The subject of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, and the realization of the true identity of the "Gentiles," is a fascinating and challenging study. Without a doubt, this is probably the most misunderstood subject of the Bible by the modern-day so-called Christian churches. This article will explain what became of the Israelites that were taken captive under the Old Covenant -- and if they truly became "lost." Also, in parallel with this, we will reveal a completely different explanation of WHO the Gentiles are -- an explanation that is quite different to what the churches of today teach and preach.

The goal of this article is to allow the BIBLE -- YEHOVAH's Word -- explain and expose the stunning TRUTH concerning this very important subject. The Bible must be the final authority in answering the important question of WHO the Gentiles are. Who are these people that are mentioned so many times in the Word of YEHOVAH? What does the word "Gentiles" really mean?

Most of us, in the churches we attended over the years, were taught that these people -- the Gentiles -- were "non-Jewish" -- whatever that means. Also, it is almost totally accepted by our "spiritually-enlightened" Christian world that what is left of the Israelites of old are now the people known as "Jews." We were told that since the death of Yeshua (Christ), the believing "Gentiles" automatically have salvation and the blessings of YEHOVAH. This "reasoning" goes something like this: It's good that the Jews rejected Christ, otherwise the Gentiles would not have a chance for salvation. Expanding on this, we were told that anyone who is a "non-Jew" can be "adopted" into the family of YEHOVAH. By inference, we were also told that these "non-Jews" or "Gentiles" could become "spiritual Israelites" or the "spiritual seed of Abraham." However, most of us never questioned these theories, or the fact that these phrases are nowhere to be found in the Bible! We blindly accepted these theories as being valid and truthful -- not realizing that our "learned" ministers and Bible "authorities" could be wrong!

This article will address these theories and explain the reason for the Biblical use of the word "Jew(s)." We will delve into the word "adoption" and show how this word is interpreted in the Bible -- it might surprise some of you to realize who and what people this word is correctly applied to.

Most believing Christians simply do not care -- or they "reason" that it does not matter who the Gentiles are. We will show that it matters VERY MUCH who the "Gentiles" are, because this understanding is directly linked to the death and sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah. We must come to realize that we live in a deceived world; and the Bible is no longer regarded as the guide book for determining what is truth and what is not truth.

People seem to have a problem with the Biblical intent and meaning of the words "Jews" and "Gentiles" as found in the context of scripture. We find the word "Gentiles" 121 times in the entire Bible -- and it is always plural except in two places. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word gowy is translated "Gentiles," and is No. 01471 in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

01471 gowy {go'-ee} rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee} apparently from the same root as 01465; TWOT -- 326e AV -- nation 374, heathen 143, Gentiles 30, people 11; 558 n m 1) nation, people 1a2) OF DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM 1a3) OF ISRAEL 1b) pf swarm of locusts, other animals (fig. n pr m 1c) Goyim? = "nations"

Usually this word means nation or people; however, it is interesting to see that this meaning could also apply to THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL -- as well as to non-Hebrew people (1a2, 3). Keep this in mind -- it is very important to understand as we progress through this article!

The only time that the word "Gentile" is found in the singular form in the Bible is in Romans 2:9-10. Here the apostle Paul referred to a "Gentile" on a personal and individual level instead of on a national basis.

Now, whenever the words "nation" or "nations" appear in the Bible, they could also be translated "Gentiles." It means the same thing and is the SAME word. The translators of our Bibles used the word that was best suited for a particular scripture. For instance, in Genesis 12:2, it wouldn't make much sense if this verse was translated "I will make of thee a great 'Gentile'" instead of "I will make of thee a great NATION." The translators used "nation" in this verse since it made better sense than "Gentile," and was best suited for this particular scripture. However, it is the SAME Hebrew word.

In the New Testament the word "ethnos" is used for "Gentiles" and in most cases means nation or people, which is the same meaning as that used in the Old Testament. The word "ethnos" is No. 1484 in Strong's Concordance --

1484 ethnos {eth'-nos} probably from 1486; TDNT 2: 364, 201; n n AV -- Gentiles 93, nation 64, heathen 5, people 2; 164

There is another kind of "Gentiles" to be found in the New Testament -- N0. 1672 in Strong's Concordance. This is "Hellen" instead of "ethnos" and is found some 27 times in the New Testament. Notice --

1672 Hellen {hel'-lane} from 1671; TDNT -- 2: 504, 277; n m AV -- Greek 20, Gentile 7; 27
1) a Greek either by nationality, whether a native of the main land or of the Greek islands or colonies 2) in a wider sense the name embraces all nations not Jews that made the language, customs, and learning of the Greeks their own; the primary reference is to a difference of religion and worship.

The word "Hellen" has somewhat of a different meaning than "ethnos" and is generally translated "Greek," which refers to a Greek-speaking person or anyone that is not a "Jew." While it is not our purpose in this article to reveal who the Greek-speaking people were in the New Testament, it will become obvious WHO the Greek-speaking people were that were called "Gentiles."

The word "Jew(s)" can be very confusing the way the Bible translators have used it. The fact is the word "Jew(s)" cannot be properly interpreted, and therefore should never have been used by the translators. But since we have to deal with this word, we should let the Bible interpret the Bible and explain how and why this particular word is used. Biblically, the word "Jew(s)" can mean ANYONE dwelling in the land of Judea -- or anyone born an Israelite. What is interesting is that the word "Jew(s)" could mean people that could be called "Gentiles"! The bottom line is that Biblically speaking the word "Jew(s)" has a very broad and uncertain meaning.

Unfortunately, the translators decided to "improve" on the understanding of who the Gentiles are; and this explains why the word "Jew(s)" is used in the Bible. As a result, so-called Christianity today is mentally "programmed" to think that "Jews" are not Gentiles -- and vise versa! We just saw that the definition of "Gentiles" in Strong's Concordance (#01471) INCLUDED the physical seed-line of Abraham and Israel with non-Hebrew people. This is very important! If we follow the guidelines of modern-day Christian thought, we would assume that the "Jews" cannot possibly be called Gentiles.

In order to be consistent with the Bible, it is important to understand how and why the words "Jews" and "Gentiles" are used in scripture. For example, take Acts 2:5, where it states that there were "Jews" dwelling at Jerusalem out of every "nation" under heaven. Notice: "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven (KJV)." The word "nation" is this verse is No. 1484 in Strong's Concordance -- which is the same word used for "Gentiles"! This means, by implication, that Biblically speaking these Jews at Jerusalem came from the Gentiles! Now, if the Jews are only of Israel, how could they come out of every nation "under heaven"? Biblically speaking, the word "Jew(s)" could be taken in a geographical sense, and therefore should read "Judean" -- which indicates anyone living in the land of Judea.

Also, the word "Jew(s)" could simply be translated as "Israelite(s)" plain and simple. If you check Acts 21:39 you will find that the apostle Paul called himself a "Jew" of Tarsus: "But Paul said, 'I am a man [which am] a JEW OF TARSUS, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people (KJV)'" We know from Romans 11:1 that Paul was an ISRAELITE born of the tribe of Benjamin; therefore Paul can correctly be called a "Jew" of the Israelite seed of Abraham. However, he could NOT be called a geographical "Jew" of Tarsus because the city of Tarsus was nowhere near the land of Judea. As a result, Paul could not be called a "Jew" in the same sense as the Judeans could.

The Messiah was born of the tribe of Judah and can therefore be correctly called a "Jew" -- both geographically or racially. There is also another Biblical application for the word "Jews," and this meaning is used several times in the New Testament by the Messiah himself. We will discuss this later.

Notice now another interesting passage in the New Testament: "And they said, CORNELIUS the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of GOOD REPORT AMONG ALL THE NATION OF THE JEWS, was warned by God by an holy angel to send for thee into his home, and to hear words of thee" -- Acts 10:22 (KJV). This is noteworthy because Cornelius was obviously INCLUDED with the nation (Gentiles) of the "Jews." Why would the "Jews" want a good report of this man if he were not included with them? According to this passage Cornelius could be called a "Jew" since he was no doubt a citizen of the "nation of the Jews." It is almost blasphemous according to the mind-set of modern-day "Christianity" to even consider that Cornelius was a "Jew." We will develop this thought later.

We have seen -- according to Strong's Concordance -- and also from the Scriptures -- that the Gentiles could also include the Hebrew seed of Abraham (Israel). Therefore keep in mind, as we progress through this article, that the Gentiles could also Biblically be called "Jews."

In order to unravel the mystery of who the Gentiles really are, we must first review some of the history of Israel. Keep in mind that we have already clearly seen that the term "Gentiles" could be applied to the ISRAELITES. The KEY that will unlock the mystery of who the Gentiles are is simply to believe what the BIBLE says about YEHOVAH's chosen people called Israel. Any Bible student -- or anyone who is at all familiar with the Bible -- knows full well that it was written to, for and about a people called Israel. In fact, the Bible is ISRAEL'S BOOK and is the recorded history of these people. The Bible (as Israel's book) also explains in detail what the inheritance and destiny will be for those believing Israelites who are reunited with YEHOVAH God through the Messiah, Yeshua the Nazarene.

The first time the word "Israelite" is found in the Bible is in Genesis 32:28 -- where YEHOVAH changed the name of Jacob to Israel: "And he said, 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, BUT ISRAEL: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed (KJV).'" As we see from this scripture the word "Israel" literally means a "prince" having power with YEHOVAH and to prevail (rule) with YEHOVAH. Strong's Concordance also shows this meaning under Nos. 03478 and 08280:

03478 Yisra'el {yis-raw-ale} from 08280 and 0410; n pr m AV -- Israel 2489, Israelites 16; 2505
Israel = "God prevails" 08280 sarah {saw-raw'} a primitive root; TWOT -- 2287; v AV -- power 2; 2 1) contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere 1a) (Qal) to persevere, contend with

The word "Israel" is found nearly 2,500 times in the Bible; and this fact must not be ignored since it is very obvious that these people are very important to YEHOVAH!

As was mentioned before, anyone with an understanding of the Old Testament will know that YEHOVAH's people were a people called Israel. Many scriptures prove this fact. Let's review some of these --

DEUTERONOMY 7:6: "For you are a HOLY PEOPLE to YEHOVAH your God; YEHOVAH your God has CHOSEN you to be a people for Himself, a SPECIAL TREASURE above all the peoples on the face of the earth."

DEUTERONOMY 10:15: "YEHOVAH delighted ONLY in your fathers, to love them; and He CHOSE their descendants after them, you ABOVE ALL PEOPLES, as it is this day."

DEUTERONOMY 14:2: "For you are A HOLY PEOPLE to YEHOVAH your God, and YEHOVAH has CHOSEN you to be a people for Himself, a SPECIAL TREASURE above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."

DEUTERONOMY 26:19: "...and that He [YEHOVAH] will set you HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a HOLY PEOPLE TO YEHOVAH your God, just as He has spoken."

We should believe what these scriptures say. YEHOVAH was indeed selective in choosing Israel above all other people and nations on the face of the earth. These verses clearly show that Israel was indeed SPECIAL to YEHOVAH. The word "special" in Deuteronomy 14:2 is No. 05459 in Strong's Concordance and shows that YEHOVAH looks on Israel as a SPECIAL JEWEL AND TREASURE, and as a possession or valued property.

In Deuteronomy 26:19 it says that Israel was to be "high above all nations" and were to be "a holy people to YEHOVAH" to show the praise, the NAME and honor of YEHOVAH. This prophecy is vital to our understanding when we address the question of who the modern-day Israelites are. It was these people that were destined throughout the centuries to uphold and proclaim the praise, honor and the NAME of the God of Israel.

In Psalm 135:4 we find defined who YEHOVAH's "special treasure" really is: "For YEHOVAH has chosen Jacob for Himself, [and] ISRAEL for His special treasure." Very plainly it is a people called ISRAEL, and YEHOVAH chose this people for Himself. The sons of Jacob (Israel) have always been -- and always will be -- YEHOVAH's "special treasure," for YEHOVAH does not change -- "For I am YEHOVAH, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

In Amos 3:2 we read: "You ONLY have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." No other nation or people other than a people called YEHOVAH's "special treasure" -- Israel -- are held ACCOUNTABLE for keeping the laws and the commandments of YEHOVAH. All the promises of YEHOVAH were given to this people. YEHOVAH started His plan of redemption with this people through the covenant and promises given to Abraham. YEHOVAH states, in Genesis 17:7, that this covenant was given to Abraham AND to his seed after him (Israel):

"And 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 (KJV)."

This was to be an everlasting covenant with YEHOVAH being the true God to Abraham and to Abraham's physical seed after him. THIS was the covenant and the faith that the New Testament Church of YEHOVAH was established and built upon! This fact is clearly shown by many New Testament scriptures. Notice Galatians 3:17: "Further, I say this: As to the covenant previously validated by God, the Law that has come into being four hundred and thirty years later does not invalidate it, so as to abolish the promise" (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures). The covenant mentioned here in this verse was only for a people called Israel -- starting with Abraham. Four hundred and thirty years later YEHOVAH raised up Moses and revealed His plan of redemption to His people Israel by the laws of the Old Covenant. Of course, the redemption process was dependent upon Israel obeying the laws of the covenant.

YEHOVAH deals with His people through covenants. A covenant is a pledge and an agreement, and must be honored by BOTH parties involved! Since it is impossible for YEHOVAH to lie, He will always keep His part in honoring a covenant! See Hebrews 6:18: "...that by two immutable things, in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."

