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The prophets of old foretell of a day when the heritage of Israel would be assumed by another people, a heathen people, a very wicked people. These people would claim to be Israel, when in fact they really are not. They would assume all rights to Israel's heritage and even lay claim to the land of Palestine, the Ancient homeland of True Israelites. Indeed, these impostors would deceive the whole world by establishing a nation in that land and calling it Israel.
In so doing they would fulfill those prophecies little known or publicized by any Bible scholars, prophecies that indicate impostors would one day lay claim to the land of Palestine when True Israel was in dispersion and they would call themselves by the name of Israel.
The key to unlocking this prophetic mystery is one particular idiom, a figure of speech found quite frequently in the Bible when referring to God's people. This idiom was used frequently in history to identify the people called Israel, a name first given to Jacob after he wrestled with the angel. It means a prince ruling with God and was assumed by his descendants throughout history.
But now, here, near the end of history, another people have assumed that name, a people that are not descendants of Jacob. A people who's father was the devil. (John 8:44) Indeed, the prophets foretold that this day would come.
The understanding of a particular idiom is the key to unlocking the prophetic mystery of latter day impostors. This particular idiom is found in one of the most commonly quoted scriptures of our day, a scripture most often used in a call for national repentance. We read: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chr. 7:14)
Notice the phrase, "which are called by my name." At face value this may appear to refer to God's actual name, that is Yahweh. But the people were never called by His name. No, they were never called
Yahweh. Instead, this particular phrase is a common idiom which simply means "Israel," the name God gave Jacob. The scripture says: "The Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." (2 Kings 17:34)
Indeed, the people were named Israel, and this particular idiom relates back to that unique experience when God called Jacob by a new name. Other prophetic passages confirm this. Consider this passage from Isaiah: "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called they by thy name; thou art mine." (Isa. 43:7)
Notice in this passage that the name has the connotation of ownership in the same way a wife's name is changed to indicate her husband's ownership. This explains the significance of Jacob's name change and God's people continuing to use it. The same prophet further states:"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel." (Isa. 48:1)
It is clear from this passage that the people were called by the name of Israel, that new name God had given to Jacob. Clearly this was the historic meaning of the idiom in question. The people called by God's name were the people called Israel.
This understanding in mind the scriptures can now be explored which reveal another people would lay claim to the land of Israel and they would be called by God's name. These impostors would lay claim to the very inheritance of True Israel. This passage from Isaiah reveals the beginnings of this great switch: "O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name." (Isa. 63:17-19)
This passage indicates that True Israel has been exiled from the land and that their adversaries now occupy it. The prophetic call is to return the inheritance to the tribes, indicating another people now occupy it.
We are also told that God's people have possessed the land but a short while and that its present occupants were never called by God's name, meaning things have changed! Indeed, things have changed! Another people now lay claim to Israel's inheritance. The prophets foretold this would happen during the time of Israel's dispersion among the nations. In the prophet Ezekiel, we read: "Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY, are they unto THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, Get ye far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession. Therefore say Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come." (Eze. 11:14-16)
Notice during the time of Israel's dispersion among the nations other would lay claim to their land. These very people would even claim the land had been given to them for a possession. Christ even spoke of that time when Israel would be in dispersion and says the land would be taken by the Gentiles. We read: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24) Clearly the scriptures teach that during the time of Israel's dispersion among the nations the heathen would occupy their land.
The prophets give us some indication who the impostors would be that would lay claim to Israel's inheritance during the time of their dispersion. There is clear evidence that they would be of the Esau-Canaanite families. The Edomites or Idumeans represent a significant branch of those attempting to stake out Israel's inheritance during their exile from the land. The Edomites are addressed in this prophecy from the prophet Obadiah. We read:"In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them." (Obadiah 11)
The prophet Ezekiel also identifies the Idumeans as those claiming the land of Israel. We read: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, WHICH HAVE APPOINTED MY LAND INTO THEIR POSSESSION, WITH THE JOY OF ALL THEIR HEART, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey." (Eze. 36:5)
Yes, the Idumeans (which is another name for the Edomites) had appointed Israel's land as their own possession. The descendants of these Edomite-Canaanites have laid claim to the land ever since Israel was first exiled.
In fact, the Canaanite was in the land from the beginning, since the days of Abraham. The declaration of 1948 was only a continuation of an age old attempt to steal the heritage of Israel and lay claim to their land. But, rest assured, the prophets have foretold it all. The clearest indictment of these heathen impostors comes from those scriptures that speak of the time when Israel would be restored to their land and reclaim their inheritance.
The prophets give us clear indication that the Israelites would repossess their land from an heathen people, which would be called by God's name! Yes, these people would call themselves Israel. This passage from the prophet Amos addresses the reestablishment of the Davidic monarchy and the people's repossession of the land. We read: "In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this...And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land." (Amos 9:11-15)
This is a clear reference to the fact that the remnant of Edom would be in the land and that they would be called by God's name, that is Israel! Moreover, the True Israelites would repossess the land from these heathen people. The other prophets confirm the identity of those from whom Israel would repossess the land. In Obadiah we read: "The house of Jacob shall possess their possession. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau...And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath." (Obadiah 17-20)
Again, we have reference to the Edomites and the Canaanites. The scriptures clearly tell us these heathen peoples would be in the land when Israel returned to possess it. This prophecy from Zechariah also confirms the presence the Canaanite in the land. We read: "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE Lord; and the pots of the Lord's house shall be like the bows before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." (Zec. 14:21)
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Yes, in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in Jerusalem, nor in all the land. These heathen impostors who now call themselves Israel will be cast out for evermore, never again to return and lay claim to the heritage of Israel. Truly, they are the heathen called by God's name, as foretold by the prophet Amos. (Amos 9:12)
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There is written in the prophets a number of passages foretelling that a heathen people would lay claim� to the land and inheritance of Israel during the time of their dispersion among the nations. The scriptures identify these impostors specifically as descendants of the Edomite-Canaanite families. These heathen people would even claim to be Israel. (Rev. 2:9; 3:9)
The prophets say they would called by God's name, indicating they would be called Israel. Only with an historic understanding of that idiom can it be known that a heathen people would assume Israel's heritage and claim that name once given to Jacob. Looking at world events today, we have confirmation of all that has been written. Surely the words of the prophets have come to pass as there is in the land today another people called by My name.