Study of Two House Restoration of Israel
The purpose of this study is to take you from Genesis to Revelation to show the restoration of the two houses of Israel into one united kingdom under Messiah in the Millennium. The restitution of all things is a theme that permeates the scriptures and will be studied in detail here.
Why is this important ? Because it involves you if you are a believer in Messiah! Your desire to follow a Jewish Messiah means you are likely a descendant of the House of Joseph. Most Christians fall into this category, but don’t realize it. They are Israelites who have forgotten who they are. Sound far fetched ?? Then read what I present here. It is not an easy read and will require some study on your part, but it is worthwhile. I’ll guarantee you, if you’re saved, you are an Israelite.
Do you want to know where you’ll spend the next 1,000 years? It might surprise you. Learn what I present here and the scriptures will open up to your understanding in a way that will amaze you. You’ll actually be able to understand what you are reading. One thing I’d like to clear up right now and that is, this is not a white supremacy teaching nor the maligned British/Israelism (although there is much truth to it), neither is it replacement theology. Israel comes in all colors. This all comes straight out of the scriptures.
It is suggested that you get your bible to follow along and read all the scriptural references I give to verify that what I say is so.
Some things I say may offend some. This is not my intention and I apologize in advance. I am simply trying to be as honest and true to scripture as my understanding allows. So please don’t be offended if some of my beliefs differ from yours. Scripture is of no private interpretation and that certainly goes for me too.
There will be other side topics covered, which are often misunderstood, as they arise. So let us begin:
Before I get into the meat of this study, let me state why I use the names Yahweh and Yahshua instead of the more common terms Lord and Jesus. Yahweh said in Exodus 3:15
15 And Yahweh said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Yahweh Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Also see Isa. 42:8, 51:15, 54:5, Jer.10:16, 16:21, 31:35, 33:2, 50:34, 51:19. There are many other scriptures in which Yahweh is jealous for His Holy name.
You are to love the name of Yahweh (Isa. 56:6). We are to call upon this name for salvation. (Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32, Rom.10:13). How can you call upon His name if you don’t know it?
The Messiah’s name is Yahushua or Yahshua. This literally means the Salvation of Yahweh or Yahweh saves. His Fathers name is in him. He said in John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” His name is the same as what is transliterated Joshua in the Old Testament. Since there are no “J’s” in Hebrew, replacing the J in Joshua with a Y, gives a pretty close rendering of Yahshua’s Hebrew name. Names are usually transliterated when going from one language to another, but that is not the case with our saviors name in the translation of most bibles. The name Jesus bears no resemblance to Yahshua.
Worse still, is the substituting of a title for the name of Yahweh. All one has to do is run a search on every mention of the word “name” to find out that Yahweh’ s name is very important to Him. You will find His name mentioned almost 7,000 times in scripture. Look what He says in Jer. 23:27
26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
Baal, Strongs # 1167 one of the meanings of this word is “Lord.”
I think it is more honoring to our Elohim to use the name He revealed that He was to be known by instead of a substitute given by man. This is just my personal opinion and you are free to disagree and use the titles printed in most bible versions instead of the sacred names.
There has always been some confusion over the use of Yahweh’s name in the Old Testament. Many times, it is obvious that the one speaking, or being spoken of, is Yahshua and not Yahweh, the Father. There is an explanation to this and will be covered at the end of this study. So, just bear with me on this until we get there.
A special thanks is in order here to Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky of your Arms to Israel for some of the data I present here. I present this information in a different manner in which I show the history of Israel, how and why they were divided and their dispersions. Next, I take you through the prophets beginning in Hosea and then from Isaiah to Malachi and discuss all scriptures that relate to the Two Houses of Israel. We cover New Testament references that arise as we study the prophets, then we proceed on through the New Testament or renewed Covenant to the book of Revelation. It’s quite a ride, so bear with me.
Now, back to the study:
Most of us are familiar with the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. We see how Yahweh was with him and he prospered and became great in the land of Egypt. We recall the tearful reunion with his brothers and later his father, Jacob, who had thought him to be dead.
Yahweh had previously renamed Jacob, Israel and said a nation and a company of nations would come from his loins. And the land that He had given to Abraham and Isaac, He would give to him and his seed after him. (Gen. 35:10-12).
Israel (Jacob) became sick and knew his time was short, so Joseph brought his two sons, Ephriam and Manasseh to see him. Israel strengthened himself on his bed and related how Yahweh had appeared to him at Luz in the land of Caanan and the promises that were made to him. (Gen. 48:1-4)
Israel then proclaims that the two sons of Joseph were to be his, as his own sons were, that any other sons he may have afterwards would be his (Joseph’s) and receive their inheritance through Ephraim and Manasseh. (Gen. 48:5-6)
Israel pronounces a blessing upon the two boys, reversing his hands upon their heads so as to give the traditional firstborn blessing to the younger of the two, Ephraim. He conferred his name, Israel, upon the two lads and blessed them. When Joseph saw that Israel’s hand were reversed, he protested, but Israel refused saying that Manasseh would be great, but Ephriam would be greater and become a “multitude of nations”. (Gen. 48:14-19)
The phrase “multitude of nations’ is the Hebrew melo hagoyim, which means fullness of nations. Hebrew reference to any non-Hebrew was goy or gentile, so the phrase could be better translated “
Fullness of Gentiles” . See Strongs 4392 and 1471.
You have heard this phrase before in Romans 11:25. The context in Romans is about the grafting into the tree of Israel (Olive tree) of the Jews and Gentiles.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {blindness: or, hardness}
11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
I will come back to the mystery in verse 25 later on in this study.
Back to Israel’s (Jacob) blessing upon Ephriam and Manasseh, in Gen. 49:1, we are told that the primary fulfillment of these promises are to be in the latter days.
We are familiar with the story of Israel becoming numerous in the land of Goshen in Egypt and their eventual fall from Pharaoh’s grace and becoming slaves in the land. Moses rose up to become a mighty prophet of Yahweh and led Israel out of captivity after 430 years in Egypt. You recall also the story of the Passover where the children of Israel placed the blood of a lamb without blemish upon the door posts of their dwellings and Yahweh passed through the land of Egypt and smote the first born of man and beast, but passed over the dwellings where he saw the blood.
They were told the keeping of Passover would be for a sign unto them upon their hand and for a memorial between their eyes (Forehead) that Yahweh’s LAW may be in their mouth. (Exo. 13:9) It was a feast to be kept forever. (Exo. 12:14). Also, the laying up of Yahweh’s Statutes and Commandments are also a sign upon your hand and between your eyes (forehead). (Deut. 11:18)
The Sabbaths were also for a sign between Yahweh and Israel forever. (Exo. 31:16-17). The feasts were also called Sabbaths. The Day of Atonement was a feast to be kept forever. (Lev. 16:31, 23:31), as was the Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:21). The Feast of Tabernacles will be kept forever (Lev. 23:41) In fact, in the Millennium, every one that is left alive of the nations that came against Jerusalem, will go up from year to year to worship the king, Yahweh of Hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zech. 14:16)
Israel is to keep Yahweh’s Feasts (Sabbaths). (Lev. 26:2). Yahweh said if Israel keeps His Statutes and Commandments, He would make His covenant with them. (Lev. 26:9). But, if not, He would punish them 7 times more for their sins. (Lev. 26:18) and He would scatter them among the heathen. (Lev. 26:33, Deut. 28:64). Then the land will enjoy her Sabbaths. (Lev. 26:34-35)
Of course, as we know, Israel disobeyed…but, I’m getting ahead of myself. The above was for us to understand why Israel was later scattered.
Remember also that Yahweh had promised Abraham that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens (Gen. 15:5) and that His covenant would be with him and he would become the father of many nations (Gen. 17:4). And that this covenant would be an everlasting covenant to him and his seed after him. And Yahweh gave to him and his seed all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and He would be their Elohim. (Gen. 17:7-8)
When Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, Moses declared that they were already as numerous as the stars of heaven. (Deut. 1:10).
10 Yahweh your Elohim hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
And Moses adds:
11 (Yahweh Elohim of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)
The bible says that 800,000 men of Israel crossed over the Red Sea, not counting women and children. Josephus says these were men fit for battle, which would make them range from 20 to 50 or 60 years of age. Most historians say there were about 2 Million souls that crossed over. Applying the 1000 times multiplier of Deut. 1:11 would make this number about 2 Billion people. Where are all these people ? That would be about a third of the world’ s population today. Certainly, the 18 million or so Jews world wide cannot account for such numbers.
Remember, in Gen. 17:20, Ishmael was also promised to become a great nation. By contrast, Yahweh’s promise to Isaac was that he was to become many nations. James McKee points out in his book “When Will Messiah Return” that today there are only about 18 million Jews worldwide while there are hundreds of millions of descendants of Ishmael. Seemingly, he adds, the one that was promised a great nation has more descendants than the one promised many nations. We know that Yahweh cannot lie so there must be billions of Israelites somewhere in the world today.
