The Lord sent the Word to earth in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth (Jn. 1:1-4,14) Who personally ministered to the Jews (tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) living in the Promised Land whose ancestors had returned from Babylonian captivity generations earlier. His personal ministry complete, Jesus sent His apostles “… into all the world” to find and teach the other 10 tribes of Israel. He instructed them: “Do not go to the Gentiles (heathen–non Israelites), go rather to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.” These were the so-called “lost tribes of Israel.”  These were the descendants of those whom He had scattered throughout the world due to their rebellion against the Him in ancient times (Mt. 10:6; 28:19,20). The apostles were to seek out the scattered Israelites living among Gentiles and offer them salvation (Lk. 19:10). Christ’s call to the world’s Israelites was to continue until the end of the age (Mt. 28:20). The New Testament/Covenant is rife with references to God’s call to Israel to return to Him and receive their inheritance promised to them as children of Abraham. For example: “I (Jesus) was sent only to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” (Mt. 15:24). Isaiah says in 43:14 that the prophesied future Savior would be “Israel’s Redeemer.” The Apostle Matthew (2:6) referred to the One Isaiah prophesied (the Messiah) as God’s Ruler “Who will shepherd My people Israel” Who would offer “repentance and forgiveness of sins to all Israel” (Acts 5:31; 13:23,24). “God sent His Word to the children of Israel” (Acts 10:36). Jesus came “to save His people (Israel–Lk. 2:32) from their sins (Mt. 1:21). Peter wrote to the church whom he identified as “strangers” (Israelites) scattered over the earth, who were “elect” according to the “foreknowledge of God,” who had been “sanctified” by Him, who had the “inheritance” of salvation, who were a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation–His own special people” whom He had begotten “again” (1 Pet. 1:1-5; 2:5,9/ Exo. 19:5,6). God calls these people–both ancient and current–His “inheritance” (Deut.9:26,29). James (1:1) addressed his epistle to the world-wide church, which he identified as “the 12 tribes of Israel scattered abroad.” In verse 18 he reminded those Israelites that Jesus Christ had begotten them as the firstfruits (His church) of God’s creation (the universe), who held “the faith of Jesus Christ” (2:1). The letter to the Hebrews was also written to the New Covenant Church, whom the writer identified as the House of Judah and the House of Israel (3:1;8:8-12). God had prophesied the reconciliation of scattered Israel to Himself in Isaiah 11:11,12, noting that He would retrieve them “a second time.” The first time was during their extraction from Egypt. The second time would be “from the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12/ Mat. 28:19,20) upon His Second Advent which will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation. At that time He and they will enter the Holy Land where they will set up the Kingdom of God. From this location they will rule the universe. See The Kingdom Of God. To be continued. L.J.