. The Netzarim were part of (and welcomed into) the Synagogue until about 70 CE. I have heard the argument that there were no Jews and no Synagogues in Israel after 70 CE. This is historically inaccurate.

The Aftermath of the Temple's Destruction

The Temple was destroyed by the Romans around 70 CE, that's true. The Romans pursued the rebellion to the top of Masada in 72 CE, where the rebels all committed suicide. However, Jews continued to live in the region and were allowed to worship in the Synagogues until about 136 CE. So, what happened in 136 CE?

The third (and last) revolt occurred under Jewish military leader (and false messiah) Shimon Bar Kosiba (Bar Kokhba). Read more about Bar Kokhba's revolt. There was also a second small war (after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE) that began in 115 CE known as the Kitos War. Learn about the Kitos War.

With the third revolt under Bar Kokhba, the Romans had pretty much had enough and essentially wiped out the remaining Jews. The Romans also shipped many Jews back to Italy as prisoners and slaves. But the Netzari followers of the Messiah lost their status and their welcome in the Synagogues after 70 CE. The rest of the "sects" essentially shunned the Netzarim after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. But why? Because they followed Yahshua? Because they believed the Messiah had come? No, I don't think so. Let me explain.

The Netzarim's Departure

Before I do, did you know that there is a sect within Judaism today that believes their "messiah" has come? They are called Lubavitchers (Chabad). The Lubavitchers are a subgroup of Chasidic Jews who believe that Menachem Schneerson was the messiah. Like those who believed Bar Kokhba was the messiah, there have always been groups within greater Judaism that followed one "messiah" or another. Typically these groups or "sects" make up a small segment of Judaism, and yet, these sub-groups have always been accepted and recognized within greater Judaism, even by Jews who disagree or don't follow these "messiahs". Greater Judaism still sees these subgroups as brothers and sisters in faith. This being the case, why were things different for the followers of Yahshua after the fall of the Temple?

Because the Netzari had been warned by the Messiah Yahshua that the Temple would soon be destroyed (Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6). They knew that what was coming was bad… really bad. So, what did the Netzarim do? They followed the order we see given by Yahshua in Luke 21:20-21:

"And when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then know that its laying waste is near. Then let those in Yehudah flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of her go out, and let not those who are in the fields enter her."

The Netzarim saw the Temple come down, which Yahshua said would happen in response to the question "Teacher, but when shall this be? And what is the sign when this is about to take place?" (see Luke 21:7). Since the Netzarim were first-hand witnesses to what the Romans were doing, they simply got out of Dodge, as they were instructed, and left the rest of the "sects" holding the bag. That was the end of their welcome into the Synagogues. After this event, the Netzarim were seen as turncoats and deserters.

The Rabbinical Council of Yavne

It was in the late first century after the fall of the Temple that the Rabbinical Council of Yavne was convened by Talmudic Scholar, Shmuel h'Katan (Samuel the lesser), who served under Gamaliel the 2nd. The purpose of the council was to add the 19th benediction to the Amidah (Standing Prayer). The 19th benediction, known as the Birkat H'Minim ("Blessing on the Heretics"), is actually a silent curse specifically against the Netzarim. Shmuel was commissioned to add to the synagogue prayers of the emerging Temple-less Rabbinic Judaism, what came to be called the Birkat haMinim to the existing Eighteen Benedictions of the Amidah. The Talmud records the event this way:

"Our Rabbis taught: Simeon ha-Pakuli arranged the eighteen benedictions in order before Rabban Gamaliel in Yavneh. Said Rabban Gamaliel to the Sages: 'Can anyone among you frame a benediction relating to the Minim [sectarians]?' Samuel the Lesser arose and composed it." (b.Berakot 29a).

The Birkat haMinim

The Birkat haMinim as it appears today reads:

"And for slanderers let there be no hope, and let all wickedness perish as in a moment; let all thine enemies be speedily cut off, and the dominion of arrogance do you uproot and crush, cast down and humble speedily in our days. Blessed are you, Adonai, who breakest the enemies and humbles the arrogant."

But an old copy of the Birkat haMinim found at the Cairo Genizah reads:

"For the renegades let there be no hope, and may the arrogant kingdom soon be rooted out in our days, and the Netzarim and the Minim perish as in a moment and be blotted out from the book of life and with the righteous may they not be inscribed. Blessed are you, Adoni, who humbles the arrogant."

This benediction was in the form of a curse on the Netzarim, which obviously had the effect of casting them out of the synagogues (John 16:2) since Netzarim who attended would be expected to recite a curse upon themselves.

Epiphanius on the Netzarim

As Epiphanius states:

"Not only do Jewish people have a hatred of Netzarim; they even stand up at dawn, at midday, and toward evening, three times a day when they recite their prayers in the synagogues, and curse and anathemize them. Three times a day they say, 'Elohim curse the Netzarim.' For they harbor an extra grudge against them, if you please, because despite their Jewishness, they proclaim that Yahshua is Messiah"…

— Epiphanius Panarion 29.

But up until 70 AD, the Netzarim were recognized and accepted as another "sect" of Israelites — which they were. As a matter of historical fact, the fourth-century "Kirke Father" Jerome described the Netzarim as "those who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the Old Law" (Jerome; On. Is. 8:14). Again, fourth-century "Kirke Father," Epiphanius, gave a more detailed description of how the Netzarim were viewed:

"We shall now especially consider heretics who… call themselves Netzarim; they are mainly Jews and nothing else. They make use not only of the New Testament, but they also use in a way the Old Testament of the Jews; for they do not forbid the books of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings… so that they are approved of by the Jews, from whom the Netzarim do not differ in anything, and they profess all the dogmas pertaining to the prescriptions of the Law [Torah] and to the customs of the Jews, except they believe in [Messiah]… They preach that there is but one [Elohim], and his son [Yahshua the Messiah]. But they are very learned in the Hebrew language; for they, like the Jews, read the whole Law, then the Prophets… They differ from the Jews because they believe in Messiah, and from the Christians in that they are to this day bound to the Jewish rites, such as circumcision, the Sabbath, and other ceremonies."

— Epiphanius; Panarion 29; translated from the Greek.

The Netzarim's Continuation

Although it's hard for some to accept, the fact is that those being described here were the direct disciples and followers of Yahshua. So obviously, this is what He taught! "Not one jot or tittle of Torah shall pass" as long as The Heavens and the Earth remain — right? And these "Jewish rites" and "ceremonies" that Epiphanius is speaking so disdainfully about are nothing less than the Torah of Yahweh. The same Torah that David said was sweeter than honeycomb on his lips, and more to be treasured than fine gold. The same Torah that we understand is for both the native and the sojourner (Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22, Numbers 9:14, Numbers 15:15-16 & 15:29-30).

There is evidence that the Netzarim Sect continued to exist until at least the 13th century. The writings of the Catholic teacher, Bonacursus, entitled "Against the Heretics," refer to the Netzarim, who were also called "Pasagini." Bonacursus wrote:

"Let those who are not yet acquainted with them, please note how perverse their belief and doctrine are. First, they teach that we should obey the Law of Moses according to the letter — the Sabbath, and circumcision, and the legal precepts still being in force. Furthermore, to increase their error, they condemn and reject all the Church Fathers, and the whole Roman Church."

The Rise of Constantinian Christianity

"The Law of Moses according to the Letter" that Bonacursus calls "error" is the same Torah that Yahshua said that "not one jot or tittle shall pass" from until the heavens and Earth pass (Matt 5:18, Luke 16:17). In other words, Messiah Himself said the Torah was indeed "still in force." Perhaps you are beginning to see where the anti-Torah influence began.

With the rise of Constantinian Christianity in the third century C.E., it is apparent that the Netzarim could not have possibly assimilated into "the Church." The Kirke Fathers made it clear that the Netzarim were "nothing but Jews." Most Jewish historians recognize that the Netzarim Israelites were a valid Sect in Second Temple Judaism and for several centuries later.