The nation of Israel faithfully promised to honor and obey the Old Covenant as given by Moses: "Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that YEHOVAH has spoken we will do.' So Moses brought back the words of the people to YEHOVAH" (Exodus 19:8). Unfortunately, the Israelites didn't keep their side of the agreement for long. The history of Israel is nothing more than a record of them either obeying or disobeying the Old Covenant. When they obeyed the covenant they were blessed; when they disobeyed the covenant they were cursed. "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of YEHOVAH your God which I commanded you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of YEHOVAH your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

YEHOVAH God always sent prophets to warn Israel to turn back from their evil ways if they disobeyed the covenant given to them through Moses. This is the theme and story flow throughout the Old Testament -- starting with Moses.

During the reign of David's son Solomon, Israel was divided into two nations. The ten northern tribes were called the "House of Israel" and the two southern tribes the "House of Judah." I Kings 11:30-31 explains that ten "pieces" (tribes) were taken from Solomon and given to Jeroboam. These ten tribes made up the northern nation which was called the House of Israel. King Solomon kept the two southern tribes which were called the House of Judah: "Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says YEHOVAH, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you'" (I Kings 11:30-31). YEHOVAH declares in I Kings 11:13 that He "will not rend away ALL the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen." I Kings 12:21 indicates that the tribe of Benjamin remained with Judah.

As soon as Jeroboam became king over the House of Israel, he set up two golden calves and introduced idol worship into the kingdom (I Kings 12:28-33). This idolatry, along with Sabbath-breaking (Ezekiel 20:10-24), was the great national sin which became a curse to the House of Israel. YEHOVAH pleaded with them to turn from their ways and return to His commandments -- but to no avail. Through nine different dynasties under 19 kings, Israel continued these national sins -- sins so great in YEHOVAH's sight that finally He caused them to become a conquered, captive nation. This occurred in the years 721-718 B.C. when the House of Israel was conquered and its people driven out of their own land by the Assyrians. "Therefore the Eternal was very angry with Israel, and REMOVED them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only" (II Kings 17:18).

Only the tribe of Judah (and Benjamin) was left and was spared from captivity at that time. However, it is important to realize that later on Judah itself rebelled against YEHOVAH and discarded His commandments. So then YEHOVAH rejected ALL the seed of Israel, and cast them out of His sight. Notice II Kings 17:19 --

"Also Judah did not keep the commandments of YEHOVAH their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And YEHOVAH rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicting them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight."

The prophet Daniel understood from the writings of Jeremiah that Jerusalem was to languish for seventy years after the captivity of the House of Judah. Notice: "In the first year of his reign [Darius] I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of YEHOVAH, given through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem" (Daniel 9:2). After these 70 years part of Judah returned to Jerusalem; and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah record how the "Jews" once again established Jerusalem and reestablished the covenant as commanded by Moses. Numerous passages in the Old Testament show that the House of Judah would again be established in Palestine:

"And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root down- ward, and bear fruit upward" (II Kings 19:31).

"And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward" (Isaiah 37:36).

This, in a nutshell, is the history of Israel and how it was when Yeshua the Messiah was born. The people that were in the land of Judea during the ministry of Yeshua (Christ) were parts of Judah, Benjamin and some of Levi. The ten northern tribes, however, which made up the House of Israel, were no longer in the land of Judea. Because of their unfaithfulness to YEHOVAH's covenant He drove them out of the land and scattered them from one end of the earth to the other. Explains Deuteronomy 28:64: "Then YEHOVAH will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known -- wood and stone." Also, in Nehemiah 1:8: "Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will SCATTER YOU AMONG THE NATIONS.'" The word "scatter" in these passages is No. 06327 in Strong's Concordance and means to DISPERSE or SPREAD ABROAD. Remember the word "DISPERSE" when we get to the New Testament.

The prophet Amos states that YEHOVAH was to "SIFT" the northern ten tribes among all nations (Gentiles) -- yet not the least "grain" was to fall on the earth: "For surely I will command, and will SIFT the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground" (Amos 9:9). Here Amos is clearly talking about the House of Israel -- not the House of Judah. This is important! After YEHOVAH dispersed the northern ten tribes He "planted" and "sowed" His people Israel, as Hosea notes: "I will SOW her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to [them which were] not My people, thou [art] My people; and they shall say, [Thou art] my God" (Hosea 2:23). This was so YEHOVAH could have mercy on Israel, and at some LATER DATE call them His people once again. They would then say -- "Thou art my God"! YEHOVAH "planted" and "sowed" His people Israel, which means He honored His covenant with Abraham by multiplying Abraham's seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is upon the seashore: "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies" (Genesis 22:17 -- KJV).

YEHOVAH God married Israel at Mount Sinai when the people promised to keep the covenant He made with them. Israel became YEHOVAH's wife. In Jeremiah 3:14 YEHOVAH says: "Return, O backsliding children...for I am MARRIED TO YOU. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion!" This occurs at the end of the age when the Messiah returns (Revelation 14:14) to this earth and gathers the northern ten tribes to Jerusalem (Zion) in preparation for the glorious return of YEHOVAH God as pictured in Revelation 19.

Also notice Jeremiah 3:20 where YEHOVAH compares Israel to a WIFE departing from her husband: "'Surely, as a WIFE treacherously departs from her husband, so have you Israel dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,' says YEHOVAH." Further, in Jeremiah 31:32: "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I WAS A HUSBAND TO THEM, says YEHOVAH."

Israel departed from her Husband by breaking the marriage vows she made with YEHOVAH at Mount Sinai. As a result of Israel breaking her agreement with her husband, YEHOVAH sent messengers to WARN His people to repent and return to Him. These they mocked and mistreated: "But they mocked the messengers of YEHOVAH, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of YEHOVAH arose against His people, till [there was] no remedy" (II Chronicles 36:16). Out of love and mercy for His wife, YEHOVAH God tried to warn them to turn and repent of her adulterous ways. Unfortunately, after many years of warning His wife, YEHOVAH finally realized that there was no remedy for Israel's sins -- as we just saw in II Chronicles 36:16. YEHOVAH finally had to put Israel away, and He wrote her a bill of divorce: "Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also" (Jeremiah 3:8 -- NKJV).

As a result, YEHOVAH stated that Israel was to lose her identity and would no longer be called YEHOVAH's people: "Then YEHOVAH said: 'Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are NOT My people, and I will NOT be your God. 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 in the place where it was said to them, you are NOT My people, there it shall be said to them, you are the sons of the living God.'" This simple truth is very important to comprehend if we are to identify WHO the GENTILES really are. For Israel not to be called YEHOVAH's people anymore would generally classify them as "heathen." Many times the Bible talks about the "heathen" -- which generally could be identified with the Israelites that YEHOVAH had divorced and put away in punishment. However, these passages also point out that "lost Israel" would grow to such an extent that they could not be measured or numbered (verse 10). Then, at some future time -- at the end of the age -- they would be called the sons of the living God. Keep this in mind -- remember it -- since this fact will explain much of the mystery of WHO the Gentiles are.

Israel was divorced from YEHOVAH and was no longer called YEHOVAH's people -- and YEHOVAH was no longer her God. But, in spite of all this, Israel was alive and well and multiplying. Hosea 1:10 confirms the fact that the covenant given to Abraham was also alive and well because YEHOVAH fulfilled the promise He made in Genesis 22:17. Abraham's seed (Israel) was as the sand of the seashore -- which could not be numbered.

When the Messiah (Yeshua) appeared on the scene he declared, in Matthew 15:24: "I am not sent BUT unto the LOST SHEEP (northern tribes) of the house of Israel." This, of course, included the southern tribes of Israel since this is where the Messiah was born. The important truth explained in Matthew 15:24 is that he did not take the gospel to any other people beside those his Father divorced -- the "lost" Israelites. The Messiah knew very well where these lost sheep were, and correctly stated that the northern ten lost tribes were "not of this fold": "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be ONE flock and ONE shepherd" (John 10:16). The "fold" that Yeshua referred to were, of course, the southern tribes of Judah that comprised of Judah, Benjamin and some of Levi.

The Messiah was chosen by the Father to give his life for those who were his brothers and sisters, and to redeem them for his Father! The Messiah's death allowed YEHOVAH God to again marry His bride Israel! In order for YEHOVAH to remarry Israel, Yeshua had to become the perfect sacrifice for Israel's sins, and was under what is known as the law of "kinsman redemption." We read about this in Leviticus 25 --

"After he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his BROTHERS may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone who is NEAR OF KIN to him in his family may redeem him or if he is able he may redeem himself" (Leviticus 25:48-49).

It is important to understand that the Messiah had to be a lawful redeemer for Israel. It was required by law that Yeshua had to be a kinsman of the seed of Abraham in order to redeem Israel for his Father; and the New Testament clearly demonstrates in the gospels that the Messiah's genealogy was indeed that of the physical seed of Abraham. The word "redeem" is No. 01350 in Strong's Concordance and means to "buy back" property of the same next of kin or relative. This is important since Israel was the property of YEHOVAH at one time. The price or payment that was necessary to "buy back" His bride was the blood of His anointed one -- Yeshua the Messiah. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22). As the AGENT of his Father, Yeshua purchased (bought back) the Church of YEHOVAH (Israel) and reunited it to his Father with his own blood (Acts 20:28):

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the holy ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath PURCHASED with his own blood" (KJV).

This was the Church that was in the wilderness of Sinai during the time of Moses when YEHOVAH God gave His laws and commandments to Israel -- which, of course, His wife (Israel) failed to keep. This is the same people that Yeshua "bought back" for his Father with his own blood. The Church in the wilderness was, of course, composed of Israelites; therefore the Church that Yeshua purchased would also have to be composed of Israelites. According to the law of kinsman redemption, Yeshua could only "buy back" a bride for his Father from his own "next of kin" or the seed-line of Abraham. Regardless of what many people think, that seed-line is a physical seed-line -- as we shall see.

Yeshua and the apostles knew all about the northern House of Israel being divorced from YEHOVAH and cut off from the promises. The apostle Peter, in his own heart, looked on these lost Israelites as being "unclean." Peter believed that the gospel was not meant to go to these (separated from YEHOVAH) people. YEHOVAH had to show Peter -- in a vision -- that He was not to judge these people as being common or unclean -- see Acts 10:12-14, 28, 34 and 36.

Most churches today are deceived into believing this was a vision to explain that YEHOVAH had "done away" with the unclean food laws of Leviticus 11! However, Peter soon realized that he was not to call any MAN common or unclean -- which means the vision had absolutely nothing to do with revoking YEHOVAH's food laws. Peter finally proclaimed, starting in verse 34 of Acts 10:

"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."

Then, in verse 36: "The word which God sent to the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is lord of all" -- the tribes of Israel, if you will. Read the entire chapter of Acts 10 to understand the context and story flow.

Cornelius no doubt was an ISRAELITE that feared YEHOVAH, gave alms and prayed to God always: "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:1-2). In Acts 26:7 we read that the twelve tribes (ALL of Israel) understood the promise that YEHOVAH gave to Abraham -- and were instantly serving YEHOVAH day and night. Isn't it just possible that Cornelius was someone of these twelve tribes? Notice: "To this promise our TWELVE TRIBES, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For THIS hope's sake...I am accused by the Jews."

I realize many people will argue that it does not say anywhere in the New Testament that Cornelius was an Israelite. But using logic and common sense, and what we just read in Acts 26:7, we have to come to the conclusion that the hope of the promise given to Abraham is ONLY applied to the twelve tribes of Israel. Since Cornelius was a devout man and always prayed to YEHOVAH, and evidently hoped for this promise too, then he had to be an ISRAELITE!

There is much evidence in history that the ruling and upper classes of the Roman people were descended from the Israelites. In a letter written by the 1st-century B.C. British king Cassibellaunus to the Roman emperor Caius Julius Caesar, we find some fascinating references to a common bond between the two nations:

Cassibelaun, king of the Britains, to Caius Julius Caesar. We cannot but wonder, Caesar, at the avarice of the Roman people, since their insatiable thirst after money cannot let us alone whom the dangers of the ocean have placed in a manner out of the world; but they must have the presumption to covet our substance, which we have hitherto enjoyed in quiet. Neither is this indeed sufficient: we must also prefer subjection and slavery to them before the enjoyment of our native liberty.

Your demand therefore, Caesar, is scandalous, since THE SAME VEIN OF NOBILITY, FLOWS FROM AENEAS, IN BRITAINS AND ROMANS, and ONE AND THE SAME CHAIN OF CONSANGUINITY SHINES IN BOTH: which ought to be a bond of firm union and friendship. That is what you should have demanded of us, and not slavery: we have learned to admit of the one, but never to bear the other. And so much have we been accustomed to liberty, that we are perfectly ignorant what is to submit to slavery. And if even the gods themselves should attempt to deprive us of our liberty, we would to the ut most of our power resist them in defense of it.

Know then, Caesar, that we are ready to fight for that and our kingdom if, as you threaten, you shall attempt to invade Britain (Historia Britonum, Bk. IV, Ch. 2).

The reference in this letter to Aeneas provides support that the ancient British royal line stemmed from Troy -- as did the early rulers of Rome. The tradition that the Trojan leaders stemmed from the royal tribe of Judah is upheld by competent research and the Apocrypha record.

Not only that, but many scholars have shown that the LATINI people were a Celtic tribe that moved into Italy in the 9th-century B.C. Notice the following excerpt --

Originally the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula were settled Neolithic -- or agricultural Mediterranean peoples, but starting about 1000 B.C. -- 3000 years ago -- Italy also fell victim to the invading bands of NORDICS flooding across Eastern Europe. In the 9th-century B.C. the last of these NORDIC INVASIONS took place -- and the last tribe to invade carried the name of LATINI -- and it is from them that the word Latin came.

Together with other invading NORDIC TRIBES, the LATINI amalgamated with the Mediterraneans in Italy and formed the CORE of the ROMAN people.

by the 4th-century B.C. -- 2000 years ago -- the LATINI or, as they became known, the ROMANS, after their great city, had become the DOMINANT TRIBE in all Italy. They were PREDOMINANTLY NORDIC in racial make up, with a fair admixture of Mediterranean blood (History of the White Race).

It can be shown that the Nordic Peoples were directly descended from various of the northern ten tribes of Israel. The great Indo-European invasions of Europe took place in four main waves, and there were a number of sub-waves. Each sub-wave was a smaller tribe from one of the four major migrations. Leaving their ancestral homeland in the Caucasus, the CELTS (1); the Germans (2); the Balts (3) and the Slavs (4) settled different regions of Europe, often giving their names to those regions. Sub-waves of note included the Mycenae (1A) into Greece and the LATINI (1B) into Italy. The Latini were a sub-group of the Celts, who were, in turn, part of the larger Nordic classification. The Nordics in general, and the Celts in particular, were descended from the northern ten tribes of Israel who, at one time, settled the Caucasus region of Europe.

With this in mind, let's return to the Bible.

If there is any book in the New Testament that proves who the Gentiles really are, it is the book of Romans. When you study this book, it sure seems like Paul is addressing a group of fellow Israelites! Starting in Romans 1:13, we find that Paul called the Romans Gentiles -- "Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among THE OTHER GENTILES." Since Paul refers to "other Gentiles," that would make the Roman Church Gentile also.

Moving now to Roman 2:14-15, Paul states that the Gentiles do BY NATURE the things contained in the law, and that they were showing the works of the law "written in their hearts" : "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, BY NATURE do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them." This passage also states that their CONSCIENCE was bearing witness of this fact. WHO were these Gentiles?

In whom did YEHOVAH write the law in their hearts? According to Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8 and 10, it was the House of Israel and the House of Judah! Notice these verses:

Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days are coming, says YEHOVAH, when I will make a new covenant with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL and with the house of Judah --"

Hebrews 8:8: "Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming, says YEHOVAH, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL and with the house of Judah --"

Hebrews 8:10: "For this is the COVENANT that I will make with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Did you notice what YEHOVAH said in verse 10? "I will be their God, and they shall be My people." This statement could only apply to a "people" called ISRAEL, since these were the "people" that the covenants were made with and belonged to. Did you also notice that the new covenant was made to BOTH the Houses of Israel AND Judah? These verses alone should prove who the Gentiles are!

Now look at Romans 4:1 -- where Paul refers to Abraham OUR father "as pertaining to the flesh": "What shall we say then that Abraham OUR father, AS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH, hath found?" (KJV). What does this statement mean? The phrase "as pertaining to the flesh" could only mean that Abraham was a REAL FLESH AND BLOOD BIOLOGICAL FATHER TO THE ROMAN "GENTILES"! Paul stated "Abraham OUR Father" when writing to the Romans, so the book of Romans is clearly addressed to the Roman descendants of Abraham -- the Latini!

In Romans 4:16 Paul explains that the promise might be sure to "all the seed": "Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to ALL THE SEED; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; WHO IS THE FATHER OF US ALL" (KJV).

This verse clearly means that the promise of YEHOVAH might be sure to ALL the seed of Abraham. However, this seed was ONLY through Isaac: "But YEHOVAH said to Abraham, 'Do not let it be displeasing in your sight, because of the lad or because of your bond woman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; FOR IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED'" (Genesis 21:12). Further, in Hebrews 11:18: "Of whom it was said, 'IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.'" When Paul refers to "all the seed" (Romans 4:16) he meant ALL of Israel -- both the Houses of Israel and Judah! Read and understand these verses because they explain that ONLY through the SEED-LINE of Isaac would the promise be sure. Understand this: it is a PHYSICAL seed-line and not a "spiritual" seed-line that Paul talks about in Romans 4:16 -- and it includes BOTH houses of Israel (all the seed). In Romans 9:3-5, Paul repeats the phrase "according to the FLESH":

"For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the FLESH, who are ISRAELITES, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the COVENANTS, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

It sure seems like Paul is trying to tell us something! Paul certainly stressed the fact that this seed was a physical seed-line,..."according to the flesh." It is not -- and could not -- pertain to something spiritual! Please pay close attention to verse 4, in which Paul says the adoption, the glory, the covenants, giving of the law, service of God, and the promises all belong to Israel. Note this well, because ONLY ISRAELITES can be adopted, have the glory, the covenants and the promises, etc. If the Gentiles are non-Israelites (which many Christians of today assume they are), then this verse is not logical and makes no sense at all because this excludes non-Israelites!

Regardless of what people may think the word "adoption" means, we should go directly to the Bible to find out how Paul -- through YEHOVAH's spirit -- defines it. According to Strong's Concordance, the word "adoption" (No. 5206) means "adoption of sons," or "as sons":

5206 huiothesia {hwee-oth-es-ee'-ah} from a presumed compound of 5207 and a derivative of 5087; TDNT -- 8:397, 1206; nf AV -- adoption 3, adoption of children 1, adoption of sons 1; 5 1) adoption, adoption as sons 1a) THAT RELATIONSHIP WHICH GOD WAS PLEASED TO ESTABLISH BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE ISRAELITES IN PREFERENCE TO ALL OTHER NATIONS 1b) the nature and condition of the true disciples in Christ, who by receiving the spirit of God into their souls become sons of God 1c) the blessed state looked for in the future life after the visible return of Christ from heaven.

Notice that Israelites are preferred over all other nations (1a), which means, by implication, that YEHOVAH preferred to call only Israelites as His sons by the "adoption" method. However -- this definition of "adoption" is not yet complete! We must allow the Bible to complete this definition for us. Romans 8:23 explains the Bible definition of the word "adoption": "And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY." According to this verse, "adoption" means the redemption of our bodies. Adoption has not yet occurred for us since it is something that we are waiting for -- and it has to do with the resurrection according to this verse. The redemption of our bodies means the resurrection! More importantly, adoption only applies to Israelites according to Romans 9:4 -- as we have just seen.

Romans 9:25-26 are verses quoted from Hosea 1:10, which means that the Israelites that were put away in punishment (lost and divorced from YEHOVAH) were not called YEHOVAH's people. Then, under the new covenant, since Yeshua the Messiah "bought back" and redeemed the Israelites for his Father, they are now called the sons of the living God. Notice --

Romans 9:25-26: "As He says also in Hosea: 'I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they will be called sons of the living God.'"

Hosea 1:10: 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 in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there it shall be said to them, You are the sons of the living God.

Romans 11:1-2 clearly states that YEHOVAH DID NOT cast his people away. Modern churches believe and teach the opposite! Today the churches teach that since the "Jews" rejected the Messiah, YEHOVAH then went to the Gentiles (non-Israelites) with the gospel. Therefore -- according to this scenario -- this caused the Abrahamic covenant to be annulled, which in turn caused YEHOVAH to disregard Israel since the Israelites were the "people of the covenant." Then YEHOVAH (according to these churches) had to go to "plan B" -- so to speak -- and start His Church under a different covenant (what ever that means!). "I say then, has God cast away His people? CERTAINLY NOT! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has NOT cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying..." (Romans 11:1-2). Right here Paul carefully stresses the fact that he was also a racial Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. This is why YEHOVAH did not cast away Israel -- including Paul! Please understand what Paul said!

Read and believe Hebrews 6:13-14: "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.'" YEHOVAH God does NOT change the covenant that He swore by Himself to uphold and apply it to another people! The people that rejected the Messiah were no other people than the two southern tribes of the House of Judah. They simply refused to believe that Yeshua was the Messiah, and what his death accomplished for both of the houses of Israel. The covenant that YEHOVAH made with Abraham was an EVERLASTING covenant with a people called Israel -- and it will always be with the SAME people. The Bible clearly upholds the fact that YEHOVAH keeps His promises and does not change! He does not -- and could not -- change the covenant that He Himself swore to uphold, and apply it to a different people other than Israelites! Writes Malachi: "For I am YEHOVAH, I do not change, therefore you are NOT consumed, O sons of Jacob."

In Romans 11:16-17 we read that some of the branches of an "olive tree" were broken off -- what does this mean? What was Paul referring to by writing about this "olive tree"; and WHAT does the "olive tree" represent in the Bible? Notice --

"For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a WILD OLIVE TREE, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree..."

According to Jeremiah 11:16-17, this olive tree represented the House of Israel and the House of Judah. It was YEHOVAH God who "planted" this olive tree and pronounced evil against it because this "olive tree" had done evil in provoking YEHOVAH to anger. As a result, according to Paul, some of the branches were broken off. Let Jeremiah explain:

"YEHOVAH called your name, Green Olive Tree, lovely and of good fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, AND ITS BRANCHES ARE BROKEN. For YEHOVAH of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you for the evil of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL and of the HOUSE OF JUDAH, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to Baal."

Paul correctly says that these branches that were broken off were at one time part of the olive tree. He then stresses the fact that this olive tree was holy to YEHOVAH. This fact simply means that YEHOVAH's people Israel (both houses) were holy -- which is what the olive tree represented. In Romans 11:20 Paul states that they were broken off because of unbelief, and in verse 23 he says they will be grafted in again. Notice: "Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear." Now verse 23: "And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." Notice the word "again." In verses 25-26 Paul explains what he meant in the preceding verses:

"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening [blindness] in part has happened to Israel until the FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES [House of Israel] has come in. And so ALL ISRAEL will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob."

Paul reveals that "hardening [blindness] in part has happened to Israel until the FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES has come in. And so ALL ISRAEL will be saved..." In other words, a "part" of Israel was blinded until the rest of Israel (fullness of Gentiles) be come in (the new covenant). Right here Paul said who was grafted into the olive tree -- it was ALL of Israel! BOTH houses, which includes ALL of Israel, can now be saved (verse 26). The northern ten (lost) tribes that were put away in punishment -- broken off -- and the southern tribes once again make up the olive tree! It is quite common for churches these days to teach that the "Gentiles" -- through belief in Yeshua -- are the people grafted into the olive tree. This is very true -- however, it is extremely important to realize who these Gentiles were. Romans 11:20-26 (as we have just seen) clearly explains who were grafted into the olive tree. IT WAS ALL OF ISRAEL!! Modern churches refuse to understand this truth!

In Ephesians 2:12-18, Paul states that the Ephesian Gentiles had no hope, were strangers from the covenants of promise, being "aliens" from the commonwealth of Israel, and were without YEHOVAH in the world. Notice --

Ephesians 2:12: "That at that time you were without Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."

Ephesians 2:13: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were FAR OFF have been made NEAR by the blood of Christ."

Ephesians 2:14: "For he himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us,

Ephesians 2:15: having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the law of command- ments contained in the ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Ephesians 2:16: and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."

Ephesians 2:17: "And he came and preached peace to you who were AFAR OFF and to those who were NEAR. For through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father."

Let's understand exactly what these verses are saying. The word "aliens" in verse 12 is No. 526 in Strong's Concordance, and means "estrange" -- to no longer share in fellowship and intimacy. What Paul is saying to the Ephesian Gentiles is that they were at one time part of the commonwealth of Israel, to later become "estranged" -- which is what the word "aliens" means (Ephesians 2:12). The Ephesian Gentiles were at one time YEHOVAH's wife, and were in fellowship and intimacy with Him. Please note this! As a result of YEHOVAH's divorced wife being scattered and "sown" among all nations, these Ephesian Gentiles had become YEHOVAH's "estranged" wife. Therefore, they no longer shared in the promises that were made to Israel through the Abrahamic covenant.

Now who are the "afar off" and the "near" in verse 17 that peace was preached to? Daniel 9:7 clearly explains who the "near" and the "far off" were. Read this verse carefully:

O YEHOVAH, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and ALL ISRAEL, THOSE NEAR AND THOSE FAR OFF IN ALL THE COUNTRIES TO WHICH YOU HAVE DRIVEN THEM, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

In this verse Daniel was praying for his people Israel, and he knew and understood why YEHOVAH had driven the northern ten tribes to the "far off" countries. The "near" were the Israelites at Jerusalem and Judea. The "far off" were the northern ten tribes scattered through all the countries of the then known world. Notice that Daniel mentioned ALL Israel! The "near" and the "far off" make up both houses of Israel. Paul quoted these verses in Ephesians right out of the book of Daniel! Go back to Ephesians 2 and take note of the word "both" in verses 4, 16 and 18. It means BOTH the houses of Israel!

The enmity mentioned in verse 15 was the hostility that the "near" had toward the "afar off," because they had the law of ordinances that Yeshua abolished in his flesh at his death. The "near" did not want to part with these ordinances that Yeshua abolished which separated the two houses. This is important! The Israelites at Jerusalem (the near) knew full well that YEHOVAH had divorced and cut off the ten northern tribes (the afar off) from sharing in the promises that were given through their father Abraham. As a result, they looked upon these rejected "afar off" Israelites as "unclean" -- hence the enmity and hostility.

In Acts 28:20, Paul makes this statement: "For the hope of Israel I'm bound with this chain" -- what did he mean by this?

