Israel And The Church–The Covenant Connection (Pt. 6). After many generations the children of Israel proved to the Almighty that, with the exception of a few individuals, they would not obey His Ten Commandment Law. First Israel (the 10 northern tribes living in the land of Samaria) was defeated and enslaved in Assyria. Some 130 years later, Judah (the three tribes called “Jews” living in the land of Judea) was defeated and enslaved by Babylon. Not long after their defeat, the people of Israel found themselves, along with the Assyrians, running from the Babyonians, heading in all directions where the settled among Gentile (heathen) peoples throughout the world. Then, according to God’s proclamation, the Jews held captive by Babylon were allowed to send a sizeable contingent back to the Holy Land where they rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and the Temple. They would remain there, off and on until 130 A.D. when they were once again defeated and sold throughout the world as slaves. Thus Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 were fulfilled exactly as God had prophesied.

Even in captivity and global slavery the Jews have always maintained their identity. Wherever they are, either individually or corporately, Jews are known by those among whom they live to this day. This was not the case with the Israelites. The world proclaims them as the “Lost Tribes of the Children of Israel.” Though lost to man, they are not lost to God. Numerous Scriptures attest to the fact that not one Israelite has escaped God’s view. This will remain so until the return of Jesus Christ at which time He will call  them back to the Holy Land–the land He promised to Abraham’s descendants.

At this point let me explain that all information concerning the identity and location of the modern day children of Israel can only be found in the annals of world history. With the writing of the Book of Revelation the Biblical canon was closed. From that point onward we must depend on world history as recorded by those who researched it. Though the modern day location of some of the tribes cannot be found, others have been located through the writings of historians who have spent their lifetimes researching such information. To these men and women we owe much appreciation. We will use the modern names of the host nations involved in Israel’s global migration. For example we know that part of the tribe of Dan settled in Denmark while others within the tribe traveled to Ireland. The tribe of Zebulun found their way to Holland. Part of the tribe of Judah wound up in England along with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh eventually left England and found his way to the new world where he settled into the 13 colonies that eventually became the United States of America. Those of the tribe of Benjamin sailed to Iceland where they planted their biological roots. Rueben’s descendants wound up in what is today the nation of France. Incidentally, the Assyrians settled in the land today called Germany. Regardless of where they came to rest, some of all of the tribes, along with many Assyrians, eventually came to America and became part of the world’s greatest single nation of all time.

Israel And The Church–The Covenant Connection (Pt. 6)

Those of Ephraim remained in the British Isles and became the world’s greatest commonwealth of nations. As God foretold, the descendants of Ephraim became a colonizing nation. At one time England (the British–“covenant man”) was the leader of some 48 nations scattered through the world. The sun, it was said, never set on the British Empire. England and her contingent of nations became known as the British Commonwealth. Combined, the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh became the most powerful economic and military force in the history of mankind. Together they came to control almost 75% of the world’s wealth from the late 1800’s through the middle 1900’s. During that time they were known as the “world’s policemen.” In this way God fulfilled His promise to faithful Abraham that He would make of him the world’s greatest single nation and the world’s greatest commonwealth of nations. However, as we are witnessing today, those two covenant nations have gone the way of their Israelite ancestors. And just as did their predecessors, they will soon fall, exactly as God warned in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Following in the footsteps of their ancient brethren, these two once-blessed nations have sown the wind. They will, as warned, reap the whirlwind.

But, as promised, the God has not abandoned the descendants of Abraham. Nor will He fail to fulfill His covenant with them. He will gather the obedient remnant of the patriarch’s descendants to Himself and will welcome them into the Kingdom of God which He will establish upon His return. L.J.

Israel part 7