The Quartodeciman Controversy

There was also a protest by the Netzarim against the Catholic church over the changing of Passover from the 14th day of Aviv to the first SUN-day after the vernal equinox — known as "Ishtar's SUN-day." Today it's known as Easter Sunday. These protesting Netzarim became known (by the Greco-Roman pagans) as the Quartodecimins.

An excerpt from a study by mainline Christian teacher Chuck Missler of Koinonia House:

What Really Happened at ''Easter''? by Chuck Missler

Most reasonably informed Christians are well aware that many of the traditions that surround the Christmas holidays have pagan origins and very little correlation with the actual events as recorded in the Bible. However, most of us are surprised when we discover that some of what we have been taught about "Easter" is not only in error, but deliberately so!

Many, of course, are aware that the name "Easter" actually originates with the pagan worship of Ishtar (or Astarte) that was traditionally observed at the time of the vernal equinox, nominally about March 21 or 22. Traditional pagan fertility symbols of both rabbits and eggs continue to be associated with this holiday. However, the name as commonly used is also currently associated with the events surrounding the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which actually occurred on the Passover and is clearly defined in the Scriptures as the 14th of Nisan.

The Quartodeciman Controversy

It may come as a shock to learn that the early church deliberately committed to separating itself from the explicit record of Scripture. The practice of those insisting on celebrating Passover on the fourteenth day of Nisan from the Old Testament (Biblical) calendar was known as Quartodecimanism ("fourteenism," as derived from Latin). It is nothing short of astonishing to discover that not only was this was a major emotional controversy within the early church, but that the commitment to deviate from the Scriptures was driven by a deep anti-Semitism!

The controversy surrounding this issue was a principal topic at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE. Emperor Constantine presided over this council — note his own words:

"It was, in the first place, declared improper to follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this holy festival, because their hands having been stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily blinded … Let us, then, have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries … avoiding all contact with that evil way … who, after having compassed the death of the Lord, being out of their minds, are guided not by sound reason, but by an unrestrained passion, wherever their innate madness carries them … a people so utterly depraved … Therefore, this irregularity must be corrected, in order that we may no more have any thing in common with those parricides and the murderers of our Lord … no single point in common with the perjury of the Jews."

Eusebius also records Emperor Constantine as writing:

"… it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul … Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Saviour a different way."

Constantine’s “Different Way”

Constantine certainly did create a “different way” (Daniel 7:25). But it’s not “The Way” we find in the Scriptures. And you can clearly see that the “early Kirke Fathers” were all flaming anti-Semites. They seem to forget that it was the Roman governor Pilate that ordered the Messiah to be executed. It was Roman soldiers who tortured Him so brutally and drove the nails into His wrists and feet. The anti-Semitism of Marcion, Constantine, Jerome, and Eusebius continued right on down to the so-called “Reformers.” It was this kind of hatred that led to the murder of more than 6 million innocent people in Europe during WWII. I ask you, can a bad tree bring forth good fruit?

The Faithful Netzarim

The point I want you to take away from all of this is that this group of Netzarim were faithful followers of the Messiah, keeping the Commandments of Yahweh… just as Yahshua did, and just as He taught His followers to. They never stopped being Israelites… and it didn’t matter what their ancestral background was. So, when you come to faith in Messiah, you are now an Israelite… more specifically, you are a “Netzari Israelite.”

The Servant and the Light

Another interesting passage is Isaiah 49:6:

He says, “Shall it be a small matter for You to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Yaʽaqob, and to bring back the preserved ones of Yisra’el? And I shall give You as a light to the gentiles (goyim), to be My deliverance to the ends of the earth!”

Who is the “Servant” who will raise up all of the tribes again? Of course, we know that servant is Yahshua h’Mashiyach. Isn’t that what He said He came to do in Matthew 15:24? He will “bring back the preserved ones of Israel” who are “among the gentiles.” We know that the “light unto the gentiles” is not the house of Judah.

Judah’s Role

Think about it, when was the last time a Jew wanted to share his faith with you? When was the last time you got a knock at the door and found Breslov Chasidim standing there with the Torah in hand? You don’t, and you won’t — they have no interest in bringing people to Yahweh. When a gentile desired to convert, rabbinical tradition is to turn the gentile away three times. To this day, they can be very rude to “non-Jews” who come to the Kotel (Wailing Wall) to pray. Is this what they were supposed to do? They are supposed to be drawing the nations to Yahweh.

I love my Rabbinical brothers (House of Judah), but they certainly haven’t been “a light to the nations.” Now, that being said, it is Judah that has faithfully preserved the TaNaKh — Judah is the keeper of the Torah “Judah is my lawgiver” (Gen 49:10, Psalm 60:7, Psalm 108:8). Remember when I told you it was Naomi (of the House of Judah) who would nurse the child that Ruth bore?

Judah and the Messiah

The House of Judah not only gave us the Messiah, but they also faithfully have preserved the Torah. According to Paul, Judah was given the oracles of Elohim, and they have much to teach the grafted-in Israelite that is coming FROM among the gentiles. Paul tells us that “unto the Jews have been entrusted the words of Elohim” (Romans 3:1–2). And of course, it is through the tribe of Judah that Mashiyach would come. But the “preserved ones of Israel” (Isaiah 49:6) are those that have been scattered “to the four corners of the earth” so that Yahweh can reap a larger harvest when they “come out of her” (Rev 18:4) along with the “erev rav” (mixed multitude) — the “companions” we read about in Ezekiel 37.

The Scattering and Restoration

Which is why Paul says:

“For if their casting away (scattering) is the restoration to favour of the world, what is their acceptance but life from the dead?” — Romans 11:15.

Paul is speaking of the scattering of Israel, that took place in about 722 BCE. Israel was scattered to the four corners of the earth in order to be a light unto the nations!

I like the way the Brenton Septuagint translates Isaiah 49:6:

“He said to me, It is a great thing for thee to be called My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob, and to recover the dispersion of Israel: behold, I have given thee for the covenant people, for a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.”

The Preserved of Israel

I included the passage from Isaiah 49:6 because I want you to pay particular attention to the words “preserved of Israel.” In Hebrew, the word Isaiah used for preserved is “netzer” (nun-tzadei-resh). This literally reads “He will bring back the Netzarim of Israel” — they are the light unto the gentiles (goyim). You see, the word netzer not only means a shoot or “The Branch” (Strong’s #5342), it also means “to preserve,” or “the preserved” (Strong’s #5341). So, if you claim to follow Yahshua, the Messiah of Israel, THE “Netzer,” then you are a Netzari. You have joined the “sect of the Netzarim Israelites.” You are no longer a “gentile” but a grafted-in Israelite:

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles by birth, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands ‘That at that time you were without Mashiyach, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim, in the world.” — Ephesians 2:11–12

From Gentiles to Israelites

You know that you were gentiles, led away to the dumb idols, even as you might be led — 1 Corinthians 12:2. Yes, you WERE in the past, a gentile — ruled by the flesh. We are no longer to live as the gentiles do, we are to be a light to them. Notice that Paul describes the gentiles as those who are “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.” “One who is outside of covenant” is the Biblical definition of a gentile.

These former gentiles were “without Messiah,” “strangers from the covenants of promise.” They were “without hope” and “without Elohim.”

If you read all of Ephesians chapter 2, you see that Paul is talking about these (former) gentiles being “far off” (i.e., scattered) but they are being “brought near” (i.e., “brought back”) and grafted into “one tree” and “one renewed man” in Messiah. Just as Ezekiel spoke of the two sticks/trees coming together as “one in His hand.”

