Jesus taught all of the twelve tribes of Israel

TWO groups of people recorded in the gospels were fed by Jesus. The significance of both of these two groups is discussed by many Christians because it is a code enriched story. Learn the code and you will understand your past that gives clarity to the present and hope of a better future.

The feeding of the 5,000  

Matthew 14

Mark 6

Luke 9  

John 6

The feeding of the 4,000

Matthew 15

Mark 8

FEEDING THE 5,000

The story of the miraculous feeding of the house of Judah, the multitude of 5,000, by Jesus was the only miracle recorded in all FOUR gospels. This is an indicator of the full awareness of everyone that the Jews were taught the word of God by the Word of God and the importance of it, while the feeding of the multitude of 4,000 was recorded in only TWO books, the books of Matthew and Mark. This is an indicator that these 4,000 were taught the word of God by Jesus, but the awareness of who these people are and that they were taught by Jesus is not wide spread. We can make this deduction because the Bible was written by God who used 44 servants to scribe His coded message. So, what can we learn from God’s hidden mysteries, learn His code.

Prior to the story of the feeding of the 5,000, Matthew recorded “Only in his home town in his own house is the prophet without honor” (Matthew 13:57). It was prophesied that Jesus would not be honored among his people.

Jesus began teaching the house of Judah after the beheading of John the Baptist.

JESUS SOUGHT REST

After the news of the death of John the Baptist, “Jesus said, ‘Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31).

Jesus wanted rest from the coming and going of so many people. It may be that he sought a solitary place; a place where there is one word of truth not many differing theological views. It resembles Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

THE PLACE

Jesus and the disciples went to Bethsaida, a Jewish town surrounded by large areas of uncultivated grass lands used for grazing. This is symbolic of the affluence of the word of God in the hands of the Jewish people. Yet, the land remained uncultivated used only for grazing represents the choice of the Jewish people who witnessed many miracles by Jesus but still would not believe. Like the uncultivated land of Bethsaida, they held the word of God in their hands, but they were not spiritually productive.

“Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes” (Luke 10:13).

THE PEOPLE RAN AHEAD OF JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES.

The crowds saw Jesus and his disciples leaving and recognized them, so they ran on foot to followbecause they had witnessed the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. They got ahead of Jesus and the disciples.

The Jews had anticipated the arrival of their Messiah. They recognized Jesus as a prophet. They desired his rulership over their nation—but immediately. By racing ahead of him, it indicated that they were not following him but attempting to lead him in their direction.

The disciples too, hoped that Jesus would be their king at that time, because they asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

God has a plan, trust His plan. That was not the time for Jesus to rule over them as their king.

THE JEWISH PASSOVER WAS NEAR.

Jesus and the disciples were on the boat and when they landed, they went up on the hillside. It was at the time when the Jewish Passover was near.

The feeding of this multitude of the Jews directs our attention to the Passover, when the death angel passed over the Israelite homes who had the blood of the lamb on their door posts.

The Passover is not specific to the Jews for the whole house of Israel kept the Passover, one of God’s Holy Days in ancient times. It is referred to as Jewish here, because Jesus is addressing the Jews.

There on the day the 5,000 are being fed, their Passover, Jesus, the lamb stands before them in the flesh. His sacrifice is near, but the question is, will they recognize him as their Savior?

JESUS SAT ON THE HILLSIDE.

By sitting on the hillside, a raised area indicates that Jesus has authority.

JESUS HAS COMPASSION ON THEM; THEY WERE LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD.

Jesus saw the people and had compassion on them because the people were spiritually hungry. He began teaching them about the Kingdom of God and healed the sick. The healing of the sick is more than physical healing; it also refers to spiritual healing.

The Jewish religious leaders were starving the people of truth and righteousness. The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus for disclosing the fallacy of the traditions of their elders. They were leaders who revelled in self-glory; they did not want to be dethroned, so they planned and plotted to kill him.

THEY WERE IN A REMOTE PLACE.

The location where Jesus taught the Jews was remote; it imaged a place away from the false teachers. They sat on green grass. 

THE PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO SIT ON THE GREEN GRASS.

The green grass was symbolic of a place where the Word of God was rich and plentiful, after all, the Jews were the keepers of the Oracles of God.

EVENING APPROACHED AND IT WAS GETTING LATE.

At evening, the disciples told Jesus to send the people away, so that they can buy food for themselves. The disciples did not understand that it was planned that Jesus, himself face-to-face would teach the Jews first and that a long period of teaching would take place—now 2,000 years before he would return. This teaching began with Jesus, then continued by the disciples who were later anointed as Apostles, followed by the taking of the gospel to all the world by the Christians until Christ returns, then the task of teaching the whole world will be completed by both houses in the Millennium. 

THE PEOPLE WERE ORGANIZED INTO GROUPS OF 50s AND 100s.

Jesus directed the disciples to have the people sit in groups of 50s and 100s.

The identity of these people is revealed in the method of how they were organized—in groups. As the Law of God is organized into ten main commandments, it is then broken and organized in groupings of sub-laws. These people kept the law of God and were grouped to reflect their acknowledgement and respect for the Torah. Also note, they were not a scattered people like their brothers.

HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD IT TAKE TO FEED THE MULTITUDE? Eight months wages!

Jesus said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip replied, “8 months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Jesus replied, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” Andrew said, “Here is a boy with 5 small loaves of barley and 2 small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Spiritual food, the word of God is priceless. No money can buy God’s truth; it is a free gift to those who repent. And—for those who are not in the first resurrection and remain faithful, they will be resurrected on the eighth day, that is, after 7,000 years and then, they will be able to afford all of the word of God; they will be filled to overflowing with the word of God.

THE BREAD AND FISH

From within them a boy had 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish. A young lad from within them could be reflective of Jesus himself as the boy—the young man about his father’s business had the food to give to the multitude.

Jesus then gave thanks to God and broke the bread and gave the food to the disciples who gave it to the people.

The words “TOOK”, “GAVE THANKS”, and “BRAKE” is written in the past tense.

Jesus is the one who prays for the blessing on the meal. The breaking of the bread was an image of opening up the word of truth to understanding. The food is then given and the task completed.

THE MIRACLE OF MULTIPLICATION

Five barley loaves and 2 small fish fed the multitude of 5,000 men besides women and children.

“Elijah had multiplied flour and oil to save a widow and her son from starvation.

Elisha did a bit better than his master, multiplying 20 barley loaves so as to feed 100, with some even left over.

Jesus multiplied 5 barley loaves and feeds 5,000, leaving 12 baskets left over. He is even greater still. Moses predicted that God would raise up a prophet like himself, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Starting with five barley loaves, Jesus transforms the Mosaic Law into something much bigger, greater, and more nourishing.” https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/hidden-meaning-of-the-loaves-fishes/

The five barley loaves:

Barley is the first grain to be harvested in the Spring. The five barley loaves image the five books of the Old Testament—the Books of Moses, which is the earliest source of spiritual sustenance.

The two fishes:

“The Greek word translated "fish" in the account of the feeding of the 5,000 is "opsarion." (Strong's #g3795) It simply refers to that which is cooked and eaten with bread, and we infer from the context that it is fish.” http://theopenscroll.com/beyond_veil/feed5k.htm

The two SMALL fishes is highly likely referring to the two houses of Israel: Judah and Israel because they were SMALL, spiritually immature.  The source of spiritual learning for the Jewish people is through their own teachers in their house and in the future, their brothers in the 10-tribes when they come to accept Jesus as their Messiah.

THEY ATE AND WERE SATISFIED.

They listened to the teachings of Jesus and understood him. Jesus’ teachings filled them, the emptiness of not knowing was gone.

THE REMAINS WERE GATHERED BY THE DISCIPLES INTO 12 BASKETS.

The twelve disciples would become the carriers and distributors of spiritual food for the Jewish house; they would become the key teachers after Jesus died.

NOTHING WAS WASTED.

The food which represents the word of God was not lost; nothing was lost. It was preserved in the Old and New Testament. Jesus made sure that everything we need to know that is critical to our salvation was recorded for our edification in both the Old and New Testament.

THE JEWISH FOLLOWERS WERE FED WHEN IT BECAME VERY LATE.

The Jewish followers were with Jesus one day, but they were not fed until it became very late. This shows that the Jews were living close to Jesus—close to God’s word, they did not have far to travel. They were with him in one day, but they were fed late in the evening.

The house of Judah will not be fed until they accept Christ as their Savior. For many of them, it will occur during the last few years of this evil age, during the Great Tribulation. It is prophesied that they will repent, accept grace, and grieve bitterly for the One they pierced (Zechariah 12:10).

THE MIRACULOUS SIGN

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs’” (John 6:26).

The people despite the many, many miracles and wonders they witnessed, they would not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus pleaded with the Jews to believe, if not that he is the Son of God, believe having witnessed the many, many miracles that he did before them.

“But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father” (John 10:38).

MAKE HIM KING

“When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world. When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself” (John 6:14-15).

The Jews wanted Jesus to rule NOW. They did not understand God’s plan for ALL of mankind. Their desperate desire to be free from Roman rule kept them from understanding the whole plan. The first arrival of Christ was to redeem BOTH houses of Israel: Judah and Israel and ALL of mankind. He first had to die to pay the price for our sins. He could not be made their king yet. Only God Almighty can crown the King, but first Jesus must qualify.

JESUS WITHDREW AND PRAYED IN PRIVATE.

Through prayer we are strengthened. When Jesus had fasted for forty days and Satan tempted him, it was the third temptation that he felt the most. The devil took Jesus to the highest mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). With all of Jesus’ heart, he wanted to rescue mankind from the strangle-hold of the devil.

Jesus replied, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10).

Jesus’ prayer on that day when he withdrew and prayed in private, could have been, “If there is another way, an immediate way to rescue my people, my Father please tell me, if not, not my will but your will be done.”

The house of Judah will come to know how much Jesus loved them then and now when he returns to rescue them trapped against the Mount of Olives in the upcoming Great Tribulation. In great strength, Christ will touch down and split that mountain so that they have an opening where they run to safety (Zechariah 14:4). They will marvel that he remembered them, despite their rejection and in great humility, they will ask for forgiveness and grieve bitterly for the one they pierced (Zechariah 12:10).

FEEDING THE 4,000

Remember, prior to Matthew recording the story of the feeding of the 5,000, he recorded that a prophet does not receive honor in his own family, town, or people. This was the introduction to Jesus feeding his own people and them rejecting him. Prior to the story of the feeding of the 4,000 people, Mark records Jesus defining that which is ‘clean’ and that which is ‘unclean’. 

Cleanliness is all about what lies within the heart.“For from within out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’” (Mark 7:21-23).

Prior to the story of the feeding of the 4,000 people, Matthew records the story of Jesus healing a possessed Canaanite girl because her faithful mother was willing to accept the crumbs the fell, as Jesus was feeding the lost sheep of Israel, the 10-tribes (Matthew 15:24). Jesus said that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, the 10-tribes. He was sent to revive them from spiritual decay. The girl’s mother showed such great faith that Jesus healed her that very hour. The healing of the possessed girl indicates that Jesus was willing to spiritual heal Gentiles outside of the 10-tribes when they display faith.

Both prior stories provide an introduction to Jesus going to the 10-tribed Gentiles, showing the Jews that Gentiles are not unclean. Cleanliness is all about having a heart of flesh, not a heart of stone and that he will heal all Gentiles, that is, both the 10-tribed Gentiles and Gentiles from the nations when they display faith.

Jesus loves both houses of Israel. “O house of Israel… For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness” (Ezekiel 36:22, 24-29).

JESUS WENT ALONG THE SEA OF GALILEE CLOSE TO THE BORDERS OF THE DECAPOLIS REGION.

Jesus was in the Gentile region. He was going to teach the Gentiles.

HILL COUNTRY

Again, Jesus went up into the hills. Again, Jesus was in a position of authority.

During those days another large crowd gathered. “During those days” refers to the days when the Jews were taught that the Gentiles are not unclean.

THE CROWDS BROUGHT THE LAME, BLIND, CRIPPLED, DUMB TO JESUS’ FEET AND JESUS HEALED THEM. THE PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AND PRAISED THE GOD OF ISRAEL.

These Gentiles immediately without question, recognized the miracles were done through Jesus BY THE ALMIGHTY GOD that is why they praised the God of Israel. They had at one time known this God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were amazed that Jesus was willing to heal them spiritually—that they, a divorced people cut off and without hope of eternal life could return to God and that there was a redemption plan for them. They were no longer a people without hope as their ancestors believed in Ezekiel 37:

“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off’” (Ezekiel 37:11).

21st century Christians have long lost this type of gratitude.

JESUS HAS COMPASSION ON THE PEOPLE.

With the crowd of 5,000, Jesus had compassion on the people the moment he saw them. With the crowd of 4,000, Jesus had compassion after he healed the sick and after they reacted with amazement and praised the God of Israel. This was the repentance Jesus needed to witness before he had compassion. These people were from the 10-tribes who had a long history of rebellion against the God of Israel. Jesus accepted their repentance and was ready to feed them the spiritual food from God.

THEY WERE WITH JESUS FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE FED.

These people had traveled from far away and likely came prepared with resources, but at the end of 3 days nothing was left. From a spiritual perspective, it can be said that these people were far from God both physically and spiritually. They wanted grace because they knew their ancestors were rebellious and disgraceful towards both Jesus and the God of Israel. Their humble heart and willing spirit sustained them until Jesus could accept their repentance and feed them. They had to wait symbolically three days representing the 3 days and 3 nights Jesus lay in the grave to end the marriage covenant, which would come to an end with the death of Jesus and the opportunity to marry again came when Jesus was resurrected. Let’s review the scriptures that tell this story

• God married Israel: “They broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:32).

              “Turn, O backsliding children, says the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take

                you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion” (Jeremiah 3:14).

• House of Israel divorced: “I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet, I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery” (Jeremiah 3:8).
• “This is what the LORD says: ‘Where is your mother's certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away’” (Isaiah 50:1).
• The law that prevented remarriage to a divorced wife: “Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God gives thee for an inheritance” (Deuteronomy 24:4).
• House of Israel saved: “I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to Hissaints, to whom God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26).

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:2-21).

The number three refers to the completion of a divine event. The waiting of three days supports the notion of a completion of a divine event—the death and resurrection of Christ, these people will be saved.

PREACH TO THE 10-TRIBES

• Christ was sent to redeem the lost sheep of Israel: “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel’" (Matthew 15:24).
• Christ sent His 12 disciples to the lost sheep of Israel: “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’” (Matthew 10:6).

JUDAH STRENGTHENED, JOSEPH SAVED

• House of Judah strengthened, house of Joseph SAVED: “I will strengthen Judah and SAVE THE TRIBES OF JOSEPH. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them” (Zechariah 10:6).

             “Don’t be ignorant of this mystery… ALL of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25-26).

              “They were broken off because of their unbelief… but God is able to graft them in AGAIN”

              (Romans 11:20-23).

• “I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful” (Jeremiah 31:4).
• I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'" (Hosea 2:23).

THEY WERE FED IN A DESOLATE PLACE AND THEY SAT ON THE GROUND.

This desolate place is symbolic of a spiritually dead place filled with paganism. They were “cut off” for hundreds of years and lived as Gentiles adopting many of the pagan beliefs and customs.

THEY HAD TRAVELED A LONG DISTANCE.

Having been at one time close, these people were now “far away”. They came prepared filled with a willing spirit to learn, but their trip home would cause them to eventually fall away from the truth if a structure for sustaining truth could not be established. Hence, the establishment of the church.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us” (Ephesians 2:13-14).

NOTICE BOTH HOUSES NEED HEALING. “Creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them" (Isaiah 57:19). 

While the 10-tribes have been out of the land of the forefathers, those living there decided to claim all of the land for themselves. God has something to say about that.

“Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about you and your relatives and all the people of Israel who are in exile. They are saying, 'Those people are far away from the LORD, so now he has given their land to us as a possession!’ Therefore, say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ Therefore, say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit [the Holy Spirit] I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:15-20).

THESE PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO SIT.

These people were told to sit. They were not organized into groups of 50 and 100. In contrast with the 5,000, these people were identified as a scattered people before Jesus and unorganized, as all who appear when they without the Law of God.

7 LOAVES AND A FEW FISH

The loaves of bread and fish came from what the disciples had brought. Now, the disciples were beginning to grow spiritually and they provided the basis of the food that Jesus multiplied to feed the people. 

Jesus taught these people, face-to-face and the disciples collected the left-overs, which the people took with them. The left-overs took the form of letters and visits. These Christians cherished the written word and bound them into one book, the Bible.

The 10-tribed Gentiles continued the task of going out and preaching the gospel to the whole world after the Apostles died.

“And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15).

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The 7 loaves:

5 + 2 = 7. The loaves are the complete Bible both the Old and New Testament which is the written Bread of Life: the 5 books of Moses, the Prophets and the letters that form the New Testament.

The few fish:

The few fish is a non specific amount and more than two. It is likely to be referring to both the house of Judah and Israel, and converted Gentiles from nations around the world who are the sources of spiritual food for this house.

JESUS “GAVE” THE BREAD WHICH IS THE IMPERFECT TENSE.

The imperfect tense indicates that Jesus kept on giving to the disciples. Over the past 2,000 years, the Word of God has been a continual learning period as Believers grow in grace and knowledge.

7 VERY LARGE BASKETS OF LEFTOVERS

The very large baskets are needed for the long period of time that the Believers need to be fed spiritual truths, which has brought teaching to the seven churches of Revelation since the death of Christ.

THE NUMBER 5,000 AND 4,000

The number 5,000 is 5 times 1,000.

   ·  5 is symbolic of teaching which is the same as spiritual feeding. There are 5 books of Moses represented in the 5 loaves of bread, the source of spiritual food.

   ·  1,000 is Millennial, a period of 1,000 years.

The number 4,000 is 4 times 1,000.

   ·  4 is symbolic of universal. There are 4 corners—4 directions of the earth: north, south, east, and west, and the 4 winds (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8). In Acts 10:11, a sheet with four corners symbolizes The gospel will to go out to all of the Gentiles and nobody is unclean.

“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice spoke to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” (Acts 10:11-12) 1,000 is Millennial, a period of 1,000 years.

Together (5,000 = Judah + 4,000 = 10-tribe Gentiles), the teaching of God’s word will go out to all the earth by BOTH the house of Judah and the house of Israel. We will witness the completion of this great event during the 1,000 years of the Millennium. 

The Bible has a primary focus on the house of Israel (God’s inheritance) and the great fracture of their kingdom triggered the intense hostility that grew between them. It is a complex story filled with drama, emotional highs and painful lows. Despite their choices over 4,000 years, they will finally come together as a united-kingdom, ready to obey God and remain faithful forever. The story of the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 men besides women and children describes Christ teaching BOTH houses the good news of the Kingdom of God. All of Israel will be saved —all 12 tribes. Then the best work begins—the teaching of the rest of the world in full measure about God Almighty, mankind’s Creator and King.

God is the author of the Bible. He is the great story-teller. Learn his coded language and you will understand your past, bring clarity to the present, and hope for a better future.

The disciples asked Jesus if the ancient kingdom of Israel would be restored. They saw the vast numbers of their brothers, the ten tribes of the ancient northern house of Israel, living in Asia Minor and it was tempting to hope that if they re-united, they would be able to overpower the Romans and gain freedom.

