THE PRESENT LOCATION OF TRUE ISRAEL
(1)
THE Bible does not give the specific location of Israel in this present time of 2006.We know from scripture that they are scattered abroad world wide. We also know from scripture that they will return to the holy land at or about the time of the second advent.
Indirect information on the present location is given in scripture. The first clue we will consider is the direction from which the children of Israel will come on their return to the holy land. Several quotations give these directions using the four major points of the compass, north, south, east and west as viewed from the holy land and Jerusalem. As we saw in Part I, in Isaiah 43-5&6 the return of Israel will be from all over the world, north, east, south and west. Other similar quotations are more specific. Isaiah 49-12 says:
“Behold, these (Israel) shall come from far, and lo, these from the NORTH and from the WEST…”
Jeremiah 23-8 states:
“… The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land (the holy land). “
Jeremiah 3-18 says:
“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 have given (the holy land) for an inheritance unto your fathers. “
Note that these prophecies (which are only a few of many) locate the house of Israel AND the house of Judah together coming from the north and west to the holy land. It has to be concluded then that the house of Judah cannot be in the holy land at present. North and western Europe and the British Isles come well within the description of being north and west of the holy land.
(2) Another clue in the Bible concerning the location of present day Israel, is in the use of the word ‘isles.’ Of the forty or so references to ‘isle, isles or islands’ in the Bible, nineteen are in the context of Israel. The other references to isles are usually used of a specific island; e.g., Crete, Cyprus and Patmos. In Isaiah 51-5 God is recorded as saying: “My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. “
Speaking to Israel in Isaiah 41-1 God commands:
“Keep silence before me O islands; and let the people renew their strength; let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgement. “
Again in Isaiah 42-12 Israel are told:
“Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands. “
In Ezekiel 39-6 God issues a stern warning: “And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. “
This is an interesting quotation. Chapters 38 & 39 are directed basically to Gog. But in the middle of verse 6 God switches his warning to Israel as verse 7 makes clear:
“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel;. and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel”
The use of the word ‘carelessly’ here in this context means lack of care in trying to avoid unrighteousness.
The contexts of these last four quotations reveal that they refer to Israel. See also Psalm 72-10 and 97-1; Isaiah 11-11; 23-2; 24-15; 40-15; 41-5; 42-4 & 10; 66-19; Ezekiel 26-15 &18; 27-35. The significance of these quotations will become clear.
(3) In part of Acts 1-8 Luke reveals that Jesus informed the apostles that:
“.. .ye shall receive power; after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The apostles then were to go to the parts of the holy land, then to THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH. Note that the word ‘part’ is singular, therefore it must refer to a fixed known single place. The word ‘uttermost’ must mean the furthest from the holy land. The most probable place would be that known or discovered at that time probably about AD35.
Referring to Ezekiel 27-12 we read about tin among other ‘riches’ and a reference to Tarshish. Long before the time of Jesus, tin was mined in England in Cornwall and shipped abroad to Tyre and other places most likely. The story of Joseph of Arimathaea is well known and almost certainly true. The reference to tin in the Bible leads to the conclusion that it came from Cornwall. Again this uttermost part of the earth most likely refers to north and west Europe and the British Isles.
Considering these three groups of scriptural quotations together:
The direction from which Israel will come on their return to the holy land at the time of the second advent
The repeat of the word isle, etc., in the context of Israel.
The location of the ‘uttermost’ part of the earth.
We can only conclude that the ‘lost’ tribes of Israel were and/or would be in this area of north and west Europe and the British Isles.
Over recent centuries Israel have expanded throughout the whole world as large and small nations and enclaves. It is also believed that some Israelites left the holy land in the BC centuries. Indeed it is believed that some were already in Europe and the British Isles before the time of Christ.
The first reference in the Bible of God’s promises to Abraham is in Genesis 17-7:
“…I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. “
In Judges 2-1 God promises Israel: “…I (God) will never break my covenant with you (Israel).”
Psalm 89-34 confirms the same promise: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips.”
As if three assurances were not enough, God says in Malachi 3-6: “For I am the LORD, I CHANGE NOT. ” Other quotations tell the same story; God fulfils all his promises and does not change his mind ever.
What was this covenant with Abraham? In verses 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Genesis 17 we are told:
Verse 2 “I will make my covenant between me and thee, and multiply thee exceedingly”
Verse 4 “…thou shalt be a father of many nations. “
Verse 5 “…thy name shall be Abraham (meaning father of many nations) for a father of many nations have I made thee. “
Verse 6 “I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. “
Other covenants and promises followed with Abraham’s seed.
It must be noted that this Abrahamic Covenant was totally unconditional. Therefore Abraham’s descendants (through his son Isaac) must exist as many nations today. Can anyone dare to doubt this holy word of Almighty God? Subsequent covenants-the Mosaic, the Palestinian, and the Davidic covenants-were conditional on Israel remaining obedient to all God’s laws and precepts. Sadly Israel broke all these covenants and were duly chastened, exiled and scattered as the Bible prophesied and history shows. But the Abrahamic covenant still applied and still applies today. God produced his last covenant with Israel called the New Covenant as detailed above. So Israel can be saved and the Abrahamic covenant fulfilled.
So far we have considered the general background evidence of Israel from the AV Bible starting in about 1900 BC. In that time up to about 100 AD, the Bible, written by inspiration of almighty God, records hundreds of prophecies concerning Israel, their future and God’s dealings with them. Peter proclaimed some very
important advice in II Peter 1-19:
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star (Jesus) arise in your hearts. “
Revelation 19-10 also records the link between prophecy and the testimony of Jesus: “… worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. “
Many prophecies have already been fulfilled, such as those predicting the first advent of Jesus, and his death, his salvation, and those of Israel’s exile, scattering, chastening and permanent existence. Let us now consider many more of God’s wonderful prophecies some of which carry their own evidence of fulfilment.
After Solomon died about 930 BC, God divided Israel into two houses, the house of Judah which contained the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin; and the house of Israel (sometimes called Ephraim or Joseph) containing the remaining ten tribes. The Levites were divided among all the twelve tribes of Israel. They were the teachers of laws, the priests, the managers of the tabernacle or the temple, etc. Just before the exile of the house of Israel some of their people celebrated the passover at Jerusalem in the house of Judah in Hezekiah’s time; see II Chron. 30. Before.that many of the priests and Levites had left the house of Israel to go to Juda because Jeroboam prevented them ministering to Israel. No scriptural evidence exists that there was any mass movement of people from house of Israel to the house of Judah after the division of Israel. Possibly individual movements may have happened on a small scale. The great mass of the house of Israel were in Samaria until about 722 BC when they were exiled by Shalmaneser, King of Assyria.
Probably the most outstanding prophecies which confirm the permanent existence of Israel and the Davidic royal line come from:
(1) Jeremiah 31-35 to 36: “Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the Sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If these ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. “
(2) Jeremiah 33-20 & 21: “Thus saith the LORD; if ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne… “
(3) Jeremiah 33-25 & 26 (part): “Thus saith the Lord, If my covenant be not with day and night and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then I will cast away the seed of Jacob (Israel) and David my servant… “
It is no good trying to spiritualize these prophecies, they mean exactly what they say. The Sun, Moon and Stars are still with us without a shadow of doubt, performing their ancient duties of the day and night. Therefore ALL Israel AND David’s royal line, must still be in existence today!
Isaiah records a most conclusive confirmation of the certain performance of these and all of God’s scriptural prophecies in his chapter 55 verse 11:
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it “
Concerning the sabbath day, it is to be noted that it was originally instituted by God to Adam, God also made it a sign between himself and the children of Israel.
Exodus 31 16 & 17 (part) says:
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant It is a sign between me (God) and the children of Israel for ever… “
Your writer believes the correct sabbath day to be our Saturday. In past years the sabbath used to be observed in Britain much more than now. Israel have always been covenant breakers, let us try and observe this one.
The always continuing disobedience by Israel concerning God’s laws and precepts, etc., was prophesied in the Bible. In Deuteronomy 4-23 to 31 Moses warns Israel that such behaviour would result in chastisement, exile and scattering, which happened. But verse 29 also shows us God’s mercy: “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul”
Verse 31 then goes on to say: “(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God,) He will not forsake thee neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them. “
Those many in our communities over the centuries who have sought God with heart and soul, have always found him; thus proving again that prophecies are always carried out. Further, the absolute certain performance of God’s covenants with Israel is again confirmed in Judges 1-2 (part): “…I (God) said, I will never break my covenant with you. “ Again, Psalm 89-34 tells the same truth: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. “
In Deuteronomy 7-9 & 10 God sums up the whole situation:
“Know therefore, that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with THEM THAT LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. “
Reverting now to a portion of history combined with prophecy we read in Genesis 48 that when Jacob was about to die in Egypt, his son Joseph came to him with his own sons Manasseh and Ephraim for Jacob to bless them. Jacob was now blind, so Joseph placed Manasseh (his first born) in front of Jacob’s right hand and Ephraim in front of his father’s left hand. In proceeding, Jacob must have crossed his arms to touch the boys’ heads with his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left hand on Manasseh’s head.
In verse 18 Joseph says:
” .. .not so my father; for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand on his head And his father refused, and said, I know it, my Son, I know it, he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations, And he blessed them that day… “
It is believed that the descendants of Ephraim are today represented by the British and the British Commonwealth of nations. The descendants of Manasseh are thought to be the United States of America. These two peoples today can hardly be described as being holy. However, according to scripture they still contain the faithful remnant.
Further to the prophecies in Jeremiah 31 and 33 above concerning the permanence of David’s royal line, Nathan the prophet in about 1040 BC records in II Samuel 7-16 when speaking to David:
“…thine (David’s) house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever. “
The only throne and royal line which has existed down through the ages to today, and which fulfils the prophecy, is the present British royal throne. Our present Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II, is a most faithful and beloved monarch. This prophecy from Samuel provides indisputable evidence that the British races and their many offshoot nations, plus of course the Scandinavian countries with their own Davidic related royalty, form a large part of the descendants of Israel. The United States of America are of course also a large part of Israel having been formed by emigrants from Britain and Ireland and other descendants of Israel.
Again, in order to combat Israel’s constant sinning, God frequently had to warn them. In II Chronicles 15-2 the prophet Azariah, as inspired by God, warns king Asa and the house of Judah:
“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. “
To be forsaken of God is to lose all or part of his protection from Satan’s temptations, with probably disastrous personal consequences. Psalm 33-12 gives beautiful encouragement to all who do not forsake or ignore God:
” Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance (Israel’s)… “
Psalm 147-19 & 20 (part) shows to whom and how God revealed his word: “He (GOD) sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation… “
This quotation and the next from Isaiah 41-8 show that God appointed the seed of Abraham (the nation(s) of Israel) to be his servant nation: “But thou Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend”
Speaking about Israel, Hosea 1-10 relates God’s words: ” Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea which cannot be measured or numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people (in the holy land), there it shall be said unto them, ye are the sons of the living God “
This prophecy confirms again Israel’s permanent status. Matthew 2-6 tells us (about the time of the birth of Jesus):
“…for out of thee (Judah) shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel”
In Isaiah 54-7 God tells us:” For a small moment have I (GOD) forsaken thee: but with great mercies will I gather thee.”
Jeremiah reassures Israel, but with a warning in Jer. 46-28: “Fear thou not, O Jacob (Israel) my servant saith the LORD; for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet I will not leave thee wholly unpunished”
Jeremiah shows us again God’s infinite mercy in chapter 51 verse 5: “For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel,'”
These last two prophecies from Jeremiah show us that in spite of our sins, God has and will maintain Israel’s existence. In Ezekiel 36-22 God gives his reasons for this:
“… Thus saith the LORD God,’ I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went ”
(See also Deuteronomy 9-5).
Israel will not be saved by / on account of any virtue in them. They have had, and still have, a vast preponderance of sin since the nation was formed. God tells us in Ezekiel 36-37 that Israel will ask for forgiveness and for God to save them: ” Thus saith the LORD God,’ I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. ” (See also Zech. 13-9).
Back in Solomon’s time in II Chronicles 7-14 God tells him: “If my people (Israel), which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and tum from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land “
In the ‘light’ of these last few wonderful prophecies, we must, each one of us, get down on our knees in humble supplication each and every day and ask God to save and rescue us his ungrateful, sinful servant nation! In view of the supreme truth, that all of God’s prophecies will be fulfilled, we can, indeed must be certain that these prophecies also will be fulfilled.(See also Isaiah 48-11; Hosea 2-23 & 3-5 and Nehemiah 9-31.)
The prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36 verse 31 relates that when Israel do repent, they will suffer great remorse:
“Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. “
In Isaiah 49, Almighty God Himself relates how he would send his Son (Jesus) to redeem not only Israel but also all mankind. Verse 6 is most revealing: “And He
(God) said, It is a light thing that Thou (Jesus) shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles (nations) that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. “
This tremendously important verse, prophetically reveals God’s divine will mercy and purpose in providing a path for, Israel as well as all mankind in all the earth, to be rescued from all sin and evil,by the blessed gospel of salvation through Jesus the Christ, the promised and anointed One.
True believers in Jesus form up the church, His body. It should be noted that all Israel true believers (the remnant) are in the church, but not all the church are in Israel. The gospel of salvation and the New Covenant are identical in their purpose.
It is important for us all to remember that God dwells among us even now. Exodus 29-45 tells us: “And I (God) will dwell among the Children of Israel, and will be their God. “
Numbers 35-34 gives the same information: “Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel “
This is surely a startling revelation, that God dwells among us. It surely should influence our behaviour. We are told in scripture that God is everywhere -omnipresent-so it applies to all nations.
Just before the second advent of Jesus the Christ we are told in scripture that times of great tribulation and a falling away from God and his precepts will prevail. Look around you now, is it not already here? Jeremiah 30-7 tells us: “Alas! for that day (of great tribulation) is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”
Hosea with that time in mind; advises Israel in chapter 10 verse 12: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD TILL HE COME and rain righteousness upon you. “ (Jeremiah 4-3 repeats the same advice.)
Amos 8-11 also, with the great tribulation in mind, says: “Behold the days come saith the LORD God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water but of hearing the words of the LORD. “
Hosea in Chapter 14 verse 1 says: “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God,’ for thou hast fallen by thy iniquity.”
Ezekiel’s prophecy in chapter 36 verse 37 is so important that it is here repeated: ” Thus saith the LORD God.’ I will yet be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them;”
From all these many prophecies we understand that Israel will by and large, be still ignoring God – except the faithful remnant – in these present ‘latter days’ as we can see all about us. In other prophecies we are told Israel are strongly recommended to repent and seek God. Happily, we are also told that Israel will appeal to God to save them.
For those of us in Israel who are of ‘lengthened years’, God has provided reassurances in Isaiah 46-3 & 4:
“Hearken unto me old house of Jacob (all Israel), and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made (you) and I will bear (you); even I will carry (you), and will deliver you. “
Trust, belief and faith are so necessary here!
All of these prophecies are God’s true word and his will, and therefore are certain to happen.
Acts 5-34-39 records an incident in the time after Jesus had ascended into heaven. The Apostles were preaching the gospel of Jesus the Christ. The disbelieving Jews wanted to stop them. But Gamaliel, a Pharisee doctor of the law, tells them in verses 38 and 39: “.. .Now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work be of man, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it…lest haply ye be found even to fight against God”
These many prophecies all come from God in his word THE HOLY BIBLE. Therefore using Gamaliel’s words, ‘they cannot be overthrown’. Further, we can be certain that anyone who tries to fight against God is doomed to failure.
Israel will be restored as God’s servant nation, because it is God’s will.
The apostle Paul who was a supreme Christian and a member of the Israel tribe of Benjamin, gives us the wonderful benediction of Ephesians 3-20 & 21:
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end Amen.”
Top Ten Predictions For 2008
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross
9. Jesus will still love His people.
10.Jesus will still save His lost sheep.