The Olive Tree Metaphor

“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, 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.” — Romans 11:13, 17, 18

I have heard people say “we are grafted into Jesus.” I want you to know that there isn’t a single verse to support such a statement. Yahshua is who makes it possible to be grafted into Israel. The Father is the “husbandman” (the vine dresser), Yahshua is the vine… and we are the branches, no doubt. But we are talking about grapes in that analogy. The Olive Tree is something different… Yes, Messiah is called the branch and the stem (Netzer) — as David was the cut-down tree. But that isn’t what Paul is talking about here. We know this for several reasons. First, the olive tree has always been emblematic of Israel. No student of the Scriptures would ever argue against that.

“I shall be like the dew to Yisra’el. He shall blossom like the lily, and cast out his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his splendour shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.” — Hosea 14:5–6

Israel as the Olive Tree

“Blessed are all who fear Yahweh, who walk in His ways. You shall eat the labour of your hands. Be blessed, and let it be well with you. Let your wife be As a fruit-bearing vine within your house, your sons like olive plants all around your table.” — Psalm 128:1–3

“Why should My beloved be in My house — she has done wickedness with many. And does the set-apart flesh remove your evil from you? Then you rejoice? Yahweh has named you, ‘Green Olive Tree, Fair, of Goodly Fruit.’ With the noise of a great sound He has set it on fire, and its branches shall be broken. “And Yahweh of hosts, who planted you, has spoken evil against you for the evil of the house of Yisra’el and of the house of Yehudah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me, by burning incense to Baʽal.” — Jeremiah 11:15–17

The Olive Tree has always represented Israel. It’s already an established symbol and we can’t just redefine it to suit our theology. And just in case we don’t understand what Paul is talking about in Romans 11, he makes it clear for us when he tells us that some were broken off “due to disbelief” in verse 20. If Yahshua is the olive tree, then these “unbelieving branches” who never believed He was Messiah were never a part of the tree to begin with, so why would they be broken off? In other words, you can’t be broken off from a tree you never believed in (or were a part of) in the first place.

Grafting into Israel

They were broken off from Israel due to disbelief in Yahshua as their promised Messiah. Paul tells us that we join “the commonwealth of Israel” through faith in Messiah. The commonwealth is what we are grafted into.

Further proof that the Olive tree is Israel, not Yahshua — is the fact that Paul also says that the wild branches are grafted in among “them” (plural), not into “HIM.” “Them” is faithful Israel who “continued in faith.” Being “grafted into Jesus” just doesn’t work in this particular metaphor. As stated, we don’t get to redefine who the Olive tree represents — it has already been established as a “type” of Israel.

“Yet Thou art Set-apart, O Thou who inhabits the praises of Israel” — Psalm 22:3

The Role of Israel and the Grafted-in

People often quote this verse: “God inhabits the praises of His people,” applying it to themselves, they reject having anything to do with Israel? “HIS PEOPLE” are Israel. There is no other people of Yahweh.

It’s clear that Paul is telling us that the wild branches have joined “them” — The tree represents the WHOLE HOUSE of the Israel of Yahweh — which is not yet complete. The (former) gentile is grafted in among those (i.e., “them”) that Yahweh made the promise of renewed covenant with (Jeremiah 31:31–34). That is how the non-homeborn is able to benefit from the New Covenant. By Joining Israel.

Then Paul chastises these Roman wild branches, telling them not to be arrogant “for it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you.” So were these wild branches being arrogant toward the Messiah? That doesn’t make sense. No, it is clear that these grafted-in (non-native) branches were boasting and being arrogant towards native “home born” Israelites! Sounds like some people I know today. Now, Messiah is indeed The Living Torah, and the Torah is described as “pure water.” So no doubt it is Messiah who nourishes the olive tree… but He is not the tree that Paul is speaking of.

Israel as the Bride

This is not about being “grafted into Jesus.” That isn’t the context here — the Olive Tree doesn’t represent Messiah, it represents The Bride — ISRAEL. Messiah cannot be both the Bride and the Groom. The wild olive branches are grafted into Israel by faith in Messiah, and SOME of the natural branches were broken off because they were previously part of Israel, but rejected Messiah when He came. By the way, these natural branches also rejected “Moses” too (John 5:6). These “natural branches” rejected the clear WORD of Yahweh in favor of their man-made religious system. Repentant and faithful (former) gentiles are the wild branch which has been “grafted-in” to the olive tree — which has always represented The whole house of Israel.

Joining Israel

That said, it’s important to realize that Paul says the gentiles are to “come in” and be “grafted in” among “them,” the commonwealth of Israel. Not to go off and establish their own anti-Torah religious system. From the beginning, it was about joining something that was already established, not starting something new. Yahshua came to “seek and to save” something that had been (previously) “lost” (Luke 19:10) not to create something completely different. This is confirmed throughout the “New Testament”:

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And Yahweh Elohim shall give Him the throne of His father Dawid. “And He shall reign over the house of Yaʽaqob (Israel) forever, and there shall be no end to His reign.” — Luke 1:32–33

The Restoration of Israel

And the Disciples understood this:

“So when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Master, would You at this time restore the reign to Yisra’el?’” — Acts 1:6

As did the rest of the house of Judah:

“The Yehudim, therefore, said to themselves, ‘Where is He about to go that we shall not find Him? Is He about to go to the Dispersion among the Gentiles, and to teach the Gentiles?’”

And of course, the Messiah stated His mission plainly:

“I have not come but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” — Matthew 15:24

If you are not of Israel, He didn’t come for you. He said that… not me. Messiah came to redeem and restore ISRAEL! That’s why the Scripture speaks of the “RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS” (Matt 17:11, Mark 9:12, Acts 3:19–21).

The Faithful Natural Branches

It’s also very important to notice not ALL of the natural branches (home born) were removed. Only the unbelieving branches were broken off. The broken-off branches are those who reject Moses/Torah (John 5:6) and Mashiyach. Instead, they put their trust in man-made religious systems. Let’s not forget that the first followers of Yahshua were all Jewish (natural branches — of the house of Judah). These faithful and obedient “home born” natural branches remain. And even up till the end of the 3rd century, the followers were still predominantly Jews (of the House of Judah) who realized that Yahshua was the fulfillment of the Spring Feasts as the suffering servant. But Messiah has not returned to fulfill the Fall Feasts — as Conquering King.

The First Century Followers

When you have time, go through the book of Acts and add up all of those from the house of Judah (Jews) who come to faith in Yahshua. You will see that there are thousands and thousands of Jews following the Messiah:

“And when they heard it, they praised the Master. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of Yehudim (Jews) there are who have believed, and all are zealous for the Torah.’” — Acts 21:20

The Greek word we have translated “thousands” in this Acts 21:20 is actually “myriads” Strong’s # 3461 and #3463 — which means “tens of thousands.” Do translators not know this? Perhaps they were worried that a correct translation of this word might make our faith seem too “Jewish”… GASP! So Ya’akob (James) is telling Sha’ul (Paul) that there were literally “tens of thousands” of Torah-pursuant Jews who believed in Messiah Yahshua! Which brings up an interesting question. Wouldn’t this have been a good time for Paul to correct James and Peter who seem to be very excited that these tens of thousands of Jews both believe in Yahshua… AND are zealous for Torah. After all, James and Peter should know that the Torah has been abolished! Why didn’t Paul explain this to them? Maybe because Paul too kept and taught Torah as we see four verses later when we read that James says Paul keeps the Torah in Acts 21:24. So, why were literally tens of thousands of Torah-obedient Jews who believed in the Messiah in the 1st century? Maybe because this was (and still is) a HEBREW faith? At least it was until Constantine changed everything about the faith in 325 CE.

A Hebrew Faith

We have to change the way we see this faith. It was never a “gentile church.” So, we have “tens of thousands” of Torah-obedient Israelites who followed Yahshua in the 1st century.

These were the people that would be hated by Marcion, Constantine, Eusebius, Origen, Augustine, Luther, Calvin. All of these “Yahudim,” following the Messiah of Israel and keeping the Torah… some of whom were of the sect of the Pharisees! Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are both Pharisees.