The kingdom of Israel is woven into God's eternal structure of His eternal kingdom. The two houses of ancient Israel: Judah and Israel, represent law and grace. The re-unification will take place at the beginning of Christ's millennial reign because only then will God's law be fully implemented and grace given to the remnant that returns to the Holy Land.

The disciples asked Jesus if the kingdom of Israel would be restored during their time. Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8).

The disciples asked a very important question. The re-unification of their fractured kingdom, if not restored, will keep all creation in tyranny and division. That sounds bold, but it is the spiritual story mirrored in the fractured kingdom of Israel that God wants His people, all of mankind and earth and creation in heaven to understand. 

The great witness of taking the gospel to all ends of earth remains incomplete. Jesus said to the disciples rather than focusing on the restoration of their kingdom, put your attention fully on taking the gospel to all the world. A legal witness will go out to all of God’s people and to all the earth because judgement and sentencing will come to a forewarned people.

Notice Jesus’ first response, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” This indicates that Jesus, the Son of God, does not know the exact time and hour of his return as he awaits the go-ahead command from his Father, our Father in heaven.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36).

Almighty God and Jesus Christ are two separate beings who have the relationship of a Father and a Son. The Father is the All-powerful, the Supreme and the Almighty God over all creation. It is the Almighty God who will say, “Enough! The kingdom will be handed over to the saints!” In the book of Daniel, the legal judgement was recorded, “But the court will sit, and his power [that is the power of the “little horn” ruling over the beastly coalition oppressing the saints in the very last days of this evil age], will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the wholeheaven [third and second heaven] will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:26-27). The saints will rule with Jesus Christ, the King over all kings and Lord over all lords.

So much information was revealed when Jesus replied to the disciples about the restoration of the ancient kingdom of Israel. But there are still many questions related to the restoration that are rarely addressed.

This study will discuss the following topics:

• Why did the God of Israel allow the fracture of the ancient kingdom of Israel—His people?
• Was all this foreknown to God Almighty?
• What lessons are there in the great fracture of the ancient kingdom that was designed for mankind as a learning tool?
• Who else is learning lessons?
• Who are God’s people into the 21st century?
• Will God restore the kingdom of Israel, His people?
• If so, when will the kingdom of Israel be restored?
• What will be unique about this kingdom that it becomes a special treasure for God Almighty?

Almighty God knows the future. He has engineered an experience for mortal mankind that will forge an eternal allegiance to righteousness and the fortification of an unbreakable trust in mankind’s Great, Eternal Creator.

Why did the God of Israel allow the fracture of the ancient kingdom of Israel?

God allows free choice. The ancient Israelites were determined to live as they pleased. They remembered the power of Egypt, their extensive army, their build-up of military might, their economic strength and the glory they received. They craved superpower status. God Almighty was training His people to be a humble kingdom of priests, living in tents to mirror this temporary life on earth. This did not appeal to ancient Israel; so, they asked for an earthly king.

“And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king’” (I Samuel 8:7).

Ancient Israel thought they knew what was best for them. In making their own choice, they:

• Disobeyed God and wandered into living as they pleased.
• Rejected Almighty God as their King.
• Desired self-glory, self-determination and power, which they saw in the nations around them, like powerful Egypt.
• Wanted to be like the nations ruled by rebel sons of God and eventually they turned to serving rogue, heavenly rulers instead of the Almighty God.

Rejecting Almighty God as their King and turning to rule their kingdom under the leadership of a physical king, in time, caused them to serve fallen sons of God who ruled over the ancient world. Their choice was the spiritually immature thinking placing all effort into the temporary physical world rather than maturing spiritually to put all effort into preparing and building strengths and qualities in order to rule humbly and righteously in God’s eternal kingdom.

Was all this foreknown to God Almighty?

God foreknew their choices before man was created. He engineered their saving plan and incorporated it into His grand plan. Sins would play a part and grace would be offered as the critical component to entering into God’s kingdom of love for one another. All creation would learn to extend grace one to another as God has offered all of mankind.

The sacrifice of the Son of God was also foreknown and preplanned. 

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you” (I Peter 1:17-20).

“And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” (Revelation 13:8).

God’s saving plan for mankind was preplanned in detail before the foundation of the earth.
God gave His people the Holy days. Each Holy Day is a step in the plan of salvation for mankind. We are told to keep them as reminders, teach others and spread the good news of the gospel to all the world.

“He was delivered up by God's set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross” (Acts 2:23).

Redemptive mankind was also foreknown.

Before the foundation of the earth, God foreknew every man and woman that would be a descendant of Adam and Eve. He likely even planned when each person would be born during the 6,000-year period.

“For He chose us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence” (Ephesians 1:4).

What lessons are there in the great fracture of the ancient kingdom for mankind to learn?

God’s plan, which has not changed, was to establish His people as an example for all nations on earth. God’s work is not yet done. It will take the leadership and kingship of Jesus Christ during the Millennium to achieve that important stepping-stone along the pathway of God’s plan.

God said to Isaiah, “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

God, talking to Isaiah, was talking to all teachers, apostles, prophets and every man and woman of the kingdom of Israel. The Apostle Paul applied Isaiah 49:6 to himself and all of the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Then Paul and Barnabas answered them [the Jews] boldly: ‘It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles [the lost sheep of Israel—the ten tribes]. For thus the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you for a light of the Gentiles, you to be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth. When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed’” (Acts 14:46-48).

The lesson is the example of humble repentance of sin and the joyous acceptance of serving and obeying Almighty God sincerely and eternally. Then, in righteous leadership, teach the truth of salvation—the good news of eternal life and God’s offer for all of mankind to be part of His eternal, holy, royal, ruling God-family.

The back-story provides pieces to the puzzle.

The twelve tribes of Israel are the twelve sons of Jacob. In order of birth, they are: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob loved Rachel, but was tricked into marrying her sister, Leah first. Then, as each sister competed to conceive and give birth to children, each gave their servant to Jacob to also conceive and give birth. Rachel was the last wife to conceive and she gave birth to two sons: Joseph and Benjamin. Each of these sons mirror a spiritual story. The number of sons born from the different wives and servants all reveal significant details in God’s building of a perfect government comprised of humble, righteous men and women. The wives mirror different churches—religious bodies who will hold significant power in God’s kingdom. Two churches will come out of God’s people and two churches will come out of the nations of the world to birth a righteous congregation who will be resurrected and added to God’s family.

Who are these people today? Applying a broad-brush descriptor, they are the Judo-Christians.

Today, only the Jews remember their ancient origins. They are comprised of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. The “lost sheep of Israel” are the remaining ten tribes. While the ten tribes have forgotten their origins, collectively, the tribes comprise of the Judo-Christians. Many of the nations that have roots in the ten tribes, today, hold to the Catholic faith and many have left the faith.

