True Israelites: Part 2

 True Israelites: Part 2

Other References and Concepts

Many theologians maintain the conclusion that the ten tribes of northern Israel were not officially brought back to the land of Canaan by God, although, there were apparently several individuals who did return.  A small group of Judahites were brought back from Babylon to prepare the way for the birth of the Messiah.  Many chose to remain in the Babylonian kingdom.  Their majority refusal to accept Jesus, the Messiah, resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and again in 135 AD.  This was prophesied by Jesus and could be the result of their refusal.  It is said, after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Judeans mostly migrated to Egypt and then to Spain becoming known as the Sephardim Jews.

According to Paul and Isaiah, the Judeans of Jesus’ day were given a hardened heart and they refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah or the Kingdom of God.  Currently, whether the so-called Jews are Judeans, Edomites, or Khazars is not important in the broad scheme of prophecy.  They consider themselves ancestors of the Judeans, and, as such, they continue to live under the curse of God as written in Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 6:9-10 as quoted by Paul in Romans 11:8-10.

As it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually."   (Romans 11:8-10 NET)

Paul’s Old Testament scripture quotes found in Romans 11:8-10 are given below.  The LXX version is used since I believe that is the one he was quoting from.

Yet the Lord God has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day.   (Deuteronomy 29:4 Brenton)

Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; and ye shall see indeed, but ye shall not perceive. For the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.   (Isaiah 6:9-10 Brenton)

After revealing their curse of the hardened heart, Paul relates the Judean’s fall is not necessarily permanent but can be revoked by faith in Jesus, which of course is absolutely true.  Their hardness or stumble (which was prophetic) permitted salvation to be provided to the Gentiles (the actual definition is:  people of the nations).

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.   (Romans 11:11 NET)

A few Jews or Judeans have accepted Jesus as the true Messiah, but the actual test of truth and faith will most likely occur during the 70^th week of Daniel.

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.   (Romans 11:30-31 NET)

It is my opinion the current nation of Israel is actually a revived nation of Judah to some extent.  It doesn’t appear possible any sizable group of the ten tribes of Israel ever returned after so many hundreds of years although opinions vary widely.

Peter Goodgame and the New Exodus

Researching for more Israelite information led me to reexamine a paper by Peter Goodgame found at https://redmoonhawaii.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/the-israel-of-god-and-the-end-of-rmr/ .  Below is Mr. Goodgame’s introduction to the article discussing “The Israel of God”.

Lately I have been continuing in my study of the New Exodus theme as it relates to end-times prophecy, and it seems that everything revolves around the complicated questions regarding the identity of “Israel.”  After Jesus died and rose again, and began to gather into Himself all those who believe in Him, what became of the definition of “Israel”? Did it remain the same, or did it change to include Gentiles? If it changed then how does the new definition of “Israel” relate to the many Old Testament passages predicting a gathering of “Israel” back to Jerusalem?

The primary focus of his topic revolves around the identity of “Israel”.  The exegete, Doug Kreiger, (discussed above) would be opposed to any theory or commentary portraying that anyone is an Israelite other than the Jews of today.  He rejects the concept that a Christian could be Biblically called an Israelite.  However, Mr. Goodgame, gives several scriptural proofs supporting the idea that perhaps Gentiles (non-Jews to a Jew) are also included in the class of “the Israel of God”.  Three of his ideas are listed below.

#1 The Judean leaders consisting of scribes and Pharisees, rejected the Personhood and authority of Jesus as the Messiah and therefore they rejected the integrity of the Torah.  Jesus categorically stated the scriptures testify Him.  If the Torah testifies about Jesus and Judeans reject Him then all non-Christian Jews apparently reject the Torah as well.  The acceptance of the teaching and authority of the Torah is to accept the Person the Torah testifies about.