As we saw, Paul is a Pharisee. In Acts 23:6, we see that Paul declares boldly “men and brothers, I am a Pharisee”… Paul was not a Christian. He was a Torah Scholar — a Jew. Notice Paul didn’t say “I WAS a Pharisee” but “I am a Pharisee.”

The Role of the Pharisees

We also see Pharisee followers of Yahshua in Acts 15:5. Cornelius was the first specific individual “from among the gentiles” to come into the faith in the Messiah of Israel, and this takes place 15 years after Messiah ascended. After Cornelius comes to faith, he is called an “Elohim fearer” not a gentile (Acts 10). Cornelius had been “cleansed” by faith and grafted into Israel by Yahweh as promised of the lost sheep of Israel who were scattered “among the gentiles.”

We see this foretold in Ezekiel 37:23 and confirmed in the book of Acts (10:15). Of course, there are more than a few (former) gentiles coming to faith in the book of Acts, but it would be a long time before the Netzari faith would become dominated and controlled by “gentiles” — and sadly, the faith would end up being mixed with the pagan beliefs and practices of the gentiles. This is what became Christianity as we know it today. Yahweh expressly forbids such mixture (syncretism) from those who worship Him (Deuteronomy 12:30, 18:9, Lev 18:3, Jer 10:2, Ezekiel 11:12, 20:32, Ephesians 4:17, Matt 5:17–19).

The New Covenant and Gentiles

So we can see that:

1. The new covenant was not made with The Church but with Israel (Jer 31:31–34). For more info, see my study “What is the New Covenant?”

2. Gentiles have (always) been invited to take part in the covenant by being “grafted-in” to the commonwealth of Israel by faith in Messiah — AND obeying the Commandments of Yahweh (Rev 14:12) — hence they are no longer gentiles but full-fledged members.

3. That Israel supports those grafted-in… not the other way around.

Ruth as an Example

As stated earlier, Ruth is a perfect example of what happens when one is “grafted-in.” She was in time past, a Gentile (Moabite) who joined Israel through Naomi (an Israelite) and was “grafted-in” — worshiping the Elohim of Avram Yitzchak, and Y’srael. “Your Elohim will be my Elohim.” By this confession, she became a (Torah obedient) benefactor of the covenants of promise…. and a grafted-in Israelite (though not a “native born” Hebrew).

If you are grafted into Israel through faith in the Messiah of Israel, you are no longer a “gentile.” The word goyim is translated gentiles or nations. While these translations are not necessarily incorrect in their context, the broader connotation of the word “goyim” is a “heathen, outsider” or one who is without Yahweh. This is why goyim (gentiles) is translated “heathen” in Jeremiah 10:2 where we are told to “learn not the way of the heathen (goy).”

The Bride of Yahshua

Yahshua didn’t come for a “heathen” bride:

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His bride hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of set-apart ones.” — Revelation 19:7–8

Messiah Yahshua came to “seek and save that which had been lost” (Luke 19:10). He came only for the Bride — Israel.

Grafted into Israel

Do I believe that all Israel are those of the “bloodline” of our father Abraham? NO. Once you come and join yourself to Israel through the Messiah OF ISRAEL, you are “grafted in” as stated in Romans 11. The Torah is very clear that those who faithfully sojourn with Israel become part of Israel; not a separate nation but “echad” (one). And that there is “One Torah for the home born and for the sojourner who joins himself to Israel.”

How many of you when adopting a child would make different rules for those who you adopt from the rules that are already established? Certainly, you would have grace (and a grace period) for a child that is new in your home. You might start out with some basic rules, expecting they would eventually learn the rest of the rules (as we see in Acts 15:20–21). Don’t get me wrong — the rules didn’t make the child a member of the family. Nor was “being perfectly obedient” a condition or expectation placed upon the newly adopted child (or the natural-born child, for that matter). The adopted child became a member of the family at the onset. We will call this “grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8–9). But if that faith is real and the relationship between the child and the parent is real, that child will have a desire to love, to obey, and to please the Father by keeping His Commandments (Ephesians 2:10).

If he doesn’t obey, there will be trouble. The prodigal son had to leave his father’s home in order to live like a heathen (gentile). We are Israel when we believe and accept the Messiah of Israel.

Key Learnings from This Study

1. Replacement Theology: We have learned that the entire premise of Gentile Christianity is one of replacement theology. The teaching that Yahweh broke His eternal promise to His bride — Israel. The “Church Fathers” taught that Yahweh has handed the promises He made to Israel over to pagan, lawless gentiles — but this isn’t the Creator I read about.

2. Abraham’s Origins: We have learned that Abraham was an Iraqi, as were his descendants… so being a “Jew” by blood is a myth.

3. The Scope of Israel: We have learned that Jews are those from ONE TRIBE of twelve. Or at most ONE HOUSE. But Israel has always been much greater in scope than just Judah.

4. Israel Living as Goyim: We have learned that there is a large part of (and I believe the largest part) of Israel that are living as goyim, not realizing they are indeed Israel… at least for now. Could many of these Israelites be Christians who don’t know who they are? Definitely! Hallel-u-Yah! And they are waking up in droves.

5. Israel is Not About Blood: We have learned that being Israel is not about blood. It never has been. Joseph married an Egyptian woman and fathered Ephraim and Manasseh. A “Mixed multitude” came out of Egypt with the Hebrews. Caleb was a Kenezzite (Edomite), The Be’erothites joined the tribe of Benjamin, Elijah was a Tishbite, OvedYAH (Obadiah) was an Edomite, Ruth was a Moabite — She was the Great grandmother of King David — and our Messiah by extension. Uriah was a Hittite, David married Bathsheba — a Hittite woman, she gave birth to King Solomon… So, Yahweh couldn’t care less about our lineage — He is no respecter of persons. He cares about our hearts (2 Chronicles 6:30).

6. No Such Thing as “The Church”: We have learned from Scripture, that there is no such word, and no such entity as the church. It is a pagan term that was forced into the English text. The bride has always been the qahal/ecclesia… OF ISRAEL.

7. Messiah’s Purpose: We have learned that the Messiah ONLY came for one bride… He ONLY came for “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The goyim (heathen outsiders) and the “kirke” will not be in His Kingdom. Period. Of course, there are many people who unknowingly call themselves goyim (gentiles) who will be in the Kingdom. And there will most certainly be people who are (as we speak) going to “church” or consider themselves part of the “church” who will be in the Kingdom. This is because Yahweh is full of mercy and grace. He is looking at the heart of His sheep. But in these last days, He is also calling His people to “come out of Her” (Revelation 18:4). The “Her” is the Kirke — the Mother of Harlots (Revelation 17 & 18)– she is called the “Mother of Harlots” because she has many rebellious (protesting) daughters. She represents every unscriptural religious system on the planet.

8. Gentiles Realizing the Truth: In these last days, it is these “gentiles” that will cry out for the lies they have inherited from their (so-called) “church fathers” — Constantine, Marcion, Jerome, Augustine, Martyr, Origen, Luther, Calvin….:

“Oh YAHWEH, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge. In the Yom Tzarah [Day of Tribulation], the Goyim [Gentiles/Heathen/Outsiders] shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have handed down lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit…. Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know Mine Hand and My might; and they shall know that My Name is Yahweh.” — Jeremiah 16:19,21

9. The Renewed Covenant: We have learned that the renewed covenant, which was accomplished in Messiah’s blood — was made ONLY with the Whole House of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31–34) which is why Yahshua said He came only for Israel (Matt 15:24). Israel is made up of those that Keep the commandments of Elohim AND have the testimony of Yahshua the Messiah (Isaiah 8:20, Revelation 12:17, 14:12, 22:14).

Torah’s Relevance

Who was Torah given to? Is it still in force? I hear Christians say “Torah was given to Israel” And I would agree. Is it still “In force” According to the Messiah not a single jot and not a single tittle of Torah shall pass as long as there is a heavens and an earth.