The umbrella term “Judo-Christians” identifies the two important leaders of the twelve tribes, now, twelve nations: Judah and Joseph. The Christians are primarily the English-speaking people from the house of Joseph. These two groups of nations will have very important roles to fill during the final seven years of this evil age.

Regardless of whether they remember their roots or not, they are all bound in an eternal covenant.

To trace the origins of the ten tribes, now ten independent nations today, requires a careful look into scripture to uncover their footsteps. Like an archeologist using a fine brush, finding the fragments of their journey can be challenging, but never impossible because God did not reject them.

God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham that was confirmed with Isaac (Abraham’s only heir) and reconfirmed with Jacob (the younger twin son of Isaac).

God will not break His promise made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob despite the hostility of Jacob’s descendants towards Him. God will continue to correct His people; they will suffer for their sins, but He will never reject them or allow them to be exterminated.

“They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the LORD their God” (Leviticus 26:44-45).

God admits that if He allows them to be exterminated, then He has broken His covenant with them, hence, He will have lied to them and His word would not be trustworthy. God cannot sin.

God does not take away freewill. They can choose life and reap the blessings of obedience or they can choose hostility towards God and reap curses, hardships, suffering and death.

Both houses of ancient Israel chose to rebel against God choosing to serve rebel heavenly rulers—fallen sons of God who ruled over the nations in ancient times. At different times, they were taken into captivity. The northern house (Israel) fell in 722 B.C. to the Assyrians. The southern house (Judah) fell in 586 B.C. Only the southern house (Judah) acknowledged their sins and returned to rebuild after the punished-time was complete, 70 years later. The northern house (Israel) did not initially repent. They were angry and God sentenced them seven times their initial punished-time as He said he would do when His people refused to acknowledge their sins. “If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over” (Leviticus 26:27-28).

Their refusal to repent led eventually to their divorce and severing from the covenant family. God simply will not tolerate wickedness and open rebellion. He does not favour His people over the people of the nations. In fact, He has higher expectations from them. He is molding them into a humble, God-fearing and God-serving people to be an example to the nations of the world, their shining light of righteousness. God will win against His stubborn people.

While the ten tribes were not allowed to return to the Promised Land to resettle and rebuild, a remnant did return but this righteous and repentant remnant did not grow into a significant size.

Scripture has carefully preserved their light footprints after God sentenced the ten tribes to seven times their initial punishment. A scroll detailing God’s law and Holy Days was discovered in the temple under the reign of King Josiah (king of Judah). The house of Judah had fallen deep into serving and worshipping the rebel gods over the nations. They had forgotten God’s law and His Holy Days. When the fate of the kingdom of Judah was made known to this king, he tore his clothes and worked relentlessly to clean up the whole kingdom of Judah and Israel. 

God said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘There shall my Name be’” (II Kings 23:27).

Young King Josiah was deeply remorse for his sins and the sins of his people. Learning of the Passover, he set out to keep it and encourage the tribes of the northern house (Israel) to keep it with them. At this time, the northern house (Israel) while still under the oversight of the Assyrians, were living north east of their original homeland. They had a level of freedom that allowed them to keep the Passover and contribute to King Josiah’s request of funding the repair of the temple in Jerusalem.

“They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the doorkeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (II Chronicles 34:9). The repair of the temple in Jerusalem was funded by all twelve tribes of Israel. 

That year, all twelve tribes of Israel kept the Passover.

“Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the 14th day of the first month… He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel [that is, all of the twelve tribes of Israel both the house of Judah and the house of Israel] and who had been consecrated to the LORD ‘Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built… Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel… The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the Prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the 18th year of Josiah’s reign” (II Chronicles 35:1, 3, 18-19).

It was in 619 B.C. that the Passover was celebrated with conviction and intense passion by ALL of the twelve tribes of Israel. 

The Passover is a significant Holy Day. The name “Passover” points to protection from the death angel who would “pass over” the first born of the families of the homes who have the blood of a lamb without blemish painted on their door post. It is a Holy Day that reminds all Judo-Christians not only of the death of our Saviour but the protection of the saints—those who will be part of the first resurrection—the first to be born into their eternal bodies.

The story recorded in II Kings 23 and II Chronicles 35 shows the joining of all twelve tribes to celebrate the Passover. This shows that 103 years after the captivity of the northern house of Israel, a significant portion of these people recommitted themselves to serving and obeying God. Still, God did not allow them to resettle and rebuild; their extended sentence would not expire until 2,520 years was completed. 

However, a remnant certainly can be seen in scripture to have settled but not to represent the nations these people would become. This revelation can be seen in the story of the woman at the well.

Recorded only in the book of John in the New Testament, Jesus talks to a Samaritan woman living in the land given to Joseph where there was a well dug originally by the patriarch, Jacob. We discover that she knows her roots go back to Jacob. Jesus asks this woman for a drink. She is initially confused that a Jew would talk to a Samaritan, but that barrier is immediately dissolved as their conversation enters into a spiritual discussion. Jesus is offering her God’s Holy Spirit, after all, he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). She mirrors the church of the ten tribes of Israel.

She Immediately was alerted by this offer. She asked, “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?” (John 4:12) She recognized that both of them have the same ancestry as she refers to Jacob as their patriarchal father—“our father Jacob” and “who gave us the well.” The well belongs to both the Jews and people of the ten-tribe remnant living there from the ancient northern house.

The well is also their common source of water. God’s Holy Spirit is symbolized as water, which is given through Jesus Christ. It is not by coincidence that Jesus goes to that well to offer this woman God’s Holy Spirit.

As their conversation progresses, she sees that Jesus is a prophet of God. She is waiting for the Saviour to come. “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us’” (John 4:25).

Jesus replied, “I who speak to you am he” (John 4:26).

Immediately, she believed and ran and told her town’s people and they believed. Jesus stayed with them for two days and they concluded, “we know that this man really is the Savior of the world” (John 4:42b).

The story of the woman at the well unveils a spiritual wonder that Jesus Christ, King over all kings and Lord over all lords, upon his return will first go to his Bride, the churches in Judah, Jerusalem and Israel. The national leaders will then be informed of Christ’s orders by the church. When Jesus was resurrected, the first person he talked to was Mary. The female gender is a mirror of the church—the key religious body that will bind with law and order to form the perfect government that God will establish in His kingdom. It is a mirror of the union of Jesus Christ and his Bride. The creation of gender: male and female and the spiritual meaning for the creation of two different bodies is a profound mystery. The Apostle Paul understood and said, “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32). He confirmed the marriage of law and order with religion.

