Nov 12, 1999 revised 27/06/03
This week I was forwarded a newsletter from a well-known Messianic leader. Not unlike the message we listened to a short while ago in Jerusalem, the writer of this newsletter also makes the categorical statement, that the heathen gentile nations replaced the ten lost tribes. In his words: "In the prophetic language of scripture, Judah naturally speaks of the Jewish nation, while Ephraim stands for the entire Body of born again believers from the nations. These ex-heathen wild olive branches were plucked out of wild pagan nations and, through faith, were grafted into Israel's cultured tree, taking the place and fulfilling the spiritual promises of the ten lost tribes of Israel's Northern kingdom, Ephraim." He then promises to expound more on the subject in the future. One may ask, "what prophetic language of scripture is he referring to?"
In addition to the (rather common) doctrine that the Jews of today make up all of the twelve tribes, this new 'theory', alleging that the Jews are from Judah but that those of the other tribes are lost and have been replaced by the gentile church, seems to be gaining ground now. As to the first of these two premises, indeed, there has been a mixing of the tribes over the centuries, in both Houses of Israel (that is, Joseph and Judah). But this fact, in and of itself, is not a sufficient fulfillment of all that is prophesied about of the reunion of the two sticks. To dismiss YHVH’s prophetic plan, regarding the "natural" House of Joseph, and to replace it with a 'spiritual' Ephraim or with the Jews only, is to bear false witness to the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is practically the same as calling YHVH a liar, thus taking away the anchor for our soul (see Heb. 6:13-20). There is a vast difference between a person who believes he is a 'spiritual Ephraimite' functioning within the church system, and a redeemed natural "lost sheep of the House of Israel", who lives, or is longing to live, in the land promised to him in the covenant of his now-rediscovered forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Mal. 4:6)!
The House of Joseph was to bear witness to the faithfulness and mercies of the God of Israel. Joseph's prophetic "tree" in the hand of Ephraim (see Ez 37:16) 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 were 'relegated' to a heap of scattered bones in the Valley of Jehosaphat ("God's judgments"). But in spite of living under the "rod of God's judgment", or the blessings and curses, as prophesied by Moses before their ancestors even went into the Land of Israel (see Deut. 29 and 30), YHVH declares (in these same prophecies) that He will not forget the covenant, and will establish it for "His own name sake" (see Ez. 36:22-32).
The great religious deception of the spirit of this world, is the same one that was made manifest in the beginning. While the natural man was, and still is, "a living soul", he was beguiled by the serpent, dwelling in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, who told him: "You can become like God", who is Spirit. What that subtle creature was in effect saying to man was that he, in his soul, could become a spiritual entity. In 1 Cor. 15, Paul the apostle expounds on that mystery from the Torah. We, as sons of Adam and as sons of Abraham, must keep this issue in perspective. Abraham did not descend from God; he was a descendent of Shem, Noah, and Seth, the latter having been born in the image of his father Adam – “a living soul” (ref. Gen. 5:3). Again “The first man Adam was a living soul” (1 Cor. 15:45).
This 'spiritualization' tactic, which was introduced very early on into the Church by those who were nurtured by Greek philosophy, taught that the natural man was worthless and that only the spiritual man (which to them was god like) had any eternal value (reminiscent of what Satan told Eve); thus deceiving the soul into believing that it was a spirit-being. The religious system has embraced this same idea in a “one new man”, thus presenting the Body of Messiah as only spiritual. However, there are not “many” spirits that make up this body. The apostle wrote over and over that there is only one Spirit in the multi-membered Body of Messiah (see 1 Cor. 6:17), but the expression of the One Spirit is manifest through multitudes of souls that are yielded to His presence and sovereignty in them. “Each individual member (soul) has its unique spiritual anointing, or calling and gifting, according to the will of the Spirit of Holiness. But even though each has this anointing it does not make the soul a spirit. If we believe otherwise, the word of YHVH is made of none effect, (see Heb. 4:12). It also launches the believer onto a premise, which distorts his understanding of the God of the Bible and His covenant with a very natural man (Abraham) and his progeny, not to mention the believer’s understanding of his own identity, as one of those seed, as well as what it means to be a “new creature” in Messiah. This spiritualization also tears apart the temple of YHVH’s Spirit and the prophetic fulfillment of a nation of kings and priests that rule and reign here in earthen vessels, on this earth. “For YHVH, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of YHVH in the face of Yeshua the Messiah. Thus we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of YHVH, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:6-7).