Here is the rub. If you insist that you are gentile, then:

1. The Messiah did not come for you… He came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

2. The promise of the Renewed Covenant is made ONLY with Israel. So then if you say you are of Israel, then you must walk Torah — it is not only expected of the home born, but the grafted in Israelite as well. Torah is an integral part of the Renewed Covenant.

Torah is the constitution of the coming Kingdom, and the condition of the covenant. If you don’t like Yahweh’s Torah, you are going to hate His Kingdom. So, if you are of Israel then Torah is for you… your ancestry, your bloodline, your lineage… none of that matters.

Unity in Messiah

I do wonder how many of us really believe this passage:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in the Messiah Yahshua.” — Galatians 3:28

If we believe this then we can no longer say that Yahweh holds one standard for one “race” of people and another standard for another race of people. Yahweh does however have a standard that He holds all of His people to.

So either Torah is completely abolished as the dispensationalists teach, or it is still “in force” and applicable to all of His people — both the “home born” and sojourner who has been grafted-in — to Israel.

And why is it that people teach that there is neither “Jew nor Gentile”… yet, when a Jew comes to faith in Messiah they tell him He is no longer a Jew and should not do “Jewish” things. But Gentiles who come to faith in Messiah continue living as gentiles???

I agree, that in Yahshua there is neither Jew, nor Gentile… because those who follow the Messiah of Israel are ISRAEL! Regardless of who their grandfather was. I also don’t understand why anyone who follows the Messiah would want to be called a “gentile.” A gentile is one who is “outside the covenant.” A gentile is a heathen.

Embracing Truth

It’s amazing what we can learn when we allow the Word and His Ruach to speak to us. We don’t need the religious traditions, teachings, and doctrines of lost men which only serve to confuse and obscure the truth — The truth that has been right here in front of us the whole time. It’s time that we humbly admit that we all have inherited lies. Both “Jew and Gentile” have been lied to by their venerated religious leaders. Waking up to this, and repenting (Heb: teshuvah — returning to Torah) is a painful process, but is worth it.

“So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk.” — Ephesians 4:17

The Kingdom will come to earth soon, and will be ruled by a Hebrew Messiah.

Entering the Kingdom

And when we enter into the Kingdom we will not enter in through gates called: “Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, Protestant, Adventist, Mennonite, Mormon, Rabbinical, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist”…and no, the gates won’t be called “Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Christian”…. Or by the name of any other man-made religion. The gates we will all enter through will be named for the 12 tribes of ISRAEL! (Revelation 21:12). The bride is… and always has been Israel. The invitation is open to “whosoever will” believe on Messiah and keep Yahweh’s Torah — the covenant — the Constitution of the Kingdom (Isaiah 2:3, Revelation 12:17, 14:12, 22:14, and Isaiah 8:20, Micah 4:1–2).

The Last Days

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of Yahweh shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the Elohim of Jacob [Israel]; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the Torah shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under His vine and under His fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of Yahweh of hosts hath spoken [it]. For all people will walk everyone in the name of his Elohim, and we will walk in the name of Yahweh our Elohim for ever and ever. In that day, saith Yahweh, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and Yahweh shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; The Kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” — Micah 4:1–8

Just as we saw in Isaiah 2:3, Micah says that “in the last days” that Yahweh will draw “her” who He cast far off to the four corners of the Earth. The “her” consists of those from “many nations”. They shall come to sit under His vine and learn The Torah. Torah will be the law of the land in the coming Kingdom. If you reject His Torah you will not enter. Period.

Salvation and Obedience

Am I teaching that salvation comes by obedience to Torah? Absolutely not. Redemption comes by faith (emunah). His redemption has always been by His grace. Many found His grace in the TaNaKh. Grace is not a concept exclusive to the New Testament. Grace has always been the means by which He redeems His people. But the faithful keep His Commandments from a heart of gratitude for what was done for them. That is Torah written upon the heart. We show Yahweh we love Him by keeping Torah.

The Coming Priesthood

Yes, we have a High Priest, He is our Mashiyach — the Kohen Gadol in the order of Melek Tzadik. Being from the tribe of Judah there necessitated a change in the Torah of the priesthood (Hebrews 8). By the way, that is the only thing that changed — per se. And it didn’t go away, it got better. The Levitical priesthood was a priesthood of men, officiated by a high priest who was a mere man himself. Hence “finding fault with them.” Not with the Torah of Yahweh. That is just silly.

But there is something most people don’t realize. Did you know that originally it was to be ALL of Israel that were to be priests to the Nations? It wasn’t originally supposed to be just those from the tribe of Levi:

“And Moses went up unto Elohim, and Yahweh called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is Mine. and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a set-apart nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” — Exodus 19:3–11

The designation that the sons of Aaron would be priests doesn’t happen until after Israel told Moses that they couldn’t stand before Yahweh… they were afraid they would die. Later they would build a golden calf, and it would be the tribe of Levi that stood against the rebellious (Exodus 32). From that point on it was only the sons of Aaron that would be priests.

However, when Messiah comes all things will be restored and the priesthood will not be an ancestral designation:

“And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Yahweh, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my Set-apart mountain Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Yahweh. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith Yahweh” — Isaiah 66:20–23

We see from this passage in Isaiah 66 that Mashiyach will take people from all nations to be priests. This is confirmed in the book of Revelation:

“And from Yahshua The Messiah, the Trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead and The Ruler of the Kings of The Earth — him who loves us and has loosed us from our sins by his blood. And He has made us The Priestly Kingdom to Elohim and His Father; to Him be esteem and Empire to the eternity of eternities. Amen.” — Revelation 1:5–6

“Singing a new hymn of praise, and they were saying, ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to loosen its seals, because you were slain and you have redeemed us by your blood to Elohim from every tribe, nation and people,’ ‘And you have made them a Kingdom, Priests and Kings to our Elohim, and they shall reign over The Earth.’” — Revelation 5:9–10

While one MUST be Israel in order to enter into one of the gates named for the 12 tribes, it’s clear that these people will come from every nation and every people… They will be a Kingdom of Priests… they are Israel.

The Last Days and Inclusion

Let’s take a look at some interesting passages regarding the last days:

“And a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our Elohim, and he shall be as a leader in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.” — Zechariah 9:6–7

Just as the mixed multitude came out of Egypt, a mixed people — who belong to Israel shall settle in Ashdod (just north of Gaza) and cut off the Palestinians. Interesting. But Zechariah is also telling us that the remaining Palestinians shall also join Israel and worship Yahweh. Amazing! Even better these grafted-in former Palestinian Muslims shall be as leaders in Judah! There is no such thing as a Palestinian, really. They are the descendants of Esaw — Moabites and Edomites.., just as Caleb was before he joined Israel.

The Greater Exodus

How about another interesting passage. If you start at Isaiah 11:1 you will see clearly that this is a last days prophecy when Mashiyach shall return to rule in absolute righteousness.

But we will pick up in verse 11:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Master shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And Yahweh shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His Mighty wind shall He shake His Hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make [men] go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” — Isaiah 11:11–16

WOW! Ok, so if you started at verse 1, reading through to 11 you know this is a last days prophecy. Isaiah tells us that Yahweh will recover His People a second time. When was the first? Egypt, of course… and remember there were way more than just biological descendants of Yitzahk included in corporate Israel in the first Exodus. So too in the Greater Exodus, we see these people will come from all nations… just as Messiah said He will send His messengers to gather His Elect. Again… who are the Elect? Israel… that is correct.

Isaiah tells us that these people being gathered are the “outcasts of Israel”… the ones who were “far off” but are being brought near. Remember when we saw Ezekiel 11:14–15 that older brother Judah [Jews] will be jealous when the little brother Ephraim comes home, saying “get far away from Yahweh… this land has been given to us as an inheritance”… Well, Isaiah tells us that jealousy will come to an end and in the last days and the two brothers will join forces against the Philistines (aka: Palestinians) as well as the other Muslim nations (Moab and Ammon). We see that according to Isaiah, Yahweh will have made a highway on dry land for this 2nd and Greater Exodus.. this is when the remnant of His people will be brought home along with the companions that have joined themselves to them.

Hallel-u-YAH!

The Kingdom’s Composition

In this study, we have addressed three categories of people who make up the Kingdom (The Whole House of Israel — Ezekiel 37:16–28):

1. The faithful from the house of Judah.

2. The faithful from the house of Israel that was scattered to the four corners of the Earth in order to reap a larger harvest.

3. Their companions, the faithful from the nations (mixed multitude) who will be adopted (grafted-in) and given status of full-fledged members of His called out assembly — Israel.

“He spoke another parable to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.’” — Matthew 13:33

The invitation is open to every human regardless of bloodline or lineage. But make no mistake… ALL ISRAEL will be saved, and ONLY ISRAEL will be saved. All “Jews” won’t be saved, all “Muslims” will not be saved, and all “Christians” will not be saved. Israel will be saved. We come to Him on His terms, faith in Messiah and obedience — not through any man-made religion.

The Bible’s Audience

The entire Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 was written to (and for) one people — Israel. The “New Testament” was written to the dispersed of Israel:

“The Yehudim, therefore, said to themselves, ‘Where is He about to go that we shall not find Him? Is He about to go to the Dispersion among the Gentiles, and to teach the Gentiles?’” — John 7:35

“Kĕpha (Peter), an emissary of Messiah Yahshua, to the chosen, strangers of the dispersion in Pontos, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia, and Bithunia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of Elohim the Father, set apart by the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Messiah Yahshua: Favour and peace be increased to you.” — 1 Peter 1:1–2

Notice Peter uses the word “chosen”… this word should sound familiar… it is the Greek word Eklectos’ — Strong’s #1588 (ἐκλεκτός) — which we saw earlier in this study is a term that is used by Yahweh to describe the only people He has ever chosen — Israel. Which as we can see from 1 Peter 1:1 were those of the dispersion. Sorry Calvinists.. the “elect” are Israel.. this term has always applied only to one group of people — Israel. If you need a refresher, scroll back up to page 22 and see that he Bachar (in Hebrew) and the word Eklectos (as we see in the Septuagint) are terms only used in reference to Israel. We don’t get to redefine the Eklectos based on our particular theological bent. The meaning of this term has been established by the Creator.

Israel in the New Testament

We see in the New Testament that Israel are still His People. His only people. Remember earlier in the study we talked about the name of the Messiah, what His Name means and why it is such an important name?

“Father, protect them in Your Name that Name You have given Me” — John 17:11

And why was Messiah given this name:

“Because He [Yahweh] shall save His people [Israel] from their sins” — Matthew 1:21

“I, I am Yahweh, and besides Me there is no savior” — Isaiah 43:11

“And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel” — Matthew 2:6

Here in Matthew 2:6 you see in the New Testament that it is Israel that is still His people… those He took upon flesh to save. He never changed who His people are, He simply opened the door to those coming out from among the gentiles so that they could join (be grafted-in) to “His people ISRAEL”. He never came to save a “church”. It is the lost sheep of Israel that He came to seek and save:

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’el.” — Matthew 15:24

Yahweh never says His people are anyone but Israel. Even in the (so-called) New Testament. Let’s take a look at more proof that the New Testament was written to Israel alone.

“And now I stand and am judged for the expectation of the promise made by Elohim to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving Elohim night and day, expect to attain” — Acts 26:6–7

But wait!… the 12 tribes are scattered “among the goyim”!!! Notice Paul in Acts is saying that it is Israel that will attain the resurrection unto everlasting life. No mention of gentiles at all. Why? Because all who join Israel are no longer “gentiles”.

James and the Twelve Tribes

James begins His letter telling us who he is speaking to:

“Yaʽaqob (James), a servant of Elohim and of the Master Yahshua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes who are in the dispersion: Greetings. My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance. And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.” — James 1:1–5

Notice also that James tells us that wisdom is of Yahweh, not given by the Rabbis who require that you sit under them in their Yeshiva. Wisdom is not given by indoctrinated (blind) instructors at Dallas Theological Seminary.

“But Elohim has chosen the foolish matters of the world to put to shame the wise, and Elohim has chosen the weak of the world to put to shame the strong.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27

“At that time Yahshua responding, said, ‘I thank You, Father, Master of the heavens and earth, because You have hidden these matters from clever and learned ones and have revealed them to babes’.” — Matthew 1:25

“And seeing the boldness of Kĕpha (Peter) and Yohanan (John), and perceiving that they were unlearned and ordinary men, they marveled. And they recognized that they had been with Yahshua.” — Acts 4:13

I won’t apologize that I was not indoctrinated in the world’s religious schools be them Jewish or Christian. I am thankful that Yahweh has kept me out of them, and has given me understanding. Teaching His Word… His truth is a calling… it was never I am nobody special. This is exactly what our brother Ya’akob (James) says that Yahweh does for all who seek it. (James 1:5).

One Master and Teacher

We have ONE Master and One teacher:

“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers” — Matthew 23:8

The Ruach H’Kodesh as Teacher

The Ruach H’Kodesh is our teacher:

“But the anointing which you have received from Him stays in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is no falsehood, and even as it has taught you, you stay in Him.” — 1 John 2:27

“which we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Set-apart Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual matters with spiritual matters” — 1 Corinthians 2:13

The Ruach of Yahweh will never contradict the WORD of Yahweh. And The WORD of Yahweh IS Yahweh (which is in Messiah YAHshua). He cannot, and will not contradict Himself. If anyone teaches something contrary to the Torah and the words of the Messiah, they have no light in them (Isaiah 8:20). Today many teach that “The Church does not have to obey the Torah”. But Yahshua says:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. ‘For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. ‘Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.” — Matthew 5:17–19

“And it is easier for the heaven and the earth to pass away than for one tittle of the Torah to fall.” — Luke 16:17

Yahshua said that every Jot and title of the Torah is in force as long as the heavens and the earth are here. The heavens and the earth are still here. These are the two witnesses to the validity of the Torah. The question is, who are we gonna trust? The One who created all things, or our religious leaders?

Doing the Will of the Father

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the will of My Father in the heavens. ‘Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ ‘And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’” — Matthew 7:21–23

The Greek word for lawlessness here is “Anomia”. The Greek word anomia from anomos means “against Torah”. Nomos (Strong’s #3551) is the Greek word used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word Torah. Again, don’t take my word for this.. This is much too important to just trust me on. Take a look at the Septuagint (and a concordance to the Septuagint). You will see with your own eyes that the “lawlessness” Messiah Yahshua is speaking of here is a rejection of Torah.

Lawlessness and Love

Another proof:

“And because lawlessness (anomia) shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” — Matthew 24:12–13

Lawlessness is associated with no love? Why? Because to Keep Torah is to love Yahweh.. and your neighbor!

“For this is love for Elohim, that we keep His Commandments: and His commandments are not a burden (grievous)” — 1 John 5:3

Again what is “sin”:

“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah” — 1 John 3:4

Yahshua knew that the “Church” would teach lawlessness (against Torah) to His people. Sadly, many shall fall away because of anti-Torah, pre-tribulation rapture doctrines in the last days. We must not look to religious leaders for wisdom… these men have been leading the sheep astray since the days of Jeroboam. And they continue to do it today. Wisdom and understanding comes only from above. Only HIS wisdom produces “eyes to see and ears to hear”. If someone does not have wisdom, all the education in the world won’t help. We see this in the scientific community today. Lots of letters after their names, and they still can’t see that our world, our universe, even our bodies are absolute proof of design. If the one teaching does not possess wisdom from above, he is a blind leader of the blind. Wisdom is a gift Yahweh gives liberally to ALL who sincerely desire it and will use it for His esteem.

Religion vs. Truth

Religion is what mankind doles out. We all look at the Pharisees as the example of bad “Jewish” religious leaders, but we need to understand that the Pharisee religious system is a model for all of mankind’s religious institutions. They were the MDIVs of their day (i.e., the “doctors of the Law”). And yet, they did not see Messiah, and they did not keep Torah.

They were (and still are) loyal to their “traditions of the elders” (Talmud) — setting aside the Torah (Matthew 15:3, Mark 7:7–13). The Messiah rebuked the Pharisees because they ignored the commandments of Yahweh in order to keep their own traditions….

Does His rebuke only apply to Jews who ignore the commandments for their own religious traditions and doctrines? Would not this rebuke apply to any religion that puts man-made doctrine above the clear Word of Yahweh?

And hasn’t Christianity done the same — setting aside the Torah of Yahweh for the teaching and traditions of their “elders” (i.e., church fathers)? Can you see the parallel?

The Non-Existence of the “Gentile Church”

I believe I have made a rock solid case using only the Scriptures to demonstrate that as far as Yahweh’s concerned there is no such thing as the “Gentile Church”. Yes, Constantine created a “gentile church” but it has nothing to do with Yahweh, His Messiah.. or His people. Yes, there are currently two entities in the Scripture — “The House of Judah” (Jews) and “The House of Israel” (The dispersed among the goyim). The rest are simply heathen and are outside of the covenant. These two entities (Israel and Judah) were separated and exiled due to idolatry, disobedience, and incorporating paganism into their worship of Yahweh.

They (Judah and Israel) are two separate groups right now, but they will not remain separated much longer. We are witnessing the Spirit of EliYahu (Elijah) as the process of “restoration” has begun. Eliyahu is drawing many of those we call “Christians” back to Torah and “Jews” to their Messiah. Yes, for the better part of 1700 years, Jews have been blind to their Messiah, just as the Christian has been blind to the truth of the Torah (read Revelation 12:17, 14:12, and 22:14 — then compare to Isaiah 8:20).

Returning to Yahweh

Religious leaders have led many astray. But Yahweh is drawing His bride back to Himself. The return of “Messiah Son of David” is almost here, and we will soon be ONE in the hand of our King. Again if you are in Messiah, you are no longer a gentile: “you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”

In case you haven’t figured it out by now… You are Israel! Yahweh is never called “The God of the Jews” and He is never called “The God of the Christians”. He is “the Elohim of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya’akob”. He is “the Elohim of Israel”, and Yahshua is “the Messiah of Israel”.

Understanding Identity

I want you to understand, you are not “spiritual Israel”. You are full-fledged members of Israel — Yahweh’s people. You don’t replace the house of Judah, you will be joined to Judah when the Messiah returns and we are One Stick in His hand. Spiritual Israel is a term coined by the church in their attempt to lay claim to something that doesn’t belong to them… that never belonged to the “gentile church”. There is of course “Israel in the flesh” which is never spoken of favorably in the Scripture. Israel in the flesh are those who are biologically descended from Abraham Isaac and Jacob… yet they (like Ishma’el and Esaw) have no relationship with the Father and they do not “do the works of Abraham. This would include secular atheist Jews, and the like. They like Ishma’el and Esaw, may of Abraham’s biological seed, but they do not have THE SEED — The Word of Yahweh in them.

You are not “Spiritual Israel” you are Israel when you put your faith in His Messiah, and walk as He walked. You are no longer “strangers and sojourners” but full-fledged members of Israel and heirs of the covenants of promise. You are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9) so that you may have His Spirit in you which writes Torah upon your heart and will cause, or give you a desire to walk in the Torah that He had before ordained that we should walk in (Ephesians 2:10). If we are Israel, we will walk as Yahshua walked. He was our example how to walk, not our excuse not to walk.

Following the Messiah

Follow the Messiah of Israel and you are Israel.

There is no such entity as “The Church” in the Scriptures and there is no such thing as “Spiritual Israel”. There is only “the Whole House of Israel”, which is made up of faithful natural and wild branches that have “come in” to the Kingdom though Messiah Yahshua.

And I must say again that while I absolutely believe that the Northern Kingdom was indeed scattered to the four corners of the Earth as Scripture says… I don’t agree that all who follow Yahshua and desire to walk in Torah are somehow “biological Hebrews”. First off a Hebrew as we have seen was not a race… and Abraham was an Iraqi. Many non-Hebrews were joined to Israel and became full members… not 2nd class citizen,… not a subclass… they are full-fledged ISRAELITES!

Israel is Not About Race

So if being Israel wasn’t about race back then, it’s wrong to make it about race now. Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom, so why are there those out there who believe their lineage makes them special? My lineage only makes me human… and in my flesh dwells no good thing. We must not glory in the flesh.

The “Ephraimite” and “Two House” movements are too focused on blood and lineage… this is not only trivial, it is not pleasing to Our Father. He is no respecter of persons. I am thankful to Judah for repenting and returning to Judea after their captivity. Had they not repented and returned, Our Messiah would not have come. I am also so thankful tribe of Judah for their assiduousness in preserving the Torah for all of us. But I also recognize that there are those from the tribe of Judah also are guilty of elitist behavior. When will we stop all the nonsense?

The Kingdom’s Inclusivity

As I stated, there will be people of all nationalities, all colors, cultures and languages who are (and will be) full-fledged members of Israel, but there is no “gentile gate” and there will be no gentiles in the Kingdom.

In closing, please take a moment to read Isaiah 56:1–8 to get context. Paying particular attention to these words:

“Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to YAHWEH Speak, saying,” YAHWEH has utterly separated me from His people”; ….. My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” The Master Yahweh who gathers the outcasts of Yisra’el, declares, “I gather still others to Him besides those who are gathered to Him.”

Notice also that Yahweh declares He will gather others to… “HIM”. Who is the “Him”? Of course we know that Yahweh will gather us to HIM — The Messiah of ISRAEL:

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and One Shepherd” — John 10:16

When we enter the Kingdom we will enter through one of the gates named for the 12 tribes of Israel. There is One Father, One Savior, One Messiah, One Good Seed, One Master, One faith, One tevilah (immersion), One Torah, One Bride, one Elohim and Father of all.

And there is only one bride, Her name is Israel.

Conclusion and Call to Action

I hope that this study has caused you to reconsider your position as to who Israel is, and who you belong to. If you follow the Messiah of Israel, and you walk as He walked (1 John 2:6) — then YOU ARE ISRAEL. Messiah Yahshua came ONLY for Israel (Matt 15:24). Yahweh never created nor authorized the entity known as “the church”. I know that’s a hard pill to swallow… and I know that you may have been told something different. But the question is, do we get our “theology” and our doctrine from men or from the One who created all things? Please do not take my word for it. Search these things out for yourself. But know this… as you come to realize that the “gentile church fathers” have indeed handed down lies, you will grieve. In these last days, Yahweh is calling His people “out of Her”. Are we willing to go? Are we willing to walk away from everything for Him?

Remember that Abraham left everything he knew in order to follow and obey the Almighty. As we prepare for the “Greater Exodus”, Yahweh is calling His sheep from the four corners of the Earth. He is calling out to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.

Further Reading

This study was designed to cause you to read the scriptures with new eyes, and a new perspective. I would recommend The Aramaic English New Testament, as it clarifies and clears up so many errors and contradictions that we find in the Greek New Testament manuscripts. I believe the Aramaic is the closest we have to the original autographs.

Ultimately though, the responsibility is yours. I am begging you not to just trust me — or any man for that matter. It is because people have put their trust in the doctrines of man that we are in this mess.

Do your own research… but be willing to change as The Almighty reveals the truth to you.

