The Lost Tribes of Israel have been written about for centuries. Many have gone wrong in the past by focusing on a physical descent from Israel as a requirement for salvation. Numerous groups and individuals throughout history have performed Scriptural acrobatics in order to satisfy their personal interpretations [1][2].

Any casual Bible scholar can tell you that these views crumble when put under the scrutiny of Scripture. But we must recognize that there must be a thread of truth for such outlandish claims to have taken hold. That thread of truth is what we are interested in here. Let's turn to the pages of 1 Kings to see where many of these ideas originated.

King Solomon was guilty of the most abominable sin, that of idolotry.* Make no mistake folks, our God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 32:16, 2 Corinthians 11:2). Can you imagine God appearing to you twice and still choosing to disobey His words? Sadly, the power of women and subtle idolotries is stronger than many Christians would like to acknowledge.

The surprising part is that God doesn't immediately visit His wrath upon Solomon. For the sake of Solomon's father, the obedient King David, He saves it for a later generation. Let's continue in 1 Kings to see how it unfolds.

* For more on idolotry including the above mentioned Ashtoreth, Milcom, Molech, Chemosh, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Zidonians see Lucifer Has Fallen.

This prophecy soon came true and the 12 tribes were devided between Jeroboam and Solomon's son Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:16-17, 1 Kings 12:20). A bit of clarification is required here. I Kings repeatedly declares that one tribe will continue with Solomon, but this single tribe actually proves to be two, Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:21). Judah and Benjamin became known as the Southern Kingdom while the remaing 10 tribes were known as the Northern Kingdom.

The two kingdoms were constantly engaged in war with eachother and were never reconciled (1 Kings 14:30). Eventually the Northern Kingdom was defeated by Assyria (2 Kings 15:29) and a few decades later the Southern Kingdom fell to Babylonia (Daniel 1:1). As a result both were scattered among the nations (1 Kings 22:17, Esther 3:8, Jeremiah 30:10-11). The question which remains to this day is whether or not the tribes were ever gathered again.

The Two Become One, Ephraim and Judah, Two-Houses of Israel

It is tempting to say that the two kingdoms have since reunited, but the fact of the matter is that James acknowledges that the tribes are still "scattered abroad" (James 1:1) and the Apostles in Acts ask about the full restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). John also acknowledges the "dispersed among the Gentiles" (John 7:35) and in John we find that the high priest Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation as well as the "children of God that were scattered abroad" (John 11:47-52). This is also in line with fulfilled prophecy in Zechariah (Zechariah 13:7).

There's no recorded history which shows that the tribes of Israel ever reunited. In fact there's a growing body of independent research showing that the tribes are still in dispersion [3]. This is a compelling and ultimately uniting view that Israel is inclusive of both Jews and those dispersed.

Scripture shows clearly that ancient Israel's fall was necessary in order to allow Gentiles into the fold (Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25, Romans 11:30-32). These Gentiles, who include modern Christians, were never meant to replace the Jews but rather that the two would form God's elect as the Body of Christ.

Many argue that those Christians who believe in a future restoration of Israel are modern day "Judaizers". The argument goes that by observing dietary laws and "The Feasts of Israel" while at the same time rejecting "pagan" holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter these bretheren are attempting to bring "free" Christians into "the bondage of the law". This is an age old debate that usually involves confusion and oftentimes hard hearts.

The rubuttal is that Christ never came to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). It is also pointed out that not one "jot or tittle" of the law will be changed until the end of the world (Matthew 5:18, a jot is often compared to a period and a tittle to the cross of a 't'). Both sides are very passionate about their stance and can sometimes get carried away. Consequently these Jews and Christians suffer spiteful accusations from their separatist bretheren (and vice-versa) [4].

There are a few things that we can learn from all this, both of which should help clarify the relationship between the law and Christianity. The first is the understanding that the law of the Torah (God's law) is to be distinguished from the ceremonial laws of men.

