TEN LOST TRIBES - IITB 05.06

 

Chapter 5.6

Ten Lost Tribes

of the Nation of Israel

Jeroboam:    King of Israel: TEN tribes

Rehoboam: King of Judah: TWO tribes

 

 

First Word

     Israel had split apart with two tribes in the South called Judah and ten tribes in the North called Israel. This study is to look at what the scholars think happened to the ten Northern tribes; how it all came about and where they are now.

 

Setting the stage - Rehoboam

    Solomon, King of Israel had incredible building projects underway which he managed to accomplish through forced labor, high taxes and other oppressive actions; however discontent, discouragement and dissatisfaction existed throughout the kingdom.

     When King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took over the throne and consulted with the OLDER LEADERS[1] on the continuation of the heavy taxation and labor practices of Solomon.  He was advised to go lenient on the taxes and the people would love Him and serve his gladly.

     He also consulted some of the YOUNGER ADVISORS[2] and they advised him to be sterner.   Rehoboam took the younger advisors advice[3] and told the people “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke.  My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”  The kingdom was now about ready to explode.  This is where we pick up the story.

 

Enter Jeroboam

     Jeroboam’s royal appointment by Solomon had put him in charge of Solomon’s whole labor force and had made him a very powerful political figure.

     The prophet Ahijah had prophesized that the Lord would DIVIDE ISRAEL and give Jeroboam TEN of the twelve tribes.[4]  This did not set well with King Solomon and Jeroboam had to flee to Egypt to save his own life.

     After Solomon’s death, Jeroboam returned to protest the heavy labor practices of Solomon and his son Rehoboam, who was now King.  The protest was rejected and there was a rebellion and Jeroboam was made King of the TEN tribes as was prophesized.[5]  These TEN tribes retained the name Israel.

     Rehoboam now only had TWO tribes; Judah and the small tribe of Benjamin, but they still occupied Jerusalem where the Temple was located.  The TWO tribes were called Judah with the small tribe of Benjamin being absorbed into it; this is where we get the term ‘JEWS.

     Jeroboam feared that because the temple was in Jerusalem, that the people might rebel and drift toward Rehoboam,  so he constructed alternate worship centers in Bethel north of Jerusalem and another further North of Dan which was a defiance of not only Rehoboam, but of the Lord who had established the Temple in Jerusalem as the ONLY place to worship.

     To make matters worse he mixed the worship of God with the worship of Baal and erected golden calves to represent their god.  He went on to build worship shrines in many high places trying to appeal to everybody.  He then appointed Priest from tribes other than that of the Priestly line of “Levi” and on occasion he would take it upon himself to serve as a Priest.

 

Here’s where we are

     We now have King Rehoboam in the Southern Kingdom with the two tribes called Judah and King Jeroboam in the Northern Kingdom with ten tribes called Israel. King Jeroboam and all of Israel have now become a “stench”, an abomination to God with their worship of Baal. 

     Note:  Jeroboam’s “Ways of Evil” became the paradigm of an evil king; the Standard of Evil in which all the other kings would be measured. (Wicked Kings were said to have “Waked in the ways of Jeroboam”)

 

Israel’s War

Jeroboam’s worship of false gods brought on the wrath of God and the Prophet Ahijah prophesized that the King’s blasphemy would be the undoing of his dynasty.[6]  In 722 or 721 B.C. the mighty Assyrian Army defeated the ten tribes of Israel and took them into exile in Assyria which is the present-day Iraq.  Since that time they have disappeared from history.

     The descendants of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin have survived because they were allowed to return to their homeland after the Babylonian Exile of 586 BC.

 

Legends and Claims

     Josephus the Jewish Historian states that the ten tribes are beyond the Euphrates River till now, and are an innumerable multitude and not to be estimated in numbers.

     North Africa: In the 9th Century, Jewish communities representing Dan, Naftali, Gad and Asher were reported found in North Africa.

     Ethiopia:  “Beta Israel” (House of Israel) - Legends clam that the “Falashas(Jews in Ethiopia) claimed they were descendants from the tribe of Dan when they arrived in Israel in the 1970’s.  DNA test showed them linked to Jews from Sudan and on March 14, 1977, Israel officials decided the “Law of Return” applied to Ethiopia.

     India: “Bene Israel” a Jewish community in India claimed to be a remnant of the ten lost tribes that migrated east to India from the Assyrian exile. – In 2002 DNA test linked the descendants to the tribe of Levi.

     Japan: In 1878, the Tokugawa and the Machi No Hito races dwelled in tents or tabernacle shaped houses fulfilling Noah’s prophecy regarding Japheth, “He shall dwell in the tents of Shem”. Many of their traditional customs and ceremonies are similar to ancient Israel.