This is where the plot thickens. We know how Israel became a mighty nation under King David. But, friction broke out between the tribe of Judah (including Benjamin and the Levites) and the other 10 tribes, which are usually referred to as Israel in scripture. Judah is sometimes referred to as Israel, but in most cases it applies to the other 10 tribes collectively known as the House of Israel, the House of Joseph or Ephriam. The House of Jacob can include all of Israel.
The argument was over Judah moving King David from Gilgal to Jerusalem. (II Sam. 19:41-43). Judah contended that the King was Jewish and hence, their relative. The House of Israel countered that they owned 10 parts of Jacobs House, which was the greater share, and they should be in control of kingly moves and decisions. (II Sam. 19:42-43).
This was the beginning of the split into two separate kingdoms. (II Sam. 20:1-2). However, the actual split didn’t take place until after the reign of Solomon, King David’s son. Yahweh was angry with Solomon and rends the kingdom from his hand and gives the 10 tribes to Jeroboam. (I Kings 11:28,31). But for David’ s sake, He removes the 10 tribes after the death of Solomon. (I Kings 11:34-35). But He gives one tribe (Judah) to Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. (I Kings 11:36). So, the 10 tribes rebelled against the House of David. (I Kings 12:10, Isa. 7). Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed with
Rehoboam (I Kings 12:21).
Jereboam, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel wanted to ordain his own priests and did so using some of the basest of fellows, which were not Levites. So the Levites went to Jerusalem and Judah. (II Chron. 11:13-14). So this is how Judah came to include Benjamin and the Levites.
Judah was angry over the split and wanted to go to war with Israel to reconcile the kingdom into one again under Reheboam. (I Kings 12:21). But Yahweh spoke to Shemaiah, the man of Yahweh, and told him to tell Rehoboam to not go up against Israel, that this thing was from Him. (I Kings 12:22-24).
Israel went into gross apostasy. They decided to worship in their own way. They made two calves of gold to be their gods, built a house in a high place, made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not Levites. Jereboam ordained his own feasts and sacrificed unto the calves on the altar he built and burnt incense. (I Kings 12:28-33). Things haven’t changed much in the last 2700 years. We have done the same thing. We have ordained our own feast days, Christmas and Easter, and rejected Yahweh’s feasts that He said were to be observed forever. We have decided that the Sabbath is no longer valid, with no scriptural basis for such a premise, and made Sunday our Sabbath. Yet, Yahweh said the keeping of the Sabbath would be a sign between Him and His people forever, (Exo. 31:16-17, Ezek. 20:12)
Although Yahweh declared His name numerous times, we have chosen to substitute titles in place of His name, again with no scriptural basis to do this. We still call Him Baal (Lord) as did Israel 2700 years ago. We have rejected His law, although Yahshua plainly stated in his first Sermon on the Mount, that he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them. He further added that until heaven and earth pass, not one jot or tittle of the law shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled. And that whoever would break one of the least of these commandments and teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:17-19). The last time I looked, heaven and earth were still here. All things have not yet been fulfilled. Therefore, either Yahshua lied and we are still in our sins or the law is still valid today.
This is the reason that Ephraim Israel went into captivity and was scattered among the nations of the world. Yahweh said He would smite Israel and scatter them beyond the river and would give them up because of their sins. (I Kings 12:15-16, Isa. 7:8, 2 Kings 17:21-23.). He told them not to make any idols nor graven images, neither rear up a standing image (obelisk), to keep His Sabbaths, walk in His Statutes and keep His commandments. If not, He would punish them 7 times more for their sins and scatter them among the heathen. All this because they hated his statutes and law. They wanted to do their own thing. Read all Leviticus 26. They served Baal!
They are prophesied to become “not a people”. (Deut. 32:21) This is important, as we will see later in this study.. Paul refers to them in Rom. 10:19. They are the Lo-Ammi of Hosea chapt. 1. But, more on this later.
But, all is not lost….Baruch HaShem Yahweh (Bless the name of Yahweh). We serve a merciful creator. He said “And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Yahweh their Elohim. (Lev. 26:44)
In fact, Yahweh intends to gather them from all the nations where He had scattered them. He will once again bring them into the land He had given to their fathers and they shall possess it. (Deut. 30:1-10). About 1000 B.C.E, before Israel was split into two kingdoms, the prophet Nathan was instructed by Yahweh to tell King David that He would appoint a place for Israel, never to be moved again where the children of wickedness would afflict them no more. (II Sam. 7:10, I Chron. 17:9). This prophecy was given about 80 years before Israel split into two kingdoms and at a time they were living in their own land and at peace.
Israel is to be a people unto Yahweh forever. (II Sam. 7:24) Yahweh only has one chosen people and that is Israel. The church is not a separate entity. When a person becomes born again, they are grafted into the Olive tree of Israel. If they are not grafted in, they are not Yahweh’s people (not saved). The Jews have to come the same way and although broken off, are grafted back in also. The bride of the Messiah is Israel and none other.
The House of Judah and the House of Israel (Ephraim) are called a Green Olive tree in Jer. 11:16.
References to the re-gathering of Israel are numerous and we will look at them in detail a little later.
Now back to the story:
Because of her gross apostasy, Israel goes into Assyrian captivity in 721 B.C.E. (II Kings 15:29, 17:6-7, 23). Foreigners were brought into the land of Israel in their place. These became the Samaritans. (II Kings 17:23) Israel had walked in the statues of the heathen (II Kings 17:8) and rejected the statutes and covenants of Yahweh. (II Kings 17:15).
A remnant of Israel escaped the Assyrian captivity and Hezekiah tried to get them to come to Jerusalem to keep Passover. (II Chron. 30:1,6) But, Ephraim scorned the invitation (v.10), the remnant of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun went (v.11). II Chron. 31:1 makes it clear that “all Israel that was present” represented only a remnant that had escaped Assyrian captivity, not the bulk of Israel. See also II Chron. 34:9, 21, which also bears this out
There was another call to keep Passover by King Josiah and again it is clear that only a remnant of Israel was present. (II Chron. 35:16-18). This was mostly a Jewish gathering with all 12 tribes represented, but not in full attendance. The Ephraimites who did attend were Scythians from the north who did not eat swine’ s flesh, loathed idolatry, kept Sabbath and other Israelite customs. Remember, according to Josephus the ten tribes were still in exile 600 years after the Josiah revival. The migration path of Israel is generally known as they migrated westward through Galatia and on throughout Europe as far as the British Isles. Zair Davidy, a Jewish researcher and non-Christian has done extensive study on the migrations of Israel. This information is readily available on the Internet.
Judah was spared for a little while longer, but they too were disobedient and went into the Babylonian captivity between 606-586 B.C.E. (II Kings 23:27,24:15, II Chron. 36:20)
For failure to keep the land Sabbaths, the land was to lie fallow for the 70 years that they were in captivity. (II Chron. 36:21)
We need to look at a couple of things here for background information. The birthright belonged to the first born and entitled the first born to a double portion of inheritance, (Deut.21:15-17). It was counted as a worthless thing by Esau who sold it to Jacob. It was forfeited by Reuben and given to Joseph’ s sons. (I Chron. 5:1). Jacob reversed his hands when conferring blessings upon Joseph’ s two sons. He transferred the birthright blessing to Ephraim, although Manasseh was the elder. (Gen. 48:19). Yahweh calls Ephriam his firstborn in Jer. 31:9. The name Ephraim in Hebrew means “doubly fruitful” . The firstborn of man and beast belonged to Yahweh. (Num 3:13, 8:17). It was the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt who were slain by Yahweh except those who had daubed the blood of the spotless lamb upon their doorposts. In Exo. 4:22, Yahweh calls Israel His firstborn. According to Heb. 12:23, all believers are part of the general or worldwide assembly of firstborn ones, (Israel) by the blood of the Messiah.
Judah will provide the ruler or king over Israel (Gen. 49:10, I Chron. 5:2, 28:4), both King David and the Messiah are from Judah. Ephraim is the strength of my head, Judah is my lawgiver. (Psa. 60:7, 108:8)
The Babylonian captivity came to an end in 536 B.C.E. (Ezra 1:1-3). Only a handful of the Jews returned (42,360)(Ezra 2:64). This was about one third of those that were carried away 70 years before. The majority preferred the ease in Babylon and never returned. Ezra 2:70 says all Israel dwelt in their cities. This is a case where all Israel doesn’t always mean “all of Israel”. This is speaking of the remnant of all of Israel that went into the Babylonian captivity that returned reoccupied their cities. All did not return as is evident from the list of those who did return. (Ezra 2). This list names 30,360 of the families of Judah, the missing 12,000 names were from the other tribes who had escaped to Judah and had not gone into the Assyrian captivity. Ephraim Israel never returned from Babylon because he was never in Babylon as a nation. If all Jews never returned, neither did all Israel.