The second thing to learn is that obedience to God's law brings blessings in this life while faith alone in Jesus Christ brings salvation in the life to come. We must also recognize that sin impedes both faith and obedience. While we should follow God's law it must be acknowledged that the law is fulfilled with love (Joshua 22:5, Galatians 5:14).

Regardless of which laws we choose to follow, true obedience comes not from the will of man but from the inward presence of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus said, we should love God first and our neighboor as ourselves, then the rest will follow (Matthew 22:36-40).

It's important to recognize that love does not replace God's law but encompasses it. In fact Jeremiah and Ezekiel both predict that God will gather His people scattered abroad and make a new and everlasting covenant with them in which no one will have to teach another about God, for His law will be written on each individual's heart:

"Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' Jeremiah 31:10

So will Jews and Christians unite before the return of Christ? There is a resounding yes within a movement that has started known as Two-House, refering to Judah and Ephraim, the Two Houses of Israel who are most prominently found in Ezekiel and Jeremiah:

Again we see that the two Houses of Israel, which were scattered abroad, will be united to become one under one shepherd. That shepherd is none other than Christ Jesus, and the servant David is commonly agreed to be an allusion to the same.

The future implications of these verses are apparent in the use of the words "for ever" and the reiteration of a new and everlasting covenant. It becomes immediately evident that this may have been fulfilled in 1948 when present day Israel became a nation. This may be partially true but fails primarily where it is most important, that the two become one under one shepherd and one king, Jesus Christ.

It is interesting to note that the second stick is identified as Joseph and Ephraim. If we remember back in Genesis 49:22 Joseph is compared to a fruitful branch, indicating his outreaching growth (see Who is Israel? A Brief Biblical History of Israel). Hitchcock's Bible Names defines Ephraim as "fruitful" and "increasing", this is made plain by Genesis 41:52.

It makes perfect sense that this stick, that of Ephraim and Joseph, represents Christianity. Unlike Judaism, a main tenet of Christianity is to make believers out of the unbelieving masses; hence outreaching growth. That is Jesus' instruction in Matthew 28:19. The image of branches and growth also lends itself readily to the olive tree in Romans:

This is a beautiful picture of Israel, the olive tree (Hosea 14:5-6), and Christians, the wild branches, becoming one in Christ, who is the root (Revelation 22:16). And note that while the wild branches are grafted in place of those which were broken off, those same branches can be replaced.

Brothers and Sisters there is only one Body of believers, there is only one Church, there is only one Faith (Ephesians 4:4-6), and it is made of both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 14:27, Romans 9:22-26). God has reconciled the two through Christ Jesus:

It is clear that there is no salvation apart from Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:16) and God's mercy (Romans 9:15-16). Just as Revelation warns us of the false church, Romans 9 says "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" and "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved" (KJV).

These are the saints found throughout Revelation that are persecuted for their faith in Christ Jesus. These are those who have watched and have been ready. These are those that have kept the commandments of God. These are those that God has chosen. They will still go through the Great Tribulation but unlike the non-believing masses they will be under the protection of God and the Blood of Christ. This is the Israel of God.

Verses referenced in this study:

• Genesis 41:52; 49:22
• Exodus 20:5
• Deuteronomy 32:16
• Joshua 22:5
• 1 Kings 11:1-13; 11:28-37; 12:16-17; 12:20-21; 14:30; 22:17
• 2 Kings 15:29
• Esther 3:8
• Isaiah 41:8-10
• Jeremiah 30:10-11; 31:10; 31:31-34
• Ezekiel 11:16-20; 20:34-38; 37:16-27
• Daniel 1:1
• Hosea 14:5-6
• Zechariah 13:7
• Matthew 5:17-18; 22:36-40; 28:19
• Luke 21:24
• John 7:35; 11:47-52
• Acts 1:6; 14:27
• Romans 9:15-16; 9:22-26; 11:16-25; 11:30-32
• 2 Corinthians 11:2
• Galatians 2:16; 5:14
• Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:11-20; 4:4-6
• James 1:1
• Revelation 22:16

Links referenced in this study: