2000-2-2 11:02:00
We have previously quoted the prophecy of Moses indicating that the Lord would scatter Israel among all nations. This prophecy is repeated numerous times in the Bible. Another specific one is found in Amos: "For lo, I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." Amos 9:9
Another quote: "And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee." Ezekiel 22:15
"And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children and turn again." Zechariah 10:9
In the Bible the Master compares Israel to his wife whom he claims as his own when she is faithful, but when she is not he issues here a bill of divorcement: "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, I HAD PUT HER AWAY, and given her a bill of divorce" Jeremiah 3:8 Those who had the potential of releasing the power of Israel within them and finding the true hidden God, had sought after false gods, or committed adultery against the true light; thus those who were called to be Israelites (called to manifest the powers of God) were given a bill of divorcement.
On the other hand, we are told that this divorcement is not a permanent situation. The Lord said: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer."
Isaiah 54:7-8
We are clearly told that the divorcement would not last forever "but with great mercies I WILL GATHER THEE." This gathering creates the physical representation of New Jerusalem or the new bride of the Master: "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared AS A BRIDE adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2 The bride was to have "the glory of God" Revelation 21:11 The word "glory" here comes from the Greek DOXA which is derived from another Greek word DOKEO which means "to think". If we use this root meaning then we have an indication that gathered Israel will "think as God". When they think as God then they will prevail as God and have the true power of Israel and be a faithful wife to the Master.
We find that the scattering of Israel took place in three steps. First the kingdom of Israel was divided in two in the days of Rehoboam. The southern kingdom consisted of the tribe of Judah, Benjamin and a few Levites and the Northern Kingdom was composed of the other ten tribes with Ephriam as the leader. Those connected with the southern kingdom were eventually called "Jews" and those of the northern kingdom were later to be known as "the ten lost tribes".
Around the year 721 B.C. Shalmanezer IV, king of Assyria, attacked Samaria, the third and last capital of the Northern Kingdom, and after three years the city was taken by Sargon, Shalmanezer's successor. We are told that" "In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes."
II Kings 17:5-6
According to this account, Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were scattered around what is now modern day Iraq and Iran. From there one would guess that they were scattered throughout many nations.
We do have a clue given in the approcryphal book of Esdras: "Those are the tribes which were carried away captives out of their own land in the time of Hosea the king, whom Shalmanezer the king of the Assyrians, took captive, and crossed them beyond the river, so were they brought into another land. But they took counsel to themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country where never man dwelt, that they there might keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own Euphrates. For the Most High showed them signs, and stayed the springs of the flood till they were passed over. For through the country there was a great journey, even a year and a half, and the same region is called Arsareth (Ararah). Then dwelt they there until the latter time, and when they come forth again, the Most High shall hold the springs of the river again, that they may go through." II Esdras 13
This group mentioned by Esdras was undoubtedly just a portion of the ten tribes. The most probable direction they took was to England among the ancient Celts where they established the religious order of Druidism. The Druid had a Priesthood amazingly like the ancient Israelites and even had a priestly order set apart like the Levites. They offered sacrifices on alters, believed in the immortality of the soul, and taught the doctrine of reincarnation. They also believed they were literally descended from God.
Because Esdras says that they went to a further country "where never man dwelt" some think that they found an entrance o the center of the earth and will return from thence in the near future. Others think they may have went to another planet, perhaps near the North Star or some hidden place in our solar system. Whatever the case the Bible indicates that some of each of the tribes are scattered abroad on the earth just as prophesied. It is written: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD, greeting." James 1:1 James expected his letter to be read by members of the various twelve tribes.
In speaking concerning Jesus the Jews asked: "Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles?" John 7:35 The "dispersed" refers to scattered Israelites and the word Gentiles here comes from Greek HELLEN which should have been translated the "Greeks". Evidently, some of these scattered Israelites were in Greece.
Jesus told his disciples to preach to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 10:6 The scripture infers that this was a rather literal injunction indicating that some of the lost tribes were taught by the apostles.
Another time a Canaanite lady was refused a blessing by Jesus. His reasoning was: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:24 However, after she pleaded and exercised faith he remitted and blessed her.
Even though each man has the power of Israel within him, the Christ himself taught that he was sent to the direct descendants of the Hebrews and therein was his mission. Why was this? The reason was because of the consciousness of the people at that time. World consciousness such as we have to a minor extent today was unknown at that time. Then there was a high degree of race consciousness so the Christ was sent first and specifically to the Hebrews and descendents thereof.
This mission was portrayed by him in the following parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king (God), which made a marriage for his son (Christ), and sent forth servants to call them that were bidden (The race of the Hebrews) to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. (Killed the prophets and apostles.) But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Jerusalem destroyed in 70 A.D.) Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and AS MANY AS YE SHALL FIND, bid to the marriage." Matthew 22:2-9
This time they were not instructed to go to the literal "lost sheep" or Hebrews, but "as many as ye shall find", that is anyone who can recognize the truth is invited no matter what his race for all are potential Israelites.
The scripture continues: "So those servants went out into the highways, and GATHERED TOGETHER (The true gathering of Israel) all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment (Each guest must put on Israel to prevail as God and commune with the King within): And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:10-14
The man without the wedding garment did not recognize the living Spirit of God within him and thought that he could enter the kingdom of God by merely being a member of a "true church" or by acknowledging Jesus as his "personal savior", or by following someone else who claims communion with a Master. The true wedding garment is a garment of light that each guest must wear. Without this he will be naked and ashamed before the king. And "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth". This is an appropriate way to describe the feelings of those who find out that their cherished beliefs were in vain.
All of the parables of a Master and truly inspired prophesies have correspondences that reoccur as we enter each new sign of the Zodiac, and then to a lesser extent within lesser cycles of history. The correspondence in modern history to the early Jews are the Mormons. In fact many of the ancient Jews have been reborn as Mormons today but "many that are first shall be last; and the last first". Matthew 19:30 The Jews were chosen to be the first to receive the garment of light and come to the wedding, but they rejected it and became the last. The same thing is happening to the Mormons today. Even though they were the first in this age to teach the literal gathering of Israel, they will be the last to accept it.
When Christ walks openly among us again no group will claim ownership of Him for his mission will be to the world. Those who are first to preach about him now will be the last to accept him.
Moses himself prophesied that Israel would be literally gathered again: "That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and GATHER THEE FROM ALL THE NATIONS, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers." Deuteronomy 30:3-5
This scripture even gives some support to the belief that some of the ten tribes are on another planet for it speaks of scattered Israel in the "Outmost parts of heaven". (Deuteronomy 30:4) As mentioned earlier there are many true Israelite brethren inhabiting various star systems, but it is doubtful that they are literally connected with the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom.
In this scripture Moses is stressing that Israel will be gathered from wherever they may be scattered. He also tells us that they will be gathered "into the land which thy fathers possessed". (Deuteronomy 30:5) To many it looks as if that prophecy is being fulfilled today by the gathering of the Jews in the new nation of Israel today, but this is a mere foreshadowing of the real thing. Before the true gathering we are told that God must be "sanctified in them". Ezekiel 28:25 In other words, they must put on the true wedding garment and become true spiritual Israelites. A physical gathering of people, Hebrews or not, is not a gathering of Israel until those gathered actually "put on Christ" and have the Spirit of the Living God within them, or the kingdom of God within them - then the true kingdom will appear without.
There is not true freedom today in the nation of Israel, and without full individual freedoms there can be no true gathering of Israel. Nevertheless, the kingdom of God will manifest in Israel in great glory, but the first shall be last, and since they were once first and missed the opportunity they shall be last to see the kingdom. Nevertheless, some Jews as individuals may be among the first to see the Kingdom.
Scripture tells us of this time: "Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, AND SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN THEM in the sight of the heathen, THEN SHALL THEY DWELL IN THEIR LAND that I have given unto my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein (This has not yet happened), and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; they shall dwell with confidence." Ezekiel 28:25-26 At the time of this writing they are certainly not dwelling with confidence. The true power of Israel will not manifest there until they sanctify God. As yet they have not even yet recognized the Christ as a spiritual leader. Concerning true Israel the Christ said: "I . . .am known of mine . . .the sheep follow him (Christ): for they know his voice." John 10:14, 4 True Israel will always recognize intuitively that the outer and inner Christ was sent from God. Then too other servants expressing the God within will not be ignored.
The land of the "fathers" is usually thought of as merely being the ancient Hebrew territories, but the truth is much broader than that. The Fathers of the present Israelites who are scattered around the world came from numerous lands, most notable was the ancient American continent. In ancient days some of the great Atlanteans dwelt here making America an actual land of promise representing the seed of Joseph. Joseph in the Hebrew means "he will add or augment". The power of Israel in Britain, Europe and America greatly augmented the progression of all humanity. Joseph's two sons Ephriam and Manasseh are represented by the White man and the American Indian and other minorities. Ephriam means "double fruit" and it is clear that the Aryan race has enjoyed and given mankind great blessings. Manasseh in Hebrew means "forget or neglect" and the Indian is indeed the forgotten Israelite.
Concerning Joseph, his father said: "his seed shall become a multitude of nations". Genesis 48:19 This is fulfilled in Great Britain and North and South America.
It is also written: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall." Genesis 49:22 This indicates that Joseph's posterity (branches) would cross the wall (the ocean). That would take them to America.
Joseph was blessed "with the blessings of heaven above (revelation and knowledge), blessings of the deep that lieth under (plenty of water), blessings of the breast (abundance), and of the womb (a large posterity): The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." Genesis 49:25-26
Joseph will be blessed "unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills". Where would that be? To be everlasting in the literal sense a mountain range would have to be circular with no beginning or end. We can find such a range if we start with the Alps and follow the mountains through Turkey and then to the Elburz mountains through Iran. These are joined by other ranges through Afghanistan and Pakistan finally reaching the Himalayas and various mountains through China. Next we go through the Islands of Indonesia which are the mountain tops of an ocean range and then to The Great Dividing Range of Mountains in Australia to an underwater range that takes us to another group of mountains that flows straight across Antarctica which takes us up to the tip of South America to the Andes. Then we are brought up to the Sierra Madre ranges in Mexico and finally to the Rocky mountains and then up across the mountain ranges of the Arctic ranges and ending with the Kjolen range of Norway. All of these ranges form an everlasting chain that can be traced on any map.
From the Mideast where the prophecy was written the "utmost bound of the everlasting hills" would be the Rocky Mountains and the Andes. This is another interesting indication that the seed of Joseph would be in America.
An even more elaborate blessing is given in Deuteronomy 33:13-17 In the last verse we are told that Joseph's "glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (the ends of the earth from Egypt where the blessing was given is America): and they are the ten thousands of Ephriam (Aryan race) and they are the thousands of Manasseh" (Indians, Mexicans and others). Deuteronomy 33:17
Joseph evidently had a land promised to him and his two sons Ephriam and Manasseh for it is written: "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be HIS LAND . . ." Deuteronomy 33:13 The blessing then extols the great virtues of this land of Joseph which was to be at the end of the earth.
Copyright 2000 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved