09/1999
A few days ago we went to Jerusalem to listen to a well-known Christian speak on Ephraim and Judah. He started off by quoting Ephesians 2:11-13: "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh----who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands----at that time you were without Messiah, 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 Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah."
He then proceeded to tell those Gentiles that they were grafted into Judah, and that they should therefore identify with Judah much as Ruth did with Naomi. With that he explained that as the old House of Ephraim has been cut off, they, the "other nation", is now grafted in its place, making up the new Ephraim (in the Spirit). Using Hosea chapter one, he told his listeners that Ephraim became "not my people," although, granted, some of them may come back with the Gentiles. The Ephramite or the Ten Lost Tribes’ identity, however, is not really important as they are grafted into Judah and become a part of the commonwealth of Israel - the one new man - like all the other Gentiles. Incidentally, it is these same Gentiles that are looked upon as the strangers working in the fields and tending the flocks (Isa. 61:5), and not as co-heirs having the same rights.
Although the speaker's exhortations, to be identified with Judah and to become rooted in the Land of Israel were strong and passionate, his replacement doctrine, which substitutes Joseph with the Gentile Church, was grievous, to say the least. I believe if one would ask the house of Judah, if it was okay for the church to come and live along side of the Jews here in the land out numbering them 100 to one, I have a feeling that they would have a war on their hands. I agree that scriptures are very clear that the Messiah would restore both Houses, and that they would live on the land given to their forefathers. But sure He did not mean the gentile church but a repentant Ephraimite. Yes, there may be foreigners living amongst them, but the majority would be the natural descendents. These foreigners join Israel because they see that YHVH is with them.
The House of Joseph was to bear witness to the faithfulness and mercies of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph's prophetic "stick" in the hand of Ephraim was to become a multitude in the midst of the earth, "the fullness of the nations" (Gen.. 48:19). However, as a single people (Menashe) they were to be blessed in their forgetfulness and thus relegated to a heap of scattered bones in the Valley of Jehosaphat ("God's judgements"). But in spite of this time of living under the "rod of God's judgement", or the blessing and the curse, as prophesied by Moses before they even went into the Land of Israel the first time (see Deut. 29 and 30), YHVH declares (in these same prophetic scriptures) that He will not forget the covenant, and will establish it for "His own name sake".
In Zechariah 10, we see the prophet announcing the destiny of the Two Houses in the latter days. Judah was to return to the land and become a mighty war-horse. They were also to stretch the tent pegs (of the land). This certainly has been fulfilled, at least in part, as Judah-Israel has become one of the most powerful military states in the world. They have also been forced to stretch their boundaries over the years. And now, the peace process, whereby land is to be traded in for "peace," will actually lead to the fulfillment of the scriptures that speak of an all-out war with the surrounding nations. (ref. Joel 3, Isa. 11, Ez.36 to mention just a few). The reason for Judah "making room" is so that Joseph can come back to Lebanon and Syria. "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am YHVH their Elohim, and I will hear them. Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Yahoveh. I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; they shall increase as they once increased. I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return. I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more room is found for them" (Zech. 10:6-10).
Please note that while YHVH is strengthening Judah, He also goes out to the nations to save Joseph. Judah has no problem today flexing her muscles, but Joseph certainly is having a hard time accepting the fact that he is the one being saved out there and being a recipient of the Spirit just as prophesied. However, Joseph has shepherds who are leading him up all kinds of religious mountains. "For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people went their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd. My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds" (Zech 10:2-3; see also Ez. 34). But thanks be to YHVH! He has poured out the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, and to raise watchmen on the hills of Ephraim to prepare the way of YHVH, by calling out: "LET US RETURN AND GO UP TO ZION THE MOUNTAIN OF YHVH".
The last thing that Joseph did, which is also the last fact recorded in the book of Genesis, was to request that the sons of Israel take His bones back to the Land of Israel, at such a time when they would be brought out of Egypt. It is this act of faith for which the writer to the Hebrews recognizes Joseph. (Heb.11:22). However, once they did bring his bones back, why wasn't Joseph laid to rest in Hebron with his fathers? Why did they bury him between the two Mountains of Blessing and Curse? Was it because his bones were to bear witness to the God of Israel's righteous judgements (the blessings and the curses)? Were those bones to be one of the final prophetic statements of the Elohim of the Genesis? Isn't it YHVH Elohim who keeps covenant? Is He not going to gather those bones from all the places where they have been scattered, breath life into them and make them stand-up to be His mighty army in the earth?
In the waning hours of this age, the Messiah son of David is standing as the captain of this army, ready to take charge of his faithful remnant from both Houses of Israel. "I will bend Judah My bow, fitting the bow with Ephraim the arrow, and raise up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and I will make you like the sword of a mighty man. Then YHVH will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. YHVH will blow the shofar, and go with whirlwinds from the south" (Zech. 9:13-14).
Ephraim
A few days ago we went to Jerusalem to listen to a well-known Christian speak on Ephraim and Judah. He started off by quoting Ephesians 2:11-13: "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh----who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands----at that time you were without Messiah, 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 Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah."
He then proceeded to tell those Gentiles that they were grafted into Judah, and that they should therefore identify with Judah much as Ruth did with Naomi. With that he explained that as the old House of Ephraim has been cut off, they, the "other nation", is now grafted in its place, making up the new Ephraim (in the Spirit). Using Hosea chapter one, he told his listeners that Ephraim became "not my people," although, granted, some of them may come back with the Gentiles. The Ephramite or the Ten Lost Tribes’ identity, however, is not really important as they are grafted into Judah and become a part of the commonwealth of Israel - the one new man - like all the other Gentiles. Incidentally, it is these same Gentiles that are looked upon as the strangers working in the fields and tending the flocks (Isa. 61:5), and not as co-heirs having the same rights.
Although the speaker's exhortations, to be identified with Judah and to become rooted in the Land of Israel were strong and passionate, his replacement doctrine, which substitutes Joseph with the Gentile Church, was grievous, to say the least. I believe if one would ask the house of Judah, if it was okay for the church to come and live along side of the Jews here in the land out numbering them 100 to one, I have a feeling that they would have a war on their hands. I agree that scriptures are very clear that the Messiah would restore both Houses, and that they would live on the land given to their forefathers. But sure He did not mean the gentile church but a repentant Ephraimite. Yes, there may be foreigners living amongst them, but the majority would be the natural descendents. These foreigners join Israel because they see that YHVH is with them.
The House of Joseph was to bear witness to the faithfulness and mercies of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph's prophetic "stick" in the hand of Ephraim was to become a multitude in the midst of the earth, "the fullness of the nations" (Gen.. 48:19). However, as a single people (Menashe) they were to be blessed in their forgetfulness and thus relegated to a heap of scattered bones in the Valley of Jehosaphat ("God's judgements"). But in spite of this time of living under the "rod of God's judgement", or the blessing and the curse, as prophesied by Moses before they even went into the Land of Israel the first time (see Deut. 29 and 30), YHVH declares (in these same prophetic scriptures) that He will not forget the covenant, and will establish it for "His own name sake".
In Zechariah 10, we see the prophet announcing the destiny of the Two Houses in the latter days. Judah was to return to the land and become a mighty war-horse. They were also to stretch the tent pegs (of the land). This certainly has been fulfilled, at least in part, as Judah-Israel has become one of the most powerful military states in the world. They have also been forced to stretch their boundaries over the years. And now, the peace process, whereby land is to be traded in for "peace," will actually lead to the fulfillment of the scriptures that speak of an all-out war with the surrounding nations. (ref. Joel 3, Isa. 11, Ez.36 to mention just a few). The reason for Judah "making room" is so that Joseph can come back to Lebanon and Syria. "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am YHVH their Elohim, and I will hear them. Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Yahoveh. I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; they shall increase as they once increased. I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return. I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more room is found for them" (Zech. 10:6-10).
Please note that while YHVH is strengthening Judah, He also goes out to the nations to save Joseph. Judah has no problem today flexing her muscles, but Joseph certainly is having a hard time accepting the fact that he is the one being saved out there and being a recipient of the Spirit just as prophesied. However, Joseph has shepherds who are leading him up all kinds of religious mountains. "For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people went their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd. My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds" (Zech 10:2-3; see also Ez. 34). But thanks be to YHVH! He has poured out the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, and to raise watchmen on the hills of Ephraim to prepare the way of YHVH, by calling out: "LET US RETURN AND GO UP TO ZION THE MOUNTAIN OF YHVH".
The last thing that Joseph did, which is also the last fact recorded in the book of Genesis, was to request that the sons of Israel take His bones back to the Land of Israel, at such a time when they would be brought out of Egypt. It is this act of faith for which the writer to the Hebrews recognizes Joseph. (Heb.11:22). However, once they did bring his bones back, why wasn't Joseph laid to rest in Hebron with his fathers? Why did they bury him between the two Mountains of Blessing and Curse? Was it because his bones were to bear witness to the God of Israel's righteous judgements (the blessings and the curses)? Were those bones to be one of the final prophetic statements of the Elohim of the Genesis? Isn't it YHVH Elohim who keeps covenant? Is He not going to gather those bones from all the places where they have been scattered, breath life into them and make them stand-up to be His mighty army in the earth?
In the waning hours of this age, the Messiah son of David is standing as the captain of this army, ready to take charge of his faithful remnant from both Houses of Israel. "I will bend Judah My bow, fitting the bow with Ephraim the arrow, and raise up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and I will make you like the sword of a mighty man. Then YHVH will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. YHVH will blow the shofar, and go with whirlwinds from the south" (Zech. 9:13-14).
2 comments:
Would you accuse paul of preaching replacement theology when he refers to Jerusalem now as hagar and her son ishmael. Paul says to the church cast out the bond women and her son they shall have no inheritance with the free born.
The inheritance belongs to the free born not the natural born. This inheritance is to those in christ. This is the gospel of Jesus christ. The word also says if any man preach another gospel let him be accursed.
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