The Birthright - Part 4

THE BIRTHRIGHT – PART 4

 

Some background information for those who have not read Part 1.  This series deals with the 10 northern tribes called Israel who were deported into northeastern Assyria around 740-733 BC depending on the source.  This Biblical nation named Israel is not the current nation of so-called Jews also referred to as Israel.

In a recent quote of Yair Davidy (see Part 3) from his work, The Tribes, he notes that many Jews are fully aware of the location of the ten tribes of Israel.  It perhaps, could he said that many educated and intellectual Jews are also aware of the “lost” Israelites existence and locations.  Rabbi Abraham Feld makes the following comment concerning Mr. Davidy:

“He is working in the spirit of the students of the Gaon Elyahu of Vilna, who sent emissaries looking for the lost tribes. Indeed, the Jerusalem Talmud declares in the days to come the ten tribes will be righteous converts (Sanhedrin 10)”.

It is apparent (to me, anyway) that Mr. Davidy and other Jews would be pleased if Christians reunited with the Jewish faith in some manner, either as a convert to Judaism or Messianic Judaism (Judaism with Jesus on top).  They appear to be attempting to heal the breach and reunite Judah and Israel under the banner of Judaism rather than under Christianity as prescribed by Jesus.  Mr. Davidy desires they support the illegal (according to God) Zionism movement which is not the fulfillment of prophecy.  There are some converts or reasonable facsimilies – some people just prefer rituals and works rather than repentance and faith.

Modern Jewish Israel is currently fulfilling the prophecy of the cursed fig tree – many leaves but no fruit.  The unrepentant will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 21:43 NET  For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Having mingled and intermarried with the Edomites under the Maccabean rule, the Jews are also fulfilling the prophecies concerning Esau and the Edomites which states they will come to a violent end after returning to the old land of Israel.

Isaiah 34:5 NET  He says, "Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. Look, it now descends on Edom, on the people I will annihilate in judgment."

Ezekiel 35:3-6 NET  Say to it, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: " 'Look, I am against you, Mount Seir; I will stretch out my hand against you and turn you into a desolate ruin.  (4)  I will lay waste your cities; and you will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD!  (5)  " 'You have shown unrelenting hostility and poured the people of Israel onto the blades of a sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment.  (6)  Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I will subject you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.

Hebrew Roots

Regardless of the conversion plans and desires of the Jews, the promises of God are not to be found in Judaism.  The theory that the apostle Paul was a false prophet and not a true follower of Christ is usually put forth by those of the “Hebrew roots movement”.  They assume, since Paul said, in several instances, that Christians are no longer under the Law, therefore they consider him a false apostle.  It is easy to become confused concerning the law, as I have been at one time, but it should be considered that many could be confused about the teachings of Paul because, on occasion, his writing can be difficult to comprehend.  However, he stated in the below verse, “though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ” that the law of God has become the law of Christ that is written on his heart (mind, consciousness) and that he still abides by the law.  It is my consideration that Paul abided by the actual law of God but not the rituals and the man-made enhanced and expanded laws produced by the scribes and Pharisees which became part of the Talmud.  (A central text of Rabbinic Judaism. It is also traditionally referred to as Shas, a Hebrew abbreviation of shisha sedarim, the "six orders". The term "Talmud" normally refers to the collection of writings named specifically the Babylonian Talmud).

1 Corinthians 9:21 NET  To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

In the parable beginning in Luke 19:12, it is related the citizens of the King hated Him and said, “We do not want this man to be king over us”.  Although stated as a parable, it was actually lived out in real time in the day of Jesus and also during the current time.  Later in the story it will be told that the haters of the nobleman or enemies will be slaughtered in the presence of the King because they rejected His rule over them.

Luke 19:27 NET  But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!”