The Christians came out from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul was sent to the Gentiles, the ten tribes of Israel. He traveled to Spain, throughout Asia Minor, Greece, Rome and places far away to teach them God’s law and His way. God said to Paul, “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (Acts 23:21).

From his teaching, the ten tribes emerged as a notable body of people following Christ under the name, Christian. During Paul’s defense before King Agrippa, he said, “The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God, day and night” (Acts 26:4-7).

At the time of Paul’s trial, he could advocate for the ten tribes to be dedicated to serving God, the God of Israel and embracing the same belief. The trial against Paul came from the Jewish priests because they rejected Jesus and rejected the teaching of a resurrection into eternal life.

Paul continued to defend himself. “O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”

“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.” 

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’”

“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’”

“‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment” (Acts 26).

In Paul’s legal defense, he confirmed the existence of all twelve tribes of Israel. He confirmed their common belief in the resurrection and that they are now known as Christians.

The Apostle James also addressed all twelve tribes of Israel “scattered among the nations” (James 1:1). He too knew the house of Israel had returned to God.

At the time that Jesus was on earth, there was a small remnant from the ten tribes of Israel living in their original homeland, but most of them were living in Asia Minor. Josephus, a renown Jewish historian, recorded, “There are but two tribes in Asia … subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond the Euphrates now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers.”  (Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, bk. 11, ch. 5, sec. 2)

The ten tribes of Israel had grown into a great number of people. Because they were divorced from the covenant family, they lost their name, Israel, and became known as Gentiles. However, Jesus was sent only to these lost sheep of Israel and he taught them while he was on earth. They were the multitude of 4,000 people. Close to the borders of the Decapolis region, Jesus performed a great miracle feeding them bread and fish.  A remnant of the ten tribes were living there. Of the 4,000 people Jesus taught, many came from areas far, far away. The great distance from where most of them came, necessitated the gathering of as much food as possible to sustain them on their trip home. These people were amazed and humbled by the healing Jesus did and they praised God. They were the prodigal son who lived in squalor for a long time, returning humbly and grateful for their father’s love, warm embrace and invitation back into the family.

Jesus addressed each of the seven major churches in Asia Minor. He praised them for their good works and identified their mistakes. The spiritual picture of these seven churches in Asia Minor is like an address to a kingdom of priests and their core functions. Only the overcomers will be saved.

Who are these people into the 21st century?

The 21st century nations of Israel have not yet fully taken the good news of God’s salvation plan for all of mankind to the ends of the earth. Their leadership today is full of corruption and deceit. The people are busy trying to make ends meet during unstable economic conditions. Developing a deep and meaningful relationship with God is far from their minds. They are living according to their own judgement. However, peppered among God’s people are a small remnant who will trigger a great religious revival and open the hearts of all Judo-Christians to spiritually cleanse themselves. The time of cleansing will occur during an unprecedent period of great distress for all twelve nations of Israel. It lies on our near horizon when they will be again enslaved; they will cry out to their God, the Almighty God and He will hear them.

The Gentiles, given the task to take the gospel to the whole world, were the brothers of the Jews; they are the ten tribes. It remains a mystery to Christians today, who once knew their roots. The Apostle Paul said, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers [the ten tribes], so that you may not be conceited: Israel [the Jews] has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion, he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins. As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the Patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:25-29).

In deed this is a mystery. The Apostle Paul clearly identifies these Gentiles are descendants of the patriarchs who, through Abraham, received the unconditional covenant given by God—it is irrevocable! God will turn them from sinning; He will show them their sins and they will repent.

The tables have turned. The house of Judah repented after their captivity in Babylon those many years ago. As they worked to obey God’s law and keep His Holy Days, they added their own traditions—many of them. Their human effort moved the pendulum closer and closer into self-righteousness. The great sins of their brothers, the ten tribes of Israel, was unrighteousness. Neither house achieved balance because the leaders and the people did not have God’s Holy Spirit. Both houses have failed.

The Apostle Paul continued, “Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:30-32).

This is important to understand. The righteousness of human effort and works cannot qualify mankind for eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Isaiah was troubled about the perpetually sinning of God’s people said to God, “For we all are as a defiled thing and all our righteousness is like the patch of cloth of a menstruous woman. We all fall like leaves, and our sins have carried us off like a hurricane” (Isaiah 64:6).

Many translations of this scripture used the words “filthy rags” or “polluted garment” for “patch of cloth of a menstruous woman” translated by the Aramaic Bible in Plain English. The meaning is clearer in the Aramaic Bible translation because of the spiritual meaning intended by Isaiah. When an egg is not fertilized, it is released from the woman’s body. A period of bleeding takes place as the purging of the egg takes place. This is a spiritual mirror of what takes places when the ministry and priests don’t have God’s Holy Spirit, using only man’s knowledge and wisdom, they will fail to conceive a congregation fit for God’s kingdom; their congregation will be purged and not receive life eternal.

The twelve nations of 21st century Israel are yet to fully keep God’s law and learn His theology, so they can be a shining light of righteousness to the nations on earth who will then, look to the Almighty God as their God.

It is their bad behaviour that has hidden them again from public view. The once lost sheep of Israel after their divorce from the covenant family lived in sin and suffered. They sought to return. Jesus invited back. He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). These lost sheep today can be identified from origins other than their ancient Hebrew roots.

Josephus placed them in Asia Minor at the time of Jesus on earth. The Apostle Paul found some of them in Spain, Greece and Rome. God who images His power as the East Wind said that He has pushed them away from Him.

“Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come—a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article” (Hosea 13:15).

The ten tribes may have achieved economic and military strength from time to time, but God never took His eyes off of them. He is the great Potter and they are the clay in His hands. The East wind pushes objects in its path westward.

The ten tribes moved into Western Europe and all of the West.

Many of the lost sheep of Israel identify their roots as Caucasian having lived by the Caucasus Mountains for a while before entering Europe. God was determined to keep pushing His lost sheep west. The reason was to show His people and the whole world that He will not tolerate unrighteousness. Also, they were sentenced seven times their original punishment. This realization will not be understood until the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The whole world will learn the truth and God’s people will abhor themselves, repent and finally, sincerely serve the Almighty God, their LORD.

Found in the introduction of a declaration by the Scots to the Pope in Rome asserting Scotland’s sovereignty over English territorial claims, is a silenced piece of history that describes a journey of a people who have traveled far to rest in the West. It is preserved in the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320.

“Most Holy Father and Lord, we know and from the chronicles and books of the ancients we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown. They journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long course of time in Spain among the most savage tribes, but nowhere could they be subdued by any race, however barbarous. Thence they came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, to their home in the west where they still live today. The Britons they first drove out, the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all bondage ever since. In their kingdom there have reigned one hundred and thirteen kings of their own royal stock, the line unbroken a single foreigner. The high qualities and deserts of these people, were they not otherwise manifest, gain glory enough from this: that the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Lord Jesus Christ, after His Passion and Resurrection, called them, even though settled in the uttermost parts of the earth, almost the first to His most holy faith. Nor would He have them confirmed in that faith by merely anyone but by the first of His Apostles — by calling, though second or third in rank — the most gentle Saint Andrew, the Blessed Peter's brother, and desired him to keep them under
his protection as their patron forever.”

Written in the third person, the Scots identify themselves as having origins in ancient Israel and to be honoured by Jesus Christ, himself, to be called to the faith, almost the first to be called, even though they were living far, far away from Jerusalem.

Early Scottish history remembers their roots.

So easily history is forgotten. So easily Satan moves in to force his way on people. The God of Israel is all-powerful. He is using the work of Satan to purge the relentless wicked and mold the repentant into pillars of loyal and righteous people.

Specifically, to keep the ten tribes of Israel from putting down their brothers, the Jews, after receiving grace and a golden invitation back into the covenant family, the Apostle Paul quoted from Hosea, “‘I will call them [national leaders in all ten tribes in multiple levels] ‘My People’ who are not My people and I will call her [religious leaders] ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,” and, "It will happen that in the place [the West] where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' there [in the West] they will be called 'sons of the living God.' Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved’” (Romans 9:25-27).

Only a remnant from all twelves tribes will be saved! What is coming will be a time of great distress, lies will run rampart and deceit will cover the earth. A great falling away will take place. Protection will come only from a close relationship with God. He will open eyes to see and ears to hear the truth and the strength to withstand the onslaught will come from Him.

Into the 21st century, still much confusion exists. The nations of 21st century ten tribes of Israel today do not reflect their Hebrew roots. A remnant serve God, keep His commandments and His Holy Days. Most of the Christian churches ignore God’s Holy Days, exchanged God’s Sabbath for Sunday worship and some teach that God’s law was nailed to the cross. The Old Testament is read but the eternal reminders of God’s timeline built into the Holy Days are blind to most of them. Adding to the confusion, is the teaching of many different interpretations of scripture.

Much correction is necessary and Almighty God is very much aware of the needed changes. It was prophesied that the descendants of Jacob will enter a time of great distress known as Jacob’s Trouble fortunately there is a positive ending.

“In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end they will be saved!” (Jeremiah 30:7)

Change will come for both houses: Judah and Israel. They will repent and cry out to God and He will hear them. For the first time in their history, both houses will cry out at the same time and weep together asking their God for help and saving. They will join together as a union of twelve tribes to beseech the God of Israel for a great rescue.

“In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the LORD their God” (Jeremiah 50:4).

“In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage” (Jeremiah 3:18).

The ten nations of the house of Israel will remember their heritage and a fervor and passion for God’s law and His way will burn within.  Almighty God will recognize their sincere conviction and save them. Jeremiah 30:7 states, “Yet in the end they will be saved!”

God loves! He loves His people; He loves His all of mankind; He loves all of His creation in heaven and on earth.

A bigger picture is being revealed. Creation on earth will learn righteousness and the importance of keeping God’s law. Creation in heaven will embrace grace and the importance of forgiveness, kindness, and enduring love. God is teaching all creation, in heaven and on earth, that law has a partner with grace, which is encapsulated in His theology.

God’s point: law and theology must work as one. Law alone, without theology, leads to corruption and fracturing, as did the ancient house of Israel. Righteous leadership is the marriage of God’s law and His theology.

God’s plan is to heal the fracture by offering mankind the forgiveness of their sins through Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. He will give them grace and a unique and powerful spirit, His Holy Spirit so that mankind can know and live His way of love and peace.

Who else is learning lessons?

This evil age is running amuck. It may appear that Almighty God has lost control, not so. Every detail and every step along His plan are right on target. He is teaching creation in heaven and on earth important lessons. He is battling rebels, fallen angels in heaven who are attempting to overthrow the Son of God and Almighty God, Himself. These fallen sons of God will be thrown down to earth in the great battle recorded in Revelation when Michael and his army cast them out of heaven. The righteous angels are learning from the wickedness of fallen angels. They are also watching intently God’s work on earth with His people, how He allows choice, how He corrects and His enduring love for them, despite their stubborn hearts.

“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things” (I Peter 1:12).

When will God restore the kingdom of Israel, His people?

God’s instructional technique uses mirroring, imagery, parallels, parables, numbers, symbols, stories and creation itself to teach mankind spiritual matters. Truly, God’s people are without excuse and after the legal witness reaches all parts of the earth, they too, will be without excuse.

God will restore the kingdom of Israel under the Millennial rule of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of Israel mirror law and grace—law and theology, which will be eternally bound together.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand… There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms… My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd [Jesus Christ]. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob… and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant… My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever’” (Ezekiel 37:19, 22, 24-28).

What will be unique about this kingdom that it becomes a special treasure for God Almighty?

The unique qualities that will shine brightly out of the reunited kingdom of Israel is a humbled spirit, a people ashamed of their sins and eternally dedicated to serving Almighty God, their Creator. They will have forged a beautiful glory out of their suffering, during a time that will never be repeated. These twelve nations will become a holy, royal, ruling kingdom of priests. Almighty God will live with them and the nations of the world will acknowledge God’s choice and revere Him.

Ultimately, everyone who repents and overcomes will be awarded an office in God’s family kingdom. Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

Nobody will be disappointed. Rather, ecstatic and humbled that God sees so much value in them.

“Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’?So, they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation”

(Jeremiah 33:24).

The two kingdoms that God is referring to are the two contentious houses: Israel and Judah. They comprise of all of the twelve sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Jeremiah 33:26). Into the 21st century, many teach that the Jewish nation alone are the people of God, some say that the house of Israel—the ten tribes—the lost sheep (Matthew 15:24) were rejected and over time, so scattered that they no longer became distinguishable among the nations. "God can’t find them anymore. They have intermarried into the nations,” some say. Those people fail to understand the great power of the God of Israel who can sift twelve tribes through the nations and bring them together into separate nations at the time scheduled in His plan. While some have intermarried, the core of the people is each a nation from each tribe. “Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!” (Jeremiah 32:17). Others say that they were over time totally destroyed, but the Bible has preserved a different story.

The people of the ten tribes known as the ancient house of Israel, were taken into captivity around 722 B.C. because of their sins and rebellion against God. They were not humbled during their captivity and after their release, they did not return to God. So, God extended their punishment seven times longer; they would not return to their homeland but wander among the Gentiles picking up the traditions and practices of the heathen falling deeper and deeper into the curses of God.

Despite their relentless rebellion and sins, God never rejected them. Twice God said that only if the decrees the Almighty God has over the sun, moon and stars to shine vanishes will He reject them (Jeremiah 33:25-26, Jeremiah 31:35-36) and “only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done” (Jeremiah 31:37). Simply, God will never reject the descendants of the twelve tribes of Jacob.

Ezekiel recorded a prophecy declaring God’s grace for a people who had been swept up into rebellion and sin, but finally come to their senses. He “will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b). God has always watched over them. During their rebellion, He kept them in fear and often on the move; He fought against them through invading nations; He conquered them through stronger rulers; He destroyed their hard work and brought disaster upon them through droughts, floods, infestations, and disease. After hundreds of years in battle against God, they returned. Upon their repentance, He vows to watch over them to build them up and establish them in peace and safety (Jeremiah 31:28) and bring them back into one kingdom (Ezekiel 37:15-22) as they were before the great divide that took place two years into the reign of King Rehoboam.

The two kingdoms will be joined and eternally bound together under the kingship of David who will rule under the King of kings and Lord of lords. “I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains [government] of Israel. There will be one king over them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms” (Ezekiel 37:22).

Truly, all of the ancient twelve tribes of Israel are alive and well into the 21st century. Their patriarch father, Jacob brought them together before he died and foretold their future into the last days (Genesis 49). All twelve sons will have a national presence. Revelation 14 identifies twelve thousand men and women from each of the twelve tribes who will be part of the “sealed”. The names Ephraim and Dan are excluded because they were not blameless before God. Joseph’s name is in place to represent the righteous Ephraimites and Dan is totally excluded; he will wait for his redemption. Both of them introduced idolatry into Israel. King Jeroboam introduced the golden calves and Dan took Micah, the Levite with his idols for worship.

Moses prophesied that members of all twelve tribes of Israel will repent in the latter days. "When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice" (Deuteronomy 4:30).

The Jews into the 21st century have forgotten their brothers, maybe because long ago the ten tribes of the house of Israel were thrust from God’s sight because after their captivity, they remained angry, rebellious and refused to repent. “Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name [Judah], the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim” (Jeremiah 7:14-15).

For hundreds of years, it has been the rebellious ten tribes of Israel that pushed both the Great God of Israel away and their brothers, the Jews. “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Somehow, while living in squalor and anger, a little light flickered and these people entrenched in sin turned to look for their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Beaten and bruised, they returned like the prodigal son and God welcomed them back with open arms. They were told to wait for their Savior before the re-grafting process would take place and indeed, they waited anxiously and with great anticipation. “Many of the Samaritans from the town believed in him… ‘We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world’” (John 4:39a, 42b). The Apostle Paul expended immense effort to help the Jews believe the words of Jesus, their Savior, but they refused. Exasperated he declared, “God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen” (Acts 28:28). The tables were turning. While the divorced house of Israel was returning, the loved house of Judah was falling away.

It was the house of Judah who repented after their captivity and rebuilt God’s temple in Jerusalem. Yet, after hundreds of years of preserving and protecting the oracles of God, they allowed the pendulum to sway far from the centre and their religious leaders became obnoxiously self-righteous relishing in self-glory and self-appointed authority. They would not listen to correction and Jesus’ cried, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

Their rejection of Christ and their relentless efforts to thwart the re-entry of their brothers back into the covenant family brought the veil of stupor that kept them from remembering their repenting brothers and learning from receiving God’s Holy Spirit. The veil will be lifted when every one of their brothers have returned to God, then their eyes will be opened again to acknowledge their Savior.

“What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor… Again I ask, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious” (Romans 11:7, 11).

The offer to take the gospel to the world was given to the Jews first, but they rejected it. So, God turned to the repenting ten tribes of Israel and they are taking the gospel to the world. The greatest witness is yet in the future; the house of Joseph as done in the past, will again feed the world the word of God.

The Apostle Paul recorded and revealed the mystery. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel [the Jews now under the name of Israel] has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles [of the ten tribes of Israel] has come in. And so, all [twelve tribes] of Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer [Jesus Christ] will come from Zion, he will turn godlessness away from Jacob [the ten tribes and the Jews through the receiving of the Holy Spirit]. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins… as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, [they are the descendants of the patriarchs] for God’s gifts and his call [given to all twelve tribes of Israel] are irrevocable” (Romans 11:25-29).

The pendulum, which pushed the ten tribes into rebellion and faithlessness was the same that pushed the house of Judah into self-righteousness and unfaithfulness.

“I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery” (Jeremiah 3:8).

God is teaching all of mankind the lesson the tribes of Israel are learning: sin lies in every movement of the pendulum, except in the centre where the righteous rest in obedience to the ways of God and with undying faith and total trust in their Creator.

Both houses: Israel and Judah fell into rebellion. “God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Romans 11:32). Neither house will be able to boast that they are more righteous than the other. No man or woman on earth will be able to boast of their righteousness. All of mankind have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

A time of great distress lies on the near horizon that will awaken and test all of the Judo-Christians and the nations of the world. It will be a terrifying time that will reach deep into the hearts of all of mankind. “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21).

During this time, both houses: Judah and Israel will return to their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “When you have multiplied and increased in the land in those days...the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel and they shall come TOGETHER out of the land of the north, to the land that I gave for an inheritance unto your Fathers" (Jeremiah 3:16-18).

Their journey as they return to God has been and continues to be a drama-filled roller coaster ride, but ultimately, they will bend their knee and never look back. “In those days, at that time, the people of Israel and the people of Judah TOGETHER will go in tears to seek Yahuah [YHWH], their God. They will ask the way of Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten” (Jeremiah 50:4-5).

“So, when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, ‘Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?’” (Acts 1:6) Jesus could not give them a date and time because their restoration is known only to our Father in heaven. It requires the full return of the ten tribes, the overcoming within their churches—the seven churches of Revelation filled with faulty theology, then, the removal of the veil of stupor from the Jews, their acceptance of Christ as their Savior and finally, a humble and Holy Spirit filled family of 21st century Israelites who will never depart from their God. Then and only then, will their kingdom be restored, all in time for the Millennial reign of Christ and the saints.

The two kingdoms will become one again after over three thousand years of being apart. This time, they will live in peace with each other, with Christ as their King of kings and Lord of lords, the Saints as their Queen/Bride of Christ and the Father as Supreme Ruler.