Ephraim

Some years ago I purchased a book, written by an Israeli Jew (most Jews are from the tribe of Judah), about the ten lost tribes of Israel. Its purpose was to prove that the tribe of Ephraim was in Britain and the tribe of Manasseh was in North America.

Many of us in the Church of God cut our teeth on a booklet entitled "Britain and America in Prophesy". In it Herbert W. Armstrong attempted to prove the same thing: that England was Ephraim and America was Manasseh, along with current prophesies about the destiny of both. I'm sure many of you are familiar with it.

Over the years my confidence in Mr. Armstrong's book waxed and waned as I heard various other opinions on the subject. When I heard about the Jewish book on the same subject, I was strongly motivated to obtain it to see if the two books agreed. In fact, as far as the travels and current locations of these two tribes is concerned, they do agree - very closely. The supporting material differs considerably from a Jewish writer, as one might expect. I mentioned this in my sermon "Who are the Lost Ten Tribes?"

Today I want to take you through the main points made in the book "Ephraim" by Yair Davidy. Much of what I tell you today will be old news but I think you will be surprised by the new information this and other books provide.

I suggest you read all of 2 Kings 17 but for now let's just read the climax of the chapter in verses 22-23:

2 Ki 17:22-23 (KJV) For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; {23} Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

The ten tribes of Israel, what is popularly called The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, still haven't returned to their own land. Most of their land lies within the area now known as the country of Israel including what many call the West Bank - though they seem to be giving it away as fast as they can to satisfy world pressure. Some of the ten tribes' land lies in countries that are now called Jordan and Syria. More on that later.

According to scripture the Lost Ten Tribes or at least the descendants of Joseph were destined to possess the gates of their enemies (i.e. strategic thoroughfares, ports, and passes); to be in the Isles of the Sea in the west, the north, and the north-west; to be militarily powerful; to be very numerous; and economically bounteous. Let's look at a few scriptures which describe each of these six characteristics:

Characteristic 1: Israelis shall possess the gates of their enemies:

(Gen 22:17 NKJV) [That in] "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

What are some of these gates?

(1st). The Panama Canal, giving the world access between the Pacific and the Atlantic without going 8,000 miles around South America and risking the perils surrounding Drake's Passage - a trip taking an extra 17 days. It was formerly built, owned and controlled by the U.S. In 1978 the U.S. Senate, under President Carter's order, voted to give it to Panama. It is now owned by Panama and controlled by Red China.

(2nd). The Suez Canal, giving the world access to the Far East from the Mediterranean Sea without going an extra 5,000 miles around South Africa. It was formerly built, owned and controlled by the British. It is now owned and controlled by Egypt.

(3rd). The islands controlling the Atlantic approaches to the Panama Canal were all owned by Israelitish nations: The U.S., Britain, France and Holland.

(4th). Britain controlled the Mediterranean Sea via Gibraltar, Suez, Aden, Malta and Cyprus.

(5th). Britain controlled the access to the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, all Israelitish nations, also controlled the Baltic.

(6th). Britain, Norway and Denmark controlled the North Atlantic via the Norwegian Sea, Iceland, Greenland, Scotland, and Canada.

(7th). The Indian Ocean was controlled by Britain via South Africa, India, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and various islands such as Diego Garcia.

(8th). Access from the western Pacific to the Indian Ocean was controlled by Britain, Holland, and the U.S. via Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the Dutch East Indies and Australia. Indo-China was owned by France.

(9th). Access through Drakes Passage at the southern tip of South America was controlled by Britain via the Falkland Islands and other nearby islands.

(10th). The Bering Straight and Bering Sea was controlled by the U.S.

(11th). The Northwest Passage went through Canada.

(12th). Hawaii, Wake Island, Guam and Midway, all owned by the U.S., control the mid-Pacific. In addition, the southern mid-Pacific was controlled by the British and French from their many, many islands in that region..

(13th). The southern mid-Atlantic was controlled from the British islands of St. Helena, Ascension Island, and the Tristan da Cunha group.

Is that enough examples of gates controlled by Israelites? The gentile world could not move without Israel's consent, partly because the sun never set on the British Empire.

Characteristic 2: Israelis shall be located in the islands and coastlands of the sea, such as the British Isles:

Isa 11:11 (KJV) And it shall come to pass in that day, <that> the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Cush (south of Egypt), Shinar (Babylon), and Hamath (Samaria) are ancient names but they are identifiable.

(Isa 24:14-15 NKJV) They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; For the majesty of the LORD They shall cry aloud from the sea. {15} Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light [in the east], the name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands [islands] of the sea.

Isa 42:4 (KJV) He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment [justice] in the earth: and the isles [islands] shall wait for his law.

(Isa 49:1-6 NKJV) "Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. {2} And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me." {3} "And He said to me, 'You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.' {4} Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, and my work with my God.'" {5} "And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength), {6} Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

The tribes have been preserved throughout history to this day.

(Isa 51:4-5 NKJV) "Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples. {5} My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands [including islands] will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust.

(Jer 31:6-10 NKJV) For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on the Mountains of Ephraim, 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'" {7} For thus says the LORD: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!' {8} Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; a great throng shall return there. {9} They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. {10} "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'

Characteristic 3: The tribes of Israel shall be located in the north and west:

(Hosea 11:9-12 NKJV) I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come [into the city] with terror. [He will not cause His presence to be felt in any city except Jerusalem.]

(Verse 10) "They shall walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons [children] shall come trembling from the west; [the exiles in the west shall be gathered together to return.]
(Verse 11) They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them [the exiles] dwell in their houses," Says the LORD. {12} "Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah [the Jews] still walk with God, Even with the Holy One[s, the Saints] who are faithful.

(Hosea 12:1-3 NKJV) "Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt. [Notice that during Ephraim's departure from the land of Israel, it feeds on the east wind; that is the east wind blows Ephraim westward.]

{2} "The LORD also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him. [We see that both Isaiah and Hosea speak of the exiled Ten Tribes of Israel (represented by "Ephraim" in Hosea) as being in the West in the End Times.]

(Jer 16:14-15 NKJV) "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that it shall no more be said, 'The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,' {15} "but, 'The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.' For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. [More on that later.]

Isa 49:12 (KJV) Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. [The land of Sinim is believed to be Australia. Interestingly, Israel is northwest of Australia.]

Characteristic 4: The tribes of Israel would be militarily powerful:

(Micah 5:8 NKJV) And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, who, if he passes through, both treads down and tears in pieces, and none can deliver.

Characteristic 5: The tribes of Israel shall be numerous:

Gen 48:16 (KJV) The Angel which redeemed me [Jacob] from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name [Israel] be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Characteristic 6: The tribes of Joseph shall be economically bounteous:

(Gen 49:25-26 NKJV) By the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. {26} The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the utmost boundaries of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

All of these attributes and more taken together are to be found in the Northwest European peoples especially among the English-speaking branch which includes the peoples of North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Historically, the exiled Israelites have been identified with, or as confederated parts of the Cimmerians, Scythians, and Goths. All of these peoples from the northern Middle East region, using different paths, moved eventually to northwest Europe.

As I said, the author of the book "Ephraim" is Jewish. As a result, most of his sources are Jewish - sources including the Talmud. Since I will be quoting from some of his sources, I want to take a moment to explain them. I have been told to accept the Torah (the Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament) but to reject the Talmud. The Talmud, I have been told, is simply an un-canonized collection of rabbinical comments. The Talmud is actually a collection of writings constituting the Judaic civil and religious law. It consists of two parts, the Mishna (text) and the Gemara (commentary). The Mishna was written about 200 AD and contains oral interpretations of scriptural ordinances. It is basically an early compendium of oral rabbinic law. The Gemara is a commentary on the Mishna.

There are many accepted commentaries on the Bible today. You may have Ungers or other commentaries in your library. As you read through these commentaries, you tend to accept some comments as valid and others you reject. But most people find Bible commentaries very useful in understanding scripture. Judaism uses the Gemara in the same way except that they seem to accept most if not all of what they read. They have great respect for their sages who were ancient wise and influential rabbis.

You could probably compare the Mishna with the codes our Government agencies write in response to legislative laws. Because the Mishna was written by Pharisees, Christians tend to take what was written with anathema or at least a grain of salt. But many references in the Talmud are completely accurate and, if they do not conflict with the words of Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Mashiach, His correct name and title in Hebrew) or the Apostles, Christians should feel generally comfortable with them.

As we know from Genesis 48:1, 5, Joseph had two sons, Manasseh [H4519, meaning "causing to forget," the first born, and Ephraim, the second born. The Patriarch Jacob, their grandfather, passed his blessing on to them but set Ephraim before Menasseh. Let's read about it in Gen 48:14-20.

(Gen 48:14-20 NKJV) Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. {15} And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, {16} the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." {17} Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. {18} And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." {19} But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." {20} So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!' " And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

The descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim migrated to Britain and from there to North America, Australia, New Zealand, So.Africa. Many of the early colonizers of North America came from areas in Britain whose clan and place names are those of Manasseh. The North American type of delegated Representative Democratic Government in principle is encapsulated in the Hebrew meaning of the name Manasseh. The British on the other hand possess the characteristics of Ephraim whose very name in Hebrew connotes the British Aristocratic system.

In general there are seven characteristic traits and prophetic proofs of Israelis:

1. They possess a relative lack of anti-Semitism.

2. They are doers of justice which implies social empathy.

(Amos 5:15 NKJV) Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate [courts]. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

3. They are possessors of military prowess.

(Deu 33:29 NKJV) Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty [excellency]! Your enemies shall submit [themselves] to you, and you shall tread down their high places."

4. They are intellectually wise.

Deu 4:6 (KJV) Keep therefore and do <them>; for this <is> your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation <is> a wise and understanding people.

5. They would receive economic and physical blessings.

Despite the relative decline of the U.S. and Great Britain and some of the other Israelite nations in recent years, a foretaste of the said blessings was achieved in the past. In terms of longevity, good health, possession of raw materials, and overall wealth, the Israelite Ten Tribes' countries for many decades topped the world's lists and still do on the whole.

6. There are archaeological and historical proofs.

(Josh 4:3 NKJV) And command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.

(Jer 31:17,21 NKJV) There is hope in your future [your latter end], says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border..... <21> Set up signposts; make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel. Turn back to these your cities.

There are dolmens and other megalithic monuments both in Israel and in most countries through which the Ten Lost Tribes passed which appear very similar. As we read in Jeremiah, these monuments make a roadmap to show where the Israelis are and how they got there.

7. There is much Biblical evidence, some of which we have already read.

We stated earlier that Ephraim moved to Britain and that Manasseh moved to North America. Let me show you some very strong evidence that that is true.

The name "Yank" is derivable from a possible pronunciation of the Hebrew name Yaacov or Jacob which is rendered "Yankel" in Yiddish.

Deu 29:28 (KJV) And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as <it is> this day.

The Mishna (Sanhedrin 10) opines that this verse refers to the Lost Ten Tribes who are destined to remain in "another land" until close to the End Times.

Earlier we read that Manasseh (which means cause to forget) was the son of Joseph. Many Bibles show that the verb "forget," H5382, is from "Nosheh" in Hebrew," but "forget" is not the only translation of Nosheh. If you look in a Hebrew Lexicon you will find that Nosheh also means "becoming a creditor or lender." Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, who lived in the 1800s, wrote that "forget" was incorrect. He wrote that Manasseh really means "a creditor or lender". What position does a creditor have? Isn't it someone who has a claim on someone else because of what was lent? Now let's take this one step further. What is representative government? It is a government where the citizens temporarily assign a person to represent them in managing the government. They lend the person the job and in so doing have a claim on that person. Just like lending money: the other party can use it but must return it. In Representative Government, the representative can use the position but must return it to the citizens at the end of a certain period so it can be lent to someone else (or the same person).

Now what has all this to do with Manasseh and the U.S.? We seem to have found three characteristics from Manasseh's name.

1. He tends to forget.

2. He tends to be a lender or creditor.

3. He tends to believe in representative government, what he now calls democracy.

Let me give you a few distinguishing American characteristics from American history:

1. "No taxation without representation" (representative government).

2. After the war of Independence, 13 colonies formed the country. Could it have anything to do with the 13 tribes?

3. Our founding fathers proposed and seriously considered to adopt Hebrew as the national language and the Mosaic Code as obligatory Constitutional law.

4. Even today foreigners are amazed that Americans judge the right and wrong of a matter by whether it is constitutional.

5. Other countries are democratic but only the U.S. makes republican democracy an expression of itself. Only the U.S. is Manasseh.

6. Remember Lincoln's statement: "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people".

I said earlier that Ephraim was a nation of aristocrats. Let's go into that. Britain is distinguished from other nations by its monarchy and its aristocrats. Gen 41:52.

(Gen 41:52 NKJV) And the name of the second he [Joseph] called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

A person from the tribe of Ephraim is called an Ephrathi. The Hebrew dictionary HaMalon HaChadash defines Ephrathi as (1.) a member of the tribe of Ephraim; and (2.) an aristocrat, honorable and respected.

Other rabbis and writers have described Ephrathites as being of refined character and humility, being of high-birth, sons of the high-born. In Talmudic literature, Ephrathi is taken to mean someone from the tribe of Ephraim or of noble birth or both.

In Britain exist two basic classes, Commoners and Nobility. Membership of the Aristocracy is acquired by birth, though gifted and/or rich generous commoners may obtain an "honorary" title for the duration of their lifetime.

Various Talmudic sages taught about the mysteries of the Pentateuch from about the second century through the thirteenth century AD. The Zohar is a collection of writings mainly purporting to transcribe these teachings. Most Orthodox Jews who study the Zohar consider it to be inspired. It does contain observations of value for the understanding of Scripture, and here and there also concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. For instance, regarding Isa 49:21

(Isa 49:21 NKJV) Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me, since I have lost my children and am desolate, a captive [in exile], and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; but these, where were they?'"

The Zohar addresses the word "these" by referring back to the time when the Patriarch Israel (Jacob) was about to die and his son Joseph had brought his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to him to receive a final blessing and he said "Who are these?". The Zohar relates: "Rabbi Abba began to explain `who are these' by relating it to the verse in Isa 49:21. What does this verse imply? - That the Patriarch Israel [Jacob] foresaw the Children of Israel assembling before him in the future:

(Isa 11:11 NKJV) `In that day the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left from Elam, from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the Isles of the Sea.'

The Zohar continues: "And they shall assemble together and be multitudinous; the Divine Presence will wonder and ask, `Where did you all come from? Is it not possible that there exists among you someone blemished, of foreign seed?' They will answer, `We are all your sons. There is no foreigner among us'. And they will divide from each other. The foreign non-Israelite element will voluntarily separate from them, and they will be circumcised, and convert, and these converts will return with and to Israel, and they shall be one" [with the Jewish people].

Micah 7:14 and Zech 10:10 show the Ten Tribes are destined to resettle from the Nile to beyond the Euphrates, with Manasseh inheriting Syria (Bashan and Gilead) and Lebanon.

(Micah 7:14 NKJV) Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel [fertile pasture]; Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in days of old.

(Zec 10:10 NKJV) I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them. [There won't be room enough for them.]

Bashan is the Biblical name for the Golan Heights region, formerly occupied by the tribe of Manasseh. Gilead is the Biblical name for the southern region of Syria and western region of Jordan, formerly occupied by the tribes of Manasseh and Gad.

Relatively recent Jewish sources speak of the need for re-unification between Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes. The two sides are linked to each other in the Bible, have highly individual characteristics that complement one another, and their eventual union is connected with the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The complete return of Judah is dependent upon the return of Samaria. Ezekiel says that Judah has an obligation to help the Ten Lost Tribes to return. Let's look at several verses in Ezekiel 16 which provide some hint of that.

(Ezek 16:55 NKJV) [addressing Judah] "When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state.

Samaria lies just west of Gilead.

(Verse 61 NKJV) "Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you.

This seems to imply that Judah must seek to bring the Lost Ten Tribes back. God makes the participation of Judah in the process of returning the Lost Ten Tribes a prior condition for the rehabilitation of Judah herself. The Knesset has discussed how to do this.

(Verse 62 NKJV) "And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD,

God will once again accept Judah and all Israel.

For another view of the reuniting of Judah and Joseph (i.e. Manasseh and Ephraim), read Ezekiel 37.

Rabbi Zvi Kalisher lived in Russia from 1795 to 1874. The prophet Hosea is understood by Rabbi Kalisher as intimating that at first the Jews (i.e. Judah) will return and prepare the land so that it ultimately will be able to support a great community. Then part of the Lost Ten tribes will return and together with the Jews build the Third Temple. Then the remainder and numerically greater part of the Lost Ten Tribes will also come back. The Messiah appears and reigns in Jerusalem. The Great End-Time War of Gog and Magog follows at the conclusion of which the name of God is hallowed by all, and all worship Him in unison with one tongue. Rabbi Kalisher, referred to the words of Nachmanides [Ramban] regarding Isa 56:8. Let's read it:

(Isa 56:8 NKJV) The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him <others> besides those [his own] who are gathered to him."

He stated, "This verse is explained: In the beginning will be gathered many of the outcasts of Israel but not all of them. After the War of Gog and Magog will the above-quoted expression, `Yet will I gather others to him', be pertinent: Meaning that they will once again be ingathered together with those who were gathered previously. This applies to those who were lost in the Land of Assyria (Isaiah 27:13) from the Lost Ten Tribes. They will be regathered.

The author of the book, "Drishat Tsion" queried the above opinion of Nachmanides as apparently contradicting what Nachmanides himself had written elsewhere in his commentary on "The Song of Solomon" where he had said that the Lost Ten Tribes will be ingathered first of all. He then went on to say that "If a great community of those who were lost in the Assyrian Exile would be ingathered first of all, how could they be brought to a wasted and desolate country? Without doubt they will have to be preceded by their brothers in order that the land may bring forth bread. Afterwards all of them will be able to come to the country full of God's blessings.

(Hosea 6:11 NKJV) Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you, when I return the captives [fortunes] of My people.

Commentators in the past have found the above verse difficult to explain, but according to our understanding that Ephraim represents the Lost Ten Tribes, it becomes easy to understand. Judah will bring the Ten Tribes Back Food for thought these days.

(Hosea 6:2 NKJV) After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.

According to the foremost Rabbinical Commentator Rashi, this verse is referring to the "Building of the Third Temple". After that Hosea continues his exhortation and says:

verse 4 "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness [H2616 kindness or goodness or love toward God] is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away [disappears].

Rashi then continues in the same vein he had previously began concerning the third day interpreted as the Third Temple. As we read in Hosea 6:11, Judah will set a harvest for Ephraim when God returns the captivity of His people, after which there will be a great ingathering, and afterwards will come the Messiah. Some time later, will arrive Gog, who will wage war against Israel and be defeated, thereby sanctifying the name of the Almighty. Such is the commentary of Rashi.

There is one more Biblical subject I should mention here: Ezekiel 37, which talks about dry bones and the uniting of the sons of Joseph with Judah. I will not read it here, but I would encourage you to read it. This union should have great meaning to you.

Now let's leave the Old Testament scriptures and the writing of Yair Davidy for a moment and turn to some New Testament references to the tribes of Israel. The most obvious one is Rev. 7:4-8 which describes the 144,000 servants of God who are protected from the results of the seventh seal.

Rev 7:4-8 (KJV) And I heard the number of them which were sealed: <and there were> sealed an hundred <and> forty <and> four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. {5} Of the tribe of Judah <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad <were> sealed twelve thousand. {6} Of the tribe of Asher <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh <were> sealed twelve thousand. {7} Of the tribe of Simeon <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar <were> sealed twelve thousand. {8} Of the tribe of Zabulon <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph <were> sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin <were> sealed twelve thousand.

We see an interesting thing here: Verse 4 describes the 144,000 as coming from all the children of Israel. But there were 13 children of Israel, not 12. Dan has been left out! Supposedly the descendants of Dan live today in the country of Denmark (Danmark, as the Danes call it), and are the Celts of Ireland and Wales. Much has been made of the very pro-Catholic Irish being left out but what of the Danes and Welsh? And why do these verses specify Joseph and Manasseh? Because Ephraim is also left out, one would have to assume Joseph, in verse 8, includes or is Ephraim (the subject of this sermon). Also, the tribes of Simeon and Levi are included. Both these tribes are today interspersed with the tribe of Judah (Yehuda) in the modern country of Israel. Does that mean that 36,000 will come out of modern Israel while only 12,000 will come out of the U.S.? That's the way it looks. Might Dan be left out because Dan is the foundation of a new world order?

Some writers make a big issue over the "great multitude" of verses 9-14. Let's look at it:

verses 9-10 (KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds [tribes], and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms [palm branches] in their hands; {10} And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

verses 13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What [who] are these which are arrayed in white robes? and from where do they come? {14} And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

But these people have to endure the tribulation while the 144,000 are protected from it. There is a distinct difference for those affected. This "great multitude", however are also to be saints, forced by the tribulation to turn to God after washing their lives in the blood of Yeshua (Jesus).

Let's review some scriptures and comments from Mr. Davidy which seem to describe the imminent return of the Ten Tribes:

The Lost Ten Tribes will return and Judah will play the major part in bringing this about:

{Jeremiah 3:18} In those days the house of Judah shall go unto (not walk with, as in the KJV) the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

The Midrash says:

These are the Ten Tribes. The exiles of Judah and Benyamin [i.e. the present-day Jews] are destined to go unto them and bring them back in order to merit with them the Messianic Era and life in the World-To-Come. This is as it says, In those days the house of Judah shall go unto the house of Israel and they shall come together out of the land of the north unto the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers (Jeremiah 3:18). -Yalkut Shimeoni, Song of Solomon 905.

According to Mr. Davidy's understanding, the Bible describes in reverse order from the end to beginning:

1. At the Very End: All the Tribes will receive their own inheritances and dwell alongside each other in unity but each in his own sphere (Ezekiel 37). Before then Judah and Joseph will unite and they will co-operate together in the Land of Israel and expel the Palestinians.

Isa 11:14 (NKJV) But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; Together they shall plunder the people of the East; They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey them.

2. At some stage the Ten Tribes led by Joseph will conquer Lebanon and Gilead and Bashan (Syria and other surrounding areas) and settle there (Zechariah 10. Micah 2, which we read earlier).

3. Descendants of Ephraim (of the Lost Tribes) will return and settle in the cities of Samaria (Jeremiah 31:20-21).

(Jer 31:20-21 NKJV) Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD. {21} "Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, The way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back to these your cities.

4. Judah will return, then some of the Lost Tribes, then the rest of the Lost Tribes together with the rest of Judah.[This was explained in the book Ephraim, chapter ten, based on Hosea 6:1-11 in the light of Nachmanides and Rabbi Zvi Kalisher.]

In recent years very many Christians in the USA have been taking pro-Israeli positions and they have become THE major ally of Israel in the USA at a time when the USA has become the ONLY full time protector and open ally of Israel with most of the other nations becoming increasingly opposed to Israel and the Jewish people. The pro-Israel Christians in question are therefore very important and their importance is liable to increase. These people are concentrated in areas of the USA that we have identified (in Mr. Davidi's book Joseph. The Israelite destiny of America) as populated especially in the Gilead section of Manasseh. Tradition says that these will be the first amongst the Lost Ten Tribes to be regathered. Could these pro-Israel American Christians be the vanguard of the return of Joseph?

We'll close with two more scriptures.

Zec 14:9 (KJV) And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. We'll refer to three Bible versions.

Zep 3:9 (KJV) For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Zep 3:9 (World English Bible)For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.

Zeph 3:9 (Green) For then I will give a clear lip to the peoples, to call all of them by the name of Jehovah, to serve Him with one shoulder.

This is the final chapter in the return of the Lost Ten Tribes to Israel.

I hope this review of an old subject through Jewish eyes has been profitable to you. I think we can all rejoice that all the Israelites and converted Gentiles will soon be together to worship and serve our LORD with one consent. Let's be sure we're among them.

Sermon given by Wayne Bedwell
January 7, 2012
Copyright 2012, Wayne Bedwell