A firstfruit redeemed Israelite, is called by scripture a tabernacle or temple of the Spirit of Holiness (see 1Cor 3:16). The Spirit of YHVH has taken up residence in the Holy of Holies at the believer's personal feast of Pentecost (Shavuot). This experience marks the beginning of the restoration of YHVH’s relationship with the soul of man in the Holy Place. Scriptures say that the spirit of man is the candle of YHVH’s Spirit (Pro. 20:27). We are thankful that when YHVH separated Himself from man at the so called “Fall”, that “He did not quench the smoldering wick” (Isa. 42:3; Matt 12:20). This smoldering candle is revived by the presence of the Spirit of YHVH, but remains hidden in His Spirit. Therefore Col. 3:3-4 exhorts: "set your mind on things above….." That is to say, the soul, in a posture of worshiping in spirit and in truth, is to face the narrow gate that leads into the Holy of Holies, and to bathe in the Light that is now emanating through the torn veil. But the warning: not to set the mind "on things that are on the earth", tells the soul not to look out, through the wide gate which opens towards the proverbial east, in the direction of "the spirit of this world." Verse 3 continues saying: "For you have died (spiritually) and your (spirit) life is hidden with Messiah in God". Where? In the holy of holies. But in verse 4 we find out that the "Messiah, who is your life (spiritually), when He is revealed, then you also are revealed with Him in glory". Does this make the soul a spiritual entity? No! However, the soul does begin to die to immorality, to impurity, to passion, to evil desire, to greed etc. (see v. 5). Moreover, if the soul sits, walks, and stands in the Light of the Holy One, it will begin to reflect the nature of His Spirit through obedience. It will begin to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience etc, . Has it now become a spirit? Again, no! But it will - eventually - merge fully with the Spirit of Holiness. "Behold I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed; for this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality" (1Cor. 15:51-54). There is no need therefore to be in too big of a hurry to put on the imperishable, especially to do so by looking out the wide gate, as it were, into the religious systems of this world. The latter would be only too glad to cover us with the cloak made up of their spirituality, which is none other than the "beautiful garment of Shinar"-Babylon (see Joshua 7:21).
"It is the Father's good pleasure to reveal His Son in me", (Gal. 1:15-16) wrote the apostle. And it was out of the mouth of one of the least in the kingdom that the following words came: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30), to become a temple filled with His glory and a people for His namesake.
Ephraim
"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together (shevet achim) in unity…" (Ps. 133:1).
This week I was forwarded a newsletter from a well-known Messianic leader. Not unlike the message we listened to a short while ago in Jerusalem, the writer of this newsletter also makes the categorical statement, that the heathen gentile nations replaced the ten lost tribes. In his words: "In the prophetic language of scripture, Judah naturally speaks of the Jewish nation, while Ephraim stands for the entire Body of born again believers from the nations. These ex-heathen wild olive branches were plucked out of wild pagan nations and, through faith, were grafted into Israel's cultured tree, taking the place and fulfilling the spiritual promises of the ten lost tribes of Israel's Northern kingdom, Ephraim." He then promises to expound more on the subject in the future. One may ask, "what prophetic language of scripture is he referring to?"
In addition to the (rather common) doctrine that the Jews of today make up all of the twelve tribes, this new 'theory', alleging that the Jews are from Judah but that those of the other tribes are lost and have been replaced by the gentile church, seems to be gaining ground now. As to the first of these two premises, indeed, there has been a mixing of the tribes over the centuries, in both Houses of Israel (that is, Joseph and Judah). But this fact, in and of itself, is not a sufficient fulfillment of all that is prophesied about of the reunion of the two sticks. To dismiss YHVH’s prophetic plan, regarding the "natural" House of Joseph, and to replace it with a 'spiritual' Ephraim or with the Jews only, is to bear false witness to the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is practically the same as calling YHVH a liar, thus taking away the anchor for our soul (see Heb. 6:13-20). There is a vast difference between a person who believes he is a 'spiritual Ephraimite' functioning within the church system, and a redeemed natural "lost sheep of the House of Israel", who lives, or is longing to live, in the land promised to him in the covenant of his now-rediscovered forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Mal. 4:6)!
The House of Joseph was to bear witness to the faithfulness and mercies of the God of Israel. Joseph's prophetic "tree" in the hand of Ephraim (see Ez 37:16) 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 were 'relegated' to a heap of scattered bones in the Valley of Jehosaphat ("God's judgments"). But in spite of living under the "rod of God's judgment", or the blessings and curses, as prophesied by Moses before their ancestors even went into the Land of Israel (see Deut. 29 and 30), YHVH declares (in these same prophecies) that He will not forget the covenant, and will establish it for "His own name sake" (see Ez. 36:22-32).
The great religious deception of the spirit of this world, is the same one that was made manifest in the beginning. While the natural man was, and still is, "a living soul", he was beguiled by the serpent, dwelling in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, who told him: "You can become like God", who is Spirit. What that subtle creature was in effect saying to man was that he, in his soul, could become a spiritual entity. In 1 Cor. 15, Paul the apostle expounds on that mystery from the Torah. We, as sons of Adam and as sons of Abraham, must keep this issue in perspective. Abraham did not descend from God; he was a descendent of Shem, Noah, and Seth, the latter having been born in the image of his father Adam – “a living soul” (ref. Gen. 5:3). Again “The first man Adam was a living soul” (1 Cor. 15:45).
This 'spiritualization' tactic, which was introduced very early on into the Church by those who were nurtured by Greek philosophy, taught that the natural man was worthless and that only the spiritual man (which to them was god like) had any eternal value (reminiscent of what Satan told Eve); thus deceiving the soul into believing that it was a spirit-being. The religious system has embraced this same idea in a “one new man”, thus presenting the Body of Messiah as only spiritual. However, there are not “many” spirits that make up this body. The apostle wrote over and over that there is only one Spirit in the multi-membered Body of Messiah (see 1 Cor. 6:17), but the expression of the One Spirit is manifest through multitudes of souls that are yielded to His presence and sovereignty in them. “Each individual member (soul) has its unique spiritual anointing, or calling and gifting, according to the will of the Spirit of Holiness. But even though each has this anointing it does not make the soul a spirit. If we believe otherwise, the word of YHVH is made of none effect, (see Heb. 4:12). It also launches the believer onto a premise, which distorts his understanding of the God of the Bible and His covenant with a very natural man (Abraham) and his progeny, not to mention the believer’s understanding of his own identity, as one of those seed, as well as what it means to be a “new creature” in Messiah. This spiritualization also tears apart the temple of YHVH’s Spirit and the prophetic fulfillment of a nation of kings and priests that rule and reign here in earthen vessels, on this earth. “For YHVH, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of YHVH in the face of Yeshua the Messiah. Thus we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of YHVH, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:6-7).
A firstfruit redeemed Israelite, is called by scripture a tabernacle or temple of the Spirit of Holiness (see 1Cor 3:16). The Spirit of YHVH has taken up residence in the Holy of Holies at the believer's personal feast of Pentecost (Shavuot). This experience marks the beginning of the restoration of YHVH’s relationship with the soul of man in the Holy Place. Scriptures say that the spirit of man is the candle of YHVH’s Spirit (Pro. 20:27). We are thankful that when YHVH separated Himself from man at the so called “Fall”, that “He did not quench the smoldering wick” (Isa. 42:3; Matt 12:20). This smoldering candle is revived by the presence of the Spirit of YHVH, but remains hidden in His Spirit. Therefore Col. 3:3-4 exhorts: "set your mind on things above….." That is to say, the soul, in a posture of worshiping in spirit and in truth, is to face the narrow gate that leads into the Holy of Holies, and to bathe in the Light that is now emanating through the torn veil. But the warning: not to set the mind "on things that are on the earth", tells the soul not to look out, through the wide gate which opens towards the proverbial east, in the direction of "the spirit of this world." Verse 3 continues saying: "For you have died (spiritually) and your (spirit) life is hidden with Messiah in God". Where? In the holy of holies. But in verse 4 we find out that the "Messiah, who is your life (spiritually), when He is revealed, then you also are revealed with Him in glory". Does this make the soul a spiritual entity? No! However, the soul does begin to die to immorality, to impurity, to passion, to evil desire, to greed etc. (see v. 5). Moreover, if the soul sits, walks, and stands in the Light of the Holy One, it will begin to reflect the nature of His Spirit through obedience. It will begin to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience etc, . Has it now become a spirit? Again, no! But it will - eventually - merge fully with the Spirit of Holiness. "Behold I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed; for this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality" (1Cor. 15:51-54). There is no need therefore to be in too big of a hurry to put on the imperishable, especially to do so by looking out the wide gate, as it were, into the religious systems of this world. The latter would be only too glad to cover us with the cloak made up of their spirituality, which is none other than the "beautiful garment of Shinar"-Babylon (see Joshua 7:21).
"It is the Father's good pleasure to reveal His Son in me", (Gal. 1:15-16) wrote the apostle. And it was out of the mouth of one of the least in the kingdom that the following words came: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30), to become a temple filled with His glory and a people for His namesake.
Ephraim
"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together (shevet achim) in unity…" (Ps. 133:1).
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