Be willing to walk away from the things that do not please Him… no matter how comfortable you are or how much you love your church and your cherished traditions

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what the Scriptures say. Specifically, what Yahweh and His Messiah have said. His truth… His Torah is eternal. And the words of His Messiah should matter much more than the words of any man. I hope that you will prayerfully consider what you have been shown, and respond as Yahweh calls us all to. I hope that this might be the first step in your walk of truth. As you are faithful to respond, Yahweh will reveal more truth to you.

TLDR;

Israel is a spiritual community defined by faith and obedience to Yahweh, not biological lineage. The term “Israel” encompasses faithful followers from all nations who commit to Torah and recognize Messiah Yahshua, transcending traditional ethnic boundaries.

Key Takeaways

• Israel is not a race, but a spiritual covenant people
• Anyone can become part of Israel through faith and obedience
• The biblical concept of “gentile” means spiritual outsider, not a permanent ethnic status

“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13

Who is Israel was originally published in Truth in Scriptures on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A look at Jesus and the adulterous woman in John 8:1-12

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11, ESV)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Though it happens less often, the story of the adulterer in John 8 is sometimes offered as support that Jesus abolished God’s law.

Reasoning

The Pharisees correctly stated that it is a commandment in the Law of Moses to stone adulterers. The Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. Jesus did not stone her and also told everyone else not to, thus God’s law must no longer apply. Their supposed logical reasoning is founded on the fact that Jesus stated “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Thus the position is that anyone that has sinned can not judge others.

Most Biblical scholar’s understand why this can not be a valid conclusion. The error in such an interpretation becomes quite obvious with only slight investment in study. Even most Biblical scholar’s that are of the position that the whole Word is still not true, because they subscribe to law abolishing paradigm, typically still prefer the more common supposed “proof verses” out of Galatians, Romans, or Colossians (etc.) for their support. Yet because this text is sometimes still misunderstood, misapplied, and confuses others, John 8:1-12 should still be addressed.

Judging

One major problem is with the core of the conclusion in of itself, which is the understanding that we should not judge others. Scripture is clear that we are to judge others in matters of sin. Scripture even provides us a three step process. (1. private, 2. semi private, 3. public rejection). Not only that, scripture is clear that we should want others to judge us according to God’s law to help us expose our sin so that we can deal with it accordingly. In other words, friends don’t let friends live in sin. In fact, by not judging others we are in fact sinning ourselves. We should even judge ourselves to expose our own sin.

Only by judging can we expose sin in ourselves (first) and sin in others (second). The only way to know them by their fruits is to discern and judge the fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). Those who oppose this (even in the face of scripture) usually focus on the often self serving call for “unity” as the reason we should not judge. They have quickly forgotten that the Body of Christ is to be united in believing and practicing truth (God’s Word) not united in what is false (Ephesians 4). We are to grow being edified in the truth in love. As Paul correctly stated, what fellowship can light have with darkness?

If Jesus is teaching that we should not judge others then obeying such verses as Romans 16:17-18, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:5-6, 1 John 4:1 is actually quite impossible.

We are called to rebuke and correct. Who would want others living in sin (bondage)?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We are to embrace correction from others as it is for our benefit. Who would want to be living in sin (bondage)?

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17)

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)

Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die. (Proverbs 15:10)

O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, But they have not grieved; You have consumed them, But they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to return. (Jeremiah 5:3)

We are to correct in kindness and love and always against the Law of God as the only source of established truth. How much would we not love someone to not assist them in dealing with their own sin (breaking God’s law). Thus the conclusion that Jesus was teaching us in John 8 to not judge others in sin is completely false. Such a teaching would actually damage the Body of Christ if the Body started tolerating and ignoring sin.

So it should be quite obvious to see why such an interpretation or conclusion of John 8 is rendered scripturally invalid by even most Biblical Christian scholars. That being said, how do we make sense of this story?

Accusation

The Pharisees and scribes accused the women of breaking the Law of God:

If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die—the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel. (Deuteronomy 22:22)

The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10)

In bringing the woman to Jesus and after referring to the Law of Moses they say:

“But what do You say?”

In other words, the Pharisees and scribes were attempting to trick Jesus into doing something contrary to the Law of God. This was their clear motive, for their motive is revealed to us.

“This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.”

So the question must be asked, if the Pharisees and scribes are correct in the fact that this woman committed adultery, and it is also clear to all that the Law of Moses commands death, then how do they expect this to be a trap for Jesus? What is missing? If Jesus carried this sentence out, what would be their accusation? Supposedly if Jesus does not agree that she should be put to death then Jesus is then teaching and practicing against the Law of Moses. That would be defined as sin.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (John 3:4)

Obviously that would place us in a very bad position as we would not have a perfect sacrifice to cover our sins.

We know that Jesus did not sin, so how was it that the woman was not put to death?

Test of the Messiah

Before we address that, we also have to consider another problem if Jesus was teaching against the Law of Moses. If such is the case, then Jesus would fail the test of the Messiah provided in God’s law and He would be defined as a false prophet. Deuteronomy 13 and 18 are to be used to determine if a prophet was true or false. This was the typical process in the first century. This is why the scribes tested Jesus, because they were Biblically commanded to. Any prophet that deviated from the Law of Moses was considered a false prophet and also destroyed as prescribed by the Law of Moses. Obviously we also know that this was not true of Jesus as He was a “prophet like unto Moses.”

To answer this, we just need to understand the Law of God well enough. We will find that Jesus obviously did.

The Law of Moses also says (which the Pharisees conveniently did not bring up):

A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

The Pharisees claimed that the women committed adultery yet we see no evidence of any witnesses standing to condemn her nor do we see the adulterous man either.

Thus that is the trap that the Pharisees were attempting to set for Jesus. Though it is true that the women should be stoned according to the Law of Moses, that is not everything that needs to be considered in this matter. There are requirements and criteria that need to be presented to the courts to establish the matter. If there were not two to three witnesses to establish the sin and if both the man and the woman were not brought up for charges, then there is no case to condemn her to death. In fact, if Jesus would have carried out the punishment it would have violated the Law of Moses (murder) and He would not be our perfect sacrifice. Jesus would have been just as guilty and under the curse of the law as anyone else.

If we recall from the story, Jesus wrote something on the ground (it is written) as soon as they asked Him what He had to say. Why?

After writing He asks those without sin to stone her, implying that all there were sinning in their actions and intent at that very moment. Why?

He then asks her…

“Has no one condemned you?”

Why is that the question? Was it the action of condemning her that was the sin He was referencing of those present?

The only possible answer is that the Biblical number of witnesses to stand to condemn her was not present nor was the equally guilty adulterous man.

Thus Jesus asks:

“Has no one condemned you?”

The fact of the matter is this, Jesus did not fall for their trickery. If He would have participated in her stoning then He would have fallen for their trap. He would have participated in a stoning that was not established by two to three witnesses. It would have been as law breaking as the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 when he was falsely accused of teaching against the Law of Moses.

Deuteronomy 19:15 is likely what He wrote in the sand. It only makes sense for Jesus to bring full transparency the “trap” that the Pharisees were attempting to set. He exposed their test.

The context of a need for witnesses to establish a matter even continues if we continue reading.

What is interesting is that the Pharisees immediately try to use what he wrote in the sand against Him starting in verse 12. Jesus demanded two to three witnesses to establish the matter of stoning according to the Law of Moses, thus exposing the intent of sin of everyone present. Interestingly enough the Pharisees turned it right back around and demanded two to three witnesses from Jesus to establish his authority.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” (John 8:12-13)

Yet, Jesus has a response for them again proving He has the testimony of another witness, the Father.

Again, the Pharisees not only failed to trick Jesus into sinning, once their trap was exposed, they also failed to try to used the same scripture against Him. The Pharisees and scribes were certainly strategic in their lawless plot to trap Jesus, but because Jesus knew the Law of God so well He prevailed against their attempt at deception.

If we don’t know the front of the book, we will not fully understand the back of the book.

Did Jesus Sin? was originally published in Truth in Scriptures on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.