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You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.  (John 5:39-40 NET)

#2  In the letters to the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia Jesus refers to “those who say they are Jews and are not”.  To the Smyrna church Jesus said the ones claiming to be Jews was an act of blasphemy and to the Philadelphia church the ones claiming to be Jews were telling a lie.  Without attempting to put thoughts into Mr. Goodgame’s head, it appears that he is stating there are no such thing as a non-Christ Jew. Anyone claiming to be a Jew after the teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is committing blasphemy and telling a lie.

Ioudaios    ee-oo-dah'-yos    From G2448 (in the sense of G2455 as a country); udaean, that is, belonging to Jehudah: - Jew (-ess), of Juda.

Peter Goodgame:  These are incredible statements for Jesus to make, especially when compared to today’s popular end-times teaching that declares that the unbelieving genetic/cultural descendants of the ethnic Israelites that rejected Jesus –those who populate the modern-day state of Israel– are “the apple of God’s eye.”

#3  Zechariah 2:7-13 has several interesting facets.  Verse 7 tells people to escape to Zion if one dwells with the daughter of Babylon (mystery Babylon perhaps?).  This is considered to be a new exodus phrase concerning all nations according to Mr. Goodgame (that is, a journey of believers to the Lord in Zion).  Verse 8 contains the “apple of His eye” phrase.  Verse 9 declares that the people will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me with verse 10 stating the Lord will dwell in the midst of His people.  However, verse 11 claims that many nations will come to the Lord and will be His people. Mr. Goodgame uses this scripture as evidence that all New Covenant people are the apple or pupil of God’s eye.  I used the LXX version below.  It is basically identical to KJV but with some interesting word translation.

Zechariah 2:7-12 Brenton  (7)  even to Sion: deliver yourselves, ye that dwell  with the daughter of Babylon.  (8)  For thus saith the Lord Almighty; After the glory has he sent me to the nations that spoiled you: for he that touches you is as one that touches the apple of his eye.  (9)  For, behold, I bring my hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to them that serve them: and ye shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.  (10)  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Sion: for, behold, I come, and will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.  (11)  And many nations shall flee for refuge to the Lord in that day, and they shall be for a people to him, and they shall dwell in the midst of thee: and thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to thee.  (12)  And the Lord shall inherit Juda his portion in the holy land, and he will yet choose Jerusalem.

The “apple of God’s eye” appears to be many nations – not reserved for just Israel.

[NOTE:  If the daughter of Babylon is related to mystery, Babylon, then the daughter could be any area other than exclusively the USA because this passage would certainly not be warning only Americans to flee to Zion.]

Conclusion and Opinion

If the Jews are the descendants of Israel (Jacob) or at least descendants of the Old Testament nation of Judah then it would be fair to say they are the Israelites by genealogy and not the Church.  Mr. Goodgame (and others) appear to suggest that spiritually (not genetically) the term “of Israel” or the “Israel of God” was applied to the first believers who were Judeans and then encompassed the Gentiles (non-Jews) by Jesus, because of the remarkable faith of the Centurion, healed his servant and stated, “many around the world will share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven (God) but the sons of the kingdom who were supposed to dine at the banquet will be placed into obscurity (outer darkness).

I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."   (Matthew 8:11-12 NET)

They may or may not be Khazars as postulated by Arthur Koestler in his book, The Thirteenth Tribe and others along the way.  Unless major unknown events occur in the near future, the Jews of today will be the Israelites (real or not) affected by the beast (antichrist) and events preceding and during the 70^th week of Daniel.  Of course, they may be responsible, through their perceived instigation of a one-world government initiative, for bringing this worldwide wrath of God on themselves and the rest of mankind.

It could also be possible that only a remnant of the Israelites (descendants of Jacob) or the Old Testament nation of Judah will be saved and qualify as the chosen people and the apple of God’s eye.  This concept would be in agreement with Elijah and the Jews of Paul’s day as stated in Romans 11:5-7.  If only a percentage of the Gentiles (nations) will inherit salvation, it would be logical to claim that a percentage of the Israelites will receive salvation.

[The following is merely a thought – not theology]  It may be possible that God will resurrect the majority of mankind for the Millennium to offer them a change to make an informed decision.  The 20^th and 21^st chapters of the Revelation could appear to indicate this, although I will not claim it does.

Now when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.  (Revelation 20:7-8 NET)

The Historical Expulsion of Jews

Below is a list of Jewish expulsions and massacres that have occurred throughout the AD times.  The list may be incomplete and I omitted the Nazi Germany listing since it is probably well known by most.  The list was copied from the web site:  http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/expulsions.html

1012 A.D. Emperor Henry II of Germany expels Jews from Mainz

1096 A.D. First Crusade. Crusaders massacre the Jews of the Rhineland. 

1144 A.D. First recorded blood libel in Norwich, England

1190 A.D. Massacre of Jews in England. 

1215 A.D. The Jewish badge introduced. 

1240 A.D. Talmud burned in France. 

1290 A.D. Jews expelled from England. 

1298 A.D. Massacre of thousands in Germany, in 146 localities. 

1306 A.D. Expulsion from France. 

1348 A.D. JEWS blamed for the BLACK DEATH.

1389 A.D. MASSACRES in Bohemia, Spain. 

1421 A.D. 270 JEWS BURNED AT THE STAKE.

1480 A.D. Inquisition in Spain - Jews and Christians burned at the stake. 

1483 A.D. EXPULSIONS from Warsaw, Sicily, Lithuania, Portugal. 

1492 A.D. ALL JEWS EXPELLED FROM SPAIN. 

1506 A.D. Murders in Lisbon - 4000

1510 A.D. EXPELLED from Brandenburg, Germany. 

1516 A.D. Venice initiates the ghetto, the first in Christian Europe. 

1544 A.D. The Reformation. The Talmud was seized and burned everywhere by Papal

authority. Jews in Catholic countries and Polish Jews suffered greatly.

1553 A.D. Rome seized and burned the Talmud by order of the POPE. 

1559 A.D. 12,000 copies of Talmud burned in Milan. 

1569 A.D. POPE PIUS V ordered all Jews out of the Papal states. 

1593 A.D. EXPULSIONS from Italy and Bavaria. 

1598 A.D. Ritual murder charge that sent three Jews to their deaths.

1614 A.D. JEWS attacked and driven out of Frankfurt, Germany. 

1624 A.D. GHETTO established in Ferrara, Italy. 

1648 A.D. Leader of the Cossacks, in the Ukraine massacres 100,000 Jews and

                        destroyed 300 communities. 

1655 A.D. Massacres of Jews in war against Sweden & Russia by Poland. 

1715 A.D. POPE PIUS VI issues edict against Jews. 

1768 A.D. 20,000 Jews in Poland killed. 

1805 A.D. MASSACRE of Jews in Algeria. 

1840 A.D. BLOOD LIBEL in DAMASCUS. 

1853 A.D. BLOOD LIBEL in RUSSIA. 

1881 A.D. POGROMS BEGAN. The word is of Russian origin.
KIEV, ODESSA; murder of whole families was a common occurrence. Partial data are

available for 530 communities in which 887 major pogroms and 349 minor pogroms occurred. There were 60,000 dead and several times that many were wounded. 

1882 A.D. FIRST ANTI-JEWISH CONGRESS HELD. In Dresden, Germany. 

1905 A.D. Russian pogroms continue. Also in Morocco, Ukraine, 300 dead. 

1919 A.D. 3000 Jews killed in Hungarian pogroms. 

Based on the above list, it appears the Judeans or Jews had a difficult situation wherever they happened to migrate.  It could be due to their religion, however, it is also highly likely the European world has always had a large population with little or no religion including atheists, agnostics, and other types.  It may be the result of their constant banking system and other property controlling schemes.  It appears that some of them are their own worst enemy.  The OT nation of Judah was taken captive to Babylon for 70 years – one year for each Sabbatical year they did not honor.  Sabbaticals are not honored by the Jews today, or anyone else for that matter.