The Restoration Of The WHOLE House Of Yisra’El
Many do not have an understanding of the fact that there are actually Two Houses of Yisra’El spoken of in YaHuWaH’s Word. Most are only familiar with the House of Yahudah. Yet, there is another house, distinct from the former, and whose nature is essentially non-Yahudi. Here is an interesting fact: 1) You can be an Yisraelite and be a Yahudi. 2) You can also be a Yisraelite and be a non-Yahudi. For over 2730 years this truth has been obscured. Religion has only muddied the waters and kept YaHuWaH’s people splintered and stumbling around in religious blindness. Hasatan desires this, because if the revelation of YaHuWaH’s restoration becomes known, then his kingdom will suffer also. The stage will be set for the return of our blessed Master, Melech Mashiach/King Messiah, as both King and Priest after the order of Melchizedek. This will bring about the ultimate demise of the kingdom of darkness and YaHuWaH’s promised final judgments upon that kingdom. It will usher in the rule of the Shemayim/Heavens on earth, and the long anticipated Millennial Reign of that Kingdom here…The 1000 year Great Shabbat!
Needless to say, this revelation is both inspiring and controversial. Yet, we must not be deterred by the blind agitations of religious men or their being stirred by the unseen spirits of the kingdom of darkness These entities know and fear their demise will be imminent if this message is left unchallenged. There is a remnant that YaHuWaH has promised from both houses that will hear and obey. They will follow after the leading of the Ruach HaKodesh to see YaHuWaH get what He has been so long without…A unified Whole House of Yisra’El. Hasatan understands all too well the power of unity. He knows that when division and disunity are removed, NOTHING can stop the realization that comes as a result of synergetic unity and purpose. This is the day. This is the hour. Let the restoration begin with those who are brave and courageous enough to give their all to see YaHuWaH’s glory arise and His Kingdom truly come!
The Beginning
14 And YaHuWaH said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the makom/place where thou art northward, and southward and eastward, and westward:
15 For kol ha’aretz/all the land which thou seest, TO THEE WILL I GIVE IT, and to thy zera/seed ad olam (forever).
16 And I will make thy zera/seed as the dust of ha’aretz/the land; so that if a man can number the aphar/dust of ha’aretz/the land, then shall thy zera/seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through ha’aretz/the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram moved his ohel/tent, and came and dwelt in Elonei Mamre, which is in Chevron, and built there a Mizbe’ach/Altar unto YaHuWaH. (Bereshith/Genesis 13:14-16)
Zera (Hebrew)- this term is a reference to physical seed/sperm as in descendants- We must get the point here- YaHuWaH is dealing with physical not spiritual seed/sperm– These promises we are going to be looking at are to a PHYSICAL people concerning a PHYSICAL inheritance- we must not let Hasatan (may his memory be blotted out forever) spiritualize these promises away- Vs. 16- Here YaHuWaH shows Abram the blessing of physical multiplicity with which He will bless his seed/descendants.
1 After these things the Dabar/Word of YaHuWaH came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram; I am thy mogen/shield, and thy exceeding great sachar/reward.
2 And Abram said, YaHuWaH, what wilt Thou give me, since I go childless, and the Ben Meshek/adopted servant/son of my Bais/house is this Eliezer of Dameshek (Damascus)?
3 And Abram said, See, to me Thou hast given no zera/seed; and, hinei/behold, one born in my bais/house is my yoresh (heir).
4 And, hinei/behold, the Dabar/Word of YaHuWaH came unto him saying, This shall not be thy yoresh/heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own body shall be thy yoresh /heir.
5 And He brought him forth outside, and said, look now toward Shemayim/Heavens, and count the kokhavim/stars, if thou be able to number them; and He said unto him, so shall thy zera/seed be.
6 And he believed in YaHuWaH; and He credited [emunah (faith)] to him as tzedakah (righteousness). (Bereshith/Genesis 15:1-6)
The Word of YaHuWaH/Yahusha (Yohanan/John 1:1; Hazon/Revelation 19:13) appears to Abram- This is where Abram comes into his right standing (forensic righteousness/imputed) by faith- this is the way we ALL must come into our right standing w/ YaHuWaH – Again…Abram questions YaHuWaH about his lack of physical seed- The Word of YaHuWaH makes it clear that His promise is NOT for an adopted heir, but for a physical heir- one from his own body- Then Abram is taken out and told to look into the heavens at the stars- THIS IS A PICTURE OF YAHUWAH’S PROMISE OF SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE FOR ABRAM’S PHYSICAL SEED! (Eph. 1:3) Again promising physical multiplicity in a picture of the natural stars.
The Promised Only Unique Son
1 And when Abram was ninety and nine shanah/years, YaHuWaH appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am El Shaddai; walk before Me, and be thou tamim/blameless.
2 And I will confirm My brit (covenant) between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face; and Elohim/The Mighty One talked with him, saying,
4 As for Me, hinei/behold, My brit (covenant) is with thee, and thou shalt be an Av/Father of many Goyim/Nations [see 18:18].
5 Neither shall thy shem/name any more be called Abram, but thy shem/name shall be Abraham; for Av hamon Goyim (Father of a multitude of Goyim/Nations) have I made thee.
[T.N. Ga 3:29 says “And if you belong to Mashiach (Yeshayahu 53:10), then you are of the ZERAH/ SEED of Abraham Avinu/Abraham our Father, you are yoreshim (heirs) according to the havtachah (promise).]
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make Goyim/Nations of thee, and Melechim/Kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish My Brit (covenant) between Me and thee and thy zera/seed after thee in their dorot/generations for a Brit Olam/Everlasting Covenant, to be Elohim/Mighty One unto thee, and to thy zera/seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee and to thy zera/seed after thee, the Eretz/Land wherein thou art now a ger/stranger, kol Eretz Kena’an/the whole Land of Cana’an, for an Achuzzah (Possession) Olam (Everlasting); and I will be their Elohim/Mighty One. (Bereshith/Genesis 17:1-8)
YaHuWaH now cuts covenant with Abram and changes his name- putting the letter heh (the breath of YaHuWaH) into Abram’s name- he is now Abraham- again the blessing of physical multiplicity is confirmed vs.2- Now YaHuWaH begins to expand Abraham’s understanding from just his own physical potential to understand that there is a corporate manifestation of himself through his physical seed- Nations will come forth from him- Kings will come out from him [a picture of the future kings of Judah as well as other kings from the nations]- these promises are part of YaHuWaH’s physical blessing upon his future generations- YaHuWaH also confirms His promise of a physical inheritance in a physical land- Cana’an as a LITERAL everlasting possession and YaHuWaH will be The Mighty One of Abraham’s future PHYSICAL seed represented among all the Nations
In vs. 4 and 5 the words many nations is hamon goyim in Hebrew and means a noisy multitude of nations. This multitude of nations who would descend from Abraham would be no silent bunch. They will be loud and noisy. They will witness to YaHuWaH’s faithfulness as their Mighty One so that the entire world might know YaHuWaH is with His people and does what He promises.
15 And the Malach/Angel of YaHuWaH called unto Abraham out of Shemayim/Heavens the second time,
16 And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith YaHuWaH, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine ben yachid/only unique son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy zera/seed as the stars of the skies, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy zera/seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy zera/seed shall kol goyei ha’aretz/all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.
19 So Abraham returned unto his servants, and they rose up and went together to Beer Sheva; and Abraham dwelt at Beer Sheva. (Bereshith/Genesis 22:15-19)
Here in Chapter 22 of Bereshith/Genesis Abraham is tested concerning his son Yitz’chak/Isaac. In obedience to YaHuWaH’s command to offer his son, his only unique son, on the altar, Abraham obeys. *[Yitz’chak/Isaac is Abraham’s only unique son, not his only son. Abraham had another son before Yitz’chak/Isaac …Yishma’El/Ishmael from Hagar. Yitz’chak/Isaac was Abraham’s only unique son because his mother, Sarah, was barren previous to YaHuWaH opening her womb for him to be born] YaHuWaH steps in and provides the sacrifice (the ram caught in the thicket), stopping Abraham from having to go through with the full sacrificial offering. As a result of his complete obedience YaHuWaH in vs. 17 again reconfirms His blessing of physical multiplicity to Abraham and his physical seed- using the stars and sand to show how great and unfathomable that blessing would be.
Then in vs. 18 comes the reference to the coming of the Mashiach through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. (see Galatiyim/Galatians 3:16)
Now to Abraham Avinu/our father were spoken the havtachot/promises and to his ZERA (“seed” Bereshith/Genesis 22:18). He does not say V’LIZERAEHCHAH (“and to your seeds”), as concerning many, but as concerning ONE, “and to the ZERA/SEED of you”, and that ZERA/SEED is Mashiach/Messiah (Galatiyim/Galatians 3:16)
The Promise Of Physical Multiplicity Extended To Yitz’chak
1 And there was a ra’av (famine) in ha’aretz/the land, besides the ra’av harishon/the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Yitz’chak/Isaac went unto Avimelech Melech/King Pelishtim (Philistines) unto Gerar.
2 And YaHuWaH appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Mitzrayim/Egypt; dwell in ha’aretz/in the land which I shall tell thee of;
3 Sojourn in ha’aretz hazot/this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy zera/seed, I will give all these lands, and I will perform the shevu’ah/oath which I swore unto Abraham avichah/your father;
4 And I will make thy zera/seed to multiply as the kokhavim/stars of Shemayim/The Heavens, and will give unto thy zera/seed all these lands; and in thy zera/seed shall kol Goyei Ha’Aretz/all the Nations of The Earth be blessed;
5 Because Abraham obeyed My voice, and was shomer/guarded over My mishmeret/charge, My mitzvoth/commands, My chukkot/ordinances, and My torot/instructions. (Bereshith/Genesis 26:1-4)
Now YaHuWaH confirms the promise made with Abraham is being passed down to his son Yitz’chak/Isaac. As it was with Abraham the promise was not to be fulfilled by an adopted son, but by a son of his own body. So, the future fulfillment of that promise would come not through a child of the flesh, Yishma’El/Ishmael, but through a physical child of promise…Yitz’chak/Isaac. YaHuWaH continues to speak of Abraham’s seed, now being perpetuated through the son of promise, Yitz’chak/Isaac. The land his future seed would come into the possession of would be ALL the land which YaHuWaH had promised his father. While at the same time, this future seed would be blessed with physical multiplicity as pictured in the innumerable multitude of stars and sand. This physical multiplicity would affect ALL the nations of the earth with the blessing of YaHuWaH. All this because Abraham KEPT YaHuWaH’s Torah!
YaHuWaH’s Promise Of Physical Multiplicity Extended To Rivkah/Rebecca
60 And they said a berakhah/blessing over Rivkah/Rebecca, and said unto her, Thou art achoteinu (our sister), may thou be increased to thousands upon thousands and may thy zera/seed possess the sha’ar/gate of those which hate them. (Bereshith/Genesis 24:60)
In the above Scripture Rivkah/Rebecca, Yitz’chak’s/Isaac’s bride to be, is blessed by her family before she leaves to return with Abraham’s servant back to Cana’an. The blessing? That of physical multiplicity. The wording is almost exactly the same as that which was given to her father-in-law Abraham in chapter 22 of Bereshith/Genesis.
The Promise Of Physical Multiplicity Extended To Ya’akob/Jacob
1 And Yitz’chak/Isaac called for Ya’akob/Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take an isha/wife of the Banot Kena’an/daughters of Cana’an.
2 Arise, go to Paddanah-Aram, to the bais/house of Betuel avi immecha/the father of your mother; and take thee an isha/wife from there of the banot Laban achi immecha/daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.
3 And El Shaddai bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a kahal amim/assembly of peoples;
4 And give thee the birkat/blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy zera/seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the eretz/land wherein thou art a ger/stranger, which Elohim/Mighty One gave unto Abraham. (Bereshith/Genesis 28:1-4)
Finally, we come to see the blessing is perpetuated from Yitz’chak/Isaac down to his son Ya’akob/Jacob. YaHuWaH is making it plain that it is through the Avot/the Fathers that He will work to fill the entire earth with a physical seed. This physical seed would become a kahal amim/assembly of peoples. This assembly is nothing less than the nation of Yisra’El.
In chapter 35 of Bereshith/Genesis where Ya’akob/Jacob encounters YaHuWaH at the ladder in a dream, YaHuWaH changes Ya’akob’s/Jacob’s name. He becomes Yisra’El. This name means, a prince who wrestles with YaHuWaH and prevails. In verse 11 Ya’akob/Jacob is told,
11 And Elohim/Mighty One said unto him, I am El Shaddai; be fruitful and multiply; a Goy (nation) and a Kehal Goyim/Assembly or Company of nations shall be from thee, and Melechim/Kings shall come out of thy loins. (Bereshith/Genesis 35:11)
It is imperative that we understand that the many promises that YaHuWaH made to Abraham, Yitz’chak/Isaac and Ya’akob/Jacob…were NOT to a physical and spiritual zera/seed. There is ONE zera/seed. It is WHOLLY physical. That physical seed has two aspects of blessing: physical and spiritual. First, it was through a physical seed that would become a corporate nation, which in turn would possess the physical Land given to it by YaHuWaH. While this corporate seed would possess this physical land, it would also somehow find itself physically present among all the nations of the earth, thus becoming a nation and a company of nations. Secondly, this promise to the ONE physical Nation, would also include the coming of the Mashiach. It would be through His redemptive ministry ALL the nations would be blessed. How? By the regathering of YaHuWaH’s physical seed from among the nations where they were to be scattered.
Now we are positioned for our next understanding into YaHuWaH’s great redemptive purpose in restoring the Whole House of Yisra’El. We will see clearly how YaHuWaH worked to scatter this physical seed among ALL the nations of the earth. If we can see this, and understand, then we will be on our way to realizing why YaHuWaH will restore His two great houses, and make them ONE again. At the same time, as a result of the regathering of YaHuWaH’s scattered physical seed, ALL the nations of the earth will also be blessed through that promise of redemption to His ONE nation of Yisra’El. He will bring about the return of our blessed Melech Mashiach/King Messiah. He will rule from the physical Land of Promise, Yisra’El, and bring the whole earth to be filled with YaHuWaH’s glory!
We are now going to fast forward to the day of Yosef/Joseph. We know the history of how he came to be in Mitzrayim/Egypt at the hands of his brothers. He was sold to a traveling band of Ishmaelites, went through two stints in prison, and was finally released and appointed to be the second most powerful man besides the Pharaoh himself. Now Yosef/Joseph had married the daughter of a Mitzri/Egyptian Priest and he had two sons…Menasheh and Ephraim.
Yosef’s Two Sons Adopted By His Father Ya’akob/Jacob
In Chapter 48 of Bereshith/Genesis there is something very important that happens regarding Yosef/Joseph and his two sons. When the boys appear to Ya’akob/Jacob, he actually adopts them into the family.
“And now thy two banim/sons, Ephraim and Menasheh, which were born unto thee in Eretz Mitzrayim/Land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Mitzrayim/Egypt are mine; like Reuben and Shimon are mine” (Bereshith/Genesis 48:5)
This moves Yosef/Joseph aside in a sense, and yet provides him with a double portion of inheritance through his sons. (see vs. 22) Then Ya’akob/Jacob does something important. In verse 16 he says that the two boys are to be called by his name, Yisra’El.
“The Malach/Angel which redeemed me from kol rah/all evil, may he make a berakhah/blessing on the ne’arim/boys, and let my shem/name be named on them, and the shem/name of my Avot/fathers Abraham and Yitz’chak/Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of ha’aretz/the land.” (Bereshith/Genesis 48:16)
At the end of the above verse Ya’akob/Jacob continues to pray for the boys. He asks that they may “grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” That phrase in Hebrew can be read literally as a teeming multitude of fish. Now with that in mind, how interesting is it that one of the things our blessed Master Yahusha said to his talmidim/disciples was, that He would make them fishers of men? (see Matt. 4:19; Mk. 1:17) What do you think was going through Master Yahusha’s mind when He spoke those words? What do you think His intent was for those who were with Him there that day, and for us?
The Exchange Of The Firstborn Blessing
Now something very interesting is also happening here. Yosef/Joseph had moved his sons into place before his father in order for him to bless them. He did so according to the traditional order. The older to the right, younger to the left. Menasheh was positioned to the right because he was oldest. Ephraim to the left as the younger. Yet when Ya’akob/Jacob went to bless them he purposefully crossed his hands so that the right was on the head of Ephraim and the left was on the head of Menasheh. Yosef/Joseph supposing that his father, being elderly, weak and of bad eyesight was about to make a mistake. He tried to stop his father. But Ya’akob/Jacob made it clear that what he was about to do was no mistake. It was after the divine order of YaHuWaH.
17 And when Yosef/Joseph saw that aviv/his father laid his yamin/right hand upon the rosh/head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he took hold of yad aviv/his father’s hand, to remove it from rosh/the head of Ephraim unto rosh/head of Menasheh.
18 And Yosef/Joseph said unto aviv/his father, Not so, Avi/my father; for this is the bachor/firstborn; put thy yamin/right hand upon his rosh/head.
19 And aviv/his father refused, and said, I know it, beni (my son), I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly achiv hakaton/his little brother shall be greater than he, and his zera/seed shall become a multitude of Goyim/Nations. (Bereshith/Genesis 48:17-19)
Ya’akob/Jacob speaking by the Ruach goes on to say, that while Menasheh will become a great people, Ephraim, his younger brother, would become even greater. The phrase in Hebrew a multitude of nations is melo hagoyim. Another meaning is the fullness of the Gentiles or Nations as many Bible translations have it. What is being told here is, the physical blessing of multiplicity given to Abraham and passed down to Yitz’chak/Isaac and Ya’akob/Jacob, is destined to find its way through the physical seed/zera of Ephraim.
Now just in case the phrase fullness of the Gentiles or Nations sounds familiar it is because Sha’ul/Paul uses it in his letter to the Roman assembly.
“For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisra’El, until the completeness of the nations has come in.” Romiyim (Romans) 11:25
He uses it to show how YaHuWaH will eventually come to save ALL of Yisra’El. [not ALL as in every person individually, but ALL as in the WHOLE nation of Yisra’El…both its houses]. The key sign that the partial blindness of Yisra’El/both houses [the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El- the non-Yahudi house and their partial blindness to Torah; and the house of Yahudah/Judah and their partial blindness to Master Yahusha as Mashiach] is about to be lifted is found in that phrase the fullness of the Gentiles or Nations. It is when the nations of the earth have become FULL of their portion of the scattered/dispersed Yisraelite seed that YaHuWaH has placed among them (see Debarim/Deuteronomy 28:64; 32:8), that He will begin to restore His broken/divided House. This will result in the Kingdom being returned to the WHOLE nation of Yisra’El, which is what Master Yahusha’s talmidim/disciples were asking Him just prior to His being taken up into heaven. (Ma’asim/Acts 1:6)
“So when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Master, would You at this time restore the reign to Yisra’El?” Ma`asei/Acts 1:6
There is only one other place in the Tanakh/Hebrew Scriptures where the word melo is used. It is found in Tehillim/Psalms 24:1.
“Ha’aretz/The Land is YaHuWaH’s, and the fullness thereof; the tevel/world, and they that dwell therein.” (Tehillim/Psalms 24:1)
What we are being told is that the earth is destined to become full of that which belongs to YaHuWaH. In the midst of this fullness the physical zera/seed of Ephraim will be found to be among all the nations of the earth. Just like YaHuWaH promised to Abraham!
The Firstborn Sons Of Ya’akob: King And Priest
Now it is just here that we need to pay close attention. Why? Because the ground for the future split in the house of Yisra’El has been made. Ephraim has become heir to a most powerful position within the family system of the mid-East. He has been made the ruling priest within Ya’akob’s/Jacob’s family. This was the place his father Yosef had prior to his portion being split among his two sons: Menasheh and Ephraim. As the firstborn priest, Ephraim has assumed the role of the Goel/Kinsman Redeemer. If any of Ya’akob’s/Yisra’El’s sons get into trouble, are sold into slavery, then it is the Goel/Kinsman Redeemer that is given both the provision and power to redeem them back. However, within this family dynamic, Ya’akob/Jacob has also set in place the provision for another son to be empowered with a kingly anointing. In chapter 49 of Bereshith/Genesis Ya’akob/Jacob gives this kingly role to his son Yahudah/Judah. In this chapter Ya’akob/Jacob calls all of his sons together to prophesy to them of their future in the latter days. (Achareit HaYamim) Concerning Yahudah/Judah we read,
“The shevet/scepter shall not depart from Yahudah/Judah, nor shall a Mekhokek/Lawgiver from between his raglayim/feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall be the obedience of the amim/peoples, nations.” (Bereshith/Genesis 49:10)
Here we see the promise of royal kingship being given to Yahudah/Judah. [From whom we get both the tribe of Yahudah/Judah and the corporate house- The Yahudi people] This is the meaning of the scepter being given to him. As the older, as well as the kingly son, he has authority/precedent within the family. Further, we are told that this royal ability to reign will not cease until the coming of the Messianic King referred to in this passage by the Name Shiloh/Peace. We also should take note of vs. 8 which tells us that all of Yahudah’s/Judah’s brothers are called to honor him in his kingly appointment and to bow down to him in respect. The important question to ask? Is this the first coming of Mashiach (Mashiach Ben Yosef) or His second (Mashiach Ben David)? I believe from the wording, the rule of Yahudah/Judah did not end at Yahusha HaMashiach’s first coming. The name or title Shiloh means Peace. Master Yahusha did not bring shalom/peace at His first coming. (Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:34) He will bring shalom/peace at His Second Coming. War will be cut off, and shalom/peace will come to the nations. This will be the result of Melech Mashiach’s/King Messiah’s dominion during His reign as Mashiach Ben David in the Millennial Kingdom. (Zecharyah/Zechariah 9:10) So, Yahudah’s/Judah’s rule will be in place until that time. (Romans 3:2)
“Much in every way! Because firstly indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of Elohim.” Romiyim/Romans 3:2
For the time being let us realize that what has happened is ripe ground for a power struggle. Ephraim has been given the priestly role as the Goel/Kinsman Redeemer. Yahudah/Judah has been given the kingly role. We have already seen this in part in the life of Yosef/Joseph and his brothers earlier. Ya’akob/Jacob had given Yosef/Joseph a coat of many colors, which in that day and time was a picture of the family priesthood. Now, we see that Ephraim has been given the power to assume that authority. Yahudah/Judah has the authority to rule within the family structure. Because he has the royal scepter, he will also have the precedent when it comes to guarding the Torah of YaHuWaH among Ya’akob’s/Yisra’El’s children.
The House Of Yisra’El Is Divided
Now we will fast forward again to the time of Sh’lomo/Solomon. (see Melakim Alef/1 Kings 11) Under Sh’lomo’s/Solomon’s father David, Yisra’El knew and experienced the only time in the history of the nation of unprecedented unity. All twelve tribes were united under the kingship of David. However, in time, Sh’lomo/Solomon began to depart from the ways of YaHuWaH and His Torah. He began marrying many wives, and also took wives from foreign nations. It wasn’t long before the allegiance of his heart became divided, and he himself began to commit the sinful practice of idolatry with his wives’ foreign gods. YaHuWaH after much time came to an end of His mercy. Judgment fell, and Sh’lomo/Solomon was told that for his sinfulness the kingdom would be rent from his hand. However, YaHuWaH would still show him mercy in that it would not happen during his reign, because of his father David. Instead, the judgment would come during the time of his son, Rechav’am/Rehoboam.
11 Wherefore YaHuWaH said unto Sh’lomo/Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not been shomer/guard over My Brit (Covenant, Sinai Covenant) and My chukkot/ordinances, which I have commanded thee, I will surely tear away the Mamlachah/Kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy eved (servant, that is, Yarov’am/Jereboam ben/son of Nevat, see v. 26).
12 Notwithstanding in thy yamim/days I will not do it lema’an (for the sake of) David Avicha/your Father; but I will tear it out of the yad binecha (power of thy son).” (Melakim Alef/1 Kings 11:11-12)
This is a brief overview of what transpired leading up to splitting of the nation of Yisra’El into two separate kingdoms. The Heikal/Temple had been finished for quite some time. Sh’lomo’s/Solomon’s son Rechav’am/Rehoboam had been raised up to rule in his father’s place. There was still the use of forced labor from among the northern tribes of Yisra’El to help maintain the Heikal/Temple. The elders from among these northern tribes came to Rechav’am/Rehoboam and asked him to stop the forced labor. In turn, if he decided in favor of their inquiry they promised that all of the people of the northern tribes of Yisra’El would serve him as king forever. Rechav’am/Rehoboam told these elders he would consider their request. He went to his father’s elders and asked their advice. They agreed that it was good to stop the forced labor. In turn, the people of the northern tribes would serve him as a united people. However, Rechav’am/Rehoboam went and also inquired of his own advisors. These were young men who ruled with him. This group advised against stopping the forced labor. In fact, they advised that he increase their burdens in order that they would serve him out of fear. Unfortunately, Rechav’am/Rehoboam chose the latter. That fateful decision would lead to an uprising among the northern tribes.
What Rechav’am/Rehoboam did not know is that the elders from the northern tribes had already gone down to Mitzrayim/Egypt and sought out a man named Yarov’am/Jeroboam. He had previously led a rebellion against Sh’lomo/Solomon and had been exiled there. They had agreed that if Rechav’am/Rehoboam refused their offer, then they would bring Yarov’am/Jeroboam up and make him king over the 10 northern tribes of Yisra’El. This part of the plan was immediately enacted once Rechav’am/Rehoboam rejected the offer of the elders from the northern tribes. Yarov’am/Jeroboam was brought up and made king. In turn, the northern tribes began to rebel against the southern tribes and sought to divide themselves from Yahudah/Judah.
When the word came of the rebellion, Rechav’am/Rehoboam began to gather up the men from Yahudah/Judah to go up and quash the rebellion. However, YaHuWaH sent a nabi/prophet by the name of Shemayah/Shemaiah to tell them not to go up and fight. In fact, we find a very peculiar word contained in this prophetic message from YaHuWaH about the situation. We read,
22 “But the Debar HaElohim/Word of Elohim/The Mighty One came unto Shemayah/Shemaiah the Ish HaElohim/The Mighty One, saying,
23 Speak unto Rechav`am/Rehoboam Ben Sh’lomo/Son of Solomon Melech Yahudah/King of Judah, and unto kol Bais Yahudah/all the house of Judah and Binyamin/Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
24 Thus saith YaHuWaH, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the Bnei Yisra’El/Sons of Yisra’El; Shuvu (go back! return!) every ish/man to his bais/house; FOR THIS THING IS FROM ME. They paid heed therefore to the Debar/Word of YaHuWaH, and turned around to depart, according to the Debar/Word of YaHuWaH.“ (Melakim Alef/1 Kings 12:22-24)
Look at verse 24. YaHuWaH says the reason they are not to go up and fight with their brothers is: THIS THING IS FROM ME! What does that mean? As we brought out earlier, Ephraim was going to be the vehicle by which the physical blessing of multiplicity of Abraham’s zera/physical seed was going to come. Beloved, you can count the number of Yahudi people today. There are some 15-16 million. The blessing of multiplicity and YaHuWaH’s promise that all the nations would be blessed through Avinu/our Father Abraham does not rest with Yahudah/Judah. It rests with the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El! It is Ephraim whose physical seed is destined to be innumerable. This is the secret to the equation of all the nations of the earth being blessed through Abraham. What we are looking at here is the historical record of the beginning of this promise!
The Immediate Results Of The Division
The split between the Two Houses/kingdoms of Yisra’El began in 921 B.C. The Northern kingdom of Yisra’El was made up of 10 tribes led by Yarov’am/Jeroboam. Under his reign he intensified the enmity between both houses. He instituted a new priesthood, established two places of worship and forbid the northern tribes from going down to Jerusalem to worship and keep the feasts of YaHuWaH. All manner of mixture in worship and idolatry was practiced by the Northern kingdom.
The Southern kingdom was made up of two tribes…Yahudah/Judah and Benyamin/Benjamin. It is from Yahudah/Judah that we get the name Jews and Jewish. So what we are seeing here is the ground upon which our former statement is made. As a result of this division in the House of Yisra’El: You may be an Yisraelite and be a Yahudi; BUT you may also be an Yisraelite and NOT be a Yahudi!
Historically, the Northern house continued its penchant for idolatry and paganism. Finally, YaHuWaH began to bring judgment upon the Northern house. In 738 B.C.E the king of Assyria, Tilgat Pilsger III, began a three pronged invasion into the Northern territory of Yisra’El. By 734 B.C.E. most of the Northern kingdom had been taken captive back into Assyria. In 722 B.C.E. all of the rulers of the Northern kingdom were taken captive. While a number of the people from the northern tribes had gone down into the Southern kingdom to escape, most of the Northern kingdom were now captives of their Assyrian conquerors.
One of the ways that Assyria broke the spirits of the nations they captured was by assimilation. Assyria itself was a conglomerate of captured nations and peoples. So, when new peoples were captured, they would be scattered out among these foreign peoples. These captives would be forbidden to maintain their identity in culture, worship, and even language. In time they became swallowed up among these various people groups and in turn over a few generations would forget who they were. Thus you have the moniker concerning the Northern house as The Ten Lost Tribes. Yet were they really ever lost to YaHuWaH? Absolutely not! The term lost refers only to the tribes in relation to themselves. YaHuWaH knew where they were all along, and He had a plan for their regathering.
When once we begin to understand the significance of the split of the house of Yisra’El into two separate kingdoms, then we are within reach of a quite profound key to understanding biblical prophecy. After the time period of 921 B.C. the Tanakh/Hebrew Scriptures almost never refers to the two kingdoms of Yisra’El together. The Northern Kingdom or house is made up of 10 tribes. It keeps the moniker Yisra’El, but is also known as the house of Yosef-Ephraim. In the writings of the Nebi’im/Prophets and the Ketubim/Historical and Poetic sefirot/books of the Tanakh/Hebrew Scriptures, after the 12th chapter of Dibre HaYamin Alef/1 Chronicles, Yisra’El is always in reference to the tribes of the Northern Kingdom. The Southern Kingdom or house is made up of 2 tribes…Yahudah-Judah/Benyamin-Benjamin. It is where we get the term Jew and Jewish from. Remembering these facts helps keep who these writings are referring to straight.
Therefore, one of the main thoughts we have come to see from this split is: 1) You can be a Yahudi and be a Yisraelite, and 2) You can also be non-Yahudi and also be a Yisraelite. As we saw in our last lesson, the split in the Kingdom of Yisra’El, essentially utilizing the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El, became YaHuWaH’s means to achieving the promise of physical multiplicity given to Abraham, Yitz’chak/Isaac, and Ya’akob/Jacob. This is why, when the split happened, and the men of Yahudah/Judah were on their way up to quell the rebellion, YaHuWaH sent the nabi/prophet Shemayah/Shemaiah to stop them saying “this thing is from Me.” (Melakim Alef/1 Kings 12:24)
Due to the subsequent penchant of the Northern kingdom’s drive toward paganism, idolatry, and sexual uncleanness, they were taken captive into the nation of Assyria in three different dispersions beginning shortly after 740 BCE, 734 BCE, and 722 BCE In time, after being assimilated into the conglomerate of conquered nations to which Assyria had become, these northern non-Yahudi Yisraelites became lost to their identity. The term lost refers only to their own sense of identity. YaHuWaH NEVER lost them. We know this from a verse in Amos,
For, hinei/behold, I will command, and I will sift Bais Yisra’El/House of Yisra’El– the Northern house/Yosef-Ephraim among all Goyim/Nations, like as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon ha’aretz/the land. (Amos 9:9)
We will now take a look into the prophetic book of Hoshea/Hosea. This book will help set our understanding for seeing how this split of the nation of Yisra’El into two houses and kingdoms are actually referred to within the writings of the Ketubim HaNotzrim/Messianic Writings. (Mattithyahu/Matthew to Hazon/Revelation) *[Again for clarification, the house of Yisra’El aka Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El, is also referred to singularly as Ephraim in the writings of the Nebi’im/Prophets and historical/poetic sefirot/books. In this sense, Ephraim is both a corporate moniker used in Scripture to identify the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom. It is also the name of one of those ten tribes. In like manner, the same is true of Yahudah/Judah. It is both a means of identifying the corporate house of the Southern Kingdom, as well as the name used to identify the individual tribe of the same name.]
The Book Of Hoshea/Hosea The Nabi/Prophet
The book of Hoshea/Hosea was written to speak to the judgment that was about to come upon the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El, the Northern Kingdom. It covers the history of this corporate house and its progression into paganism, idolatry, and sexual uncleanness. Further, it reveals their demise into obscurity through assimilation into the nations, and their ultimate regathering. You will be surprised when once your eyes are opened to the Word of YaHuWaH to this other house of Yisra’El, how many references are contained within the Messianic Writings. Both Yahusha in the Besorot/Gospels and the other writers of the sefirot/books of the Messianic Writings were quite aware of the things which we are looking into today. In fact, one of the identifying factors of the Mashiach is His actual regathering of these lost tribes! Master Yahusha IS fulfilling this call in our day! (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:10-16)
The entire first chapter of the book of Hoshea/Hosea is about the prophet being commanded by YaHuWaH to take to him an unfaithful wife guilty of adulteries. It is a picture of the state of the Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El. This corporate house who rejected YaHuWaH has become completely unfaithful to Him. Hoshea/Hosea, after taking Gomer as his wife, she conceives and bears him their first child. He is told to name him Yizre’El/Jezreel meaning, The Mighty One sows. A picture of YaHuWaH’s soon to come judgment on the Northern house in the valley of Yizre’El/Jezreel.
1 The Debar/Word of YaHuWaH that came unto Hoshea, ben/son of Be’eri, in the yamim/days of Uziyah/Uzziah, Yotam/Jotham, Achaz/Ahaz, and Yechizkiyah/Hezekiah, melakim/kings of Yahudah/Judah, and in the yamim/days of Yarov`am ben Yoash/Jereboam son of Joash, Melech/King of Yisra’El.
2 The beginning of the Debar/Word of YaHuWaH by Hoshea: And YaHuWaH said to Hoshea, Go, take unto thee an eshet zenunim (wife of whoredoms) and yeladim of zenunim/children of whoredoms; for ha’aretz/the land hath committed great whoredom, by departing from YaHuWaH.
3 So he went and took Gomer bat Diblayim/daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bore him ben/a son.
4 And YaHuWaH said unto him, Call shmo/his name Yizre’El/Jezreel (Yah will sow); for yet a little while, and I will visit vengeance upon Bais Yehu/the House of Jehu for the demei Yizre’El/Jezreel (massacre at Yizre’El/Jezreel), and will cause to cease the Mamlechut Bais Yisra’El/Kingdom of the House of Yisra’El [See 2Kg chp 9].
5 And it shall come to pass on Yom Hahu/That Day, that I will break the keshet Yisra’El (bow of Yisra’El), in the Emek Yizre’El (Jezreel Valley). (Hoshea/Hosea 1:1-5)
Next, Gomer conceives again, and bears a second child. Again, the name of the daughter is a prophetic picture of the judgment to come upon the Northern house. The name, Loruchamah/No mercy was to show that the time of YaHuWaH’s mercy was past.
“And she conceived again, and bore a bat/daughter. And Elohim/The Mighty One said unto him, Call her shem/name Loruchamah (not pitied); for I will no more have pity upon Bais Yisra’El/the House of Yisra’El; since I have been utterly betrayed by them [1K 2:10].” (Hoshea/Hosea 1:6)
It would be good to note at this time, while the Southern house of Yahudah/Judah had also become unfaithful, their judgment would be different. They too were taken into captivity into Babylon some 200 years later. Yet, they retained their identity as Yahudah. After a 70 year period of judgment, a remnant of this house was also returned to The Land of Yisra’El. Now having once been weaned, Hoshea’s wife conceives a third time and bears a son. The name of this boy is LoAmi/Not My people.
8 Now when she had weaned Lo-ruchamah, she conceived, and bore ben/a son.
9 Then said Elohim/The Mighty One, Call his shmo/name Lo-ami; for ye are lo ami (not My people) and to you (plural) not eh’h’yeh (I am, which is ALEFH HEH YOD HEH the common singular form of YOD HEH WAW HEH—YAHUWAH, i.e., to you I am not YaHuWaH)” (Hoshea/Hosea 1:8-9)
The name LoAmi means not My people. This is basically what this Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El had become. A people put away and divorced from their Elohim/Mighty One. (see Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 3:8)
“And I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Yisra’ĕl had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Yehuḏah did not fear, but went and committed whoring too.” Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 3:8
While Yahudah/Judah was also guilty of adultery, idolatry and sexual uncleanness, YaHuWaH never divorced her. In the Torah, when a man who puts away his wife and gives her a Get, bill of divorcement, and another man takes her to wife (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4), then the former husband is forbidden to take her back and marry her again. For this reason, YaHuWaH was required to find another way to accomplish the regathering of the house of Northern Yisra’El and remarrying her. *[This is what Sha’ul/Paul was speaking toward in the book of Romans chapter 7. It is why Master Yahusha, YaHuWaH in physical manifestation, had to die and be resurrected. By dying, the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El was released from the marriage covenant which originally bound them to YaHuWaH. By resurrection, YaHuWaH could then be joined again to the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El through His physical manifestation as Yahusha of Natzaret. This qualified the Northern house to be restored in marriage to YaHuWaH, and redemptively paved the way for the restoration of both houses to become ONE again!]
15 The Debar/Word of YaHuWaH came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou ben/son of adam, take thee Etz Echad/One Tree, and write upon it, For Yahudah/Judah, and for the Bnei/Sons of Yisra’El his Chaverim/Friends-Companions; then take another Etz Echad/One Tree, and write upon it, For Yosef/Joseph, the Etz Ephrayim/Tree of Ephraim and for kol Bais Yisra’El/all the House of Yisra’El his Chaverim/Friends-Companions;
17 And join them one to another into Etz Echad/One Tree; and they shall become achadim (one) in thine yad/hand.
18 And when the Bnei Amecha/Sons of your people speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith My Master YaHuWaH: Hinei/Behold, I will take the Etz Yosef/Tree of Joseph, which is in the Yad Ephrayim/Hand of Ephraim, and the Shivtei Yisra’El/Tribe of Yisra’El his Chaverim/Friends-Companions, and will put them with him, even with the Etz Yahudah/Tree of Judah, and make them Etz Echad/One Tree, and they shall be Echad/One in Mine Yad/Hand. (Yehezqel/Ezekiel 37:15-17)
YaHuWaH Prophesies Through Hoshea Of The Restoration Of Both Houses
So we have here what is basically the end of the 10 Northern tribes of Yisra’El, the house of Yosef-Ephraim. They will no longer be shown mercy by YaHuWaH, and as a result will cease being a recognizable people or nation. However, as horrible as this end is, in verse 10 of chapter one we have this startling statement.
10 Yet the number of the Bnei Yisra’El/Sons of Yisra’El shall be as the sand of the yam/sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are lo ami (not My people), there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the Bnei El Chai. [Sons of the Living Elohim/Mighty One (Hoshea/Hosea 1:10)
Do you remember that promise to the Avot/fathers? Abraham was told to count the stars and the sand of the seashore if he could? That would be how many his zera/physical seed would be. An innumerable multitude! Notice also, that one of the identifying characteristics of this restored people would be that they would call themselves Bnei El Chai, or sons of the Living Elohim/Mighty One. Think about it, which people group calls themselves by this very name today? The people who make up what we know as the church of Christendom! That’s right! Much of the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El, the scattered/outcast tribes of the Northern kingdom, are to be found within what we know as the modern church systems of today! They have forgotten their true Hebraic identity. They are partially blinded to YaHuWaH’s Torah. They have become complacent within a replacement system of religion known as the church of Christendom. But, YaHuWaH has not forgotten them. In this very hour a great move of the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit is sweeping over the earth. Multitudes within the church system are awakening to the reality of their Hebraic identity. YaHuWaH has promised in His Word that it would happen. It is why you are here reading these words now! Wake up! Come out of your sleep in the replacement systems of religion. You are Yisra’El! YaHuWaH is calling to your heart.
19 And I will betroth thee unto Me l’olam/forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in Tzedek/righteousness, and in mishpat/justice, and in chesed/lovingkindness, and in rachamim/mercy.
20 I will even betroth thee unto Me in emunah/faithfulness, fidelity: then thou shalt know YaHuWaH.
21 And it shall come to pass in Yom Hahu/That Day, I will answer, saith YaHuWaH, I will answer HaShemayim (the heavens), and they shall answer Ha’Aretz/The Earth;
22 And Ha’Aretz/The Land shall answer with dagan/grain, and tirosh/new wine, and yitzhar/oil; and they shall answer Yizre’El/Jezreel (Yah will sow).
23 And I will sow her for Myself in ha’aretz/the land; and I will have rachamim/mercy upon lo ruchamah/no mercy; and I will say to them which were lo ami/not My people, Thou art ami (My people); and they shall say, Thou art Elohai (my Elohim). (Hoshea/Hosea 2:19-23)
The Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David In The Latter Days
Now let’s go back up and look at the last verse of chapter one. For there we have a promise of a restored Kingdom.
11 [Then shall the Bnei Yahudah/Sons of Judah and the Bnei Yisra’El/Sons of Yisra’El will be gathered together, and appoint for them Rosh Echad/One Head [Mashiach; see Isa chp 11; Hoshea 3:5], and they shall come up out of ha’aretz/the land; for gadol/great shall be the Yom Yizre’El (Day of Jezreel [Yah will sow]) (Hoshea/Hosea 1:11)
The term Yizre’El/Jezreel is used as a prophetic picture of the replanting of that which was scattered. This is nothing less than the prophesied rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David.
In that Yom/Day will I raise up the Sukkat David/Tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the yamei olam/days of old; (Amos 9:11)
This is what Ya’akob/James was referring to in Acts 15 when those from among the nations were found coming into the faith through the ministry of Sha’ul/Paul. These so called Gentiles were the beginnings of YaHuWaH’s promised regathering of the scattered Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El.
After these things I will return and AKIM ES SUKKAT DOVID HANOFELET VHARISOTAV AKIM U’VENITIHA (“I will restore the tent of David which has fallen and the things having been torn down of it I will rebuild and I will restore it”), (Ma’asei/Acts 15:16)
The Tabernacle of David was established during the only time when all the tribes of Yisra’El were gathered together as ONE corporate kingdom under David’s reign as king. What happened in the book of Acts 15 was a precursor to the prophesied regathering of the Whole House of Yisra’El in the Acherim HaYamim/Latter Days by the prophet Amos. The Tabernacle of David will again be rebuilt when the Yisraelites from the outcast Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El who have been scattered among the nations, seemingly lost to their true identity and swallowed up, assimilated, are being regathered. They will be rejoined to their elder counterpart, the Southern kingdom/the dispersed house of Yahudah/Judah. When that day begins to happen, please notice the promise of Hoshea/Hosea 2:1,
1 Say ye unto your achim/brothers, Ami/My people; and to your achayot/sisters, Ruchamah (Pitied) Hoshea/Hosea 2:1)
Please notice that the word spiritual is not in this verse. It’s because these brothers and sisters ARE the physical relatives of one another! In the day of Yizre’El/Jezreel, the replanting of that which had been scattered, it will not be a time of building another separate spiritual entity known as the church. No! It will be the regathering and rebuilding of the Whole House of Yisra’El. The physical seed as originally promised to our fathers…Abraham, Yitz’chak/Isaac, and Ya’akob/Jacob.
Identifying Who Kefa/Peter Is Speaking To In His Letter In The Messianic Writings
Now with the above thought in mind let’s go and look at 1st Peter,
“From: Kefa/Peter, an emissary of Yahusha the Messiah To: YaHuWaH’s chosen people, living as aliens in the Diaspora — in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bythinia” (1 Kefa/Peter 1:1)
Those whom Kefa/Peter was addressing were said to be chosen people. Did you get that? This will become more profound momentarily. These chosen people were those who were living as aliens (ger in Hebrew; gerim plural- strangers or aliens) in the Diaspora/The Scattering. Were these Yahudi believers? This is the assumption of most Christian theologians. However, there are some very peculiar characteristics to what is said that seems to prove otherwise. Look at the verses below.
9 But you are an AM NIVCHAR (“a chosen people” YESHAYAHU 43:20; SHEMOTH 6:7), a MAMLECHET KOHANIM (“a kingdom of priests, royal priests” Ex 19:6), a GOY KADOSH (“a holy nation” Ex 19:6), an AM SEGULLAH (“a people of treasured possession” Ex 19:5; Mal 3:17), for this purpose: that you may declare the wondrous deeds of the One who gave you the kri’ah (calling) and summoned you out of choshech/darkness into his marvelous ohr/light [Isa 43:21; 42:12].
10 You, who once were LO AMI (“not My people” Hos 1:9) but now AMI ATAH (“My people you are” Hos 2:25), the AM YaHuWaH (“the people of Elohim/The Mighty One”), the ones having not received rachamim/mercy, but now having received rachamim/mercy (Hos 2:25) (Kefa Alef/1 Peter 2:9-10)
Do you see it? Kefa/Peter uses the same words that Hoshea/Hosea uses to refer to his readers. Lo Ami…not My people, but now Ami Atah…My people you are. Lo Ruchamah…those having not received mercy, but now having received mercy. As we have seen, the sefer/book of Hoshea/Hosea was written specifically to the Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El. Kefa/Peter would have known this. It would have made no sense for him to use terminology that had no meaning to Yahudi believers. The only thing that makes sense is that his readers were those persons from outside the Yahudi community who had indeed become believers. Those considered to be outcasts of Yisra’El among the nations, but now who have become a part of the believing community. As we have seen, Sha’ul/Paul says that these ones, while having been removed from Yisra’El and the covenants of The Mighty One, are NO LONGER TO BE CONSIDERED GENTILES, OUTCASTS, BUT WHOLLY A PART OF THE COMMONWEALTH NATION OF YISRA’EL! (Ephesians 2:11-12) He calls them a chosen people. For just as their Yahudi counterparts are considered to be such, by their trusting faithfulness in Yahusha HaMashiach and His redemptive work, they too are considered a part of Yisra’El, and to be every bit as chosen. The truth is, the regathering of the Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El had already begun in the days of Kefa/Peter, Sha’ul/Paul, and Ya’akob/James. Remember the words of our blessed Master Himself,
But, Melech HaMashiach/King Mashiach said in reply, I was not sent except to the Seh Oveid Beis Yisra’El (the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel).” (Mattityahu/Matthew 15:24)
Remember the moniker house of Yisra’El is used to denote the house of the Northern kingdom after the split in 921 BCE. The Gospel/Besorah was not meant just to be an arbitrary proclamation to the world in general of redemption. It was meant to be a world-wide search for the scattered seed of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El! Where else but the world, the Goyim/Nations of the world, are you going to find this seed? Of course the message is also for those who maybe in the truest sense a Gentile, meaning ones who have no connection physically with Abraham. This is why in Yehezqel/Ezekiel when referring to the Two Houses, the term and their companions is added. Not all who are a part of the Two Houses have a physical connection through Abraham to Yisra’El. Therefore, they are in that sense true Gentiles, but when any one comes through the Door of Mashiach Yahusha by faith in His redemptive work, then they are NO LONGER GENTILES! (Ephesians 2:12-19) They are considered Yisraelites having been joined to the corporate community of the commonwealth nation of Yisra’El. Even in the Torah there has ALWAYS been a way for those outside of Yisra’El to become a part of YaHuWaH’s people. So, the Gospel gives this right too. BUT…it is first and foremost the Good News of YaHuWaH’s regathering of that which had been scattered.
11 And it shall come to pass in Yom HaHu/That Day, that My Master shall set His yad/hand again the second time to recover the She’ar (Remnant) of His people, which shall be left [as survivors], from Assyria, and from Mitzrayim/Egypt, and from Patros, and from Kush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Chamat, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And He shall raise up a nes [a banner, i.e., send a signal] for the Goyim/Nations, and shall assemble the OUTCASTS of Yisra’El/Yosef-Ephraim, and gather together the DISPERSED of Yahudah/Judah from the four corners of ha’aretz/the land.
13 The kinah (envy, jealousy) also of Ephrayim/Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Yahudah/Judah shall be cut off; Ephrayim/Ephraim shall not envy Yahudah/Judah, and Yahudah/Judah shall not harass Ephrayim/Ephraim. (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:11-13)
Identifying The Approximate Time Of The Regathering Of The Northern House
Now let’s look at the window of opportunity that will mark the approximate time when this regathering is to be completed. To find this approximate time window let’s go first of all to the book of Yehezqel/Ezekiel
4 Next, you are to lie on your left side, and have it bear the guilt of the house of Yisra’El [House of the kingdom of Northern Yisra’El- the Ten Tribes] — for as many days as you lie on your side, you will bear their guilt.
5 For I am assigning you one day for each year of their guilt; thus you are to bear the guilt of the house of Yisra’El for 390 days. (Yehezqel/Ezekiel)
So we see here that the original judgment on the house of Yisra’El, the Northern kingdom/Yosef-Ephraim, was to be 390 days. Each day was to be in reality a year in length.
If these things don’t make you listen to me, then I will discipline you seven times over for your sins. (Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26:19…see also vs.s 24 & 28)
So if YaHuWaH’s people did not repent when they were under the discipline of His judgment, then He would multiply that period of judgment seven times. The original judgment was for 390 years. The Northern house of Yisra’El did not repent. So the 390 years was multiplied by 7…390 x 7= 2730 years.
Now to arrive at the approximate window when this judgment would be lifted and the prophesied regathering would brought to completion you need to use the dates which the Northern house was actually taken into captivity. The first date would be 734 BCE. If you take 734 and subtract it (due to BCE) from the 2730 years: 2730 – 734 = approximately the year 1996 CE or AD. If you begin with the year of the Northern house’s final dispersion 722 BCE/BC and take that away from 2730…2730 – 722 = approximately 2008. These dates are only approximations because of the discrepancies in the Gregorian calendar. Nonetheless, it gives you an approximate time frame when the regathering of the outcast house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El would occur. Beginning with the former date of 1996 CE/AD or the mid 1990’s you find that this was the time when many Hebraic Roots ministries suddenly began to realize that not only did their faith have a Hebraic root, but THEY did too! This began the time when the Ruach HaKodesh began to move to restore Torah to these different groups as they began to see themselves in their true Hebraic identities. YaHuWaH began to awaken the descendants (Heb. dor/generations) of the scattered Northern house/ten tribes among the nations just as He had promised. (see Debarim/Deuteronomy 30) This began and is continuing the movement toward the restoration of the Whole House of Yisra’El! (Yehezqel/Ezekiel 37:15-28)
But, Melech HaMashiach/King Messiah said in reply, I was not sent except to the Seh Oveid Beis Yisra’El /the Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra’El” (Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:24)
And another tzon/sheep I have which is not of this mikhla/fold [enclosure]; those also it is necessary for me to bring, and my voice they will hear, and they will become eder echad with Ro’eh echad/One flock with one Shepherd. (Yohanan/John 10:16)
The above are the words of our blessed Master, Yahusha. He plainly states in the Besorah of Mattithyahu/Matthew that He was NOT sent except to the Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra’El. Knowing now, that using this name, which is one of three that the Northern house of Yisra’El came to be known by (house of Yosef, house of Ephraim), our Master was letting all who read know that one of His great commissions as The Mashiach of the Whole House of Yisra’El, was to regather this scattered outcast house from among the nations. (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 49:1-6)
“Listen to Me, O coastlands, and hear, you peoples from afar! YaHuWaH has called Me from the womb, from My mother’s belly He has caused My Name to be remembered. And He made My mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid Me, and made Me a polished shaft. In His quiver He hid Me.” And He said to Me, ‘You are My servant, O Yisra’El, in whom I am adorned.’ And I said, ‘I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for emptiness, and in vain. But my right-ruling is with YaHuWaH, and my work with my Elohim.’ ” And now said YaHuWaH – who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Ya‛aqoḇ back to Him, though Yisra’El is not gathered to Him, yet I am esteemed in the eyes of YaHuWaH, and My Elohim has been My strength – and He says, “Shall it be a small matter for You to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Ya‛aqoḇ, and to bring back the preserved ones of Yisra’El? And I shall give You as a light to the nations, to be My deliverance to the ends of the earth!” Yeshayahu/Isaiah 49:1-6
Then in the Besorah of Yohanan/John Yahusha makes it crystal clear that He indeed understood, and that it was His mission to bring these scattered sheep back home to Yisra’El! The resultant regathering would be that there would be ONE flock with ONE Shepherd. These are the very words promised by YaHuWaH through the prophet Yehezqel/Ezekiel in chapter 37 verses 15-28 (please read). This plainly shows that our Master understood the condition of the nation of Yisra’El as a divided house and kingdom, and that He was the One who would bring this divided kingdom back to Wholeness again.
And at yechidus/private, having come together, they were asking him saying, “Adoneinu/Our Master, is it at this time that You are restoring the Malchut/Kingdom of YaHuWaH to Am Yisra’El/The People of Yisra’El?” (Ma’asei/Acts 1:6)
Now further we have here the eleven talmidim/disciples who had come together in private with Yahusha. Out of all the questions which they could have asked Him, what is it they asked? Is this the time that you will restore the Kingdom of YaHuWaH to the People of Yisra’El? Did Yahusha understand the dividing and reunion of the Two Houses of Yisra’El? What about His talmidim/disciples?
Kefa/Peter wrote to those among believing Yisra’El who were scattered in the Diaspora from the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El. He used the same terminology familiar with that of the book of Hoshea/Hosea, which was written specifically concerning the Northern house of Yisra’El. He says that those to whom he was writing were once known as Lo Ruchamah/No Mercy and Lo Ami/No Longer a People. This terminology would have made no sense to those believers in Mashiach Yahusha from the house of Yahudah/Judah. Though their avot/fathers had been guilty of their own sinful, torahless behavior, YaHuWaH had never called them not My people. These believers from the house of Yahudah had never been put away and divorced. YaHuWaH had never withdrawn His mercy from them. This had only been done to the Northern house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El. Now look to whom Ya’akob/James addresses his letter to,
Ya’akob, eved/servant of YaHuWaH and of Melech HaMashiach/King Messiah, Adoneinu/Master Yehoshua/Yahusha [Shortened Aramaic form]; To the Shneym Asar HaShevatim (Twelve Tribes) in the Golus/Exile, Shalom!”(Ya’akob/James 1:1)
There are those today who wish to say that the Ten Northern tribes of Yisra’El have already been regathered and are in actuality become a part of the house of Yahudah alone. However, Ya’akob/James did not recognize this. He wrote to ALL twelve tribes who were in the Diaspora/Exile into the nations of the world at that time! Remember from Yeshayahu/Isaiah both houses are referred to as either scattered or dispersed among the nations. (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:14-16) In the book of Hazon/Revelation there are 12 gates into the city of the New Yerushalayim/Jerusalem. Each gate represented by one of the twelve tribes! (Hazon/Revelation 21:12)
The Torah And The Grafting In Process
Now for a moment let’s look at Sha’ul/Paul and the famous portion of his letter to the Roman assembly on the grafting in of the so-called Gentiles. T the use of this term Gentiles is a very poor choice of words. It was only from the 15th century that this term began to be used to speak of those outside of the house of Yahudah. The actual biblical term is Goy (Goyim pl.) or Nation(s). In chapter 11 of Romans Sha’ul/Paul speaks of those branches which were broken off of the natural olive tree in order to make room for those (so-called Gentiles/Goyim/Nations) which would be grafted back in. The grafted-in branches were in fact from a wild olive tree. Beloved, Sha’ul/Paul understood about the Two Houses of Yisra’El…one Yahudi; one not. Most of the world of Christendom treats those branches being grafted back in as though they have NEVER had a relationship with the natural branches of the Yahudi. However, let me ask one important question. What is the difference between a natural olive tree and a wild olive tree?
First, Torah forbids the mixing of different types of things, especially when it comes to seeds and fruit. (see Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:19) In other words according to Torah you cannot take a branch from an apple tree and graft it into an orange tree. The trees may not belong to the same orchard, but they MUST be of the same kind of tree.
Here’s the answer to the above question. The only difference between a natural olive tree and one that is wild is: One is cultivated, usually within an orchard, and one is not. A wild olive tree is STILL an olive tree by nature. It’s just that it has been scattered outside the cultivated orchards of the other olive trees which are said to be natural. Sha’ul/Paul knew who these wild olive branches were. They were that zera/physical seed from among the Northern house of Yosef/Ephraim/Yisra’El which had been scattered among the Nations! In Yisra’El, when you look at the olive trees, it looks as though there are two trees growing out of the same root. It’s a perfect picture of the Two Houses of Yisra’El.
Further, and we have alluded to Sha’ul’s/Paul’s statements in his letter to the Ephesians concerning our true stature before YaHuWaH as believers in Yahusha HaMashiach. Sha’ul/Paul makes it quite clear here to those who have believed upon the redemptive work of Yahusha HaMashiach, that though they may have been at one time so-called Gentiles, strangers and separated from the covenant of YaHuWaH. Now in Him and through His blood shed for our redemption we have been made near and are partakers of the covenant of YaHuWaH ever promised, INCLUDING being a part of the nation of Yisra’El itself. This is not a spiritual connection alone. It is meant to be understood as both natural and spiritual.
11 Therefore, have zikaron/remembrance that formerly you, the Goyim/Nations in the flesh, who are called arelim/uncircumcised ones by the ones being called nimolim/circumcised ones which is a Brit Milah/Covenant of Circumcision performed in the flesh by human hands. Please note that Sha’ul/Paul clearly states in this verse that those who are Gentiles/those from among the Nations/Goyim…the uncircumcised (a Scriptural code-word used by Torah legalists to refer to anyone outside of the house of Yahudah, regardless as to whether they were actually from the assimilated tribes of the Northern kingdom or were actually true Goyim/Gentiles with no physical connection with Abraham- there is a difference)…that is our/their FORMER status…but now that we/they have come through Yahusha HaMashiach by trusting faithfulness in His redemptive work, those who are of the outcast, scattered house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El are re-entering the nation of Yisra’El through Him while those who are true Goyim/Gentiles with no physical relation to Abraham have simply entered the nation also through their act of trusting faithfulness we/they are a part of YaHuWaH’s covenant nation/the commonwealth of Yisra’El.
12 Have zikaron/remembrance that you were at that time bazunder/unrelated and separate from Melech HaMashiach/King Messiah, having been alienated from the torat haEzrakhut (the citizenship/the commonwealth nation of Yisra’El) in the Am Brit/People’s Covenants, from Yisra’El, being zarim/strangers to the Beritot HaHavtacha/Covenants of Promise, lost and having no tikvah/hope and without YaHuWaH in the Olam Hazeh/Present World. [Yeshayahu/Isaiah 14:1; 65:1]
13 But now in union with Melech HaMashiach Yehoshua/King Messiah Yahusha, you, who FORMERLY were in the outermost courts, have been brought near by the kapporah/covering; atonement of the dahm/blood of Mashiach/blood of Messiah.
14 For Mashiach himself is our shalom/peace, who made the Shneym/Two into Echad/One, having broken down in the basar/flesh of Mashiach the barrier of the Mechitzah/the dividing partition, the Soreg/barrier of the set-apart precinct in the Beis/House HaMikdash/Sanctuary between Yahudi and non-Yahudi- *[Those who are the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El as well as those true Goyim/Gentiles], the Eyvah (Enmity),
15 By annulling the chok/decree, law of mishpatim/judgments in ordinances/NOT THE TORAH ITSELF, but the list of transgressions in which we were all guilty of violating the Torah [see Colossians 2:14]- The Torah could only demand our death that the Shnaym/Two He might create in Himself into Adam Chadash Echad/One New Humanity, arbitrating shalom/peace,
16 And that Mashiach might bring the ritztzuy/reconciliation, cessation of enmity, reconciling to YaHuWaH the Shnaym/Two into one guf/body through the Mashiach’s Etz/Tree or Execution Stake, having put to death the Eyvah/Enmity by it. [see Romans 8:3-4- the weakness of the Torah is that it could not answer our debt to the broken ordinances of that Torah. It could only demand justice…our death- However, YaHuWaH answered that weakness by sending His own Son to die in our place AND be resurrected. Thus providing a means of redemption and reconciliation through the blood of His Execution Stake!]
17 And having come, Mashiach preached shalom/peace to you, the ones in the **outermost courts/those of the Nations [the house of Ephraim], and shalom/peace to the ones near the house of Yahudah]
18 Because through Mashiach we both have HaSha’ar laYaHuWaH (gate to approach YaHuWaH’s presence, access of the tzaddikim/righteous ones Tehillim 118:20) by one Ruach HaKodesh to Elohim/The Mighty One HaAv/YaHuWaH The Father.
19 Therefore, then, NO LONGER are you zarim/strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens of the Kadoshim/set-apart ones and bnei bayit/sons born in the house members of the household of YaHuWaH/which is Yisra’El,” (Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:11-19)
Understanding The True Intention Of Proclaiming The Besorah Of Redemption
The Besorah is not only a declaration of personal redemption culminating in eternal salvation, but it is a message of the national restoration of the Whole House of Yisra’El. Look at the words of YaHuWaH through the prophet Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah. Look to whom the promise of a Renewed Covenant is made,
31 (30) Hinei/Behold, the days come, saith YaHuWaH, that I will cut a Brit Chadasha/literally in Hebrew a Renewed Covenant with Bais Yisra’El/House of Yisra’El-(Yosef-Ephraim) , and with Bais Yahudah/House of Judah;
32 (31) Not according to the Brit/Covenant that I cut with their Avot/Fathers in the day that I took hold of their yad/hand to take them out of Eretz Mitzrayim/Land of Egypt; which My Brit/Covenant they broke, although I was Ba’al (Husband) to them, saith YaHuWaH;
33 (32) But this shall be the Brit/Covenant that I will cut with Bais Yisra’El [This is a reference to the Whole House of Yisra’El after its restoration from Two Houses into One restored nation again] [After those days, saith YaHuWaH, I will set My Torah in them inwardly, and I will write ketubim/the words on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim/Mighty One, and they shall be My People. (Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:31-33)
It is nothing less than the physical Two Houses of Yisra’El…house of Yosef-Ephraim…house of Yahudah/Judah! This covenant IS NOT made with a replacement entity called church! Neither is it made with an entity called spiritual Yisra’El! The words of YaHuWaH’s Torah will no longer be written on tablets of stone, but upon the fleshly tablets of the heart of His people…Yisra’El!
The Restoration Of All Things
19 “Therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from chet/sin to YaHuWaH) and turn in order that your chatta’im/sins, your averos/iniquities may be removed, [Tehillim/Psalms 51:1; Yeshayahu/Isaiah 43:25; 44:22]
20 In order that times of rest may come from the presence of Our Master YaHuWaH, and that he may send the one having been proclaimed beforehand to you, that is, Melech HaMashiach/King Messiah,
21 Whom it is necessary for Shemayim/the Heavens to receive/hold until the times of the Tikkun/Restoration of ALL things of which YaHuWaH spoke long ago through the mouth of his Nebi’im hakedoshim/Prophets the set-apart ones/the promise of the restoration of the Whole House of Yisra’El. (Ma’asei/Acts 3:19-21)
Within the words of Kefa’s/Peter’s message after the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh on the feast of Shavuot, you find a promise of what will, in time, bring about the Second Return of Yahusha HaMashiach. Our blessed Master is not coming to create a Kingdom, but to receive one! As we have seen in the Tanakh/Hebrew Scriptures along with the Messianic Writings are full of the promises that the Kingdom of Yisra’El will be ONE again. We are living in the days of the restoration of ALL things as promised above. The 2730 judgment upon the Northern house of Yosef/Ephraim/Yisra’El is being lifted. Ephraim as the outcast house of Yisra’El among the nations is waking up. He is shaking off the pagan practices which he learned while among the Nations. He is being repatriated to his Hebraic nature and culture. This is provoking jealousy among his elder brother Yahudah/Judah. (read Master Yahusha’s parable of the Prodigal son in this light Luke 15:11-32) As he watches his younger brother becoming more and more Hebraic, leaving the pagan traditions of the church of Christendom, returning to the Torah and feasts of YaHuWaH. This return is causing mixed emotions among the house of Yahudah/Judah. However, there is a promise in Yeshayahu/Isaiah of this day and its end result.
11 And it shall come to pass in Yom HaHu/That Day, that YaHuWaH will set His yad/hand again the second time – [a reference to the coming 2nd Exodus [see Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:1-8] to recover the She’ar/Remnant of His people, which shall be left [as survivors], from Assyria, and from Mitzrayim, and from Patros, and from Kush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Chamat, and from the islands of the sea/all the nations where the outcast house/Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El and the dispersed/house of Yahudah/Judah.
12 And He shall raise up a nes/a banner, i.e., send a signal for the Goyim/Nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Yisra’El/Yosef-Ephraim– [the term outcasts is used to describe the house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El because when they were taken captive into Assyria and then further scattered among the nations, they were looked upon as having become lost to their relationship with Yisra’El as a nation and the house of Yahudah views them as having been removed from that relationship also, and gather together the dispersed of Yahudah/Judah from the four corners of ha’aretz/the earth. [The house of Judah has been scattered among the nations too. However they never lost their identity and remain as Yahudah/Judah. Therefore in the prophetic writing of Yeshayahu here they are referred to as the dispersed house of Yahudah/Judah]
13 The kinah/envy, jealousy also of Ephrayim/Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Yahudah/Judah shall be cut off; Ephrayim/Ephraim shall not envy Yahudah/Judah, and Yahudah/Judah shall not harass Ephraim. (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:11-13)
In time, as the latter portion of this passage promises, Ephraim will no longer be driven by envy of his elder brother Yahudah/Judah. In the same way, Yahudah/Judah will no longer harass Ephraim. He will come to see his younger brother as who he really is…his true brother in the flesh. Together, under the rule of their Great Shepherd King, Yahusha HaMashiach, who will return to answer the very question the talmidim/disciples asked in Acts 1:6. The Kingdom will be restored to Yisra’El. The Kingdom of the Heavens will be established on the earth for a thousand years. Our Master Yahusha will reign as King from His throne in Yerushalayim/Jerusalem. All the nations of the earth will come to Mt. Zion and will be taught the ways of YaHuWaH’s Torah. It will be a time when as the nebi’im/prophets have promised, “The glory of YaHuWaH will cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea!” (Chabakkuk/Habakkuk) We are living in the fulfillment of these very things today!
For all of us who know ourselves to be a part of YaHuWaH’s returning house of Yosef-Ephraim-Yisra’El, we must let these things sink down into our heart. We are being repatriated to our forgotten Hebraic heritage, and readied to assume our place in the restoration of the Whole House of Yisra’El. Religion is not only blind, but it is resistant, even intolerant of these things.
The same can be said of studying all Scripture. Religion is hasatan’s greatest scheme for confusing, hiding, and misappropriating YaHuWaH’s Truth about Himself and His Kingdom. He doesn’t mind us studying Scripture as long as we never pick up YaHuWaH’s Hebraic glasses (ayin-dalet ayin-taw) that reveals His Truth. Truly, as Sha’ul/Paul warned Timothy, the Last Days are perilous time. (II Timothy 3:1) Now, that we are living in the latter portion of those Days, that fact is even more profound. I urge you not to accept what is written here at face value. Test everything. Truth is unafraid of questions. Darkness is! May YaHuWaH help all who read these pages. To Him, and His glory alone. Yahmein!
*Scripture sources used were the OJB, CJB and ISR.
1 Comment
dollyhewett · July 14, 2019 at 9:25 pm
I LOVE THIS STUDY! VERY, VERY EXCITING!