     China: In 1605 a Jesuit Missionary discovered a Jewish community in China that had built a synagogue dating back to 1163.

     Persia: In the 12th century, remnants of the tribes of Dan, Asher, Zebulun and Naftali were found in Persia.

     Europe: In the 9th century, Jewish communities from the tribe of Dan were found.

     South America:  Tales of Indians reciting the devout Jewish prayer known as the Shema were observed in South America.

     Russia:  DNA testing for the Hebrew DNA “Y-chromosome haplogroup” makes up much of the population of Russia as well as Europe.  From there they migrated into France and into the British Isles and Ireland.

     North America: In 1650 Preacher Thomas Thorowgood trying to convert the Indians in North America to Christianity discovered they were already practicing Jewish customs; he said it would be an arduous task for their conversion.  He argued that they were the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.

     The Apocrypha says the Ten Tribes traveled through Arzareth which is the name of the land beyond the Great Euphrates River which is far away from the habitation of man.  The Jewish Encyclopedia says The Ten Tribes of Israel will dwell there observing the laws of Moses, until the time of the restoration.  Later, Christopher Columbus identified Arzareth as the land of America.

     Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb for Jesus, established a church in the British Isles The Ten lost tribes migrated to Great Britain and then from there to America.  The USA and Britain are the only Nations that have set aside a Holy day for rest and worship.

     Brit-Am an organization of Jews and Non-Jews whose mission is to identify the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel  use scriptural interpretation with the Jewish prospective, they point to the countries of Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Wales, France, Holland and Belgium.  The tribe of Dan is found among the Danish, Irish and the Welch.

     Other countries have claimed to be connected to the Ten Lost Tribes: Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda and the tribes in Papua New Guinea and in Burma have emerged with similar claims. 

     I hope I have painted a picture of the Ten Tribes of Israel as scattered throughout the entire world especially the United States of America and I believe the scriptures show that it was all in God’s mysterious plan of Eschatology; the things that are to happen on earth in the end times. 

 

The Works of Flavius Josephus

9:14.1.280 – Ten Tribes removed after the Jeroboam revolt

280 So the ten tribes of the Israelites were removed out of Judea nine hundred and forty-seven years after their forefathers were come out of the land of Egypt, and possessed themselves of the country, but eight hundred years after Joshua had been their leader, and, as I have already observed, two hundred and forty years, seven months, and seven days after they had revolted from Rehoboam, the grandson of David, and had given the kingdom to Jeroboam.

The Bible

Genesis 9:26-27 – Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem; JAPAN
26 And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
27 God enlarge
JAPHETH, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.  (Prophecy of Noah) (ASV)

 

The Apocrypha

2 Esdras – Ten Tribes traveled through Arzareth; AMERICA

Their (Ten Tribes) long journey through that region which is called Arzareth. (America)

 

 

 

The Mystery

     The 10 tribes of the Northern kingdom of Israel were all carried off into captivity, exiled and scattered among the nations; lost, vanished.   The remaining two tribes that were not carried off was the Southern kingdom of Benjamin and Judah.  With Judah being the largest tribe the term “JEW” for Judah became synonymous with ALL of the people of Israel.  Judah is the tribe from which our Messiah Jesus Christ was born; thus Jesus is a JEW.

     By Devine plan, the REMNANT of the Ten Lost Tribes are already in place, scattered throughout the Nations where they will testify of Jesus Christ- (There has always been a remnant of God’s chosen people)  The nation of Israel HAS NOT accepted Jesus as the Messiah and is basically a religion of humanism; a religion of “works”, BUT in the end, a multitude will accept Christ.  The occurrence of the rapture of the “Believing Christians” will witness to the Jews who remain on the earth. 

     The angel of God will seek out 144,000 blameless Jewish bondservants of the Most High God. 144,000 is only .01% of the total 14 million KNOWN Jews that are in the world today.  These Jews are sealed in order to be protected from the plagues that are to come on the earth with the breaking of the SEVEN SEALS and the sounding of the SEVEN TRUMPETS and the pouring out of the wrath of God with the SEVEN BOWLS or vials.

     God pours out his Spirit on the 144,000 messengers and they testify of Him and become His Evangelist that will present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the rest of the JEWS.  The message will NOT be about God asking them to do something; but forth telling about what God has already done for them and for us.

     These same sealed Jewish Missionaries will bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the rest of the whole world during the tribulation period.  Every nation and tribe will hear them speaking in their own language and dialect, endued with the same power as on the day of Pentecost; the gift of tongues. 144,000 life changers with the zeal of the Apostle Paul.  Everyone will have a chance to hear the Gospel.

     Did you see it?  The 144,000 missionaries come from the 12 tribes of Israel and in God’s Sovereign plan, ten of the twelve tribes have already been scattered throughout the world to fulfill His plan of bringing the Gospel Message to then ENTIRE world; then the end will come.

