Who is Israel?

House of Jacob

“Israelites”

Gerim

Stranger / Alien

United 12 Tribes under David and Solomon

“The Green Olive Tree”

Non Israelite Believers

Pagan Gentiles

Non-Israelites

Righteous Believers [proselytes]

Israel

Division of the 2 Kingdoms 921BCE

House of Efrayim

House of Judah

10 Dispersed Tribes

2 Tribes

Keep Torah

Don’t recognise Messiah

Don’t keep Torah

Those who recognise Messiah are

Known as “Gentiles” in Scripture

“Natural Olive Tree”

“Wild Olive Tree”

Judah [Jews

Continuing Green Olive Tree

Remnant

Believing Jews broken off

Efraymites – Assimilated [Gentiles]

Believing gentiles [Efraymites] broken off

Christians?”

Believers Grafted in

“Israelites” Non-Efraymites

Keepers of Yahveh’s TORAH Non-Jews

True Believing Israel Believers

“Another Tree”

What Shaul refers to as “a Citizen of Israel”

Non-Israelite

Equal Citizenship for all true “Believers”

“The Cultivated Green Olive Tree” Continued

Meaning of - “all Israel will be saved”

Israel

“The Institutional

“church”

Messiah is the root Believing Christians

Euphemism for “The Tabernacle of David” Broken of

What was the purpose of Yahshua Ha Moshiach in coming to earth?

Isaiah 61:1- 3

Yahshua, was the promised Redeemer for His chosen people, He came to redeem His chosen people, to save them or bring salvation.

Isa. 61:1 The spirit of Yahveh is upon me, because Yahveh has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahveh’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our Elohim ; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

Was Yahveh’s coming and promise to all mankind?

Matt. 15:21-28

Yahshua said He only came for “The lost sheep” of “The House of Israel”.

21 Yahshua left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

1. Who is the House of Israel?

Gen. 46:8-24

“The House of Israel” or the House of Jacob [Ya’akov] are the decedents of the “twelve” tribes – known collectively as Israelites.

Gen. 46:8-24 Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Jacob's firstborn, 9 Reuben: 10 Simeon: 11 Levi 12 Judah: 13 Issachar: 14 Zebulun: 16 Gad: 17 Asher: 19 Benjamin. 20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, 23 Dan: 24 Naphtali:

There was always provision for the alien / stranger [Geryim] who “came within the gates”, they were accepted into the tribe in the part of Israel where they settled and receive full title and access to the same inheritance as Israelites. By becoming Israelites attached to the tribe where they settled they had to keep Torah the same as the Israelites. An example of this in the Tanakh was Caleb who was a Kenizzite [a righteous gentile] who accepted Yahveh as his Elohim and settled with the tribe of Judah and was then known there after as part of the tribe of Judah.

Numbers 32:12 …none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite..

Numbers 34:19 These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh...

Jos. 15:13 According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron

2. Who are the Lost Sheep of Israel?

Many consider the “Lost Sheep” to be either:

a) Of the house of Judah or the 2 Tribes, “Jews” who are not saved or have lost their way – not born again, don’t accept Yahshua as their Messiah etc.

b) Christians who have lost their way – either not properly saved, backslidden or not born again etc.

c) The 10 tribes of Efrayim or “Israel”, lost or dispersed among the nations, assimilated and unrecognisable as keepers of Torah so as not to connect them to Yahveh.

Elohim knows who His lost sheep are:

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

Elohim has others in is flock that we not Jews and not Israelites, these are Gentiles that come within the gates just as they did in the time of Moshe – by faith they have accepted Yahveh as their Elohim.

John 10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Who was “Israel” in the time of Yahshua, was it still the twelve tribes?

At the time of Yahshua, in Judah [the two tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi known as Jews] were clearly identifiable. Jews in the Diaspora were also identifiable as were some of the other 10 tribes [Efraymites] to some degree. We see this from the book of James [book of Ya’akov],

James 1:1 James, a servant of Yahveh our Elohim and of the Yahshua Ha Moshiach, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion [Diaspora]: Greetings. 2 My brothers and sisters,

All of the first believers, and for some years afterwards were all from the 12 tribes - Jews / Efraymites / Israelites. There were some non-Israelites who were believers, the Centurion, Cornelius and his household, the Cannite woman [Matt. 15:21] etc., but these were by far the exception. Whether these believers were from the assimilated tribes of Efrayim [possible were], or pure pagan stock Scripture does not say. The Samarian woman at the well clearly identified herself as a child of Jacob [Efraymite]. The important thing to remember is that they were all part of the congregation of believers of Yahshua in line with the conditions of the Moshiach Covenant.

We must remember Yahshua will return for His flock that has one shepherd or to put another way, “His Bride” [singular not plural]. A single Bride not a divided Bride of Jews, Greeks, Christians etc.

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Yahveh is Yahveh of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Yahveh shall be saved."

According to this Scripture; Israel, ”The Bride”, is made up of all those that call upon the name of Yahveh and are from the 12 tribes and those gentiles who attach themselves [come within the gates] of Israel. They can be either Jew or gentile [Greek]. Those of the 10 dispersed tribes were considered and referred to as gentiles by their Jewish brothers. We see from the first verse of the book of James he was writing to the 12 tribes in the Diaspora!!!

What were Yahshua’s instructions to his talmidim as to who they were to take the “Good News” too and where?

They were given instructions to go first to Jerusalem then to the rest of Judah and then to Samaria and then to the rest of the known world.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Remember James’ letter was to the 12 tribes in the Diaspora as were the other letters. If we study the book of Acts we Sha’ul [Paul] was sent to the gentiles, and many take this to mean the pagan gentiles. It is recorded in Scripture that Sha’ul always went to the Jews first in every town and then to the gentiles. The gentiles were the dispersed 10 tribes. Why would pagan gentiles at that time be looking for or be interested in a Jewish Messiah?

Remember Yahshua said He knew who His sheep were and they knew Him. Yahshua’s sheep were scattered throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the then known world. They were lights throughout the whole world – just as they are today. Some pagan gentiles believed and were grafted into the “house of Israel” just as they were from the time of Mt Sinai till this present day.

We see from the time of the death of the apostles how apostasy came into the congregation of Yahshua [believers] due to the removal of a Torah based belief. Most of the letters and especial the gospel of John written by the apostles contained warnings of the apostasy of that time and the great apostasy that would come at the end of the age. Believers were told to study and check Scripture for themselves. The people of Beroea where and example of this [Acts 17:10 -13]. Would pagan gentiles have a copy of the Scriptures? Would pagans be bothered to read Torah or even be able to read it?

The congregation of Yahshua became entwined with the worship of Mithraism the main religion of Rome of that time to such a degree that within a hundred years any Jewish influence and understanding had been removed.

The Church taught it had replaced Israel!

How do we know that Yahveh included “The House of Efrayim” in His salvation plan?

John 11:50-52

Elohim’s promise to Abraham was to all his seed through Isaac, the promise was to the sons of Jacob known as Israelites. Judah is not the complete Israel and we see Judah realised this even in Yahshua’s day. Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, prophesied concerning the gathering of all Israel.

John 11 50-52 You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed." He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

Wasn’t Efrayim cut off?

The book of Hosea

If we read the book of Hosea we find this book tells us how Yahveh was going to deal with Efrayim [Israel] because of idolatry. In this allegory of a husband marrying a prostitute.

[A prostitute, or a whore, in Scripture is an allegory of unfaithful woman or an idolatrous woman – the woman being Israel]. The extent of Israel’s idolatry to that of the worship of Yahveh was due to the distance they put themselves from pagan belief [teachings of man] and the Torah. Our relationship and depth of faith in Yahveh is the same. From the time of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, idolatry and man made worship was put in place and the teachings of Yahveh, Torah, was removed just as it was in the Institutional Church. It is this lack of knowledge or understanding of Torah that leads into idolatry and sin, which Elohim deals with.

Hosea 4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [understanding of Torah]; because you have rejected knowledge [My Torah], I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law [Torah] of your God, I also will forget your children.

We read that Efrayim was cut off because of a lack of understanding of Torah, in fact Efrayim had rejected Elohim’s Torah. Because of this Elohim no longer considered Efrayim a nation of priests to Himself - Yahveh.

Hosea 1:4 We read in a graphical detail of a birth of a son called Israel and how Yahveh was going to put and end to the house of Israel [cut off].

Hosea 1:6 Another child called Lo-Ruchamah [means unpitied] meaning Yahveh would no longer pity on the House of Israel. But would pity Judah and would continue to protect her, why? - Because Judah kept Torah [was still faithful].

The next verses clearly seals the fate of Efrayim [Israel].

Hosea 1: 8-9 When she had weaned Lo-Ruchamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then Yahveh said, "Name him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God."

The House of Efrayim was no longer to be Yahveh’s people, He would no longer be their Elohim. We see that Yahveh removed Himself and His Torah completely from them.

Also in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 3: 8 …She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.

Verse 13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and scattered your favours among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD.

Fortunately this was not to be a permanent situation because Yahveh is true to His Torah and the promises He has made to His people.

Romans 11:28-31 As regards the gospel they are enemies of Elohim for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

Not only is Efrayim’s future salvation contained in the these next verses but the remarkable thing is that Yahveh will bring all His people, Israel and Judah back together into one people [one bride] again under one head – Messiah Yahshua!!!

Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." 11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head; and they shall take possession of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN? If we compare the Scriptures in Hosea with 1Peter we find that Elohim through Yahshua the Messiah started to bring Efrayim back to Himself, it will be completed at His second coming.

Peter 2: 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Who is Peter talking too?

Verse 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.

The exiles and aliens are the Jews and Efraymites living in the Diaspora, but more so those of Yahveh’s people who He had disowned but now had brought them back to Himself.

We have a second Scripture to bear witness to this truth.

Ezek 37:16-19 Mortal, take a stick and write on it, "For Judah, and the Israelites associated with it"; then take another stick and write on it, "For Joseph (the stick of Efrayim) and all the house of Israel associated with it"; 17 and join them together into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand. 18 And when your people say to you, "Will you not show us what you mean by these?" 19 say to them, Thus says Yahveh your Elohim: I am about to take the stick of Joseph (which is in the hand of Efrayim) and the tribes of Israel associated with it; and I will put the stick of Judah upon it, and make them one stick, in order that they may be one in my hand.

One day Judah and Efrayim will be one again in Yahveh’s hand – “one Bride”. Yahveh calls Efrayim by name and so knows who and where Efrayim is.

Romans 11 - …I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

“The full the number of the gentiles” are predominantly Efraymite gentiles. It is their full number that Sha’ul is talking about.

“The Green Olive Tree”

Elohim refers to “true Israel” as the “Green Olive Tree”. The term, “Green Olive Tree” began in the time of David and has continued through the years as it does today, containing the “true believers”. At times it has only being a “remnant” that Yahveh said He set aside for Himself.

Psa 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of Yahveh. I trust in the steadfast love of Yahveh forever and ever.

Jer. 11:16 Yahveh once called you, "A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit"; but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.

Yahveh referred to Israel [Efrayim and Judah] as a “Green Olive Tree” when they were faithful and true to Him [bearers of good fruit]. This was in the reign of David [Psa. 52] under the united 12 tribes. In Jeremiah we see that this reference of a green olive tree changed and that branches were burnt off still leaving the trunk. “The trunk” is, “believing Israel in Messiah” which will always remain and be never consumed even though it may be tried, tested and at times even pass through the fire. Yet it will never be burnt. [Isaiah 43]

Elohim also refers to Israel/Efrayim as the “Wild Olive Tree” and Judah as the “Natural Olive Tree and Messiah is the Green or Cultivated Olive Tree”

Rom. 11:24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

We must also not loose sight of the fact that Yahveh has always keep a remnant of true believers for a witness to Himself down through the ages.

Romans 11:4-5 …But what is the divine reply to him? " I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

Believers [or green branches – young green shoots] in Messiah are cut of the different trees and grafted into the Green Olive Tree of Messiah. Many claim to be the true Olive tree, - Judaism, the Church, Christianity, etc. They also claim [in their opinion], a true believer is grafted into them. The truth is, true believers are only grafted into Messiah who is the True Olive Tree not their particular denomination or belief structure.

The Green Olive Tree existed in the time of David when all believers were united in a united Israel and the Green Olive Tree continued and exist today in part where believers are united in Messiah and brother recognises brother as having a “equal share” part, and inheritance in the Kingdom to come that will be established by Messiah Yahshua.

Brother will Recognise Brother

The prodigal son is a picture that Yahshua left with us regarding the return of Efrayim. The Father [Elohim] rejoiced at the return of His lost son [sheep]. His son came to his senses in the pigsty and remembered his life before hand. He was willing to return and be subservient to others in his family, but as we know his father restored him to equal status with his brother [Judah], much to his brothers’ protests. Efrayim is still part of the promise Yahveh made to Abraham and Yahveh is true to His word [Hosea] that Efrayim would one day be is people again.

The Two Witnesses

Messiah always has had two witnesses in the world that bare witness to His name and to bring Glory to it. The middle ground or link to each other is grace and shalom [peace]. The witness is not complete if either is missing. You can not have mercy without justice.

Torah – [Judah] which stands for Truth & Justice

******* Grace and Peace *******

Messiah – [Efrayim] which stands for Mercy and Forgiveness

Where do non-Israelites fit into the equation?

There has always been provision for non-Israelites in the Israel and there always will be provision in the Kingdom that will be established by Messiah at His second coming. But the promises made in Scripture relating to Israel belong to Israel and to no one else. The only way a non-Israelite could be and can be part of or share in these promises is by been grafted into Messiah the Green Olive Tree, where there is neither Jew, Efraymite [gentile] or Greek [pagan gentile].

When we are grafted into the “The Green Olive Tree of Israel” which is Messiah Himself , Sha’ul refers to us all as having citizenship in Israel.

Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,

It is thought that many of non-Israelites coming to faith could indeed be Efraymites. Because of assimilation over two centuries it is impossible to say who are Efraymites and who are non-Israelites believers, fortunately Yahveh knows who they are if this is the case. Like the prodigal son allegory Yahveh is calling and waiting for His returning son to come to his senses and come home.

It makes no difference who you are the only way to be saved is by faith or putting your trust in Yahshua the Messiah who is Yahveh in the flesh – the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “the Elohim of Israel”. Also by acknowledging in faith that the Torah is the foundation of the faith and Yahshua is the living or fulfilment of Torah.

Remember, Efrayim turned her back on Torah to her peril. Returning Efrayim may have a faith in Messiah but it is not until they accept Torah and not Gnostic teaching will she be grafted into the Olive Tree of Messiah.

Likewise, brother Judah will not be grafted into the Green Olive Tree by just keeping Torah either but will have to recognise and acknowledge Yahshua as Messiah.

Romans 11:17-26 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree. So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob."