“The Lost Sheep of Israel” and “The Israel of God” is a two-part study series that reveals from Scripture the glory of the Gospel involving restoration of the Kingdom of Israel and reconciliation of the Gentiles, that they too may be a part of the covenant that God made with Israel. While I am aware that these teachings are rarely (if almost never) taught to a vast majority of Christians, I also recognize that the Father in heaven is, in these last days, removing a veil that has for centuries covered our eyes—partly because of deception that crept into the Church from the 3rd and 4th centuries onwards and partly because Christians, and I include myself, followed blindly what has been handed down to us, generation after generation. There is an increasing awareness amongst the redeemed of Yahweh’s people where many from all over the world—not just from the Christian community but even among the Jews—are being given insight into the truth; a revelation of the glory of the Gospel of God.
This first part of the study provides the historical background, the present fulfilments and the future prophesies for the nation of Israel. It is an important part in this series because, sadly there is a lack of understanding amongst believers in Yeshua—having hardly been taught from the pulpit (or at Bible study)—what the Torah and the Prophets alongside the ‘Brit Hadashah’ (or the New Testament) reveals of Yeshua and His plan of restoration.
After the death of King Solomon, because he went astray from God in the later part of his life, the united kingdom of Israel split into two (1Kin. 11:9-13). Ten of the twelve tribes of United Israel broke away and formed what is sometimes referred to as the “Northern Kingdom” or “The House of Israel” or “Ephraim” [Joseph’s youngest son] (1Kin. 12:20). At the end of this writing is a list that you could refer to.
The Southern Kingdom consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (1Kin. 12:21) and is referred to in the Bible as the House of Judah. The term “Jews” which we use today and was used even in the days of Yeshua, is primarily because of Judah's long existence in the land. It therefore means that all Jews are Israel but not all Israel are Jews. It is akin to saying that all Maharashtrians are Indians but all Indians are not Maharashtrians. [For those not from India, Maharashtra is one of 29 states.]
Because the House of Israel broke the covenant that Yahweh made with them through Moses, by following after false gods, the living God brought upon them the curses He warned would come if they disobeyed His commands. (Deut. 28:36-37; Lev. 26:33). The Righteous One brought the Assyrians to invade the Northern Kingdom around 721 BC and scattered them all over the world (2Kin. 17:6, 23; 1Kin. 14:15-16). From that time on till recently, the Northern Kingdom never returned. It is why they are referred to as the “Lost Tribes of Israel” or the “Lost Sheep of Israel”. In the over 2700 years of being scattered, these 10 tribes integrated so well amongst the Gentiles that they have almost forgotten their identity. True to Jacob's prophesy over Ephraim, when he blessed Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim was so scattered among the nations that they became a “multitude of nations” (Gen. 48:19).
About 135 years later, around the year 586 BC, because of the Southern Kingdom’s deceitful and treacherous ways (Jer. 3:8-10), God sent the Babylonian Empire to invade the House of Judah. They carried away all the riches of Jerusalem; they destroyed the Temple built by Solomon; and took away all the nobles, princes and bright young men to Babylon [Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being among them], leaving only the old and disabled behind (2Kin. 20:17). After spending 70 years in exile (Jer. 29:10; Dan. 9:2) God showed mercy to the House of Judah and brought them back during the reign of Cyrus, the Persian King; and through Nehemiah and his supporters, restored the temple and Jerusalem. From then the land suffered greatly for centuries by way of conquests from the Greeks and the Romans, even during the days of Yeshua.
Then in 70 AD, just as the Messiah foretold when He was on earth, the Temple built by Herod was completely destroyed by the Roman Empire. Not one stone was left upon another. The Romans burnt Jerusalem and all the Jews were scattered from the land. From that time on till the mid-twentieth century [for almost 1878 years], the land of Israel was made desolate and barren.
However, Yeshua had also said that He had come for the lost sheep of Israel (Mt. 15:24). He was sent to restore these tribes back to God. The story of the Prodigal Son is all about the return of Ephraim, the younger son or the “lost sheep”. As there were some from the scattered 10 tribes still living in Judea and other parts of the land of Israel during the time of Yeshua—Anna, the prophetess from the tribe of Asher, was one of them (Lk. 2:36)—the Messiah gave strict instructions to His disciples not to go to the Gentiles or to Samaria but only to the lost sheep of Israel (Mt. 10:5-6). It is for this reason that Peter writes his letter to those scattered abroad (1Pet. 1:1) and James, to the 12 tribes of Israel scattered among the nations (Jas. 1:1).
From that time until 1948, most of the land of Israel was a wasteland. It was inhabited by the Palestinians and only a very few Jewish families that stayed there in small community settlements they called “Kibbutz”. Yahweh remembered His promise to Abraham and in 1948 after World War II and the horrible genocide of 6 million Jews, He brought them back to the land of Israel. However part of Jerusalem was still occupied by Jordan and in the six-day war in 1967, God not only delivered the entire city of Jerusalem into the hands of Israel but gave them victory against five nations that had surrounded them.
Since 1948, but more especially in the last 10 years or so, Israelis from all over the world are now making “aliyah” (or returning back to their homeland). Those from the scattered 10 tribes of Israel (or Ephraim, as the Bible sometimes refers to them) that had mixed with the Gentiles of the world are now being made increasingly aware of their lineage to Abraham and have also started making “aliyah” to Israel—people from Russia, India, and several countries from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America. This is in fulfilment of the prophecy made long ago through the prophets Ezekiel (Eze. 37:15-17; 22-24), Jeremiah (Jer. 31:20) and Isaiah (Isa. 43:5-7)—where God had promised to gather His people once again into the land and never scatter them again nor let them be destroyed again but establish them forever.
Having provided the history, it is absolutely necessary to recognise that the salvation and restoration of Israel is hinged entirely on believing in Yeshua as the Messiah—for apart from Him there is no other way by which a man can be saved from the wrath of God and the penalty of sin. Though one may be a descendant of Abraham—to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises; whose are the fathers and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh (Rom. 9:4-5)—such can be made righteous only by faith in Yeshua.
Long before the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, Adonai Elohim had promised that He would make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah (Jer. 31:31). This new covenant was ratified and brought into existence through the blood of Yeshua (Heb. 9:15-17). In this covenant, God replaced the law of the Levitical priesthood with a better priesthood—one that is according to the order of Melchizedek—with Yeshua HaMashiach as the High Priest. This covenant does not replace the moral law given through Moses, as many in the Christian community assume, but only the laws of the Priesthood (Heb. 7:12)—for in the new covenant, God puts His moral laws into our minds and writes them upon our hearts (Heb. 8:10). Unlike the first, where one became a priest by virtue of being a descendant of Aaron, Yeshua became a Priest by oath (Heb. 7:21); and the mediator and guarantee of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22; 8:6). In the previous covenant, death prevented the priest from continuing in office, in the new covenant, Yeshua, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently (Heb. 7:23-24). In the first, the High Priest—who himself was beset with weaknesses—would need to offer up sacrifices regularly, making atonement first for himself and then for the sins of the people; and that too with the blood of bulls and goats; in the better covenant, Yeshua who is made perfect forever, offered Himself once for all as a sacrifice that is complete (Heb. 7:26-28; 9:13-14), making atonement for men in the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not of this creation (Heb. 9:11).
Despite all this told to them through the prophets of old, Israel chose to deny Yeshua as the Messiah for nearly 2000 years. A partial hardening occurred to them (Rom. 11:25). They could not believe and chose not to accept that Yeshua was the Deliverer who had come from Zion and that He was the anointed One who would remove ungodliness from Jacob (Rom. 11:26). Yeshua, the stone which the builders rejected had become the chief cornerstone and the Jews stumbled over the stone of stumbling and the rock of offence (Rom. 9:32-33). They sought salvation thinking it was achieved by keeping the law instead of simply receiving it by faith in Yeshua. Though from the standpoint of God’s choice, Israel is beloved for the sake of the fathers (for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable); yet from the standpoint of the gospel, they became enemies for the sake of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:28). God, in the depth and riches of His wisdom and knowledge gave the descendants of Abraham a spirit of stupor; eyes to see not and ears to hear not (Rom. 11:8). Their disobedience resulted in mercy being shown to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:30-31). However, when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, the Bible tells us that Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:25-26).
It is evident from all that we see in these last days, that increasingly this veil of stupor is being lifted from the eyes of the Jews. More and more of them are beginning to recognise that Yeshua is indeed the Messiah and that forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and righteousness before God is based only by faith in Him. They have begun to realize that merely being circumcised in their flesh has no value unless they are first circumcised in their hearts—for the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly but one inwardly (Rom. 2:28-29). In recent years, God has been drawing the descendants of Abraham to recognize that what matters to Him is a new creation in Yeshua (Gal. 6:15); where circumcision is faith working through love (Gal. 5:6). Thousands upon thousands of Jews now believe in and accept Yeshua as the Messiah who was sent for their salvation and the restoration of Israel; and the numbers are only growing. The whole plan of Yahweh as was described in the Tanakh (Old Testament) now makes sense to their joyful hearts.
Having provided the history, it is absolutely necessary to recognise that the salvation and restoration of Israel is hinged entirely on believing in Yeshua as the Messiah—for apart from Him there is no other way by which a man can be saved from the wrath of God and the penalty of sin. Though one may be a descendant of Abraham—to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises; whose are the fathers and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh (Rom. 9:4-5)—such can be made righteous only by faith in Yeshua.
Long before the Word became flesh and dwelt among men, Adonai Elohim had promised that He would make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah (Jer. 31:31). This new covenant was ratified and brought into existence through the blood of Yeshua (Heb. 9:15-17). In this covenant, God replaced the law of the Levitical priesthood with a better priesthood—one that is according to the order of Melchizedek—with Yeshua HaMashiach as the High Priest. This covenant does not replace the moral law given through Moses, as many in the Christian community assume, but only the laws of the Priesthood (Heb. 7:12)—for in the new covenant, God puts His moral laws into our minds and writes them upon our hearts (Heb. 8:10). Unlike the first, where one became a priest by virtue of being a descendant of Aaron, Yeshua became a Priest by oath (Heb. 7:21); and the mediator and guarantee of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22; 8:6). In the previous covenant, death prevented the priest from continuing in office, in the new covenant, Yeshua, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently (Heb. 7:23-24). In the first, the High Priest—who himself was beset with weaknesses—would need to offer up sacrifices regularly, making atonement first for himself and then for the sins of the people; and that too with the blood of bulls and goats; in the better covenant, Yeshua who is made perfect forever, offered Himself once for all as a sacrifice that is complete (Heb. 7:26-28; 9:13-14), making atonement for men in the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not of this creation (Heb. 9:11).
Despite all this told to them through the prophets of old, Israel chose to deny Yeshua as the Messiah for nearly 2000 years. A partial hardening occurred to them (Rom. 11:25). They could not believe and chose not to accept that Yeshua was the Deliverer who had come from Zion and that He was the anointed One who would remove ungodliness from Jacob (Rom. 11:26). Yeshua, the stone which the builders rejected had become the chief cornerstone and the Jews stumbled over the stone of stumbling and the rock of offence (Rom. 9:32-33). They sought salvation thinking it was achieved by keeping the law instead of simply receiving it by faith in Yeshua. Though from the standpoint of God’s choice, Israel is beloved for the sake of the fathers (for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable); yet from the standpoint of the gospel, they became enemies for the sake of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:28). God, in the depth and riches of His wisdom and knowledge gave the descendants of Abraham a spirit of stupor; eyes to see not and ears to hear not (Rom. 11:8). Their disobedience resulted in mercy being shown to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:30-31). However, when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, the Bible tells us that Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:25-26).
It is evident from all that we see in these last days, that increasingly this veil of stupor is being lifted from the eyes of the Jews. More and more of them are beginning to recognise that Yeshua is indeed the Messiah and that forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and righteousness before God is based only by faith in Him. They have begun to realize that merely being circumcised in their flesh has no value unless they are first circumcised in their hearts—for the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly but one inwardly (Rom. 2:28-29). In recent years, God has been drawing the descendants of Abraham to recognize that what matters to Him is a new creation in Yeshua (Gal. 6:15); where circumcision is faith working through love (Gal. 5:6). Thousands upon thousands of Jews now believe in and accept Yeshua as the Messiah who was sent for their salvation and the restoration of Israel; and the numbers are only growing. The whole plan of Yahweh as was described in the Tanakh (Old Testament) now makes sense to their joyful hearts.
Two tribes of Israel are not listed in the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 where the angels seal the bondservants of God before the tribulation—Dan and Ephraim. Instead, the names of Joseph and Levi are mentioned. This has given rise to speculation that as punishment for initiating idolatry (1Kin. 12:25-30) their name will be blotted out according to the Law of Moses (Deut. 29:18-21). However these two tribes are seen receiving an inheritance in Ezekiel 48:1-7 in the Millennium. Thus it is speculated that these two tribes will have to go through the tribulation period before the resurrection [or the rapture]; unlike their brethren who would be protected, having received the seal of God on their forehead (Rev. 7:3-4).
In the Millennial reign of the Messiah, Israel will reign with the Messiah for 1000 years. This period is what is referred to in Hebrews 3 and 4 as the “rest of God”—for just as in creation God rested on the 7th day, in like manner, the millennial reign of the Messiah begins in the 7th day [or after 6000 years]. During this time, Israel’s borders will be extended to the boundaries that Yahweh promised Abraham in Genesis 15:18 and Jerusalem’s borders will also be much bigger than ever before, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:38-40. The devil will be bound during this 1000 year period and so will not be able to deceive the nations that live on the earth in this time. Only at the end of the 1000 years will the devil be released for a short time. We are told that he will gather the nations against Israel; but Yahweh will destroy these nations—for after seeing the righteous reign of the Messiah for 1000 years they still permitted the evil one to deceive them (Rev. 20).
Bearing this study in mind, the next part of this series, “The Israel of God”, will help us understand the glory of the Gospel proclaimed among the nations. It will cause us to gain insight into the mystery that God had kept hidden for ages past but now has made known through the Apostles—a mystery that brings hope to both Jew and Gentile. The gospel reveals the glory of Yahweh’s great mercy and compassion; and will help us appreciate the gospel, as we may have never done before.
Tribes of Israel
1. Judah - Kingdom of Judah
2. Benjamin - Kingdom of Judah
3. Levi - Kingdom of Israel (There were some Levites in Judea too, for that is where the temple was.)
4. Reuben - Kingdom of Israel
5. Gad - Kingdom of Israel
6. Asher - Kingdom of Israel
7. Naphtali - Kingdom of Israel
8. Simeon - Kingdom of Israel
9. Issachar - Kingdom of Israel
10. Dan - Kingdom of Israel
11. Ephraim (Joseph’s younger son) - Kingdom of Israel
12. Manasseh (Joseph’s older son) - Kingdom of Israel
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