������ Lighting up the New Testament
The New Testament is probably the most widely read book ever published in the history of the world For most Judeo-Christians, it is their Bible; millions of them and their clergymen have disconnected from the Old Testament text of the Bible, some 85% of the total scriptures; leaving them to build a faith upon the remaining 15% found in the New Testament.
Yet it takes all of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament to build a solid house of faith. In fact, for million so of the Judeo-Christians and their clergy, a pocket edition of the New Testament serves as their Bible. Millions of them view the Old Testament as belonging to the Jews and therefore the foundation of Judaism, which could not be more long.
Rabbi Moshe M. Maggal, wrote:
"...you will notice the great difference between the Jewish and Christian religions. But these are not all. We consider the two religions so different that one excludes the other...we emphasized that there is no such thing as a Judeo‑ Christian religion...There is not any similarity between the two concepts." (Rabbi Maggal (President, National Jewish Information Service) letter, 21 August 1961)
If anyone wishes to shed some light on the New Testament, some noticeable points need to be made. The Old Testament is the foundation for the New Testament; for it cannot be understood without a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament. In fact, the New Testament has no validity apart from its Old Testament foundation. For without the Old Testament premise from which to work, any attempt at shedding light upon the New Testament will be fraudulent; and every truth found in the New Testament is rooted in the compilation of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is properly the ground and foundation of Christianity, and no other religion; especially that of Judaism.
In the following quote we begin to understand this "Jewish" idea of their "god" a little better as it is applied more directly to today:
"The Jewish people as a whole will be its own Messiah. It will attain world dominion by the dissolution of other races, by the abolition of frontiers, the annihilation of monarchy, and by the establishment of a world republic in which the Jews will everywhere exercise the privilege of citizenship. In this �new world order� the children of Israel will furnish all the leaders without encountering opposition. The Governments of the different peoples forming the world republic will fall without difficulty into the hands of the Jews. It will then be possible for the Jewish rulers to abolish private property, and everywhere to make use of the resources of the state. Thus will the promise of the Talmud be fulfilled, in which is said that when the Messianic time is come, the Jews will have all the property of the whole world in their hands." (Baruch Levy, Letter to Karl Marx, �La Revue de Paris,� p. 574, June 1, 1928)
The facts are that all of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, in one continuous series of divine revelations from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to His people Israel. For the Bible is THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE BOOK OF ADAM'S RACE, THE WHITE ANGLO‑SAXON, GERMANIC, CELTIC, SCANDINAVIAN AND KINDRED PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!
"This is the book of the generations of Adam [his race]. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called Their name Adam, in the day when they were created." (Genesis 5:1‑2)
�� Thus it is very clear, the Holy Bible, is the Book of Adam's Race. This is the declaration made in Genesis 5:1. The Bible is the family of one race, the race of Adam. This is what the Bible states about itself! So we must come to the realization that this fact becomes one of the most important of all our Christian pre-suppositions.
The Old Testament IS the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT A JEWISH BOOK; IT IS NOT THE FOUNDATION OF JUDAISM.
Strong's Concordance more or less defines the words "Jew" and "Jews" as: "in the sense of a country, i.e., a Judean." The word "Jew" is used 22 times in the King James Version of the Bible in the New Testament, and the word "Jews" is used 172 times and 170 times of those are from the same #2453 as the above "Jew" definition. There are another 6 times the plural word "Jews'" is used and all but one of these is this #2454. So for the 200 times, the words: "Jew, Jews, and Jews'" are used in the New Testament, at least 197 occasions are referring to a Judean in the sense of from a place, i.e., as from a country.
The question still haunts many and they have often asked just who are these people the Bible calls "Jew, Jews, and Jews'"? Why were these people not just simply called "Judeans," "Israelites," or "Judeans whose religion was Judaism?" This is the age old word problem of society problem that is surrounded with so many, many, lies and deceptions. "THE FEAR OF THE JEWS" syndrome that plagues society today.
Much of it as a result of the so-called holocaust which we have been told 10,000 times 10,000 that the Germans cremated 6-million Jews during WWII. This story has installed a guilt complex in the American people, until the word Jew has become a non speakable word, and if one dares to utter the word except in reverence and humility they will be attacked by both Jews and Christians.
Therefore, we have prepared this study to prove to you and any other thinking American that the bulk of these people called "Jew" or "Jews" in the Bible, were not and are not of the House of Israel or of the House of Judah.
Then who are these people who have plagued the pages of history for so, so very long? The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines "Jew" as the same word of Strong's #2453 in the following words: "'Jew' denotes originally an inhabitant of Judah, (2 Kings 16:6 applies to the two tribes of the Southern Kingdom) but later the meaning was extended to embrace all descendants of Abraham." (James Orr, Volume III, page 1675)
The question which faces us here is WHO had the authority and the power that: "extended the meaning to embrace all descendants of Abraham?" Mr. Orr goes on to say in his definition that: "'Jews' (always pl.) is the familiar term for Israelites in the Gospel (esp. in John), Acts, Eph. etc."
This definition only serves to confuse the issue even more, who, how, when and why was such confusion entered into society and the Holy Scriptures? Why, if the term "Jew," refers to Israelites, did they not just simply call them Israelites or Judeans, whose religion was Hebrew?
It is an incontestible fact that the word "Jew" did not come into existence until the year 1775. Prior to 1775 the word "Jew" did not exist in any language on earth. The word "Jew" was introduced into the English language for the first time in the 18th century when Sheridan used it in his play "The Rivals," Chapter 2, p. 1, "She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew." Prior to this use of the word "Jew" the word "Jew" had not become a word.
Contrary to what most people believe Shakespeare never saw the word "Jew" nor did he ever use the word "Jew" in any of his works, the common general belief to the contrary notwithstanding. In his "Merchant of Venice," V, III, I, 61, Shakespeare wrote as follows "what is the reason? I am a Iewe; hath not a Iewe eyes?" You see there was not even a letter "j" or "J" until the middle of the 18th century. Check any encyclopedia you wish for proof of this.
In the Latin Jerome 4th century Vulgate Edition of the New Testament Jesus is referred to by the Genitive Plural of "Iudaeus" in the Gospel by John reference to the inscription on the Cross, "Iudaeorum." It was in the 4th century that Jerome translated into Latin the manuscripts of the New Testament from the original languages in which they were written.
This translation by Jerome is referred to still today, as the Vulgate Edition by the Roman Catholic Church authorities, who use it today. Jesus is referred to as a so-called "Jew" for the first time in the New Testament in the 18th century editions in the English language of the 14th century first translations of the New Testament into English.
The history of the origin of the word "Jew" in the English language leaves no doubt that the 18th century "Jew" is the 18th century contracted and corrupted English word for the 4th century Latin "Iudaeus" found in Jerome's Vulgate Edition.
Of that there is no longer any doubt.
The available original manuscripts from the 4th century to the 18th century accurately trace the origin and give the complete history of the word "Jew" in the English language. In these manuscripts are to be found all the many earlier English equivalents extending through the 14 centuries from the 4th to the 18th century.
From the Latin "Iudaeus" to the English "Jew" these English forms included successively: "Gyu," "Giu," "Iu," "Iuu," "Iuw," "Ieuu," "Ieuy," "Iwe," "Iow," "Iewe," "Ieue," "Iue," "I�ve," "Iew," and then finally the 18th century, "Jew." The many earlier English equivalents for "Jews" through the 14 centuries are "Giwis," "Giws," "Gyues," "Gywes," "Giwes," "Geus," "Iuys," "Iows," "Iouis," "Iews," and then also finally in the 18th century, "Jews."
With the rapidly expanding use in England in the 18th century for the first time in history of the greatly improved printing presses unlimited quantities of the New Testament were printed. These revised 18th century editions of the earlier 14th century first translations into the English language were then widely distributed throughout England the English speaking world among families who had never possessed a copy of the New Testament in any language.
In these 18th century editions with revisions the word "Jew" appeared for the first time in any English translations. The word "Jew" as it was used in the 18th century editions has since continued in use in all the editions of the New Testament in the English language. The use of the word "Jew" was thus stabilized.
The best known 18th century editions of the New Testament in English are the Rheims (Douai) Edition and the King James Authorized Edition. The Rheims (Douai) translation of the New Testament into English was first printed in 1582 but the word "Jew" DID NOT APPEAR IN IT.
The King James Authorized translation of the New Testament into English was begun in 1604 and first published in 1611. The word "Jew" did not appear in it either. The word "Jew" appeared in both these well known editions in their 18th century revised versions for the first times.
Countless copies of the revised 18th century editions of the Rheims (Douai) and the King James translations of the New Testament into English were distributed to the clergy and the laity throughout the English speaking world. They did not know the history of the origin of the English word "Jew" nor did they care. They accepted the English word "Jew" as the only and as the accepted form of the Latin "Iudaeus" and the Greek "Ioudaios." How could they be expected to have known otherwise? The answer is they could not and they did not. It was a NEW English word to them.
When one studies Latin they are taught that the letter "I" in Latin when used as the first letter in a word is pronounced like the letter "Y" in English when it is the first letter in the words like "yes," "youth" and "yacht." The "I" in "Iudaeus" is pronounced like the "Y" in "yes," "youth," and "yacht" in English. In all the 4th century to 18th century forms for the 18th� century "Jew" the letter "I" was pronounced like the English "Y" in "yes," "young," and "yacht." The same is true of the "Gi" or the "Gy" when it was used in the place of the letter "I."
The present pronunciation of the word "Jew" in modern English is a development of recent times. In the English language today the "J" in "Jew" is pronounced like the "J" in the English "justice," "jolly," and "jump."
This is the case only since the 18th century. Prior to the 18th century the "J" in "Jew" was pronounced exactly like the "Y" in the English "yes," "youth," and "yacht." Until the 18th� century and perhaps even later than the 18th century the word "Jew" in English was pronounced like the English "you" or "hew," and the word "Jews" like "youse" or "hews." The present pronunciation of "Jew" in English is a new pronunciation acquired after the 18th century.
The German language still retains the Latin original pronunciation. The German "Jude" is the German equivalent of the English "Jew." The "J" in the German "Jude" is pronounced exactly like the English "Y" in "yes," "youth," and "yacht." The German "J" is the equivalent of the Latin "I" and both are pronounced exactly like the English "Y" in "yes," "youth," and "yacht."
The German "Jude" is virtually the first syllable of the Latin "Iudaeus" and is pronounced exactly like it. The German "Jude" is the German contraction and corruption of the Latin "Iudaeus" just as the English "Jew" is the contraction and corruption of the Latin "Iudaeus." The German "J" is always pronounced like the English "Y" in "yes," "youth," and "yacht" when it is the first letter of a word. The pronunciation of the "J" in German "Jude" is not an exception to the pronunciation of the "J" in German.
The earliest version of the New Testament in English from the Latin Vulgate Edition is the Wiclif, or Wickliff Edition published in 1380. In the Wiclif Edition Jesus is there mentioned as One of the "iewes." That was the 14th century English version of the Latin "Iudaeus" and was pronounced "hew-weeze," in the plural, and "iewe" pronounced "hew-wee" in the singular.
In the 1380 Wiclif Edition in English the Gospel by John XIX.19, reads "ihesus of Nazareth kyng of the iewes." Prior to the 14th century the English language adopted the Anglo-Saxon "kyng" together with many other Anglo-Saxon words in place of the Latin "rex" and the Greek "basileus." The Anglo-Saxon also meant "tribal leader."
In the Tyndale Edition of the New Testament in English published in 1525 Jesus was likewise described as One of the "Iewes."
In the Coverdale Edition published in 1535 Jesus was also described as One of the "Iewes." Also in the Coverdale Edition the Gospel by John, XIX.19, reads "Iesus of Nazareth, kynge of the Iewes." In the Cranner Edition published in 1539 Jesus was again described as One of the "Iewes."
In the Geneva Edition published in 1540-1557 Jesus was also described as One of the "Iewes." In the Rheims Edition published in 1582 Jesus was described as One of the "Ievves."
In the King James Edition published in 1604-1611 also known as the Authorized Version Jesus was described again as one of the "Iewes." The forms of the Latin "Iudaeus" were used which were current at the time these translations were made.
The translation into English of the Gospel by John, XIX.19, from the Greek in which it was originally written reads "Do not inscribe 'the monarch of the Judeans' but that He Himself said 'I am monarch.'"
In the original Greek manuscript the Greek "basileus" appears for "monarch" in the English and the Greek "Ioudaios" appears for "Judeans" in the English. "Ioudaia" in Greek is "Judea" in English. "Ioudaios" in Greek is "Judeans" in English. There is no reason for any confusion.
If the generally accepted understanding today of the English "Jew" and "Judean" conveyed the identical implications, inferences and innuendoes as both rightly should, it would make no difference which of these two words was used when referring to Jesus in the New Testament or elsewhere. But the implications, inferences, and innuendoes today conveyed by these two words are as different as black is from white. The word "Jew" today is never regarded as a synonym for "Judean" nor is "Judean" regarded as a synonym for "Jew."
When the word "Jew" was first introduced into the English language in the 18th century its one and only implication, inference and innuendo was "Judean."
HOWEVER DURING THE 18th, 19th and 20th CENTURIES A WELL-ORGANIZED AND WELL-FINANCED INTERNATIONAL �PRESSURE GROUP� CREATED A SO-CALLED �SECONDARY MEANING� FOR THE WORD �JEW� AMONG THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES OF THE WORLD. THIS SO-CALLED �SECONDARY MEANING� FOR THE WORD �JEW� BEARS NO RELATION WHATSOEVER TO THE 18th CENTURY ORIGINAL CONNOTATION OF THE WORD �JEW.�
IT IS A MISREPRESENTATION PRESENTED TO THE WORLD DELIBERATELY BY THIS WELL ORGANIZED AND WELL FINANCED �PRESSURE GROUP� TO DECEIVE CHRISTIANS. (Facts Are Facts, by Benjamin H. Freedman, pp. 15-20) (And to claim a heritage that is not theirs).
This sure seems to be the more correct terminology. It appears from all our readings that the Jews of all ages, always do best what their father, the devil does - and that is lie. (John 8:44)
The Greek words used for "know and knowledge" seem to carry somewhat of a different context or concept than to days English words do. In both the Hebrew and Greek tongue these words carried the connotation - "to know fully."
"Knowledge strictly is the apprehension by the mind of some fact or truth in accordance with its real nature...Knowledge is distinguished from 'opinion' by its greater certainty. The mind is constituted with the capacity for knowledge, and the desire to possess and increase it.
�The character of knowledge varies with its object. The senses give knowledge of outward appearances; the intellect connects and reasons about these appearances, and arrives at general laws or truths; moral truth is apprehended through the power inherently possessed by men of distinguishing right and wrong in the light of moral principles; spiritual sympathy...
�The highest knowledge possible to man is the knowledge of God, and while there is that in God's infinity which transcends man's power of comprehension, God is knowable in the measure in which He has revealed Himself in creation, and supremely in Jesus Christ who alone perfectly knows the Father, and reveals Him to man..." (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, pages 1815-1816)
Rabbi Stephen Wise, one of the main Jewish leaders in the United States a few years ago, stated that when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylon (with the True Israelites), about 536 B.C., they brought with them the teachings which became known as the Babylonian Talmud. "THIS WAS THE END OF HEBRAISM, AND THE BEGINNING OF JUDAISM," the learned Rabbi stated.
The 1828 Webster's Dictionary refers to the first letter in the "J" section thus: "A modern addition to the English alphabet."� The words used prior were Iew, Iewe, Iewes. The use of the English terms, "Thee" and "Thou," were always used in reference to first person singular or plural, since the phonetic use of the word "Iew" is the same as "you," thus insulting. True Israelites.
The Compton�s Interactive Encyclopedia relates the following in reference to the letter �J�: THE LETTER J. The history of the letter J is linked with the history of l. The Romans and their European successors used l both for the vocalic "i" and for the consonantal "y" (as in the English word "yet"). The English letter J did not come into existence until the end of medieval times, when scribes began to use a tailed form of "i," with or without the dot, next to the short form of "i" (1). When printing was invented, the tailed form of "i" (2) was often used for an initial "i," which is usually consonantal. Not until the 17th century, however, was the distinction between J or j as a consonant and l or i as a vowel fully established. (Compton�s Interactive Encyclopedia)
In its plural form, �Jew� appears only eighty-two times in the Old Testament, 45 of those times again are in the Book of Esther. The first use of the word �Jew� in its plural form is 2 Kings 16:6 which is about 742 B.C., and refers to the enemies of Israel; and this was about one thousand years after Abraham died. Therefore, it is absurd and intellectually dishonest to call the Old Testament a Jewish book. It is the book of the generations of Adam kind (Genesis 5:1), and Israel in particular. From Genesis 12:1 forward to the end of the New Testament, the Bible is written, to, for, and about Israel and not other race or people on earth.
With these thoughts in mind, let us move forward in lighting up the New Testament. Truth is what lights up the Word of God. Yahshua declared in John 8:32 �And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.� Knowing and understanding that the Old and New Testaments are written to, for, and about Israel is the first point of beginning in lighting up the New Testament.
�They (the Jews) answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye (Jews) seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. YE (Jews) DO THE DEEDS OF YOUR FATHER. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YE WOULD LOVE ME: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. YE (Jews) ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND THE LUSTS OF YOUR FATHER YE WILL DO. HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT...HE THAT IS OF GOD HEARETH GOD�S WORDS: YE (Jews) THEREFORE HEAR THEM NOT, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF GOD.� (John 8:39-47)
We are told in Matthew 13:38:
�The field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom (Israelites) but THE TARES (the Jews) ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE.�
Again in Acts 13:10:
�O full of all subtility and all mischief, THOU (Jew) CHILD OF THE DEVIL, THOU (Jew) ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, WILT THOU (Jew) NOT CEASE TO PERVERT THE RIGHT WAYS OF THE LORD?�
Once again in 1 John 3:10 we are told:
�In this the children of God are manifest, and THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL (the Jews): WHOSOEVER DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NEITHER HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER.�
Now for those who say Yahshua was only speaking to those particular Jews we present the following for your review:
The religion practiced by the Pharisees in Jesus' time was based exclusively on the Babylonian Talmud. This, according to Rabbi Morris Kertzer,
"The Talmud consists of 63 books of legal, ethical and historical writings of the ancient rabbis. It was edited five centuries after the birth of Jesus. It is a compendium of law and lore. It is the Legal Code which forms the Basis of Jewish Religious Law and it is the textbook used in the Training of Rabbis."
In his lifetime Michael Rodkinson, the assumed name of a "Jew" who was one of the world's great authorities on the Talmud, wrote History of the Talmud. This classic on the subject was written by Michael Rodkinson in collaboration with the celebrated Rabbi Isaac M. Wise. In his History of the Talmud Michael Rodkinson, on page 70, states:
"Is the literature that Jesus was familiar with in his early years yet in existence in the world? Is it possible for us to get at it? Can we ourselves review the ideas, the statements, the modes of reasoning and thinking, on moral and Religious Subjects, which were current in his time, and must have been evaluated by Him during those thirty silent years when He was pondering His Future Mission? To such inquiries the learned class of Jewish rabbis answer by holding up the Talmud...and the question becomes, therefore, an interesting one to every Christian. What is the Talmud? The Talmud, then, is the Written Form of that which, in the Time of Jesus Was called the Traditions of the Elders and to which He makes frequent allusions."
Arsene Darmester in the book The Talmud states:
"Judaism finds its expression in the Talmud, it is not a remote suggestion and a faint echo thereof, but it...has become incarnate, in which it has taken form, passing from a state of abstraction into the domain of real things. The study of Judaism is that of the Talmud, as the study of the Talmud is that of Judaism...they are two inseparable things...they are one and the same...the Talmud, is a complete expression of religious movement, and this code of endless presumptions and minute ceremonials represents in its perfection the total work of the religious idea...The miracle was accomplished by a book, The Talmud...The Talmud is composed of two distinct parts the Mishna and the Gemara; the former the text, the latter a commentary upon the text...term Mishna we designate a collection of decisions and traditional laws embracing all departments of legislation, civil and religious...This code, the work of several generations of rabbis...nothing can equal the importance of the Talmud unless it be the ignorance that prevails concerning it...This explains how it happens that a single page of the Talmud contains three or four different languages, or rather specimens of one language at three or four stages of degeneracy...many a Mishna of five or six lines is accompanied by fifty or sixty pages of explanation...is law in all its authority; it constitutes dogma and cult; it is the fundamental element of the Talmud...The daily study of the Talmud which among Jews begins with the age of ten to end with life itself necessarily was a severe gymnastic for the mind, thinks to which it acquired incomparable subtlety and acumen...since it aspires to one thing: To establish for Judaism a 'Corpus Juris Eccleiastict!'"����������������������������������������������
Secondly, it is important to understand that the people of Israel, the primary subjects of the Old Testament, were divided into two divisions. The mass of the nation of Israel, Israelites FROM ALL THIRTEEN TRIBES, was living in dispersion throughout the Roman and Persian Empires, and beyond into the most northern reaches of Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles. Some of them had even made their way across the Atlantic into the hinterlands of North America.
To say that Israel was in dispersion is really no understatement. Israelite remnants had continuously separated from the main body of Israel beginning before the Exodus from Egypt (1491 B.C.) And at sundry times thereafter, until the Assyrians carried the main body of the Israelites into dispersion (beginning in 741 B.C.) And ending in 721 B.C.). The nation of Judah was first invaded by the Assyrians in 713 B.C., with tens of thousands from the tribe of Judah being taken to join the Israelites of the House of Israel already in dispersion. The end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah came in 606-607 B.C., and then in 588 B.C., when the Chaldean armies from Babylon invaded the nation and carried the rest of the nation into captivity.
These millions of Israelites, from all thirteen tribes were scattered throughout the Roman and Persian Empires more as �colonists� than captive slaves. They quickly adapted to the new environment into which they had been a placed and were very fluid in so far as geographical movement is concerned. When one opens the pages of the New Testament, it is imperative to remember that these millions of Israelites from all the tribes were the primary population out of which the so-called Gentiles of the New Testament were called. These Israelites, now alienated and separated from their God, were the Gentiles so often talked about in the New Testament scripture. Taking the Gospel to the Gentiles was the evangelism of Israel in dispersion, and not to the world in general. The Gentiles of the New Testament Scripture are one and the same with Israel in dispersion.
The dispersion of Israel IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN THE DISPERSION OF THE JEWS, AS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY THE TRAITORS IN THE PULPITS OF AMERICA.
To gather some idea of how widely dispersed the twelve tribes of Israel were in the first century of the Christian era, one merely needs to examine the geographical regions from which the Israelites gathered into Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. This included Israelites, perhaps a high percentage of them from the tribe of Judah, from such countries as Parthia, Media, Elamites, dwellers of Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Careful placement of these geographical locations on a map of the first century world confirms how widely dispersed these Israelites were.
Those who endeavor to establish that a diversity of races and cultures gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost in Acts 2 do so without authority from the Scripture.
FIRST: Because Pentecost was a particular feast associated with Israelite history, and
SECOND: Because ONLY ISRAELITES FROM THE TWELVE TRIBES IN DISPERSION, particularly those who continued to have ties with the Israelites then living in Judea, WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THIS CELEBRATION.
FINALLY: The narrative of Scripture itself confirms that the people gathered there from the dispersion; though they spoke different languages and came from various countries, THEY WERE BY ETHNIC HERITAGE ISRAELITES. Acts 2:5; 22; 36, and 39 CLOSES THE DOOR ON ANY EFFORT TO PORTRAY A DIVERSITY OF RACES BEING PRESENT ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST IN 33 A.D.
The second body of Israelites on the scene in the first century consisted of there remnant from Judah, Benjamin and Levi (Ezra 1:5) that had returned from the seventy years in Babylon. The permissive decrees from Cyrus and his successors had provided for a remnant which numbered about 41,360 Israelites (Ezra 2:64) from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and establish a worship center in Jerusalem. This remnant remained in the land of Judea from the date of their return, about 536 B.C., and was there when the Lord Jesus Christ was born to Joseph and Mary. Bible students must always keep in mind that the main body of the Kingdom of Judah had been taken captive by the Assyrians in 713 B.C., long before the later Babylonian captivity of 606-607 and 588 B.C. (2 Kings 18:13-16)
There were three primary religious parties in the time Yahshua was on the earth and were divided into three primary religious parties called the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. Other religious groups such as the Essenes and Zealots were far more obscure and thus are not named in the New Testament.
The remnant that had returned from the Babylonian captivity in 536 B.C., under Zerubbabel (civil leader) and Jeshua (ecclesiastical leader) and inspired by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were descended primarily from Judah, and a smaller number form Levi and Benjamin. For the next five hundred years, they became quite entrenched into the previously named religious parties with their rigid doctrinal positions and interpretations of the law.
Any effort to light up the New Testament for students of Scripture must take into consideration the vast spiritual divide between the Israelites living in Judea and those who considered themselves custodians of the law, the prophets, the covenants and all that pertained to the former twelve tribed Israel. The main body of Israel in dispersion, the people to whom James and Peter addressed their epistle, numbered into the millions. They were widely dispersed throughout the Roman and Persian Empires, as well as Europe. They were considered heathen, barbarian, and uncircumcised by the Israelites living in Judea. They were thought to be unclean, unworthy, and outcast by the Israelites living in Judea.
The compilation of the New Testament Scripture generally classifies the Israelites living in the Southern Kingdom of Judea as Judean, and the Baal priests in the pulpits of America falsely teach they were called Jews. The scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees considered themselves to be the pious, highly esteemed, and righteous custodians of the law, the prophets, and all that pertained to the heritage of Israel; but this is false for they are in no wise Israelites, but are a bastard race from the mixing of True Israelites and the other races and peoples of the world. Thy viewed themselves as being the sole representatives and descendants of ethnic Israel, heirs to the promises of the fathers; yet here again they lie because they are actually trying to steal the birthright their father Esau had despised back.
It would be impossible to light up the New Testament without in part examining the major religious parties into which the Israelites living in Jerusalem and Judea were divided. The Pharisees considered themselves the custodians of the law; they assumed a letter of strictness that was overlaid by their own traditions, which they believed had been communicated by God to Moses. These oral interpretations held equal authority with the law itself,, they believed. The scribes were the custodians of these oral interpretations of the law, more about which will be said later.
The Pharisees were a religious sect in every sense of the word, being obligated to remain true and faithful to the principles of law in every respect. This required Pharisees to be correct, zealous, moral, self-denying persons; in fact, they were self-righteous, considering themselves better than others. The Pharisees did confess belief in angels, the spirit, and the resurrection of the dead. However, they persecuted Jesus Christ and his followers at every turn. In the course of His ministry, Yahshua denounced the Pharisees in unsparing terms. (Matthew 23:13-29; Luke 11:42-43)
The scribes, primarily Pharisees, were the custodians of the Scriptures; they made copies and classified and taught the precepts of the oral law. It was their duty to keep careful count of every letter in the Old Testament canon. (See 2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25; 1 Kings 4:3; Jeremiah 8:8; 36:10, 12, 26) The scribes were responsible for the added record of rabbinical decisions on questions of ritual (Halachoth); the new code that issued from these interpretations were called the Mishna. Hebrew legends, which were considered very sacred, were the Germara. When formed with the Mishna, this became the Talmud. All these oral interpretations and traditions evolved during the seventy years in the Babylonian captivity. Over the centuries, they became galvanized into the rigid system of Judaism, about which Paul refers to as the Jews� religion. (Galatians 2:13-14)
These were also those who added and changed some of the scriptures of the Old Testament and the New.
����� False Doctrine Placed in the Scriptures
��������������������� By Kenite Scribes
In the Books of The Chronicles we find recorded there the names and the genealogies of the Tribes of Israel and where their portions of the inheritance is listed.
�These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjath‑jearim, Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth‑gader. And Shobal the father of Kirjath‑jearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites. And the families of Kirjath‑jearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. �AND� THE FAMILIES OF THE SCRIBES which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. THESE ARE THE KENITES that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.� (1 Chronicles 2:50-55)
Other genealogies in the Bible go into great detail and never leaves out a son! (Especially a firstborn son) If one reads Genesis 4:1 correctly, as depicted, it is not there either. Why is Cain totally left out?? Cain's descendants are mentioned separately in Genesis 4:17‑24 and it doesn't list Adam as the father of Cain! WHY???
The next place we find Cain in the Scriptures is Genesis 15:19 and we will have to read verses 18 through 21:
"In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Ammonites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." (Genesis 15:18‑21) (KJV)
One of these nations among the Canaanites was the KENITES (#7017 Strong's) which were DESCENDANTS OF CAIN. Being that Cain was of the SATANIC SEEDLINE, he would infect his satanic blood AMONG ALL THESE TEN NATIONS. And the "Kenizzites" were Edomites.
In the Peak's Commentary on the bible, page 116 we find this about this mixed group of nations spoken of in Genesis 15:19‑21:
"When the Israelites entered Canaan they found there a VERY MIXED population generally designated by the term Amorite or Canaanite."
The Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, Abridged by Ralph Earle, page 38, says: "The Kenites. Here are ten nations mentioned, though afterwards reckoned but seven; see Deuteronomy 7:1; Acts 13:19. Probably some of them which existed in Abram's time had been BLENDED with others before the time of Moses, so that seven only out of the ten then remained."
Kenites: "[KEE nights] (metalsmiths)‑‑ the name of a wandering tribe of people who were associated with the Midianites (Judges 1:16) and, later, with the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:6). The Kenites lived in the desert regions of Sinai, Midian, Edom, Amalek, and the Negev. The Bible first mentions the Kenites as one of the groups that lived in Canaan during the time of Abraham (Genesis 15:19); their territory was to be taken by the Israelites (Numbers 24:21‑22). The Kenites were metal craftsmen who may have traced their ancestry to TUBAL‑CAIN (a descendant of Cain) (Genesis 4:22). (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Wycliff Bible Commentary, editors: Charles F. Pfeiffer & Everett F. Harrison has this to say on page 8, and this quote will cover Genesis 3:14‑15: "CURSED (ar�r) ART THOU. The Lord singled out the originator and instigator of the temptation for special condemnation and degradation. From that moment he must crawl in the dust and even feed on it. He would slither his way along in disgrace, and hatred would be directed against him from all directions. Man would always regard him as a symbol of the degradation of the one who slandered God (cf. Isaiah 65:25).
HE WAS TO REPRESENT NOT MERELY THE SERPENT RACE, BUT THE POWER OF THE EVIL KINGDOM. As long as life continued, men would hate him and seek to destroy him. I WILL PUT ENMITY. The word "�b�" denotes the blood‑feud that runs deepest in the heart of man (cf. Numbers 35:19‑20; Ezekiel 25:15‑17; 35:5‑6) THOU SHALT BRUISE (sh�p).
A PROPHECY OF CONTINUING STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE DESCENDANTS OF WOMAN AND OF THE SERPENT TO DESTROY EACH OTHER. The verb sh�p is rare (cf. Job 9:17; Psalm 139:11). It is the same in both clauses.
�When translated �crush� it seems appropriate to the reference concerning the had of the serpent, but not quite so accurate in also rendered lie in wait for, aim at or (LXX) watch for. The Vulgate renders it "conteret," "bruise" in the first instance and in this famous passage, CALLED THE PROTEVAGEFIUM, �FIRST GOSPEL,� the announcement of a prolonged struggle, perpetual antagonism, wounds on both sides, and eventual victory for the seed of the woman. �God's promise that the head of the serpent was to be crushed pointed forward to the coming of Messiah and guaranteed victory. Thus assurance fell upon the ears of God's earliest creatures as a blessed hope of redemption."
The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 3, page 782: "KENITES: Meaning (metalworkers, smiths). Clan or tribal name of semi‑nomadic peoples of South Palestine and Sinai. The Aramaic and Arabic etymologies of the root �gyn� show that it has to do with metal and metal word (thus the Hebrew word from this root, �lance�). This probably indicates that the Kenites were metal workers, especially since Sinai and wadi �arabah were rich in high grade cooper ore. W.F. Albright has pointed to the Beni Hassan mural in Egypt (19th century B.C.)
�As an illustration of such a WONDERING GROUP OF SMITHS. This mural depicts thirty‑six men, women and children in characteristic Semitic dress leading along with other animals, donkeys laden with MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, weapons and an item which Albright has identified as a BELLOWS.
He has further noted that Lemech's three children (Genesis 4:19‑22) were responsible for HERDS (Jubal), MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (Jubal), and METAL WORK (Tubal‑Cain, or Tubal, THE SMITH), the three occupations which seem most evident in the mural...2nd quote from the same article: THE EARLY MONARCHY. During this period a significant concentration of Kenites was located in the southern Judean territory. This is clear from 1 Samuel 15:6 cited above and also from David's relations with them.�
Postexilic references. In 1 Chronicles 2:55 the FAMILIES OF THE SCRIBES living at Jabaz are said to be Kenites. Apparently, during the kingdom and exile periods, certain Kenites had given up NOMADIC SMITHING and had taken on a more sedentary, but equally honorable PROFESSION (?) OF SCRIBE.
Peak's Commentary on the Bible, page 114: "The etymology of the name suggest THAT THEY WERE SMITHS OR ARTIFICERS, a theory which is supported by their association with the Wadi �Arabah, where there were copper deposits which had been worked by the Egyptians since the middle of the 3rd millennium.
The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary On The Whole bible has this to say on Kenite, page 293: "THE FAMILIES OF THE SCRIBES; either civil or ecclesiastical officers of the Kenite origin, WHO ARE HERE CLASSIFIED WITH THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, NOT AS BEING DESCENDED FROM IT, but as dwellers within its territory, and in a measure INCORPORATED with its people."
The Matthew Pool's Commentary On The Holy Bible has this to say on the Kenites, Volume 1, page 778:
"THE SCRIBES; either civil, WHO WERE PUBLIC NOTARIES, WHO WROTE AND SIGNED LEGAL INSTRUMENTS; OR ECCLESIASTICAL...and are here mentioned not as if they were of the tribe of Judah, but because thy dwelt among them, and probably were allied to them by marriages, and so in a manner incorporated with them. Which dwelt, or rather, dwelt; Hebrew, were dwellers. For the other translation, which dwelt, MAY SEEM TO INSINUATE THAT THESE WERE DESCENDANTS OF JUDAH, WHICH THEY WERE NOT; but his translation ONLY SIGNIFIES COHABITATION WITH THEM, for which cause they are here named with them.�
All these things the Jews do today, here in America. And because CHRISTIANS have listened to the lying, deceiving, traitorous, Priests of Baal, the Judeo-Christian Clergy they have almost destroyed our nation and are fast destroying our people.
����������� Who Were/Are The Kenites?
It is obvious from all this that the scribes in the House of Israel, in the days of the Kings, were Kenites, and that the title of scribes was kept in the family so-to-speak, just as it is in some parts of the world today. So it is obvious that the Israelites allowed them to stay in the land with them because they were the Kenite Scribes that were living in Canaan when Israel first come into the land. After their 40 year trek through the wilderness in their escape from Egypt.
For it is the land of Canaan that Yahweh told Abraham:
�In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: THE KENITES, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.� (Genesis 15:18-21)
These verses are witnesses that Yahweh gave the land to Abram (before He changed his name to Abraham) and some 400-500 years before the Children of Israel returned to the Promised Land under the leadership of first Moses and then Joshua.
Kenites: Strong�s Concordance #7017 Qeyniy (kay‑nee'); or Qiyniy (1 Chronicles 2:55) (kee‑nee'); patronymic from OT:7014; a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin: KJV ‑ Kenite.
Kenites: Strong�s Concordance #7014 Qayin (kah'‑yin); the same as OT:7013 (with a play upon the affinity to OT:7069); Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe: KJV ‑ CAIN, Kenite (‑s). (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek‑Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Which shows that a Kenite are identified with the descendants of Cain or Kajin. Therefore, Kenites are the descendants of Cain. And since Cain intermarried (mixed race) with pre-Adamic peoples and thus the Kenites were only a partially of Adamic stock; THEY WERE DEFINITELY NOT FROM THE TRIBE OF SHEM, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT SEMITES.
�The Kenites were a nomadic people whose original home was in the region just south of Palestine, and they were loosely associated with the Amalekites. Balaam, in his prophecy recorded in Numbers 24:20-23, spoke of the Kenites in connection with the Amalekites. �And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And HE LOOKED ON THE KENITES, AND TOOK UP HIS PARABLE, AND SAID, STRONG IS THY DWELLING PLACE, AND THOU PUTTEST THY NEST IN A ROCK. NEVERTHELESS THE KENITE SHALL BE WASTED, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.� (Numbers 24:15‑25)
Jeremiah the Prophet wrote that Yahweh did NOT speak to, NOR did He give any command to Israel concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices in the day that He brought them out of Egypt.
�For I SPAKE NOT UNTO YOUR FATHERS, NOR COMMANDED THEM IN THE DAY THAT I BROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, CONCERNING BURNT OFFERINGS OR SACRIFICES: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.� (Jeremiah 7:22-24)
Here we can see that Jeremiah has declared that the Kenite scribes had falsified the Law by writing lies into it. This was because the Kenites were worshipers of Baal, and the fact that animal sacrifice was a very important part of the worship of Baal, Jeremiah�s proclamation and denunciation would seem to be substantiated.
Therefore, it is clear that it was the Baal worshiping Kenite Scribes who tampered with the Word of Yahweh. For He would not have commanded His Israel People, to practice the same rites of animal sacrifice that were so important to the Canaanitish worshipers of Baal? Yahweh commanded Israel not to follow the ways of Canaan.
�������� Sacrifices and Burnt Offerings
Joshua tells us in so many words that Yahweh did not ever seek sacrifices as he said:
�That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if TO OFFER THEREON BURNT OFFERING OR MEAT OFFERING, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, LET THE LORD HIMSELF REQUIRE IT.� (Joshua 22:23) Therefore, we can clearly see that Joshua did not recognize that burnt offering or meat offering was ordained by Yahweh; or he would never have said �Let the Lord Himself require it.�
In stead it is just as it is recorded in Jeremiah 7:23: �THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL; put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I SPAKE NOT UNTO YOUR FATHERS, NOR COMMANDED THEM IN THE DAY THAT I BROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, CONCERNING BURNT OFFERINGS OR SACRIFICES: BUT THIS THING COMMANDED I THEM, SAYING, OBEY MY VOICE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE: AND WALK YE IN ALL THE WAYS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU, THAT IT MAY BE WELL UNTO YOU. But THEY HEARKENED NOT, NOR INCLINED THEIR EAR, BUT WALKED IN THE COUNSELS AND IN THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR EVIL HEART, AND WENT BACKWARD, AND NOT FORWARD.� (Jeremiah 7:21-24)
Our Redeemer Yahweh told His people to hear Moses and the Prophets. For Yahweh said to His Israel People while they were wandering in the wilderness: �Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.� (Exodus 19:5-6)
We also find that a little later on in the Book of Leviticus 26:3-12 these words: �If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them...And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.� Nothing is said about sacrifices or offerings here. So we must conclude that the Kenite, the Jewish scribes distorted the Word of God to say things that it is not supposed to say.
One prime example of this is in Deuteronomy 23:7; Have you ever wondered about this verse and its seemingly contradiction to what the rest of the Scriptures say about Edom. Well many of us have and we present the following from Pastor Clifton A. Emahiser, 1012 N. Vine Street, Fostoria, Ohio 44830; Phone No. (419) 435-2836.
As I promised you in my last teaching letter #22, I am going to clear up and document the problem with Deuteronomy 23:7. As I told you before, there are approximately 27,000 transnational errors in our present Bibles. Some translations by various translators have attempted to clean up many of these discrepancies, but the errors are very numerous and overwhelming. The translation of Deuteronomy 23:7 is one of them. I will start by quoting this passage: �Thou shalt not abhor an eDomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou was a stranger in his land.�
From this verse it would appear that we should welcome all Edomites into our congregations with open arms, and with no questions asked, and that we are somehow guilty of some dire contemptible sin for even thinking an evil thought against them. I ask you: Is this not the impression which seized upon you when you read this passage for the first time? Remember the guilty, dirty, condemning feeling which overcame you for even giving the Edomites the slightest hint of disparaging thought, that possibly Yahweh might suddenly kill you in your very tracks for even blinking an eye?
If this has been your reaction when reading this passage in the past, forget it, for that is not what this verse is saying; not even remotely. I happened upon this verse many years ago when I was listening to a presentation by an Identity speaker who was making reference to the Edomites by using this verse as one of his points. At the time, I decided to look into the Hebrew meaning of the word �EDomite� for myself. I found the Strong�s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible,� assigned the term �EDomite� the Hebrew word �130 which says:
�130 ... Ed�m�y, ...Ed�wm�y, ed-o-mee�: patronymic [derived from father�s name] from #123; an EDomite, or descendant from (or inhabitant of) Edom: EDomite. See #726 Which had the following to say:
#726 ... Ar�wm�y, ar-o-mee�; A CLERICAL ERROR FOR #130; an EDomite (as in the margin): Syrian.
At once the truth struck me (and this was about 15 years ago), for if the proper rendering was �Syrian� instead of �EDomite,� it would make all the difference in the world. Over the years, since that time, I have pointed this clerical error out to many people of our persuasion. At the time, I knew this made more sense if Deuteronomy 23:7 were to correctly read �Syrian� rather than �Edomite� for the Syrians were Abraham�s relatives, in which case this verse would read:
�Thou shalt not abhor a SYRIAN: for he is thy brother, thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.�
Over the years, I have been satisfied that the word should have been Syrian instead of EDomite. I remember one party who challenged me, indicating that it was only a clerical error, and really didn�t mean anything. I finally came to the conclusion that it would be a hard proposition to prove and decided not to push the point openly any further.
That is, however, until recently, when I was preparing for this lesson, I accidentally discovered what the CLERICAL ERROR was. I will now reveal to you how I made this discovery. As I had decided to take up the topic of Esau, I was in the process of reading anything and everything I could find on the subject. I was reading along in �The Interpreter�s Dictionary of the Bible,� volume E-J, page 24, under the subtitle Edom, when I read this:
�...there are places where, because of the similarity between the letters _ (d) and _ (r), the text has wrongly read __�, �Aram� (i.e. Syria), and ____�, �Arameans� (i.e., Syrians), for __�, �Edom,� and ____�, �Edomites,� such as 2 Kings 16:6; 2 Chronicles 20:2, where the KJV has followed the MT, but the RSV has followed an emended text.
�Note: I have followed the Hebrew characters as faithfully as I know how to do on my computer; I may have made a mistake ... The main thing to notice here is the �similarity between the letters _ (d) and _ (r). You can see very readily, that a very small slip of the pen can change the word from EDomite to Samian, or Syrian to EDomite. I will enlarge these two Hebrew letters and place them side by side so you can observe the difference in them:
������������������������������������������ __
With this very small change in the Hebrew writing, and the word can be changed from Syrian to EDomite! Think of it this way, syRian or eDomite. By this above slight change, the Hebrew �r� sound is changed to a �d� sound. Since I originally wrote this, I now realize that the small remnant of Judah from Jerusalem who went into Babylonian captivity spoke Hebrew when they went in and spoke Chaldee when they came out seventy years later.
Also, when they went in they were using a rounded style of Hebrew to write in, and when they came out they were using a square style of Hebrew. Is it possible that the changing from a rounded style to a square style produced such an error? Well, if it did, how many other mistakes are there because of this? After all, it is absurd to believe we should not �abhor an EDomite� when the Almighty hates them Himself.
�And I HATED ESAU, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, THE PEOPLE AGAINST WHOM THE LORD HATH INDIGNATION FOR EVER.� (Malachi 1:3-4)
�And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword...And he (Edom) said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.� (Numbers 20:18-21)
��������������������������������� Edomites
[EE dum ites] descendants of Edom, or ESAU; an ancient people who were enemies of the Israelites. During the days of Abraham, the region which later became the home of the Edomites was occupied by more than one tribe of non‑Israelite peoples. When Esau moved to this region with his family and possessions, the HORITES already lived in the land Genesis 36:20. Edom and Israel after Kadesh Barnea. After the years of wilderness wandering, Moses wanted to lead Israel northward to Canaan across Edom into Moab. The king of Edom, however, refused them passage (Numbers 20:14‑21), forcing them to bypass Edom and Moab through the desert to the east (Judges 11:17-18. Later in the journey northward to Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab across from Jericho (Numbers 33:48‑49), Balaam prophesied that Israel would one day possess Edom.� (Numbers 24:18).
From the Conquest Until the Division. In dividing the land of Canaan after the conquest, Joshua established Judah's border to the west of the Dead Sea and to the border of Edom (Joshua 15:1,21). During the reign of Saul, Israel fought against Edom (1 Samuel 14:47).
But Edomites at times served in Saul's army (1 Samuel 21:7; 22:9). David conquered Edom, along with a number of other adjacent countries, and stationed troops in the land (2 Samuel 8:13‑14). In later years, Solomon promoted the building of a port on the northern coast of the Red Sea in EDomite territory. He also built a smelter nearby as a significant part of his developing copper industry. (1 Kings 9:26‑29).
After the Division. During the time of the Divided Kingdom, a number of hostile encounters occurred between the nations of Judah or Israel and Edom. During Jehoshaphat's reign, Edomites raided Judah but were turned back. (2 Chronicles 20:1, 8). An attempt to reopen the port at Ezion Geber failed (1 Kings 22:48); and the Edomites joined forces with those of Judah in Jehoshaphat's move to put down the rebellion of Mesha of Moab. (2 Kings 3:4‑5) During the reign of Joram, Edom freed herself of Judah's control (2 Kings 8:20‑22), but again came under Judah's control when Amaziah assaulted and captured Sela, their capital city. Edom became a vassal state of Assyria, beginning about 736 B. C.
Edom the Place of the Nabateans. After the downfall of Judah in 586 B. C., Edom rejoiced (Psalm 137:7). Edomites settled in southern Judah as far north as Hebron. Nabateans occupied old Edom beginning in the third century B. C., continuing their civilization well into the first century A. D. During the period from about 400‑100 B. C., Judas Maccabeus subdued the Edomites and John Hyrcanus forced them to be circumcised and then made them a part of the Jewish people. The Herod family of New Testament times was of EDomite stock.
Since no written EDomite records have been found, knowledge of the Edomites comes mainly from the Bible, archaeological excavations of their ancient cities, and references to Edom in Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian sources. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
E'DOMITES (e'do‑mits). The descendants of Esau, who settled in the S of Palestine and at a later period came into conflict with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:7); frequently called merely Edom (Numbers 20:14‑21; 24:18; Joshua 15:1; 2 Samuel 8:14); etc.)
Country. Edom ("Idumaea," KJV) was situated at the SE border of Palestine (Judges 11:17; Numbers 34:3) and was properly called the land or mountain of Seir (Genesis 36:8; 32:3; Joshua 24:4; Ezekiel 35:3, 7, 15). The country lay along the route pursued by the Israelites from Sinai to Kadesh‑barnea and thence back again to Elath (Deuteronomy 1:2; 2:1‑8), i.e., along the E side of the great valley of Arabah. On the N of Edom lay the territory of Moab, the boundary appearing to have been the "brook Zered." (Deuteronomy 2:13‑14, 18).
The physical geography of Edom is somewhat peculiar. Along the western base of the mountain range are low calcareous hills. These are succeeded by lofty masses of igneous rock, chiefly porphyry, over which lies red and variegated sandstone in irregular ridges and abrupt cliffs with deep ravines between.
The latter strata give the mountains their most striking features and remarkable colors. The average elevation of the summit is about two thousand feet above the sea. Along the eastern side runs an almost unbroken limestone ridge, a thousand feet or more higher than the other. This ridge sinks down with an easy slope into the plateau of the Arabian Desert. Although Edom is thus wild, rugged, and almost inaccessible, the deep glens and flat terraces along the mountainsides are covered with rich soil, from which trees, shrubs, and flowers now spring up luxuriantly.
People. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, or Edom, who expelled the original inhabitants, the Horites. (Deuteronomy 2:12) A statement made in Genesis 36:31) serves to fix the period of the dynasty of the eight kings. They "reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel;" i.e., before the time of Moses, who may be regarded as the first virtual king of Israel. (cf. Deuteronomy 33:4‑5; Exodus 18:16‑19). It would also appear that these kings were elected. The chiefs ("dukes," KJV) of the Edomites are named in (Genesis 36:40‑43) and were probably petty chiefs or sheikhs of their several clans.
History. Esau's bitter hatred toward his brother, Jacob, for fraudulently obtaining his blessing appears to have been inherited by his posterity. The Edomites peremptorily refused to permit the Israelites to pass through their land. (Numbers 20:18‑21) For a period of 400 years we hear no more of the Edomites. They were then attacked and defeated by Saul. (1 Samuel 14:47) Some forty years later David overthrew their army in the "Valley of Salt," and his general, Joab, following up the victory, destroyed nearly the whole male population (1 Kings 11:15‑16) and placed Jewish garrisons in all the strongholds of Edom. (2 Samuel 8:13‑14)
Hadad, a member of the royal family of Edom, made his escape with a few followers to Egypt, where he was kindly received by Pharaoh. After the death of David he returned and tried to excite his countrymen to rebellion against Israel, but failing in the attempt he went on to Syria, where he became one of Solomon's greatest enemies. (1 Kings 11:14‑22)
In the reign of Jehoshaphat (875 B.C.) the Edomites attempted to invade Israel in conjunction with Ammon and Moab but were miraculously destroyed in the valley of Beracah. (2 Chronicles 20:22, 26) A few years later they revolted against Jehoram, elected a king, and for half a century retained their independence. (2 Chronicles 21:8)
They were then attacked by Amaziah, and Sela, their great stronghold, was captured (2 Kings 4:7; 2 Chronicles 25:11‑12) Yet the Israelites were never again able to completely subdue them. 2 Chronicles 28:17)
WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR BESIEGED JERUSALEM THE EDOMITES JOINED HIM AND TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN THE PLUNDER OF THE CITY AND slaughter OF THE ISRAELITES. THEIR CRUELTY AT THAT TIME SEEMS TO BE SPECIALLY REFERRED TO IN (Psalm 137).
IT WAS ON ACCOUNT OF THESE ACTS OF CRUELTY COMMITTED AGAINST THE ISRAELITES� IN THE DAY OF THEIR CALAMITY THAT THE EDOMITES WERE SO FEARFULLY DENOUNCED BY THE LATER PROPHETS. (Isaiah 34:5‑8; 63:1‑4; Jeremiah 49:17; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 25:13‑14; Amos 1:11‑12; Obadiah 8‑10, 15)
On the conquest of Judah, the Edomites, probably in reward for their services during the war, were permitted to settle in southern Palestine and the whole plateau between it and Egypt; but at about the same time they were driven out of Edom proper by the Nabateans.
For more than four centuries they continued to prosper. But during the warlike rule of the Maccabees they were again completely subdued and even forced to conform to Jewish laws and rites and submit to the government of Jewish prefects.
THE EDOMITES WERE THEN INCORPORATED INTO THE JEWISH NATION, AND THE WHOLE PROVINCE WAS OFTEN TERMED BY GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS �IDUMAEA.�
Immediately before the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, twenty thousand Idumaeans were admitted to the Holy City, which they filled with robbery and bloodshed. From this time the Edomites, as a separate people, disappear from the pages of history. Scriptural indications that they were idolaters (2 Chronicles 25:14‑15, 20) are amply confirmed and illuminated by discoveries at Petra. For a discussion of the degrading practices of EDomite religion, see George L. Robinson, The Sarcophagus of an Ancient Civilization. (bibliography: D. N. Freedman and E. F. Campbell, eds., Biblical Archaeologist Reader 2 (1964): 51‑58; T. C. Vriezen, Oudtestament Studien 14 (1965): 330‑53; N. Glueck, The Other Side of Jordan (1970); D. J. Wiseman, ed., Peoples of Old Testament Times (1973), pp. 229‑58). (from New Unger's Bible Dictionary) (originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois.� Copyright (C) 1988.)
The scribes were also responsible for the Midrashim and the interpretations placed upon these oral traditions, the Hagada. Finally, there were mystical interpretations known as the Kabbalah.
In the first century of the Christian era, one had to accept this mass of oral interpretation placed into writing in order to be orthodox. Anyone who referred to the original Old Testament Scripture was guilty of heterodoxy. This became the most serious offense of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sadducees, the other major religious party, were not strictly a religious sect. They denied angels or other spirits, and particularly disdained miracles, including the resurrection. Religious radicalism was their way of life. (Mark 12:18:23; Acts 5:15-17; 23:8)
They were the predominate force within the great Sanhedrin and the priesthood. (Acts 4:1; 5:17) Although they did not identify themselves with particular doctrinal standards, they denied all that was supernatural. They forthwith denied Yahshua and every miracle associated with His life and ministry.
A solid majority of the various religious parties were Israelites, most from the tribe of Judah, with a small portion from Levi and Benjamin. One could be reasonably confident that there were �tares (Jews)� among the true children of god, however.
That pseudo or false Jews belonged to all these religious parties and to the great Sanhedrin is certain. These parties held tenaciously to the law, the prophets, and the heritage of their fathers. In general they were self-righteous and knew only a limited personal relationship with Yahweh God. The rejected forthwith all of the Israelites who had been into their dispersion several hundred years throughout the confines of the Roman and Persian Empires and beyond.
When John the Baptist first appeared on the scene, these religious parties rejected His message and his baptism. Six months after John, appearance, Jesus Christ began His ministry, having been baptized by John the Baptist. Every step of Jesus� ministry was dogged by either the Pharisees, Sadducees, or Herodians.
We find this in Luke 20:20: �And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.�
Yahshua went directly to the heart of all the oral traditions and interpretations of the law that the Pharisees and scribes had imposed over the pure and undefiled Law of Yahweh.
�But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?� (Matthew 15:3)
�And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.� (Matthew 15:6)
�Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.�
While multitudes followed Him and were often eager to hear His profound teachings, marvel at all the miracles performed at His hand, and become awestruck at His profound wisdom, they faded into obscurity when the great Sanhedrin attempted to provoke the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All of the Gospels clearly demonstrate that Yahshua and His apostles went first to the Israelites then living in Judea with the good news of the Kingdom of God, Redemption and salvation. Which included Israelites from the tribes of Judah and Levi, with a small number from Benjamin.
Moreover the truth of the Gospel, these people, the Judeans rejected it forthwith.
������������������������ He Came Unto His Own
�������������������� And They Received Him Not
�He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.�
When I tried to respond I was astounded that even though I knew the answer I was unable to put into words what I believed was meant by these verses. But last night, May 6, 1998, I lay there thinking about these verses and said in my mind, Lord I asked you to explain these to me, but you have not done so yet. Then, again, to my amazement the answers began to flood my mind, from the Lord, no doubt.
This verses is speaking of a time near the beginning. When Yahweh came unto the Children of Israel to be their God, and they received Him not and turned their back and went lusting after other gods. Therefore, they received Him not, and went whoring after false gods; and Yahweh divorced them for their unfaithfulness. This is when Yahweh is speaking of when He says He came unto His own and they received Him not.
And not about the Israelites and the Christ hating Jews of His day.
Let me interject something here which I believe should be pointed out. Many Christians say �The Bible is too deep for me,� �I just can�t understand what much of it says,� and for this reason they simply take some false teacher, who is working for the Children of the Devil, the government, and all types of anti-Christs. The reason that the scriptures seem deep and not understandable, is because God wants His children to study the Word for themselves and see what He is trying to tell them.
The harder they study, the more He will open their eyes and understanding. For the scriptures attest in Proverbs 25:2
"IT IS THE GLORY OF GOD TO CONCEAL A THING: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.�
Be glad that the scriptures must be studied because it is an honor when God reveals something to you. As the Children of Israel we did not know our heritage, until we searched out the matter. Then when God revealed this wonderful Knowledge to us, remember how overjoyed you were? I was, and I am sure each of you were when God opened our eyes and ears so that we could see and understand His word better. And as such, we never stop searching the scriptures for that jewel and the joy that comes when He reveals something else to us.
First we must determine who was in or on the world, and the answer is very obvious it was the Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty God in a flesh body. That part is easy. This we know because of the very next part of the verse, �the world was made by him.� Who made the world, the answer is related to us in Genesis 1:1: �In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.�
Second, �the world knew him not.� This word �world� means the Roman world, not the entire planet earth, and can be borne out in any good Bible concordance, such as Strong�s or Young�s.
Now comes the hard part, �He came unto his own.� Who are His own? For this we have to go to the Old Testament where we find in Amos 3:1‑2:
�Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth...�
�He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.� (John 1:10‑11)
This verse, without doubt, is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible; and is seldom if ever explained by the Judeo-Christian teachers, the priests of Ba�al which stand in the pulpits of America and the Western World today.
We know that He did not come to the Jews because He bore witness to this:
�But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.� (Matthew 15:24)
As a second witness, and there are many many more but we show these two to show you that Christ did not come to the Jews:
�I know that ye are Abraham's SEED; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, IF YE WERE ABRAHAM�S CHILDREN (This is testimony from Jesus Christ that the Jews were not Abraham�s children, but were his seed, therefore Christ is saying to the Jews you are a bunch of mixed-breeds otherwise), ye would do the works of Abraham.� (John 8:37-39)
Here Christ is showing that although the Jews could claim to be the seed of Abraham, He told them they were NOT HIS CHILDREN.
To explain this verse so you can understand just what John is telling us here, let�s turn to Paul. Paul, the author of many of the epistles, tells us that he was an Israelites of the seed of Abraham and of the Tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1)
This fact so conveyed it is necessary that we keep in mind, if we would interpret his epistle of Romans correctly. He introduces to our notice three parties; the Jews, whom most Christians assume to be of the Tribe of Judah, because they have been told this so many times by the Judeo-Christian clergy, the Israelites, who embraced the Tribe of Benjamin and the other Tribes that had been in captivity for about eight hundred years; the whole together are generally known as the House of Jacob, the House of Judah which includes members of the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin. In the third party we have the Gentiles.
This word Gentile usually denotes and includes the non-Jewish nations and people, but a careful study of this word and we find it means Nations of the Israelites, or Israelites. However, we will not present that study here because of its length.
Ignorance, brought on by false teachings, of these three parties, their place in Providence, and relation one to another, has given rise to much needless controversy and division in the Christian world. Men have argued over these for centuries, laying great stress on the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of Romans, which are seldom taught in truth.
Paul deals with a literal one, having reference to a distinct people, whom God has elected for a special work in this world. This people God calls �His people,� �His inheritance,� �His chosen,� �His witnesses,� �His servants,� �This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth my praise.� (Isaiah 15:21) Hence exclaims the Psalmist
�Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.� (Psalm 33:12)
It will be evident to any careful Bible student that God called Abraham from Ur, in the Chaldea, from his own kindred, for a special design. Through Abraham�s seed Jehovah designed that blessings, temporal and spiritual, would flow to all nations. He selected this seed for His own training, instruction, and culture, to the end that they might train, instruct, and teach the rest of mankind.
Through Judah was to come spiritual blessings, because from Him was the Messiah; and through Ephraim, as representative of the House of Israel, was to come temporal blessings. And this in the past has been the order of providential procedure; it is the present order, and it is to be the future, the efforts of the anti-Christ Jews to the contrary notwithstanding.
Look and verify this statement and order by an examination of the nations of the earth at this time, by asking yourselves the question: What form of religion among the many of the earth is best suited to develop man, to conserve his truest interest, and crown him with the greatest measure of peace, plenty, liberty, and security? Surely to this question there can be but one answer; it is the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is evident that Christ came of the Tribe of Judah.
If we look around the world and seek among the nations for the best form of civilization and the best government, we find the same to be in the bounds of Israel and Manasseh; England and America. Here we find individualism the best developed, and liberty the fullest grown. In this conclusion the intelligent of every other nation will concur.
If anyone will be honest there is no disagreement in our making this statement. Thus, without doubt, the world at large is greatly indebted to the religion of Jesus, who was of Judah, and to the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic, Nordic, and Slavic peoples for the best and purest forms of political organizations or governments; until they come under the control of the anti-Christ Jews and are then turned into dens of iniquity.
The Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic and kindred peoples of the earth being the descendants of the Children of Israel, it therefore follows that God has carried out the design included in Abraham�s call, and the promise made that in his seed that all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
To us it seems to have been a roundabout way. Had Israel been obedient to God in Palestine, and had Judah (note this carefully: HAD JUDAH, the remnants of the Tribe of Judah which were in Jerusalem and Palestine at the time of Christ on earth) RECEIVED JESUS AS THE TRUE MESSIAH, the state of the nations most certainly would have been very different to what it is presently.
Note carefully, that Judah did not receive Christ, this is not speaking of the children of Satan (Matthew 13:38; John 3:10; 6:70; 8:44, Acts 13:10) Yet, through it all, and for all, the purpose of God in setting up His Kingdom here on earth has been carried forward in His people Israel.
In a study of Scripture and God�s Plan for the earth it is always well to remember that God is not dependent on the harmonious co-operation of His creatures for the accomplishment of His purpose. He can gain His ends either through or hate or love, resistance or co-operation.
When THE JEWS CRUCIFIED CHRIST (Matthew 27:25; Luke 23:23-33; Luke 24:20; John 19:6; John 19:14-18; Acts 2:26; Acts 3:14-15; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 5:30; Acts 7:52; Acts 10:39; Acts 13:27-29; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15), they naturally thought they had cut short His career and cut off His influence; for so it would appear by all human reasoning. And that they would seize upon His inheritance as the Parable of the landholders relate to us.
Even the Disciples did not see how He could be the Messiah and Deliverer of Israel when He allowed Himself to be crucified. The hope of Israel was buried with the dead Christ. They had hoped that it would be He who should redeem Israel; but this hope was then dead.
But by His resurrection they saw through the secret of God�s Plan, and they saw that God WAS faithful in devising a way of escape, and able to bring to pass His own glorious purpose. So Peter voices their experience when he says,
�Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.� (1 Peter !:3)
In fact, the Jews soon found that they had made a mistake in crucifying Christ; for the risen Christ was mightier than the teaching One. They had crushed a seed to the earth, or so they thought, which sprang forth in renewed beauty and grace; whose death was life and whose loss was gain.
In fact, they had been outwitted. The Jews in wrath had offered a sacrifice once and for all, even for the very sin in which they were then indulging; they unknowingly abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light for God�s Israel people. The critical and unbelieving Jews, who denied another life than this, gave aid to proving another and a better; for Christ risen condemned their unbelief.
The proud and ritualistic Jews who loved the temple (Herods� Temple, not Solomon�s; for previously the Jews had gone to the Roman general in Syria with hat in hand and begged him to come and destroy their enemies the Sadducees and they cheered at the destruction of the Temple at that time). The full story can be found in the Jewish Encyclopedia under "Pharisees.") and its gorgeous ceremony, destroyed one and made the other of none avail, for in the death of Christ they laid the foundations of another and more grand temple; one composed of living stones, and made the old temple service meaningless; for the anti-type had swallowed up the type; the real, the ideal. In all this they had reasoned on a human plan, which is not high enough to wholly overlook and explore the Kingdom of god.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:7, makes this matter very plain:
�But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery; even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.�
Christ committed His life to the wave-tide of their rage, and was floated to death in victory. On the man side there was purpose and hate, and for this they were responsible; and on the divine side we have wisdom and love working out the salivation of a lost race.
The original theocracy of Israel consisted of Twelve tribes; this theocracy was divided under Rehoboam, Solomon�s son and successor. Ten Tribes succeeded, and formed a kingdom, which is ever after called the Kingdom of Israel; their first king was Jeroboam. But it is very singular to notice, that one of these Ten Tribes is lent to the Kingdom of Judah, and this one Tribe is Benjamin. In this was the Divine provision for the time of Christ.
We find in the first Book of Kings, eleventh chapter, that Solomon displeased the Lord by his wicked ways, and the Lord said:
�Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and I will give it to thy servant (jeroboam was Solomon�s servant at that time): notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father�s sake; but I will rend it out of the hands of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom, but will give one Tribe to thy son, for David My servant�s sake, and for Jerusalem�s sake, which I have chosen.� (1 Kings 11:13)
All the kingdom evidently meant the Ten Tribes. The same truth Ahijah, the Shilonite, taught when he rent his new garment into twelve pieces, and gave to Jeroboam ten.
�And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon and will give Ten Tribes to thee.� (1 Kings 11:31)
Then comes in the reserve clause again:
�But he shall have one Tribe for my servant David�s sake, and for Jerusalem�s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the Tribes of Israel.� (1 Kings 11:32)
And the reason for the reservation of this Tribe is clearly expressed in verse 36:
�And unto his son will I give one Tribe, that David my servant may always have a light before me in Jerusalem.�
Now it is plain why this Tribe was an exception.
The city of Jerusalem, God says, He has chosen out of all the cities of Israel, because to this city would the Messiah come. Beautifully agreeing with the forethought is the fact that when the Tribes had their lots assigned them in Palestine, the city of Jerusalem fell in the portion of Benjamin.
The Tribe then were the owners of the city, and they received Christ, but the unbelieving children of Satan, the Jews did not and sought to kill Him. (John 7:1) The disciples and first followers and converts were chiefly from this Tribe of Benjamin, but one of them whom Christ called a devil, was a Jew called Judas - the traitor who betrayed him. (John 6:70)
They were to separate from the kingdom of Judah, and seek out their own brethren and unite with them. The time of their separation had been foretold by the prophet, and pointed out by the Savior. The time of their departure would be coincident with the siege and destruction of their beloved city. So cried Jeremiah down through the centuries,
�Oh, ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoan, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem, for evil appeareth out of the North and great destruction.� (Jeremiah 6:1)
If any are mindful to examine history, they will find that war came, that the destruction was terrible, and more, they will find that the Benjamintes escaped. These points profane historians throughly confirm. Having fulfilled their God-appointed mission with the kingdom of Judah and in Jerusalem, Heaven gave them to be light-bearers to the whole world; first to specially find their own brethren of the House of Israel, and carry them the Gospel, and they would carry it to all the earth. Thus the Savior said,
�Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.� (Matthew 10:6; 15:24)
Peter in his epistle tells where these lost sheep were scattered.
Agreeable to the Savior�s command they went forth, and preached as they went, and so carried the Gospel of Christ with them. As a Tribe they finally settled in Normandy, and gave to France her Protestantism, which, from that day to this, Catholicism has not been able to entirely uproot, though it has made several desperate attempts.
They finally, however, as a Tribe, a people, under the Norman conquest, entered England and united with the other nine Tribes. Their advent, and the way they came, is very graphically symbolized in the unicorn on the royal arms of England. The unicorn is looking Westward, and is attached to the crown by a chain; showing that it came from the East.
With these facts in one�s mind, read those difficult passages in Romans, and all will be plain. Take, for instance, Romans 11:17:
�And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.�
Here it is manifest that we have three parties mentioned. The branches broken off mean the original Ten Tribes, the wild olive stands for the first ten tribes taken captive in the Assyrian captivity, the people in among whom they were grafted, or root of whose fatness they were partakers, mean the Israelites. The hope of their restoration is nicely set forth in verse 24:
�For if thou were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree.�
Again, the wild olive stands for the Ten Tribes which went into the Assyrian captivity, the branches which were broken off, the good olive tree for Israel; Judah and Benjamin which God never divorced; and so could be grafted back into the original tree of the House of Jacob. However, most of Judah, Benjamin, and � tribe of Levi went into the Assyrian Captivity along with the other 10 � tribes. (2 Kings 18:13) and what was left were the residue of the thirteen tribes of Israel.
The calamity that happened to the Tribes of Israel in being carried captive has been turned into good by our heavenly Father; into good for them and all the world.
�Therefore 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.� (2 Kings 18:23)
Keeping back the Tribe of Benjamin and Judah is a marvel of goodness. And with Paul we may exclaim:
�Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness.� (Romans 11:12)
If Israel had been able to contribute so much of Christianity to the world, and evolve in her imperfect state such an equitable form of government, what will her contribution be when gathered, restored, and once again put into a theocratic relation to God?
�For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?� (Romans 11:15)
This people who have been scattered among the nations and brought back from among them for His own glorious purpose and work are of course Israelites.
The branches who were broken off were the Ten Tribes of Israel who were taken first into Assyrian captivity, and later most of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were taken and carried away into captivity with the rest of Israel.
Therefore, because they were scattered among the other nations and lost their original name of Israel because of their collective sins they have been a mystery to the world; a mystery among the non-Israelite peoples of the world. Paul to the Colossians says:
�To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.� (Colossians 1:27)
Though many will not accept it, because they have been lied to all their lives by the priests of Ba�al in the pulpits of America and the Western World, the Entire Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament was written to, for and about Israel and no other people on the face of the earth no matter what one wishes to believe.
Christ came unto His own and they received Him not is not pertaining to the Jews who have never accepted Him, they have always hated Him because He is Righteous and Good and they are of their father the Devil who is (D)evil and bad.
Some have said: �Why did God create Evil and Good.� Well when Satan and his minions rebelled against God in Heaven and was cast out, God had to prove to those that were left that He had acted justly and with love, and not unjustly and with hate.
Therefore, He has allowed evil to flourish and to work its way on the earth to show those who remained in Heaven that His way was the right way and so would Live Him; not because of their fear but because of their Love.
Here is testimony that God brought the Children of Israel which He brought up from the land of Egypt, and testifying that the Israelites are the only people, or family, that God has known of all the people of the earth.
God is not talking about the Jews, for they are not Israelites. Oh there have been Israelites, both male and female, who have married into Jewish families, but their offspring can never enter into the congregation of the Lord, for they are a cursed people. Deuteronomy 23:2:
�A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.� And a bastard is a mixed-breed between Israelites and the other races.
God has told us that Israel is His sheep in many verses Ezekiel 34:2‑6:
�Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel...that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that WHICH WAS DRIVEN AWAY, neither have ye sought that WHICH WAS LOST; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. MY SHEEP wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.�
Luke relates the following about lost sheep in Luke 15:4‑7:
�What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.� (See also John 10:14, 26-27; 21:16-17)
We know that the Children of Israel were the ones Christ came to earth in a flesh body to seek for in Matthew 15:24:
�But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.�
And He sent His disciples only to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel, Matthew 10:5‑6:
�These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.�
Now we know that His sheep did hear His voice and followed Him for He clearly said, John 10:27‑30:
�MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, WHICH GAVE THEM ME, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.�
We know by many verses that the Jews are not Christ�s sheep. For what did they do when He spoke these words, John 10:31:
�Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.�
Also in the Book of John we find the following, John 8:31‑45:
�Then said Jesus to those Jews (This should be Judean, not Jews) which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him (This is the Jews, the Pharisees and scribes talking here, we know this because immediately after they finish speaking Christ says they are not the CHILDREN of Abraham, but He admits they are the SEED of Abraham), We be Abraham's seed, and WERE NEVER IN BONDAGE TO ANY MAN (Here again we are shown that they are not the CHILDREN, and neither are they TRUE ISRAELITES, because they claim they were never in bondage, but we know the CHILDREN were in bondage to the Egyptians, and all through the Book of Judges they were in one bondage after another, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians): how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's SEED; BUT YE SEEK TO KILL ME, BECAUSE MY WORD HATH NO PLACE IN YOU (This is proof from Christ�s own words that the Jews cannot receive the teachings of the Bible, the Word of God, because there is no place in them to receive it). I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye (Pharisees and scribes) do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye (Jews) were Abraham's CHILDREN, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now YE (Jews) SEEK TO KILL ME, a man that hath told you (Jews) the truth, which I have heard of God: THIS DID NOT ABRAHAM. YE (Jews) DO THE DEEDS OF YOUR FATHER. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them (Here the Jews are not talking about the birth of Christ as many Christians suppose, but about the children of Judah through Tamar), IF GOD WERE YOUR (Jews) FATHER, YE (Jews) WOULD LOVE ME: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye (Jews) not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word (Here Christ is telling us that the Pharisees and scribes, the Jews could not hear His word. So when they tell you that they believe in the Torah, don�t believe them it is a lie, they do not believe in the Bible and they don�t really believe the words of Moses; see John 5:46). YE (Pharisees and scribes, the Jews) ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND THE LUSTS OF YOUR FATHER YE WILL DO, HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.�
Sill we have not really determined who is Christ�s own who received Him not. This can be explained by studying the scriptures and the genealogy tables in Matthew and Luke, where it is shown through His step-father and His mother Mary, that He was the descendant of the TRIBE OF JUDAH. And nowhere in the Scriptures is there any indication that the remnants of the Tribe of Judah received Christ, as the other Tribes did.
Therefore, the ones who where Christ�s own, and received Him not were of His own tribe, the Tribe of Judah. Christ came to His own (the Tribe of Judah, what was left of it in Palestine, for the greater part of it and the Tribe of Benjamin had been carried away into the Assyrian captivity a few hundred years after the other tribes) and they did not receive Him.
WHO WERE HIS OWN? THE ANSWER, of course, IS THE REMNANT OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN IN JERUSALEM. He was of Judah, but if His own did not receive Him, we ask, who did?
The answer is clear for all to see, if they will only look, Israel received Him. The Israelites in the land at that time were part of the Tribe of Benjamin. They had been providentially selected for this work nearly a thousand years before. This one Tribe of Benjamin has a very peculiar history; and if you will study it over, it will greatly serve to confirm your faith in the Divine inspiration of the Bible and the unity and forethought of God Almighty.
For it was not the God, Christ Hating Jews who were His people for He and others said they were the children of the devil (John 8:44) and many such things in the following:
Matthew 3:7; 11:12; 12:39; 12:45; 23:15; 23:35; Luke 9:41; John 8:23;� 8:47; 10:25-26; Acts 1:6; 2:40; 13:6-10; Romans 2:14; 4:15; 6:16; 7:7; 1 John 3:4; 3:10; Revelation 2:9; 3:9
The angel Gabriel had announced that Yahshua:
�...shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.�
������������������������������ David�s Posterity
There is an important factor involved in this promise. Unless the Dravidic throne is established in perpetuity and his kingdom continued without a break this promise, made through the prophet Isaiah, could not possibly be fulfilled.
Humanly speaking, the existence of the throne was about to cease as Jeremiah watched events and saw the Chaldeans building their mounds in preparation for the taking of Jerusalem. Zedekiah was to be taken captive and his sons slain. How, then, was the line of David to be continued that Isaiah�s prophecy might be fulfilled? In this dark hour in the history of the House of David the Lord spoke to Jeremiah:
�For this saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit up0on the throne of the house of Israel.� (Jeremiah 33:17)
Moffatt translates this:
�For this is the Eternal�s promise: A Dravidic king shall never be lacking to sit upon the throne of Israel.�
Because of disbelief on the part of theologians and their ignorance of a law in Israel, Judeo-Christian church leaders have for the most part completely failed to recognize that with the death of the sons of Zedekiah the inheritance passed to a daughter who became the heir apparent to the Throne of David. This was in accordance with the following judgment rendered by God at the request of Moses in behalf of the daughters of Zelophehad:
�And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.� (Numbers 27:8)
������������������������������� Zedekiah�s Heir
With the death of Zedekiah�s sons the inheritance of the Throne of David passed to his daughter under this law. The fact that the Lord declared the perpetuity of the Throne of David and its continuation over the House of Israel; not Judah, immediately raises a question.
Where did Zedekiah�s daughter go when she left Palestine? To what place did she eventually come where the Dravidic rule could be continued uninterrupted, although over the House of Israel instead of the House of Judah? Later we shall follow the fortunes of Jeremiah as he journeyed to the �appointed place� where he was able to fulfill the latter half of his commission; to build and to plant. A large part of the planting had to do with the establishing in perpetuity the House and Throne of David that David might never lack a man to reign over the House of Israel. For this reason the King�s daughter became the special ward of the prophet.
���������������������������� A False Deduction
Theological commentators, failing to see the earthly continuity of the House of David ruling over the Kingdom, have declared that the promise of God made to Jeremiah that David would never lack a man to rule upon the Throne of Israel is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who now sits upon the throne of the universe waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.
How illogical such a position can be becomes apparent to anyone who will give this question a little serious, �Biblical� consideration. Jesus Christ is not sitting upon a universal throne for He does not assume that royal position until He returns to take over the Throne in His Kingdom, at which time, according to the Angel in the annunciation to Mary, He will ascend the Throne of His father David and reign over the house of Jacob for ever.
Men who say that over five hundred years after God spoke to Jeremiah the requirements of the prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of Christ, who never became king at that time, manifest, to say the least, a mind incapable of weighing evidence. And to add to all this the declaration that He is sitting upon a universal throne in fulfillment of these prophecies, which state definitely that the kings of David�s line would sit upon a throne ruling over the �House of Israel,� shows to what lengths unreasoning Judeo-Christian theologians will go who do not believe the truth. The men of David�s line are to sit upon the Throne of David which s to be established over the House of Israel according to the promise. This has reference to the continuity of the earthly Throne over the kingdom with a man of the lineage of David sitting upon it.
Therefore it is clear that the people of Judah utterly rejected Yahshua as the long awaited Messiah; they were only interested in crowning Him as king (John 6:15) and wanted nothing to do with a suffering Savior who had come to atone for the sin of His Israel people, even unto persecution and death.
Yahshua clearly announced whom He had come to save:
�I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.� (Matthew 15:224)
Moreover, He instructed His twelve apostles to preach:
�...TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.� (Matthew 10:6)
In the initial stages of New Testament evangelism, the Apostles were restricted to Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
�Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.� (Matthew 10:5)
This is because the Assyrians had taken the Israelites away from Samaria and had then brought in other people to replace the Israelites:
�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 17:24)
Here is proof that Yahweh never intended the Gospel to be taught to the other races and people who were not Israelites
The Yahshua expressly commanded His followers to remain in Jerusalem to wait for the baptism of the Holy Ghost; this He did not command the jews to do.
�And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father...� (Acts 1:4)
Yahshua also bears witness again that He never intended the Jews to receive the Gospel or to be saved. But He came and spoke to the Jews so they would receive further condemnation:
�If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.� (John 15:22)
Following Yahshua�s ascension, the plan of evangelism went through major changes; the apostles had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Acts 2) and were now fully commissioned to take the Gospel to all the House of Israel, including the main body that had long since been in dispersion.
�Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye (jew) have crucified, both Lord and Christ...Repent, and be baptized every one of you (Israelites) in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you (Israelites), and to your children, and to all that are afar off (that is, the main body of Israel then in dispersion through the Roman, Persian and Europe into the British Isles and beyond) even AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL.� (Acts 2:36, 38-39)
A careful reading of the New Testament indicates that after a brief period of time, many of the Apostles disappeared from the scene of Jerusalem. Peter remained to open the Gospel to the first uncircumcised ISRAELITE NAMED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, CORNELIUS, A ROMAN CENTURION OF THE ITALIAN BAND LIVING IN CAESAREA. (Acts 10) The Apostle Paul was converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) was chosen to be the primary evangelist to the Israelites living in dispersion and then called Gentiles, Greeks, or sometimes heathen or barbarians.
While defending himself before King Agrippa, Paul made it very clear that he knew of the presence of all twelve tribes then scattered in dispersion.
�And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel and Joseph): Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope�s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.� (Acts 26:6-7)
James, �the Just� and a pillar in the early church, wrote one of the earliest, if not the earliest of all, epistles to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.
�James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD, greeting.� (James 1:1)
In preparation for evangelism among Israel then in dispersion, Peter directed his epistle to these Israelites.
�Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, TO THE STRANGERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT PONTUS, GALATIA, CAPPADOCIA, ASIA, AND BITHYNIA, ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER...� (1 Peter 1:1-2)
There is clear indication that the House of Israel scattered and dispersed throughout the Roman, Persian and Europe and beyond into all corners of the earth were really not lost to God our Father or to those to whom the Gospel was entrusted.
John 7:35 is a reference to the �dispersed� that were to found among the Gentiles. Caiaphas, the high priest, was well aware of the Israelites scattered abroad. In respect to Yahshua and the great influence He was having over the population of Judea, he referenced the Israelites THAT WERE SCATTERED ABROAD. (John 11:52)
While living under Roman arrest, Paul told the Jews, �...FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I AM BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN.� (Acts 28:20) Moreover, Paul clearly identified the people making up the churches in Galatia as being Israelites.
�AND AS MANY AS WALK ACCORDING TO THIS RULE, PEACE BE ON THEM, AND MERCY, AND UPON THE ISRAEL OF OUR GOD.� (Galatians 6:16)
Knowing that God did not cast away His people (Romans 11:1) and that Israel was very much alive in the world, available to revive the Gospel of the Kingdom, truly lights up the New Testament. Every book in the New Testament comes alive with the knowledge of who and where the twelve tribes of Israel were in the first century. The growth and development of Christianity in the unfolding centuries would be possible because of the tens of millions descended from the tribes of Israel who populated the rank and file of the entire Western Christian world. The nations of Europe, the British Isles, and Scandinavia, were populated by the waves of Israelites who poured through and around the Caucasus Mountains and into Europe in the days before the words of the New Testament. These great migrations of Israelites into Europe and beyond occurred before the words of the New Testament were revealed by God.
A few examples from the pages of the New Testament narrative demonstrate how the identification of the House of Israel light up God�s Word. An eager excursion into the New Testament quickly demonstrates that the �Gentiles,� who become recipients of the good news of the Gospel, are indeed one and the same with Israel. The very promises made to Israel in the Old Testament find their complement in the New Testament.
The promise of Jeremiah 31:31-34 is that there was to be a �New Covenant� made with the House of Israel and Judah. The Gospels and Epistles document the manner in which a sovereign God initiated His pledge with Israel in Jeremiah 31:31-35. That the Gentiles of the New Testament were indeed the recipients of the New Covenant made with Israel throughout the Old Testament is as certain as day follows night. (Hebrews 8:6-12)
We read these words from Paul in romans 2:14-15:
�For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law until themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;).�
The above passages are remarkable in every way. Here we have a people called the Gentiles, uncircumcised heathens, who, though not having the law, are doing that which is commanded in the law. You see, the law is written in their hearts, and this by a conviction of the conscience is the clear message of the apostle writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. One merely needs to place these verses in the context of the Old Testament to know that these Gentiles of whom Paul speaks are none other but the descendants of Old Testament Israel.
Speaking of Israel, Isaiah confirms they are �...the people in whose heart is my law...� (Isaiah 51:7) Psalm 147:19-20 clearly places Israel as the custodians of Yahweh�s law.
� ���� �He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.�
Jeremiah 31:33 contains the promise of God to His people Israel:
�...After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.�
Romans 2:14-15 clearly confirms the promise of Yahweh to His people. These uncircumcised Gentiles, divorced and separated from their God, strangers to His covenants and outcasts from the commonwealth of Israel, were being quickened to the truth of God�s law as confirmed by the promises made unto the Fathers. When we rightly divide the Word of Truth, the �light� of the Holy Spirit makes the truth of Scripture shine through the darkness of this world.
Romans 9:23-26 reads:
�And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. EVEN US WHOM HE HATH CALLED, NOT OF THE JEWS (JUDEANS) ONLY, BUT ALSO THE GENTILES? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.�
The vessels of mercy prepared unto glory include all the elect chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4-5) The House of Israel were included in the election of God. The Jews to whom Paul refers were the well known descendants of Cain and Esau then living in the land who had rejected our Lord Jesus Christ and His good news of salvation. But who are these Gentiles in Romans 9:24? The answer is provided by the quotations from the prophet Hosea. The House of Israel, divorced from God and sent into dispersion, was the subject of this prophecy. Hosea 1:10 and 2:23 is a promise to Israel, then cut off in divorce and dispersion, that they would again b reconciled, restored to Yahweh.
The Gentiles of Romans 9:24 are directly linked to the promises to Israel in the Old Testament. The fulfillment of Hosea 1:10 and 2:23 is in process as Paul takes the Gospel to the Gentiles (Israelites) in Rome. For many years, the Roman legions had been bringing captive peoples from the British Isles back with them to Rome. These captive Britons already believed the Jesus Christ when they arrived in Rome under the care and cover of the Roman legions. The great door to the Gentiles world (Israel in dispersion) had been opened by Peter (Acts 10) and was now being carried forward with the ministry of Paul. It was bearing fruit.
The Israelites lost and scattered in dispersion were being reconciled to their God. The Word of God to Hosea the Prophet did not return to Him void. The Israelites who had been scattered in dispersion, not pitied by Yahweh and declared to �no longer be His people,� were now being called the children of the Living God. In the very place where Israel had been told they were no longer the people of god, in the New Testament narrative, and in the land of Judea, they were becoming �...the sons of the living God.� (Hosea 1:10)
Ephesians 2:11-13 reads as follows:
�Wherefore remember, that ye being in the past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without god in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.�
It does not require a theologian�s background to understand these clear passages. Any person with average intelligence can understand that Paul is talking about people who are called Gentiles, a people called uncircumcised by the self-righteous Judeans, who considered themselves the exclusive people of the Living God. These Gentiles, being without Christ and considered aliens from the nation of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, had been cut of in divorce and sent into dispersion seven hundred years before the revelation of the New Testament. Now to the Glory of God, these Gentiles, who had before bee �afar off� (both geographically and spiritually), were now being reconciled to Yahshua and restored to the nation of Israel, now having hope in the covenants and promises of God.
Ephesians 2:14 is a compelling Scripture and brings both Judah and Israel together in one Body in Yahshua. The long-standing partition between the House of Judah and the House of Israel was dissolved by the blood of Yahshua. He brought all Israel into one body. �For he is our peace, who hath made both (Israel and Judah) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (wall of division and separation) between us.� (Ephesians 2:14)
We read these verses in the book of I Peter:
�But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.� (1 Peter 2:9-10)
This is a marvelous example of how the Holy Spirit moves forth in lighting up the New Testament. Recall that Peter addressed this epistle to the �stranger scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.� (1 Peter 1:1)
As Peter moves under the inspiration to establish the means by which Israel in dispersion, now called Gentiles, is to be brought into the saving grave of Yahshua, a remarkable truth unfolds. The Holy Spirit shows two dynamic Scriptures from the Old Testament. The first is Exodus 19:6:
�And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the word which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.�
The second comes from Hosea 1:10:
�Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the Living God.�
The Holy Spirit uses these two passages form the Old Testament to demonstrate the means by which Israel, now in dispersion and lost among the nations, uncircumcised, heathen, barbarian, outcasts from the nation of Israel, is being made a �royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.� To what end? That they might �shew forth the praises of him what called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.� The people who for ages had not bee a people are now, by the blood of Yahshua, made the people of God once again. That which had been lost for ages past is found. Praise Yahweh, and may all glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Divorced Israel, the people who had been declared no people, are now brought into the very presence of God.
The key to lighting up the New Testament IS TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE OLD TESTAMENT. The context for every book and chapter of the New Testament writings is the Old Testament. When Biblical Israel is identified and followed through the history, literature, and prophesies of the Old Testament, one then has a foundation upon which the New Testament can be built. Every book and chapter of the New Testament takes on powerful meaning when understood in the light of Yahshua, His Gospel, and His redeeming grace to Israel, the people of the Book! There is no divide between the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
The separation of the Bible into tow religions, Judaism and Christianity, is one of the most ill-conceived events in the history of our Israel people. This has precipitated terrible spiritual blindness both to the clergy and millions of Christians who have followed them. JUDAISM IS NOT NOW AND NEVER HAS BEEN THE RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. Babylon, not Jerusalem, was the birthplace of Judaism. The Talmud, not the Bible, is the foundation for Judaism. The Old Testament is the ground and foundation for Christianity alone! Apart from the Old Testament, there is no context for Christianity and the Person of Yahshua. The Judeo-Christian ministers who believe or teach that Judaism is the basis for the New Testament and the Christianity that follows therefrom are dead wrong and most of them know it!
When Israelites form the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, were carried into Babylon by the armies under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar in 606-607 B.C., and again in 588 B.C., closure came to the kingdom of Judah. A significant portion of this nation had already been taken into captivity in 713 B.C., by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. The final deportation of the nation of Judah into Babylon was marked with great significance; during this seventy years in Babylon, the Levites and members from other tribes, geographically separated from Jerusalem, the temple, and their heritage, made significant changes in their religion.
Rabbi Stephen Wise, one of the main Jewish leaders in the United States a few years ago, stated that when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylon (with the True Israelites), about 536 B.C., they brought with them the teachings which became known as the Babylonian Talmud. "This was the end of Hebraism, and the beginning of Judaism," the learned Rabbi stated.���������
Therefore, we know that the religion that returned from the seventy years in Babylon was the religion of the Jews of which Paul speaks in Galatians 1:13-14. This was the religion from which Paul was delivered from when he became a Christian. (Acts 8) This religion does have a name: Judaism. This religion is NOT Christianity, it never was, and never will be. Historically Judaism has rejected Yahshua and all things Christian. If we are to light up the New Testament, it is necessary to divide the faith of Christianity from the religion of Judaism. Moreover, we must sort out the true Judeans from the pseudo Jews and false Judah. (Revelation 2:9; 3:9)
Finally, we must identify the Gentiles, Heathen, Greeks, barbarians, and the Uncircumcised of the New Testament. In so doing, we will find that the House of Israel were really never lost at all to Yahweh and His plan of evangelism. Lost Israel has been found! They are the millions of Christians who throughout the unfolding centuries have been doing what Abraham�s children, through the covenant made with Isaac, were supposed to. Praise God, the New Testament is lighting up! We have a new Bible! We have a new relationship with Yahweh our Father! Our Messiah and Redeemer and Savior has come to save His Israel people! To the glory of god, the light now shines bright upon the pages of the New Testament. (Taken, in part, from a booklet entitled �Lighting Up The New Testament,� by Pastor Dan Gayman)