For over 2000 years the Jews have lived without a King because they rejected Him (Jesus) and refused His rule.  It is possible their motive for crucifixion was an attempt to seize the birthright inheritance for themselves.  They may have considered He would restore the breach and gather the birthright nation of Israel back to the area.  Jesus was of the linage of Judah and He came to receive the scepter of Kingship.  The prophesied purpose of Judah/Judeans was finished after the ascension of Jesus and the next fulfilled prophecy concerning Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh would be to gather the ten northern tribes who would be entitled to the birthright inheritance of the land.  Maybe they did not realize when all twelve tribes were a single nation, their name could legally be called Israel because the inheritance was available to all.  Only when Rohoboam incited dissension did the birthright and the scepter inheritances divide or become breached.  Now they are unobtainable to the Jews but they are devising methods to hopefully retrieve them, however their plans will fail.

Anyone converting to Judaism would be to take on the curse that has been laid upon that nation (all leaves – no fruit, then cut down and thrown in the fire). The solution is not for Israelites to unite with Jews or convert to Judaism, but for Jews to acknowledge their national sin, repent and proclaim Jesus as Lord.  Some have confirmed the position of Judaism in the minds of the Jews by claiming or thinking that Jews can be saved without accepting Jesus Christ.  Rabbis may be intelligent with an abundance of information but they cannot be considered righteous and Godly without acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  Accommodating them and avoiding negative language only causes them to become more Judaic and instigates the concept in their mind they can receive salvation through Judaism.  They continue to exclaim, “we will not have this man rule over us”.  There is not many doors to salvation, only one, which is Jesus Christ.  They have no legal right in the sight of God to name themselves Israel, only Judah.  Although Jews may be a more appropriate term.  Also, keep in mind that Jews refer to people of the nations, whether real Israelites or not, as goy and cattle.

Was All Israel Deported?

Many exegetes, commentators, and preachers erroneously teach that all the twelve tribes were in Judea during the advent of Jesus.  As said previously, when northern Israel was conquered and deported to northeast Assyria, there were several tribe members who escaped and remained in the area of Samaria.  Some may even have gone to Judah as can be somewhat witnessed in the gospels.  When the Babylonians conquered Judah, a few escaped including Jeremiah but these escapees could have been absorbed by surrounding cultures. 

2 Kings 17:23-24 KJV  Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.  (24)  And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 17:18 KJV  Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

The bright presence of God, called the Shekinah by Jews, was not present in Herod’s temple and the sacrificial system during that period was a failed system.  According to scripture even the city of Jerusalem was cast off when it was destroyed in 70 AD.  The crusaders and Arabs rebuilt parts of Old Jerusalem with the future assistance of the Judean/Edomites.

2 Kings 23:27 KJV  And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

If a new temple is built in current Jerusalem, which I assume by scripture it will be, God’s presence will not be there either and the sacrifices will again be a failed system for the remission of sins.

Summary

Currently, the sharpest minds in the world  are in total ignorance of the unprecedented  destruction that is about to occur. The primary reason for this ignorance is that certain Biblical tenants have not been understood or believed.  This primary Biblical key is the separation of the scepter (Kingship) promise and the birthright promise between Judah and Joseph.  The nation of Judah fulfilled the scepter promise, although the majority rejected the scepter receiver which was and is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

God’s Short Term Protection

After the total destruction of Israel, God elected to decimate the Assyrian army before it could destroy Jerusalem by killing their soldiers while they slept.  Finally Judah’s iniquity and idolatry became too great and God permitted Babylon to overtake them but allowed many Judahites to be taken captive to Babylon and live in relative peace.  Then God had Cyrus to agree for their release and return to Judea to rebuild the city, the wall, and the temple.  The Judahites had difficult times but they survived the Selucids and the Romans until and through the birth, life, death, and ascension of Jesus, the King of the Kingdom, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the recipient of the scepter through the genealogy of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah including David.  God allowed them a few years to repent but finally permitted the Roman army to destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

The birthright promise was bestowed upon Joseph and then through Ephraim and Manasseh.  These birthright tribes were deported by Assyria and finally ended up in northwestern Europe.  From there they migrated to the British colonies including the USA, Canada, and Australia.  It is also reported than the majority of Caucasian Russians and the Ukraine are of the tribes of Israel.  Jesus will return to also claim His birthright as King of the Kingdom of God also known as the Millennial reign of Christ.  The first advent was the scepter and the second advent will be the birthright.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.