There was a remnant of Israel that did come back into the land, but the vast majority never did. Josephus, the Jewish Historian, said “ the ten tribes are beyond the Euphrates till now and are an immense multitude not to be estimated by numbers.” He lived at the time of the Messiah and confirmed that most of Israel was still in exile then. Many Jewish Rabbis and scholars also believe that Israel is still in worldwide dispersion and will be re-gathered by Messiah just before the building of the third temple in the dawn of the Millennium. See Part Four in a series on the Full Restoration of Israel by Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky of the Your Arms to Israel web site. This is an excellent source of two house truth.
Back to the story of the return of Judah from Babylon:
The temple was finished in 515 B.C.E. and dedicated. A sin offering was made for all 12 tribes of Israel. (Ezra 6:15-17). The children of Israel, which would be a remnant since Israel as a nation never returned from captivity, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the children of the captivity (Jews) kept the dedication. The sin offering was made for all 12 tribes even though they had been in exile about 200 years at the time.
OK. This brings me to the book of Isaiah. I pondered for some time on how to present all the material in the prophets (Isaiah-Malachi.) and decided rather than try to put it all in chronological order which would be very difficult, that I would go through these scriptures and comment on them in the order they occur in the text. From time to time, I will deviate from this to elaborate on some verses and cross-reference them to other scriptures.
In a nutshell, Israel sinned and was punished 7 times more for their sins, they went into captivity and were sown into all the world. Yahweh divorced them and said they would no longer be His people. But the death of the Messiah made it possible for her remarriage. Yahweh said He would gather Israel from all parts of the globe wherein they had been scattered and none would be left behind. There were several characteristics they would have, they would have cast away the law, would be eating swine’s flesh, would be steeped in idolatry, but would remember their Elohim and would be the ones to accept the Messiah that Judah rejected. They would be the ones in general that are known as Christians, they would not have a great animosity toward the Jews, and are referred to many times in the renewed covenant (New Testament). They would be brought into the land of Israel by Messiah at the dawn of the Millennium and resettled in the land of their ancestors according to tribal lineage’s. The Palestinian (Philistine) problem would be resolved by moving any remaining Philistines out of the land. Most will be killed. Once in the land of Israel, Judah and Israel will be rejoined into one nation, they will have one king, Yahshua the Messiah sitting on the throne of David. They will never be moved again from their land and they will keep torah and the feast of tabernacles. The Day of Yahweh will have occurred and all the world will finally be at peace. The marriage ceremony of Messiah and his bride, Israel, will take place. We will rule and reign with Messiah throughout the millennium.
We will now see how this all takes place and where it is in scripture.
We are about to get into the meat of the teaching at this point. Before I go into Isaiah and proceed on through the prophets, I think I’ll begin with Hosea because it lays a lot of groundwork we’ll need as we proceed.
HOSEA
Hosea was written about 765 B.C.E. or around 40 years before Israel went into the Assyrian captivity. Hosea means Savior or Salvation. Hosea is a type of the Messiah. This is how Yahweh sees himself and Israel. The entire book is about Ephraim Israel and is spoken of many times in the renewed covenant (New Testament).
Yahweh instructed Hosea to take a wife of whoredoms, the same as Yahweh did with Israel. His first son is named Jezreel (Hos. 1:4), which means Yahweh sows. Yahweh is about to sow or scatter Israel among the nations. What He has sown, He will one day reap. Yahweh goes on to say in v.4 that He would cause to cease the kingdom of the House of Israel.
This did happen in the Assyrian captivity and Israel ceased to be a kingdom. Further proof that they never returned from the Assyrian captivity as some allege, is found in Acts 1:6 when the disciples came to the Messiah and asked him if he would at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Master, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
This indicates that the disciples certainly understood the scriptures that prophesied the gathering of both houses of Israel under one king, the Messiah. They didn’t understand that there would be two separate comings and thought the kingdom would be restored then. This proves that at the time of the Messiah’s earthly ministry, Ephriam Israel was still in dispersion. Some have argued that Ephriam returned when the Jews did, but this clearly indicates they didn’t. Only a few of them attended the Josiah revival as we have already seen, but not on a national basis.
Gomer, Hosea’s wife conceived again and bare him a daughter. Yahweh told him to name her Lo-ruhamah (not pitied), “ for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. (Hos 1:6)
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah…… (Hos. 1:7)
This shows that Israel referred to here is the ten tribes (Ephriam) and not Judah. Judah is part of the 12 tribes of Israel, but is usually referred to as Judah (including Benjamin), whereas the other ten tribes are called Israel. This is important, as we shall see as we continue.
When Gomer weaned Lo-ru-hamah, she conceived and bore another son. This time Yahweh said to call his name Lo-Ammi (not my people), “for ye are not my people and I will not be your Elohim. (Hos. 1:9). This was prophesied in Deut. 32:21 and in Isa. 7:8. But in verse 10 comes a wonderful promise. Yahweh said that though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, which can’ t be numbered, it shall come to pass 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 Elohim. (Hos. 1:10).
Here is what Peter had to say about them in I Peter 2:9-10:
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(Moses also spoke the above in Exo. 19:5-6, Yahweh’s marriage proposal to Israel)
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of Elohim: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
This is a clear reference to the Lo-Ammi and Lo-ruhamah of Hosea chapter 1. And refers to Ephraim Israel, not Judah. I Peter was written to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of Yahweh the Father…(I Pet. 1:1-2)
Paul links the gentiles with the prophecy of the Ephriam Israel in Rom. 9:24 and quotes Hosea in Rom. 9:25:
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 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 Elohim.
In Rom 10:19, Paul quotes Moses in Deut. 32:21, “ I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are not a people (Lo-Ammi).
In Hosea 1:11, Yahweh declares He will gather the children of Judah and the children of Israel together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezreel. Yahweh has sown and now He will reap in the day of Jezreel. (Day of Yahweh). This will happen at Yahshua’s Second Advent.
Again quoting Paul in Ephesians 2:12-19,
12 That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Yahweh in the world (Speaking of Ephriam)
13 But now in Yahshua HaMosiach ye who sometimes were far off (Ephriam Israel) are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, (Ephraim and Judah) and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain (two) one new man, so making peace; (Ephriam and Judah = one Israel)
16 And that he might reconcile both unto Yahweh in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {thereby: or, in himself}
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, (Ephriam Israel) and to them that were nigh. (Judah)
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Yahweh;
Ephraim Israel is referred to in various passages as they who are far off.
Yahweh said in Hos. 2:11 that He would cause to cease her feast days, new moons and Sabbaths. Ephraim has forgotten these and so has the Christian church. Israel had become very sinful and had attached pagan practices to the feasts. See Isa. 1:13 and Amos 5:21.
Ever wonder why it’s so hard to convert a Jew to Christianity ? You tell them to forget about Yahweh’s Feasts and Sabbaths and to come to worship on Sunday and celebrate Christmas, erecting a Christmas tree in direct violation of Jeremiah 10, and substitute the pagan festival of Ishtar (Easter) for Passover. This pagan festival was highlighted by sunrise worship services and the sacrificing of children in whose blood, Easter eggs were dyed red. The Jew is told to forget Torah, which the bible calls eternal, and that the Law is no longer in effect. Then he is told that the Messiah’ s name is Je zeus, which means in Greek, Hail Zeus! Not many Jews are going to buy into this system. We need to return to first century Christianity and it’ s practices. Remember, Paul said the mystery of iniquity was already at work in his day. Iniquity means “anomia” , a condition of being without the law or law-less-ness. Paul called this a mystery of “lawnessness” or being without the law.
It is interesting to note here, what Yahshua said in Matt. 7:21-23:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here again “ iniquity” is the Greek word “ anomia” (Strongs no. 458) – look it up! It means lawlessness or violation of the law. How can you violate the law if it is done away with? You can’t. The very definition of sin is the breaking of the law. If there was no law, you couldn’t sin. Don’t let some preacher sell you a bill of goods and tell you the law is done away. (And heaven forbid that you are a pastor teaching this.) If this is the case, Yahshua lied and can’t be the savior. He said it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one jot or tittle of the law to pass away. (Matt. 5:17-19).
Yahweh is also tired of being called “Lord” which means Baal. He says in Hos. 2:16 that in that day (usually a reference to the Day of Yahweh and beginning of Millennium), that thou shalt call me Ishi (husband) and no more call me Baali (Lord). Naturally, we being the future bride of Yahshua will call him husband at that time.
The next few verses make it clear that this is during the Millennium. Yahweh says He will take away the names of Baalim (Lords) out of her (Israel’s) mouth and they shall be remembered no more. He says in that day, He will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and fowls of heavens and the creeping things of the ground and He will break the bow and sword out of the earth and cause them to lie down safely. He will betroth us to him forever (Hos. 17-20).
The earth shall hear Jezreel (Yahweh sows) and I will sow her (Israel) unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy (Lo-ruhamah); and I will say to them which were not my people (Lo-Ammi), Thou art my people (Ammi); and they shall say, Thou art my Elohim. (Hos. 22-23).
This is the millennium and those that were not a people (Lo-Ammi) and had not obtained mercy (Lo-ruhamah) is Ephraim Israel, who had become gentiles and forgotten who they are. This is another proof that the re gathering of Israel that went into exile 2700 years ago will soon begin. These are not the Jews as can be plainly seen from the text, although the Jews will once again rejoin Ephraim and the kingdom of Israel will once again be one. The Two Stick Prophecy of Ezekiel 37 makes this crystal clear. We will look at this in detail when we study the book of Ezekiel.
Yahweh says his people are destroyed for lack of knowledge or understanding. They have no love for the truth. Because they have rejected knowledge, He will also reject them, seeing that they shalt be no priest to Him; seeing they have forgotten His LAW, He will also forget their children. (Hos. 4:6, Isa. 5:13, 5:24) This is pretty heavy stuff. It is not something that is long past, this is a current warning for us now. This is something we’ re trying to rectify here in this study.
Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity and Judah shall fall with them. (Hos. 5:5). Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke. (Hos. 5:9) Yahweh will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Judah. Yahweh will go and return to His place until they acknowledge their offense and seek His face: In their affliction (tribulation), they will seek Him early. (Hos 5:14-15, Jer. 30:7-11).
Looks like there are some pretty rough times ahead of us.
In Hosea 6:2 is a prophecy of when we will be raised up. After two days will He revive us and in the third day will He raise us up and we shall live in His sight. The principle of 1 day as a thousand years with Yahweh seems to be in view here. Israel has been in dispersion for almost 2700 years. In Hos. 6:3, it speaks of the first and second advents. Ephraim and Judah have transgressed the covenant (Hos. 6:7). Ephraim has mixed himself among the people (gentiles). (Hos. 7:8). They have transgressed his covenant and trespassed against His Law. (Hos. 8:12).
Israel is swallowed up among the gentiles (Hos. 8:8) and has rejected the Law. (Hos. 8:12). And the church still rejects the law today in spite of Yahshua’s warning in Matt. 5:17-19.
Ephraim (Israel) shall return to Egypt (symbolic of the world) and will eat unclean things (swine’s flesh, etc.)- (Hos. 9:3)
The question is posed, “What will they do in the solemn day and in the day of the feast of Yahweh?” (Hos. 9:5) The answer is they have forgotten the feasts and the Sabbaths.
Ephraim shall be a wanderer among the nations. (Hos 9:17). There are numerous passages that bear this out. Ephraim feedeth on wind and followeth after the east wind. (Hos. 12:1) The east wind blows west and this is the direction Israel went into Europe out of Assyria. The were instructed by Jeremiah to set up way markers as they went so they would know how to return. (Jer. 31:21)
Yahweh asks in Hos. 11:8, “How shall I give you up, Ephraim?” And in verse 9, He says He will not execute the fierceness of His anger, He will not return to destroy Ephraim, for He is Elohim and not a man. (Not destroy him at His Second Coming.)
Yahweh says that when Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself, but when he offended in Baal (Lord), he died. (Hos. 13:1). He will have to be reborn.
Yahweh tells Israel there is no savior but Himself. (Hos. 13:4) And in Him is their help (v.9). The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. (Hos. 13:12). Yahweh says He will ransom them from the power of the grave, He will redeem them from death (Hos. 13:14) We now know the price He paid for our redemption, the life of His only begotten son.
Return to me O’ Israel and ask your iniquity be taken away and Yahweh will receive us graciously (Hos. 14:1-2). Yahweh will heal their backsliding and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree (Israel). (Hos. 14:4-6)
End of Hosea Study.
ISAIAH
Isaiah was written about 760 BCE before the Northern Kingdom went into the Assyrian captivity. The Hebrew name of Isaiah is YeshaYahu or Yahweh has saved.
The first 6 or 7 chapters deal primarily with Judah. The first place Ephraim Israel is mentioned is in chapter 7 where Ephraim plots to go up against Judah ( Isa. 7:6 ).
Ephraim is prophesied to be broken, that it not be a people (Lo-Ammi) (Isa. 7:8, I Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 17:21).
The Messiah was sent to Jacob (Israel and Judah) and it hath lighted upon Israel. (Isa. 9:8). Judah rejected him.
The re-gathering of Israel is prophesied. Yahweh will set His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people which shall be left from Assyria and Egypt. (Isa. 11:11). This is at the dawn of the millennium. (Isa. 11:6-9). The first time He set His hand to recover His people was after the Babylonian captivity of Judah, He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the 4 corners of the earth. (Isa. 11:12). They will be scattered worldwide. The “ outcasts of Israel” is another expression used of Ephriam. (Isa. 27:13)
Ephriam will not envy Judah and Judah will not vex Ephraim. (Isa. 11:13). And they (together) shall fly the Palestinians out of the land to the east. (v.13). This is the literal interpretation of this verse.
Isa. 49 is speaking of the Messiah who is given for a covenant of the people, who comes to restore the preserved of Israel. Notice in verse 1 the call is to the isles, to a people from afar (Ephriam). Hear Yahshua, the one whose name was mentioned from his mothers womb, the one whose mouth was like a sharp sword, who was given as a covenant of the people, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages, to set the prisoners free.
Isa. 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
The ‘preserved’ of Israel is the Hebrew word ‘Natzrim’ from the root ‘Natser’ (strongs 5341). The word Natser is used only 3 times in scripture and it is only used referring to Ephraim. It is the same root word for Nazareth. The savior was called the Nazarene and Christians in Israel today are called “Natzrim” or the “ preserved of Israel” . As a matter of interest, the United States is known in Israel as the “ Land of the covenant” . While I’m on this subject, it is a curious thing that the word ‘British’ means ‘covenant man’ in Hebrew.. In 1603 James VI of Scotland became King James I of the United Kingdom of England, Ireland and Scotland – the Union of James. Under his reign, a gold sovereign was issued in recognition of the fulfillment of bible prophecy. The Latin motto on the reverse side of the medal read,” Faciam eos in gentem unam” , meaning “ I will make of them one people” – a quote from the prophecy of Ezekiel 37:22 where Yahweh spoke of uniting the lost tribes of Israel under the throne of David.
Israel is divorced by Yahweh – (Isa. 50:1, Jer. 3:8), but we see that for a small moment Yahweh has forsaken His wife (Israel). (Isa. 54:7)
The redeemed of Yahweh shall return to Zion. (Isa. 51:11) We’ re going to Israel.
Yahweh’ s name is continually blasphemed. (Isa. 52:5), but at the Second Coming, His people will know His name. (Isa. 52:6). This implies that His people do not now know His name, but use a substitute. I will declare His name to you today. His name is Yahweh and His son is named Yahshua HaMoshiach. As He says at the end of verse 6, Behold I Am!
Blessed is the man who keeps the Sabbath and doesn’t pollute it and keeps his hand from evil and takes hold of His covenant. (Isa. 56:1-4) And join themselves to Him, to love His name, to be His servants – These, He will bring to His house of prayer, (Isa. 56:5-7) Yahweh Elohim, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, will gather others besides them. (Isa. 56:8). Here again, Israel is described as being outcasts. Judah wasn’ t outcast, but was dispersed. Israel had just or was just about to go into captivity. Judah would not go into captivity for another 135 years or so. This has to be referring to Ephraim. Maybe the Jews are the others to be gathered here.
My question here is, how can you love His name if you don’t even know it? Lord and God certainly aren’t names. At best, these are only titles and are repugnant to Him.
Yahweh reveals Himself to a nation that was not called by His name. He had divorced Israel, they became ‘not a people and He is not their Elohim’ . (Isa. 65:1)(Rom. 10:20). These people are described as rebellious people, walking in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts. (Isa. 65:2). They wanted to worship in their own way and not in the way prescribed by Yahweh. They are also described as eating swine’s flesh and abominable things. (Isa. 65:4) These are a smoke in the nose of Yahweh. (v.5). They are the ones that forsake Him, that forget Zion, that prepare a table for ‘God’ (Babylonian god of fate)(Strong’ s 1409) and furnish drink offerings to ‘that number’ or fate (as an idol)(Strongs 4507). (Isa. 65:11). There is a mistranslation in this verse. It reads … .that prepare a table for “ that troop” . The Hebrew word used here and translated “ that troop” is gd, pronounced gawd or god. It is kind of scary to think this may be a reference to Christian communion.
I encourage you to get your interlinear bibles (I use Green’ s KJV interlinear) and Strongs concordance and check out for yourselves the things I have stated above.
