This has been an interesting week in that the topic of miracles came up several times in conversations. In each of those instances sentiments like “if only the Spirit would heal the sick or raise the dead as a witness to the Jews...” were expressed. Indeed, in the writings of Paul we find the apostle saying that the Jews do require a sign (ref 1 Cor. 1:22). Yeshua, for His part, left two signs of His Messiahship, “the sign of Jonah” (ref. Matt. 12:39-40), and the sign that the temple would be destroyed and raised back in three days (meaning His body, ref. Mark 14:58). In addition, Yeshua performed numerous miracles during His earthly ministry. But overall did all these miracles/signs have a lasting impact on the Jewish nation? What kind of a sign will the Jews of today respond to?
As I pondered this I recalled some feedbacks from Israeli Jews, when I had mentioned to them that there are people who are discovering their identity as the “lost tribes of Israel/Ephraim” and are also starting to adapt a Torah life style. The responses were always very emotional and the words the same every time: “The Mashiach is coming, the Mashiach is coming!” In Judaism it is a given that the lost tribes must return before Messiah comes. Included in this belief is also the concept that the true Messiah will be responsible for restoring the lost ones to their patriarchal roots.
As we all know, the one phenomenon that is quickly making its way through the Christian world today is interest in the Hebraic roots of Christianity and a love for the land and the Jewish people. Many Gentile believers are responding in an unprecedented way to this present move of YHVH’s Spirit. They are beginning to receive revelation that they are of the lost tribes, and as a result they also study the scriptures in a new light. Each individual has his own particular testimony, but all point to the one message of the latter day prophecies that speak about the House of Judah and the House of Israel/Ephraim being joined together into one nation.
The House of Judah (which has a remnant of all 12 tribes in it) has never lost its identity, and now, because of the Word of Elohim and His faithfulness, it has been restored to being a nation once again. But where are the multitudes promised to the other house? The prophet Ezekiel says that they are in their graves; they are dry dead bones. But when YHVH breathes His Spirit into them they will live again and come up out of those hidden places in the earth, and putting on flesh they will stand on their feet as a mighty army (ref Eze 37:1-10). The only people who have had YHVH’s Spirit breathed into them are those who have heard and believed the Good News of the New Covenant. Thus, through the faith that they have from their father Abraham, they have been resurrected from a grave of “not my people” and “sin and death” to life in Messiah. But that is not the only prophetic destiny for these people. They also are to become a royal priesthood and a holy nation, and to be joined to the “stick/nation of Judah” thus forming a one united nation (ref. Eze. 37: 19-22).
Today these scriptures are being fulfilled, and the House of Joseph/Ephraim (with its lost and now found tribesmen) is standing before Judah with this incredible testimony of life from the dead. What other sign would Judah need that would be greater than an entire nation being raised from their graves? It is therefore vital for the members of the House of Joseph/Ephraim to be this living testimony to Judah. It not only shows the Jews that the Elohim of Israel is faithful to keep His covenant and Word, but it is also a statement as to Messiah’s identity. Let us not be ashamed of who we are because it is the Gospel and the hope of Israel. It is the sign of the power of Elohim to raise the dry dead bones of the lost Israelites and bring them out of their graves, back to their identity and eventually to the land that was promised to their forefathers. More over, this restoration and redemption of all Israel will be YHVH’s testimony/sign to all the nations that He is the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a faithful covenant keeping Elohim. It will be life from dead for the entire creation (Rom. 8:19; Rom 11:15)!
Ephraim
As I pondered this I recalled some feedbacks from Israeli Jews, when I had mentioned to them that there are people who are discovering their identity as the “lost tribes of Israel/Ephraim” and are also starting to adapt a Torah life style. The responses were always very emotional and the words the same every time: “The Mashiach is coming, the Mashiach is coming!” In Judaism it is a given that the lost tribes must return before Messiah comes. Included in this belief is also the concept that the true Messiah will be responsible for restoring the lost ones to their patriarchal roots.
As we all know, the one phenomenon that is quickly making its way through the Christian world today is interest in the Hebraic roots of Christianity and a love for the land and the Jewish people. Many Gentile believers are responding in an unprecedented way to this present move of YHVH’s Spirit. They are beginning to receive revelation that they are of the lost tribes, and as a result they also study the scriptures in a new light. Each individual has his own particular testimony, but all point to the one message of the latter day prophecies that speak about the House of Judah and the House of Israel/Ephraim being joined together into one nation.
The House of Judah (which has a remnant of all 12 tribes in it) has never lost its identity, and now, because of the Word of Elohim and His faithfulness, it has been restored to being a nation once again. But where are the multitudes promised to the other house? The prophet Ezekiel says that they are in their graves; they are dry dead bones. But when YHVH breathes His Spirit into them they will live again and come up out of those hidden places in the earth, and putting on flesh they will stand on their feet as a mighty army (ref Eze 37:1-10). The only people who have had YHVH’s Spirit breathed into them are those who have heard and believed the Good News of the New Covenant. Thus, through the faith that they have from their father Abraham, they have been resurrected from a grave of “not my people” and “sin and death” to life in Messiah. But that is not the only prophetic destiny for these people. They also are to become a royal priesthood and a holy nation, and to be joined to the “stick/nation of Judah” thus forming a one united nation (ref. Eze. 37: 19-22).
Today these scriptures are being fulfilled, and the House of Joseph/Ephraim (with its lost and now found tribesmen) is standing before Judah with this incredible testimony of life from the dead. What other sign would Judah need that would be greater than an entire nation being raised from their graves? It is therefore vital for the members of the House of Joseph/Ephraim to be this living testimony to Judah. It not only shows the Jews that the Elohim of Israel is faithful to keep His covenant and Word, but it is also a statement as to Messiah’s identity. Let us not be ashamed of who we are because it is the Gospel and the hope of Israel. It is the sign of the power of Elohim to raise the dry dead bones of the lost Israelites and bring them out of their graves, back to their identity and eventually to the land that was promised to their forefathers. More over, this restoration and redemption of all Israel will be YHVH’s testimony/sign to all the nations that He is the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a faithful covenant keeping Elohim. It will be life from dead for the entire creation (Rom. 8:19; Rom 11:15)!
Ephraim
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