Acts 28:20: "For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see [you], and to speak with [you]: because that FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I AM BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN" (KJV).

Since Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles WHY didn't he say "for the hope of the GENTILES I am bound with this chain"? Why did Paul, as this verse says, go through all this suffering and imprisonment for the hope of ISRAEL? Why? BECAUSE PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE TO THE "DISPERSED" ISRAELITES WHICH WERE CALLED "GENTILES"! He proclaimed and preached to them that they now also shared in the covenants and the promises of YEHOVAH -- which was the "hope of Israel"!

Going now to the apostle James, we find that he addressed a letter to the twelve tribes scattered or "dispersed" abroad (James 1:1). James wrote to the twelve tribes of Israel! These were the Israelites in "dispersion" or scattered abroad throughout the nations: "James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES which are scattered abroad, greeting" (KJV).

John 7:35 is an interesting verse -- even though it is not a good translation: "Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?" (KJV). The word "Gentiles" in this verse is No. 1672 in Strong's Concordance and it means the "Greeks," as we have previously seen. Correctly, this verse should read "will he go to the lost sheep in dispersion that are among the "Greeks" and teach them?"

The apostle Peter called the people he wrote to a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation and a "peculiar people" (I Peter 2:9): "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." Here Peter takes these statements directly from Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 26:18 -- notice:

Exodus 19:5: "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine."

Exodus 19:6: "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." These are the words which you shall speak TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

Deuteronomy 26:18: Also today YEHOVAH has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He has promised you, that you should keep all His commandments.

Just WHO are these people that YEHOVAH calls a peculiar treasure -- a kingdom of priests and an holy nation? Isn't it obvious by now WHO the Bible is singling out when it's talking about the Gentiles? BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, THE GENTILES WERE NONE OTHER THAN THE NORTHERN TEN TRIBES PUT AWAY IN PUNISHMENT!!

Acts 15:17 is another scripture proving who the Gentiles are: "That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, UPON WHOM MY NAME IS CALLED, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things" (KJV). It is a biblical fact that YEHOVAH placed His name on no other people than Israel, which this scripture states were all the "Gentiles"! Therefore, the New Testament Gentiles can correctly be called the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel that YEHOVAH divorced and put away in punishment. This happened to them because of their disobedience to the marriage vows they had made with their God. As a result of their unbelief and disobedience they were cut off from their true inheritance, were without YEHOVAH God in the world, became "lost" in history and were classified as "heathen." However, YEHOVAH knew where His people were and what happened to them throughout all of history until this very day.

The Bible is the history book of these people and explains in detail the covenant and promises that were given to them by YEHOVAH. The Bible also explains why YEHOVAH had to divorce His people and put them away in punishment. The Bible painstakingly explains YEHOVAH's great love and His plan of redemption for these people, and the sufferings and the cruel death that was required to "buy back" the people of His great love. YEHOVAH chose Israel ABOVE ALL OTHER PEOPLE since these people are actually His children and are literally his offspring. Read Acts 17:28-29 --

Acts 17:28: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are his offspring.

Acts 17:29: Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of YEHOVAH, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's de- vice" (KJV).

This is why it is the ISRAELITE PEOPLE that are the object of YEHOVAH's intimate love and fellowship.

It is important to realize that the House of Judah (southern tribes) generally cannot be called Gentiles. The reason for this is because the theme and language of Paul's epistles (in almost all instances) is comparing Jews with Gentiles, or Jews with Greeks; therefore making a difference. However, it is possible for Israelites to dwell at Jerusalem when originally they came from every nation under heaven, and were still called "Jews" -- as was shown earlier in Acts 2:5: "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven" (KJV).

The question is; if the "Jews" are only Israelites of Judea (as many falsely assume), how in the world could they come from every nation (Gentiles) under heaven since all of Israel was only one nation and one people? The answer is because this is where the lost Israelites were scattered (to all nations), and were also Biblically called "Jews." Please note this! As we have previously seen, the term "Jews" could be Biblically applied to mean geographically and racially all the tribes of Israel. As you can now realize, the word "Jew(s)" should NEVER have been used by the translators. The term "Jews" can Biblically have a very broad and uncertain meaning. However, the southern tribes that made up the House of Judah were always Biblically called "Jews" because the apostle Paul always compared these people with Gentiles -- as was previously covered. The House of Judah, as we have seen, was also taken captive during the old covenant, but they were only temporarily "lost" since they took root downward again and did bear fruit upward -- see Isaiah 37:31: "And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward" (KJV).

These "Jews" were the true Israelites that were established in the land of Judea during the time of Yeshua. Without a doubt, the reason YEHOVAH allowed the House of Judah to again establish itself at Jerusalem was to provide for the birth of Yeshua. However, they simply did not understand who Yeshua was and, as a result, were instrumental in his death. As a result of the preaching of the apostles, some of the "Jews" of the southern tribes (true Israel) finally did understand who Yeshua was, and were cut to the heart and repented. These "Jews" understood what the death of the Messiah accomplished and became believers and started the early Churches of YEHOVAH that were in Judea. This we see in I Thessalonians 2:14: "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your countrymen, even as they [have] of the Jews:" (KJV).

This verse proves that a large number of "Jews" that were in Judea at the time (of the southern tribes) did not reject the Messiah. However, the fact is that the vast majority of Jews of the southern tribes did indeed reject the Messiah -- which is the reason why Paul and Barnabas then went to the "Gentiles" of the northern ten tribes. Explains Luke in Acts 13:46 -- "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye PUT IT FROM YOU, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES [House of Israel]" (KJV).

It is very obvious -- and the Biblical evidence is overwhelming -- that the Gentiles are the real "chosen people." I would like to stress at this time that the "Gentiles" do not have to mean only the "lost" Israelites. Since this word also means "nations," it could include people and nations other than true Israelites. Nevertheless, the purpose of this article is to show how the word "Gentiles" is Biblically used in relation to the "lost" ten tribes of Israel.

We have now come to the question -- who are the modern-day Israelites? This is a very important question that needs to be answered since the covenant and promises are STILL IN FORCE TODAY for believers, just as they were given to Abraham four thousand years ago. It is very obvious -- and there are scriptures too numerous to mention that prove it -- that this is the belief and faith that the early Church of YEHOVAH was built upon. This truth, therefore, demands the answer to the question: who are the true Israelites of today?

Keep in mind the covenant of promise is still in full force and effect, and belongs only to these people. Who are the people that have truly blessed the world? It is the western Christian people and nations that have brought the prosperity and the high standard of living that we all enjoy. It is this Christian culture that has helped feed the world, come to the aid of many nations, and has defended freedom and liberty around the world. It is the United States and Great Britain that ushered in the age of inventions and built the industrial machine that is used for the benefit and good of all people and nations. It is other countries such as France, the Netherlands, the nations of north-western Europe (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), and far flung colonies around the world, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The founding fathers of the United States understood the calling and destiny of this great nation, and proclaimed that this nation was founded on the ten commandments and the gospel of Yeshua the Messiah! The great corpus of law governing the Unites States is based on British law which derived from the Magna Carta and the wise rule of King Alfred the Great. The "marks" of Biblical Israel are all around those who live in these fortunate countries; and most of our culture, religious and educational systems were originally built on biblical principals as given to ancient Israel. These obvious historical facts cannot be ignored, and this is very important to understand!

These nations, however, are blinded to their true heritage and origin -- as the Bible said would happen:

Deuteronomy 28:37: "And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where YEHOVAH will drive you."

I Kings 9:7: "Then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house [of Israel] which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples."

They were to become a "proverb" and a "byword" among all nations if they departed from YEHOVAH. The House of Israel did indeed become "lost" -- but not from YEHOVAH. They became what could be called a "fantasy" or a "mystery" among all people and nations. This prophecy was designed to span all of history from the time YEHOVAH originally divorced and cast Israel out of His sight. The vast majority of deceived Christian people today would indeed consider this a fantasy if told who the modern-day Israelites really are. But in so doing, they are unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy of these scriptures found in Deuteronomy 28:37 and I Kings 9:7. At the present time, true Israel remains a "fantasy" and a "mystery" simply because most of modern-day Christianity has refused to believe and teach the TRUTH regarding a people called Israel. YEHOVAH's true chosen people are kept "hidden" in spite of the obvious fact that true Israel could only apply to those who make up the majority of the United States, Great Britain and all the other countries mentioned previously.

We can, in all honesty, state that the nations of modern Israel have truly departed from the God of Israel. This is partly due to the fact that modern clergy has determined to uphold and teach the false "God's chosen people" theory. Modern churches are in GROSS ERROR to claim that the so-called "Jews" of today are what is left of the captivity of the Israelites of old. There are some, I believe, of the modern-day clergy who know the truth about who the modern-day Israelites are, but they will refuse to teach this truth because of the "fear of the Jews" or concern over church attendance and income. It is a SHAME AND A DISGRACE for the denominational church system to blindly ignore the facts of this very important subject of whom the Gentiles are.

It would be unthinkable to most people if told that this great nation of the United States was founded on the promise of YEHOVAH God that was given to Abraham centuries ago. This is why most sincere Christian people will refuse to understand the truth regarding the true heritage and inheritance of this nation of ours. It is very obvious that the United States of America, as a blessed nation of YEHOVAH, has fulfilled what Abraham's descendants were divinely destined to do! It is very strange that this truth should be totally ignored by the modern churches!

The origin of the Anglo-Saxon kindred people can be traced in history back to the very area where the northern ten tribes of Israel came out of their captivity. They were taken captive circa 721-718 B.C., and some sources have it that an estimated ten to twenty million Israelites were taken captive. What happened to these people? If they truly disappeared and became "lost" -- how can you lose this many people in history? Those that hold to the non-Israelite Gentile theory have lost these people -- and they have lost them willingly! The Bible foretold that "lost Israel" would be scattered in all the world. The Anglo-Saxon and kindred people of the United States, Great Britain, North-western Europe, and other parts of the world can CORRECTLY be called "Gentiles" -- in the same sense that the lost Israelites of the New Testament were also called "Gentiles." Please understand this truth!

This article has explained how lost Israel is biblically called the "Gentiles," and what the Bible foretells will happen to these people in the "latter days" if they do not return to YEHOVAH their God. Most Bible prophecy is primarily focused on lost Israel and the punishments and judgments that these people are to endure for departing from their God. Prophecy also explains the salvation and the eternal inheritance promised through Yeshua the Messiah for these people IF they return to the God of their fathers and believe what Abraham believed. We have been given precious promises of national greatness through our father Abraham -- and personal salvation through the sacrifice of the Messiah. We need to share this precious truth with others and pray to YEHOVAH to enlighten us as to who we really are -- and what our national and personal responsibility ought to be!

Before closing this article we need to address how other people and other "Gentiles" belong in relation to the Abrahamic covenant and promises of YEHOVAH. In a sense, the Messiah died for them also -- as John writes in his gospel:

John 3:17: "For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED."

John 4:42: "Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD."

We cannot ignore the fact that Yeshua the Messiah is the savior of the "world" according to these verses. On the other hand, Yeshua clearly stated that this world cannot receive the truth, and also that Yeshua did not pray for this world -- as it is explained in John 14:17 and John 17:9:

John 14:17: "Even the spirit of truth, whom THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, be cause it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

John 17:9: "I pray for them. I DO NOT PRAY FOR THE WORLD but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours."

What are we to conclude from this? Again -- the Bible has the answer! YEHOVAH's chosen people (Israel) were given the Abrahamic covenant and promises of YEHOVAH God. It is very important to know just what was promised to Abraham and to his physical seed after him. Abraham was promised to be the father of MANY nations: "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of MANY NATIONS have I made thee" (KJV). However, there is much more! Look at these verses in Genesis --

Genesis 18:18: "Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, AND ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIM."

Genesis 22:18: "In your seed ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH shall be blessed, be cause you have obeyed My voice."

Genesis 26:4: "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED."

These verses show that through Abraham and his seed ALL the nations of the earth would be blessed. This truth is very important to understand! YEHOVAH will indeed "save" and restore the world through this covenant. At the return of the Messiah (Revelation 10:1-3) and YEHOVAH God's Shekinah Glory (Revelation 19) to this earth, the "restitution" of all things will take place. Eventually ALL PEOPLE AND NATIONS will truly be blessed and be restored the way YEHOVAH intended all nations and all people to be. Notice Acts 3:21: "Whom heaven must receive until the times of RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."

YEHOVAH will indeed be the Savior of the world (the world to come) through His people Israel. Notice in Luke 12:32 that it is the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom to the "little flock." The words "flock" or "sheep" are always biblically used to represent YEHOVAH's chosen people Israel. YEHOVAH God will give the kingdom to those Israelites that have qualified themselves in this life to rule in the world to come -- the wonderful world tomorrow! They will restore the world the way YEHOVAH intended it to be, and other nations and other people will experience their kind of salvation. We should not forget, however, that YEHOVAH God also intended to bless all nations through Abraham's seed (true Israel) during THIS PRESENT AGE. Understand this! The covenant made with Abraham and his seed is not some spiritual "feeling" or some promise that YEHOVAH "conveniently" forgot about, but is reflected in the prosperity and power of the modern "Gentile" nations of Israel -- the nations of the U.S., Great Britain, north-western Europe and the far-flung colonies! These are the New Testament "Gentiles" of Israel!
 
 

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Preparing the Way for the Return of YEHOVAH God and His Messiah!

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

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