During the Day of Yahweh, the ones slain by Him will be many. (Isa. 66:15-16) . They will sanctify themselves (who pronounce themselves morally or ceremonially clean- Strongs 6942), eating swine’ s flesh and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together. (Isa. 66:17). Leviticus 11 explains what the abominable things are .
It is hard for me to imagine that Yahweh is take vengeance upon those pronouncing themselves pure, eating swine’ s flesh, crabs, oysters, shrimp, clams, eels and the like and excuse the Christian for doing the same. Perhaps we are mistaken about the food laws being canceled. What is it about a pig that made it unclean 2,000 years ago and that makes it clean today? Why would Yahweh put these things off limits for food over 2,000 years ago and then make them OK to eat now ? If He is the same yesterday, today and forever, why would He change this ? The truth is obvious. It is another case of our misinterpreting what Paul was saying in his epistles to the assemblies of Yahshua. They never even considered these forbidden things to be food. Most of Paul’ s explanations was about meat sacrificed to idols and whether it was OK to eat that or not.
Paul said in Rom. 14:14 that there is nothing unclean of itself. And in the next verse it says “ if your brother be grieved with your meat… ”, which in verse 2 is contrasted with eating vegetables only. It is not talking about ritually unclean animals, but probably meat sacrificed to idols, as in I Cor. 10:25-28. Think about it for a minute. A buzzard is unclean of itself, as is a spider or a bat and other carrion eaters. Paul couldn’t possibly be talking about these. He says in 2 Cor. 6:16-17, that the unclean thing had to do with idols.
Some try to say that Peter’ s vision in Acts 10:12-16 where he was told to kill and eat of unclean things, was Yahweh Okaying the eating of everything, clean or unclean. They usually take this out of context and fail to read on down to verse 28 where the explanation is given, that gentiles were to be saved. In fact, Paul said that returning gentiles (Israel) were to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. This prohibition from eating blood in itself indicates the food laws were still in effect. We know that Peter did not eat unclean things, even after Yahshua’ s death and neither did Paul.
JEREMIAH
Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) means Exalted of Yahweh. He spans the reigns of king Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah (627-583 BCE). It is written over 100 years after Israel had gone into the Assyrian captivity.
Jeremiah was ordained by Yahweh to be a prophet to the nations. (Jer. 1:5)
Ephriam Israel becomes a degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Yahweh. (Jer. 2:21). The word ‘degenerate’ is Nokri in Hebrew and means ‘strange, or foreign’ and the word translated as vine can also be translated as tree. The olive tree is a symbol of Israel. Here Ephriam Israel has become a “wild olive tree” . Nokri literally means “ gentile” .
Yahweh had divorced Israel (Jer. 3:8), but says back sliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah. (v.11). Yahweh says in v.12, Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return backsliding Israel, for Yahweh is merciful – only admit or confess your sins. (v.11-13). Assyria was to the east, but here Yahweh has Jeremiah sending a message toward the north. The Sacae, (Isaac’s sons) lived to the north in the area of the Caspian and Black Seas. They were the Scythians who had such Israelite customs such as the banning of eating pork. They gave most of the modern names to the rivers flowing into the Black Sea, such the Danube, Don, etc., which preserve the name of the Israelite tribe of Dan. The Scythians tribes (Israelites) twice defeated large invasions by the Persian Empire. They were regarded as a major power in the ancient world.
Yahweh then says He is married to them (v.14). How can this be if He divorced them? (Hint: it takes the death of her husband). Yahweh will take them one from a city and two from a family, (v.14)(A small remnant) and give them pastors of knowledge and understanding. (v.15). Right now, there a very few pastors that have a true understanding of Yahweh’ s plan for the restitution of all things.
At that time (referring to the millennium), Jerusalem will be called the throne of Yahweh and all nations will be gathered unto it, to the name of Yahweh. (Jer. 3:17, Isa. 2:2-4).
In those days, the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel and come together out of the land of the north to a land He has given them for an inheritance of their fathers. (Jer. 3:18, 50:4, Ezek.37:19-22). The setting here is the days of the millennium, which is still future, and we see Israel and Judah returning together out of the land of the north. They will be returning to all the land that was given to their fathers, which means a lot of land will have to be liberated from Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Egypt, not to mention the philistines (Palestinians), which are actually Edomites. The timing here is obvious, after the Second Coming of Yahshua, we’re going back to Israel.
Yahweh warns Judah that He would cast them out of His sight (Jer. 7:15) as He did the whole seed of Ephraim (Israel). The Jews did go into captivity in 606-585 BCE, over 100 years after Ephriam. The children of Judah set abominations in the temple to pollute it. (Jer. 7:30). Yahweh will make Judah desolate (Jer. 9:11, 10:22). They forsook the law and walked after other Baalim (lords) which their fathers taught them. (Jer. 9:13). Yahweh warns Israel not to learn the ways of the heathen – Christmas tree, etc. (Jer. 10:1-5)
The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant Yahweh made with their fathers. (Jer. 11:10). The house of Israel and the house of Judah provoked Yahweh by burning incense to Baal (the Lord). (Jer. 11:17).
Many pastors have destroyed Yahweh’s vineyard. (Jer. 12:10)
Yahweh says He will pluck out his evil neighbors (Palestinians?) that touch the inheritance of His people Israel. (That is all the land given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). The Palestinians are illegally occupying the land given to both kingdoms of Israel. He will also pluck out Judah and later have compassion on them and bring them again to his heritage. They will swear by the name Yahweh as they taught them to swear by Baal (Lord). (Jer. 12:14-16).
Yahweh has caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to him. (Jer. 13:11).
Judah is to be carried away captive to Babylon. (Jer. 13:19, 20:4)
Yahweh is to bring Israel back into their land. He will send fishers to fish them and many hunters to hunt them from the holes in the rocks. (Jer. 16:15-16). On first glance, there is nothing here to tell us this is a latter day prophecy. But verse 14-15 tells us the same thing as we see in Jer. 23:7-8 that it will be said Yahweh liveth that brought up and led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries where He has driven them. Yahweh says He will bring them again into the land that He gave unto their fathers. (Jer. 16:15). We see from the verses preceding the Jer. 23: 8 proclamation that the setting for this is in the time of the Second Coming when the Messiah reigns on the earth. We know this by Jer.23:3-6 which states that Yahweh will gather the remnant of His flock out of the countries where He has driven them and will bring them again to their folds. (v.3) and He will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and execute judgment and justice in the earth. (v.4) This is the Messiah who will reign over all the earth. And in verse 6, it says In his days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby he shall be called, Yahweh Our Righteousness . This can’t be referring to his first coming to the earth, because Israel is still scattered and Judah is not now saved. Even if Israel had been gathered and was living in Judah at the time of the Messiah, they were not living safely in their land, they were under Roman occupation. A third witness is Jer. 33:6-17, which says the same thing as Jer. 16 and Jer. 23. Here He says He will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return and will build them, as at the first. In 23:8, He says He will cleanse them from all their iniquity. This is still future. The house of Israel has never been gathered again, as has Judah. We will learn more about this reunification when we get to Ezekiel 37.
One more thing I’ d like to comment upon before we leave Jer. 16. Yahweh is going to punish their iniquity double because they have defiled His land and filled his inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable things. These are the ones who have not kept the law (v.11). The carcasses of abominable things probably indicate they do not regard the food laws. Verse 19 indicates that in the day of their affliction, the gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies… I believe this refers to the tribulation time period. A false religious system is in existence, a system of lies, a system that teaches the law has been abolished. In verse 21, Yahweh says He will cause them to know His hand and His might and they (gentiles) shall know that His name is Yahweh.
Jeremiah 23 begins with “Woe be unto the pastors that scatter the sheep of my pasture, says Yahweh” . How many denominations do we have in Christianity ? The word denomination means “ little nations” . They all believe something differently. How much false doctrine is being spread by the false prophets? This chapter is a stinging indictment against false prophets and teachers.
Yahweh says in verse 2, He will bring evil upon them. When He gathers the remnant of His flock, He will give them shepherds to feed them. (v.3). (Another indication that this is still future). Yahweh has not sent these prophets, yet they ran: He has not spoken to them, yet they prophesy (Jer. 23:21). Anyone come out of a Pentecostal background ? Ever hear anybody say “Yea, thus sayeth the Lord?” and you knew in your heart He didn’t say a thing. Yahweh says in Jer. 23:26-27, that the prophets prophesy lies and cause the people to forget His name, as their fathers have forgotten His name for Baal (Lord). This ought to be enough to get a person to wonder whether Yahweh likes to be called “God or Lord” , instead of His revealed name?
We have been taught too much false doctrine and tradition of man. We are told the law has been abolished, even though Yahshua said in Matt. 5, that until heaven and earth pass away, not a jot or tittle would pass from the law until all things be fulfilled. The last time I checked, heaven and earth were still here. We are told we are now allowed to eat unclean food. What makes a buzzard now clean and edible? It is still filthy and so is swine’ s flesh. Read Isaiah 66:17 in it’ s context and see if eating swine’ s flesh is OK with Yahweh. We are also told we don’ t have to keep the Sabbath anymore, even though most preachers agree that the Ten Commandments are still binding upon us. They say it doesn’t matter which day you keep as long as you keep one day as your Sabbath. They have no scriptural evidence whatsoever to justify a change from the Sabbath to Sunday. They have rejected Yahweh’ s required feasts (Moeds) and have substituted pagan festivals in their place, i.e. Christmas and Easter. Do you suppose Yahweh is in agreement with this? Are we trying to come to Him in our own way? Are we offering strange fire up to Him? The bible says there is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is destruction. People, repent!! And turn back to the right way, the strait and narrow path before it’ s too late! Don’ t follow the majority, they’ re on the wrong path!! Matt. 7:14 says “ few there be that find it” . Few are certainly not the majority. They’re perverting Yahweh’ s grace.
The days come saith Yahweh that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah and cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers and they shall possess it.. (Jer. 30:3). Clearly, this is still future. Judah was brought back to their land for a short while and rebuilt the temple, but Israel has never returned. The key word above is “ again” , something that has happened before. We know the timing is at the end of days as the tribulation is spoken of in verse 7.
“Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jer. 30:7).
Mainstream denominations like to refer to this as the Jews really getting theirs, while the kirch (church) is raptured to safety. Wasn’t Jacob the father of Joseph as well as Judah? Didn’t Jacob confer his name, Israel, on the sons of Joseph ? Aren’t born again believers grafted into the tree of Israel, thereby becoming offspring and heirs of Jacob? The time of Jacob’ s trouble is for them as well as the Jews.
Yahweh tells us not to fear nor be dismayed, for He will save us from afar. And Jacob shall return and shall be in rest, and be quiet and none shall make him afraid. (Jer. 30:10) Again, this is clearly future and involves both houses of Israel. Israel has never been at rest and quiet and not fearing. This will take place in the millennium.
Yahweh says in the last days (Jer. 30:24), at that time, He will be the Elohim of all the families of Israel and they shall be His people. (Jer. 31:1). Thou shall plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria (Jer. 31:5). (Refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel).
For there shall be a day that the watchmen ( Notzrim - translated as the “ Preserved of Israel” in Isa. 49:6) upon Mt. Ephriam shall cry… . (Jer. 31:6)
“Christians” are called Natzrim (Nazarenes) in Israel. The United States is known as the “ Land of the Covenant” .
Yahweh will bring the remnant of Israel from the North and from the coasts of the earth, a great company shall return. (Jer. 31:8) They will come weeping. Yahweh will lead them so they shall not stumble – “ For I am a father to Israel and Ephriam is my firstborn” (holds the birthright). (Jer. 31:9)
Hear the Word of Yahweh, O ye nations, and declare in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock. (Jer. 31:10). Yahshua is called the “Word of Yahweh” . I believe Yahshua was referred to as Yahweh in the Old Testament as he spoke the very words of Yahweh, his father, and spoke in the first person as if he were the father Himself. He was the personal representative of the father. He is the express image of the father. He did not speak of himself, but his father which sent him told him what to say and what to speak. (John 12:49, 14:24). The angel of Yahweh also spoke in the first person.
One example of this concept is in Gen. 22:11-12.
11 And the angel of Yahweh called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest Elohim, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Then, in verses 15-18, this is again seen, but here he makes it clear he is quoting Yahweh.
15 And the angel of Yahweh called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith Yahweh, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; {shore: Heb. lip}
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
There are many places in the tanakh (Old Testament) where Yahweh is seen to refer to Himself in terms which are applied elsewhere in scripture as speaking of the Messiah. So when I see the phrase, the Word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel or Jeremiah, etc., I believe it literally means Yahshua brought the word to them. There are many examples like those above that can be shown, but to keep this document as short as possible, I’ ll provide those in a separate note, if desired.
Now back to Jer. 31:10 above. The isles afar off mean the ends of the earth and could refer to places like America. He that scattered Israel (Jezreel – see Hos.2:23) will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock. (Jer. 16:16, 33:7). They shall not sorrow any more at all. (Jer. 31:12). This shows this is still future.
Rachel weeps for her children and refuses to be comforted. (Jer. 31:15). Matthew applies the fulfillment of this prophecy to the slaying of the children under 2 years of age in Matt. 2:16. But, Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Israel at that time was made up primarily of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. Wouldn’ t it have more appropriate for Leah to be weeping for her children, Judah and Levi? The context of Jer. 31 deals with Ephriam, not Judah.
As further proof of this, let’ s look at the next few verses. “… . thy (Rachel) children shall come again to their own border. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself… .” (parts of Jer. 17-18).
Jer. 31:20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Yahweh. {are...: Heb. Sound}
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Does this sound like Yahweh has forsaken Ephraim Israel ? See also Hos 11:8-9.
Yahweh certainly did sow Ephraim into the nations as He said He would do in Hos. Chapt 1. In Hos. 12:1, we are told Ephraim feeds on wind and follows the east wind. He is told in Jer. 31:21 to set up waymarks, to make high heaps to mark the way he went so he would know how to return one day. There are dolmens all over Europe made by migrating Israelite tribes. The Hebrew word “ tamrurim” for high heaps is used in modern Hebrew for traffic signs.
Yahweh will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. (Jer.31:31, Heb. 8:8, John 10:16) This is the renewed covenant, the Brit Chadash or New Testament. This covenant is connected to the restoration of all of Israel to the land. He will write His law in their hearts. (Jer. 31:33, Isa. 51:7, Heb. 8:10, 10:16, Rom. 2:15)
He says that if heaven above can be measured, He would cast off the seed of Israel (Jer. 31:37). The days come that the city (Jerusalem) shall be built (Jer. 31:38). It shall not be plucked up nor thrown down anymore forever. (Jer. 31:40). It’ s obvious that this is still future as Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. and will be razed again in the tribulation.
Yahweh promises to re-gather His people Israel from all the countries where He has driven (sown) them in His anger and bring them back to the land and cause them to dwell safely. (Jer. 32:37) This is another future event., as the Jews certainly aren’t living in safety today. This is another reference to Jezreel, the sowing and reaping of Israel.
And they shall be my people and I will be their Elohim. (Jer. 32:38, Eze. 11:14-21, Rom. 9:25-26, I Pet. 2:10).
Yahweh will give them (Israel and Judah) one heart and one way, that they may fear Him forever. (Jer. 32:39). Still future as Judah has not yet accepted Yahshua, the messiah. The point I am trying to prove in this entire paper is that there are two houses of Israel (Judah and Ephriam Israel or the house of Joseph) that will be re-gathered and joined as one kingdom under Yahshua Ha Mashiach. Judah is being gathered now and is there to prepare the way for the return of the rest of Israel. Israel has yet to be gathered and is still scattered into the nations.
He will make an everlasting covenant with them. They will fear Him and not depart from Him and He will plant them in this land. (Israel). (Jer. 32:40-41).
Yahweh says He will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return – and will cleanse them from all their iniquity. (Jer 33:7-8, 31:8, Eze. 11:17, 34:11).
In the place which ye say is desolate, the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom (Yahshua?) and the voice of the bride (Israel?), the voice of them shall say “ Praise Yahweh of hosts” – His mercy endures forever; and of them that bring the sacrifice into the house of Yahweh (Millennium temple?) for I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first. (Jer. 33:10-11).
Behold the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will perform the good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. (Jer. 33:14).
In those days, and at that time will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness to the land. (Jer. 33:15, 23:5)
“ In those days and at that time” is a Hebrew expression to refer to the “Atid Lavoh” , the millennium. (see also Jer. 50:4). Judah calls this time the Atid Lavoh and Ephriam calls it the future age. It refers to the millennium when the full and total national redemption of Israel occurs.
The Branch of Righteousness is none other than Yahshua HaMashiach who will come from heaven to fulfill the many prophecies uttered by the prophets since the world began. He is referred to as the Branch (in v.15; 23:5, Isa. 4:2, 11:1; Zech. 3:8; 6:12).
In those days (the millennium) shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely. (Jer. 33:16, 23:6). We know this to still be future as Judah does not now even accept the Messiah, Yahshua and they do not dwell safely in Jerusalem.
For thus saith Yahweh, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel. (Jer. 33:17) Neither shall the priests, the Levites, want a man before me to offer burnt offerings and to kindle “meat” (Hebrew says grain) offerings and to sacrifice continually. Yahshua shall sit upon this throne forever. The temple will be rebuilt and there will be priests forever.
Yahweh said to Jeremiah, Have you not observed what these people have spoken saying “ The two families (Israel and Judah- see v.14) which Yahweh has chosen, have been rejected by Him” ? (Jer. 33:24) If Yahweh’ s covenant is not with day and night, then He would also reject the descendant’ s of Jacob – For I shall turn back their captivity. (Jer. 33:25-26). Obviously, some were saying that Yahweh had cast off Israel and Judah and Yahweh says emphatically that it would never happen, that He will indeed bring them back and have mercy upon them. (Jer. 33:25-26).
The apostles were told they would sit upon 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30). If the 12 tribes were not to be returned, then why were they told this? Why would Jacob (James) write his epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, if they had already returned and were no longer relevant? This shows that as of the time of the apostles, Israel had not yet returned. And of course, in the book of Revelation, we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, having 12 gates, 12 angels and names written thereon of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. (Rev. 21:12)
In those days and in that time (atid lavoh –future age, Millennium), the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: They shall go and seek Yahweh, their Elohim. (Jer. 50:4; 3:18). Zechariah chapt. 8 also shows this event and involves both houses of Israel.
They will ask the way to Zion, saying come let us join ourselves to Yahweh in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. (Jer. 50:5) Didn’t they know the way ? Weren’t they taught correct doctrine ?
My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray. (Jer. 50:6) . Yahshua told the disciples not to go to the gentiles, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matt. 10:6; 15:24). His sheep hear his voice and he knows them and they follow him. (John 10:27). Their shepherds (Pastors) have caused them to go astray. They have inherited lies. (Jer. 16:19). They have been taught doctrines and traditions of men. (Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:7; Heb. 13:9)
Yahweh says He will bring Israel again to his habitation and he shall feed on Carmel and Basham and his soul shall be satisfied upon Mt. Ephraim and Gilead. (Jer. 50:19). These are places in Ephraim Israel.
In those days and in that time (atid lavoh - Millennium) saith Yahweh, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon whom I reserve. (Jer. 50:20; Rom. 11:25-27). Here again, we find a distinction between the house of Judah and the house of Israel. We know this is still future because Judah has not yet been pardoned, but it shows Judah and Israel are being dealt with here, the two houses of Israel.
Israel and Judah have not been forsaken of his Elohim; though their land was filled with sin against Yahweh. (Jer. 51:5)
Ezekiel
The book of Ezekiel was written about 595 B.C.E., about 120 years after Israel was carried away into Assyria. Ezekiel was among the Jewish captives in Babylon.
Ezekiel was sent to the children of Israel. (Eze. 2:3). This may refer to both houses (Ephriam and Judah) here, however, the distinction between the house of Israel and the house of Judah is made in chapter 4.
We find something very interesting in chapter 3:1-5. Ezekiel is given a roll (scroll) and told to eat it and then go speak (or prophesy) unto the house of Israel. This is identical to the scroll John was told to eat in Rev. 10:9. John was told in Rev. 10:11 that he must prophesy again (further) before many peoples, tongues and nations and kings. Three verses later, Yahweh says He will give power unto His two witnesses and they should prophesy 3 ½ years (Rev. 11:3). They are identified in Rev. 11:4 as the two “Olive Trees” and two “Candlesticks” standing before the Elohim of the earth. I believe Ezekiel and John represent these two olive trees, one natural and the other wild. I know there has been much speculation over the identity of these two witnesses, but Ezekiel and John shared a common experience and were told to prophesy. Ezekiel was sent to the house of Israel, the people of his tongue, and John was told to prophesy to many people, tongues, nations and kings. The language in Revelation 10:11 seems to indicate that John’ s further prophesying will be in addition to what he has already done in writing down the Revelation of our savior, Yahshua HaMashiach.
Ezekiel is told to go to them of the captivity (Jews), unto the children of his people. (Eze. 3:11). He is made a watchman unto the house of Israel. (Eze. 3:17).
Ezekiel is told in chapter 4 that a siege against Jerusalem shall be a sign to the house of Israel. (Eze. 4:1-3). He is then told to lie on his left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it according to the number of days that he lies on it, he should bear this iniquity – 390 days for Israel, a day for a year. (Eze. 4:4-5). And then he is told to lie on his right side and bear the iniquity of Judah 40 days, a day for a year. (Eze. 4:6). Here we have a distinction between the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
This prophecy did have a literal fulfillment after 390 years according to Craig Marley, a fellow believer in the two house of Israel philosophy. His statement follows:
“721 B.C.E. minus 390 years brings us to 331 B.C.E. Israel (10 tribes) was taken into captivity by Assyria starting in 721 B.C. with the fall of Samaria. As prophesied, 390 years later in 331, Israelites were free to migrate when Alexander the Great overthrew the Medes and the Persians. History records the two greatest waves of Celtic migration coincided with the Assyrian invasion in the 8th century and again in the 4th century B.C.E.”
However, prophecy seems to have multiple layers of fulfillment. Israel did not repent and I believe the 7-fold multiplier of Lev. 26:18 takes place and Israel’ s 390 years becomes 2730 years (Fullness of gentiles?). If this is so, then possibly the melo hagoyim (fullness of gentiles) of Gen 48:19, translated as “multitude of nations”, would be complete in about 2008, starting from their exile in 721 B.C.E. See also Luke 21:24 and Rom. 11:25. Will the future siege of Jerusalem begin in 2008 as the sign to the house of Israel ?
Again quoting Mr. Marley:
“Judah is not as cleanly shown in history. There are two or three possible fulfillment’s of this 40 years, one is that Judah under Jehoiakim was made a vassal kingdom of Babylon about 605 B.C.E. Three years later Jehoiakim rebelled and was captured and killed by Nebuchadnezzar, (and Jerusalem was destroyed in 586). Jehoiachin, the son and successor of Jehoiakim was taken captive to Babylon in 602 after only 3 months on the throne, and released in the 37th year of his captivity later by a new Babylonian king. Total 40 years. “Another possible 40 year period may be the interval between the Jews rejection of Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 C.E.
Continuing on…
Ezekiel is told to bake his bread with dung – Even shall the children of Israel (not Judah, but the 390 day bunch –see v. 9) eat their defiled bread among the gentiles where Yahweh would drive them. (Eze. 4:12-13). Why would Yahweh have Ezekiel do such a thing? Is this how Yahweh views the unclean food that Israel (Ephriam) eats now?
I won’t comment on chapter 5 as to whether it is past or future. There are some similarities with chapter 6 and 7. Eze. 5:4 says a fire shall come forth into all the house of Israel. A third part of them will die of pestilence and famine, a third part will fall by the sword and another third will be scattered to the winds and a sword will be drawn out after them. In chapter 6, Ezekiel is told to prophesy against the mountains (governments?) of Israel, that Yahweh would bring a sword upon them and destroy their high places, altars and sun pillars (steeples?). Yahweh says for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, they shall fall by the sword, famine and pestilence. This has undoubtedly happened before. One verse in chapt. 6 makes reference to “ he that is far off” shall die of the pestilence; and “ he that is near” shall fall by the sword. (Eze. 6:12). We have seen in various other places that Ephriam is referred to as being “ afar off” and Judah is described as being “ near”.
Chapter 7 of Ezekiel deals with the tribulation and subsequent day of Yahweh’s wrath. Verse 7 seems to refer to the tribulation. Verse 15 speaks of the sword being without and the pestilence and famine within. Verse 17 and 18 use language that is used in other places to refer to the tribulation. Then verse 19 says they shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be removed. Their silver and their gold shall not deliver them in the “Day of the wrath of Yahweh” . Compare this with other verses that describe the Day of Yahweh and their silver and gold not being able to deliver them in that day. (See Zep. 1:18, Isa. 2:20; 31:7)
Chapter 7 speaks of the tribulation and the day of Yahweh. This prophecy, like others, may have a double fulfillment. These things did happen to Judah and Jerusalem, but the language of verse 7, “ the day of trouble is near” , seems to refer to the time of Jacob’s trouble ( the tribulation period). Verse 17 speaks of conditions that will occur during the tribulation. Verse 19 refers to the “day of the wrath of Yahweh” , which takes place after the tribulation, both clearly a future events. This is the same thing that is said in Zephaniah 1:18 where “ their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Yahweh” . Isa. 2:20; and Isa. 13:17 seem to refer to the same event.
Ezekiel 11:15-20 refers to the re-gathering of Israel. Ezekiel’ s brethren (Jews) and all the house of Israel wholly are they unto whom the inhabitants have said, Get you far from Yahweh: unto us is this land given in possession. The inhabitants of Jerusalem (Jews) wanted all of the land of Israel for their possession. Yahweh said to Ezekiel, that although He had cast them far off (Ephriam) among the heathen and scattered them among the nations, He would be a little sanctuary in the countries where they are come. Verse 17 is a little hard to understand because of the use of the word “ you” , but I believe it refers to both Israel and Judah. Yahweh makes it clear that He will re-gather the whole house of Israel and bring them back into their own land to their heritages. They will come there and take away all the detestable things and abominations (v.18). And they will receive a new heart and new spirit that they may walk in Yahweh’ s statutes and keep His ordinances and they shall be His people (Ammi) and He will be their Elohim. (v.19-20).
This is when He makes a new covenant with us and writes His laws in our hearts.(see also Jer.32:39). Hebrews 8:8,10; and 9:16 make it clear that this is referring to the covenant that Yahshua made with us written in his own blood. There seems to be many aspects of it that are still not being observed today. The majority of “Christians” do not walk in His statutes. They continue to bring Yahweh’ s name to naught and to violate the Sabbath. They refuse to keep His moadim (feasts) and substitute pagan practices in their stead. They continue to eat abominable things in violation of kashrut. (See Isa. 66:17; 65:4;). The next verse (21) warns:
EZE. 11:21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith Master Yahweh.
The Jews were prophesied to go into captivity and a remnant of the 10 tribes that were among them. The prince of Jerusalem (Zedekiah) and all the house of Israel that is among them shall go into captivity. (Eze. 12:10-11) He was to die in Babylon without seeing it. He was blinded by the king of Babylon. ( Jer. 52:11). Judah would be dispersed among the nations (v.15). The cities of Judah would become desolate. (V.20).
Yahweh gave Israel His Sabbaths to be a sign between Him and them. (Eze.20:12, 20; Exo. 31:17 . Exodus 31:17 makes it clear that this is a sign between Yahweh and Israel forever!
When you become a believer and follower of Yahshua, the Messiah, you are grafted into Israel.(Romans chapt. 11). If you are not a keeper of the Sabbath, where do you stand?
But, Israel polluted His Sabbaths (Eze. 20:13). Yahweh would not let them enter into the promised land (a type of heaven – or His kingdom), because they didn’t keep His law and polluted His Sabbaths. (Eze. 20:16) . Israel in exile (Ephriam) hasn’t changed their ways during the past 2700 years. They still refuse to keep Yahweh’ s law, saying it is “done away with or nailed to the cross”. They treat the Sabbath as an ordinary day, have rummage and garage sales, work, play, merchandise and use it for their own pleasure. They prefer to keep Sunday, the sun god’s set apart day. They have dared to change the commandment of Yahweh with no scriptural support, only the supposed authority of the Catholic church.
Yahweh pled with Israel to keep His law and hallow His Sabbaths, that they would be a sign between Him and Israel. (Eze. 20:20) But Israel refused. For this reason, Yahweh will pour His fury out upon them and will gather them out of all the land where they have been scattered. (Eze. 20:34). He will bring them into the wilderness and plead with them face to face and will cause them to pass under the rod (judgment) and bring them into the bond of the covenant. He will purge out from among them rebels, and them that transgress against Him. (Eze. 20:35-38). He will bring them out of the country where they sojourn and they shall not enter into the land of Israel. (Eze. 20:38).
Could this be the catching up spoken of by Yahshua in Matt. 24: 40-42; Luke 17:37, about one being taken and the other left. The disciples asked where they were taken and Messiah replied “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles (buzzards) be gathered together”. Will these rebels be taken to the great feast of the fowls of the heaven? (see Jer. 7:33; Eze. 29:5, Rev. 19:18, Zep. 1:7, Eze. 39:4,17-18, Rev. 16:16). I know that most of these scriptures refer to the Gog/Magog battle. Could this immense slaughter also include rebellious individuals, the unsaved, who are caught up and supernaturally removed to the great winepress of Yahweh’s wrath at Armageddon? (Rev. 15:19, Joel 3:13, Jer. 25:30-31)
The good news for believers (Israel) is found in Eze.20:40-41. In Yahweh’ s holy mountain (His kingdom) there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land serve Him and there He will accept them. (Eze. 20:40)
Eze. 20:41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42 And ye shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
44 And ye shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Master Yahweh
Note, In verse 44 above, Yahweh brings us into His kingdom because of His grace and His righteousness, not ours. We will loathe ourselves for the abominations we have committed. (verse 43 above, Eze. 36:24-31).
Ezekiel 21 speaks of the tribulation – Yahweh is against the land of Israel and draws forth His sword and cuts off the righteous and wicked from there. All flesh, from the South (Judah) to the North (Israel) is Yahweh’ s sword drawn against. (Eze. 21:2-5). This is the sword of Yahweh drawn against His own people! (Eze. 22:18-22).It is given into the hand of the slayer. (v.11). It will not be put back into its sheath again. Once the tribulation starts, things will continually get worse until the Day of Yahweh and the return of Yahshua. I know this will turn a lot of people off, but I didn’ t write the bible, I’m just reporting what it says. There will be no pre-tribulation rapture to snatch the Christian to safety. He will go through the tribulation as will all Israel. The thought that the Christian will be protected, no matter what, files in the face of those in Rev. chapt. 6 that were slain for the word of their testimony and their fellowservants and brothers who were yet to be killed. Could it be that the Christian is not as obedient as he thinks he is ?
Does he keep Yahweh’s Sabbaths ? Does he keep His feasts? Does he keep the law? Does he eat unclean food? Does he celebrate pagan holy days ? Does he bring the name of Yahweh to naught by calling Him Baal (Lord) and God? Does he have idols in his life that he puts before Him? Yahweh desires obedience, not sacrifice. Doesn’t the bible say judgment starts in the house of Yahweh?
Every heart will melt and all hands shall be feeble and every spirit shall faint and all knees shall be weak as water. Behold, it cometh and shall be brought to pass, saith Yahweh. (Eze. 21:9, Jer. 6:24, Eze. 7:17).
Eze. 21:25 refers to the profane wicked prince of Israel whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end. This may refer to Zedekiah, the last king of Israel, as these things (v. 19-24) did happen in his day. But, it may also refer to Satan or the antichrist because of the language “when iniquity shall have an end”.
In verse 27, the expression “ overturn” repeated three times may indicate that Jerusalem was to be destroyed three times. The first time would have been by the Babylonians, the second by Titus and the third is still a future destruction by the antichrist. The one to whom it rightfully belongs is the Messiah and it will be given to him.
When Yahweh shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people where He scattered them, they shall dwell safely in their land that He gave to their fathers. They shall dwell safely when He has executed judgment on all those round about them that despises them. (Arab nations, Palestinians, etc.)( Eze. 28:24-26)
Yahweh will search out His sheep and deliver them out of all the places they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day (Day of Yahweh). Eze. 34:12-16. He will bring them from the people and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land. (Eze. 34:13, 11:17). He will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away, the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He is the good shepherd of John 10:14-19.
One shepherd (Yahshua) will be over them to feed and care for them. (Eze. 34:23-24). And He will make a covenant of peace (Eze. 16:60, 20:37, 37:26, Isa. 42:6, 49:8, 55:3, 57:8, 59:21, 61:8, Jer. 31:31, Heb. 10:16) with them and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. (Eze. 34:25-26).
The land will yield its increase and they shall be safe in their land. (v.27). This obviously is still future. Yahweh will be with them and the house of Israel will be His people. (Eze. 34:30)
Edom (Mt. Seir) or Jordan will be destroyed because of their perpetual hatred of the children of Israel. Also because they will shed Israeli blood during the tribulation. (Eze. 35:1-9) and because they (Jordan) have said “ These two nations and these two countries shall be mine and we will possess it”. (Eze. 35:10). These two nations are undoubtedly Judah and Ephriam Israel, the Southern and Northern kingdoms. I think it’ s worthwhile noting that the majority of the so called Palestinians are Jordanians, who moved into the land after the modern day nation of Israel was formed in 1948. It is a fact of history that two homelands were to be established in the land of Israel, one for the “so called Palestinians” and the other for the Jews. The Arab nations wanted all of the land for the Palestinians and their hatred of their ancient enemy, prompted them all to declare war on the new nation of Israel, the day after it was formed. They were defeated by a lightly armed rag tag population of Jewish settlers and Yahweh Himself. The “ Palestinians” to this day, refuse to recognize Israel’ s right to exist and are determined to drive them into the sea.
They will be made a perpetual desolation and their cities shall not return (Eze. 35:9). This shows it is still a future event. Yahweh considers their speaking against Israel as blasphemy against Himself. He will destroy them when the whole world rejoices. Eze. 35:12-15). This is probably when Israel is ruined the third time and the sword of Yahweh is upon all the inhabitants of the land. They will think Israel is finally and permanently destroyed and the land is theirs for the taking. The whole world will rejoice and celebrate Israel’ s destruction. This is when Yahweh makes them desolate. (v.14).
The Edomites (Jordanians, Palestinians) will think that the ancient high places (temple mount) are theirs for a possession. The land of Israel lies desolate (desolate heritages- see Isa. 49:8) and the cities were forsaken and had become a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about. (Eze. 36:2-4). Yahweh’ s fury will be poured out upon them.
But listen to what Yahweh says:
8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.
9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:
10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:
11 A