Revelation 14:4 – 144,000 were not defiled with other gods
4 These are those
(144,000) who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins (Virgins; worshipped only the God of Israel). They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb.

(NIV2011)

Revelation 7:4-8 – Tribes of Israel - 144,000; ALL JEWS

4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of ISRAEL.

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of MANASSEH 12,000, (half tribe)

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

(NIV2011)

Acts 14:11 – Paul’s ZEAL, speech and actions was as if a god
11 And when the multitude SAW what Paul had done, they
LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. (ASV)

Missing Tribes

     Historical Note:  Joseph had two sons; Ephraim and Manasseh which were adopted into the tribes of Israel and were known as the half tribes.  That gives us a new total of 14 tribes.

     The tribe of Dan is missing from the sealed 144,000 as mentioned in Revelation 7:4-10, because it is possibly that this tribe is the source of the Antichrist as implied in scripture.  At any rate, the half tribe of Manasseh seems to take Dan’s place in the lineup of the 12 Tribes.  It’s in the Book

     The half tribe of Ephraim is also missing from the lineup because this tribe led the way in causing the civil war which divided the ten tribes of the north from the two tribes in the South.  They also had become addicted to idolatry.  It’s in the Book

     With the tribes of Dan and Ephraim missing from the line up, we are now back down to 12 Tribes being sealed and set aside for the “special and honored” evangelistic assignment.

Genesis 3:15 – Satan; the serpent will strike his heel
15 And I will put enmity between you (the serpents seed) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he (Jesus) will crush your head, and you (serpent) will strike his
HEEL.”

(NIV2011)

Genesis 49:17 – Dan will be a serpent; strike his heel

17 DAN will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path that bites the horse's HEELS so that its rider tumbles backward.

NIV

 

A little Intrigue, Myth and Trivia - www.chabad.org - Saga of the Ten Lost Tribes; part 3

     NOTE: The sages of the Talmud indicate that the TEN LOST TRIBES were imprisoned by the SAMBATYON RIVER which only rested on the Sabbath, a day which they were forbidden to travel.

     Perhaps the best-known legend connected to the Ten Lost Tribes is that of the Sambatyon River.  It is said that for six days a week the river rages, making it IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS, and on the seventh day the waters “REST.”  In fact, when the Roman Governor Tinneius Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva, “How do you know your reckoning of the Sabbath is correct?” Rabbi Akiva replied, “The River Sambatyon proves it, for during six days of the week its waters flow turbulently, and on the Sabbath it subsides.”

     Tales of this wondrous river have arisen again and again throughout subsequent Jewish history whenever there was an incident of purported contact with The Ten Lost Tribes.  That river, the Sambatyon, still throws up stones and dirt, but no water, in a great tumult; if it would meet a mountain of iron, it would quickly destroy it. This waterless river continuously bubbles with stones and dirt six days a week and only on the Shabbat (Sabbath) does it rest.  On Friday a cloud settles on its surface, PREVENTING anyone from approaching (although it has stopped boiling), and remains there until after the Sabbath. (No travel on the Sabbath)

     For that reason it is called Sambatyon, or Sambatino, from the word Sabbath.  There are narrow portions of this river, no more than 60 cubits across, where they can stand on one side, while we stand on the other and call to each other.  Nevertheless, they (The Ten Lost Tribes) are absolutely IMPRISONED by this river, neither leaving nor receiving visitors.

    Isiah 49:9 is their reference; but you would have to already know a bunch of Jewish History in order to ever understand it.  I encourage you to visit online at www.chabad.org ; a weekly magazine web site, dedicated to Judaism past, present and future: check out the Saga of the Ten Lost Tribes; part 3.   Do with these thoughts as you own Belief System will embrace, it’s hard for my BS to comprehend a river that stops running on the Sabbath day.

 

Isaiah 49:9 - Go forth from the Sambatyon River
9 That thou may say to the prisoners,
(of the Sambatyon River) Go forth; to them that are in darkness (The Cloud), Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. (KJV)

The Take Away

     We know where they are; the Ten Lost Tribes as well as Judah and Benjamin have already been spread throughout the entire world according to His marvelous plan.  Some of them have been set aside for a special Holy mission.

     144,000 JEWS will become completed Jews as they accept Jesus as the Son of God and will be honored to be selected as missionaries to the rest of the Jews and Gentiles throughout the world.  They will have the gift of tongues and endued with the power of the Holy Spirit as was poured out on the day of Pentecost; sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the vigor of the Apostle Paul and Peter.

They will be protected from the plagues of God during the Tribulation period by His seal on their forehead and they will evangelize the world for about 3 to 3 ½ years and then they will be “Raptured”. They will be the First Fruits of the Tribulation period.

     The Bible symbolizes the Christian Church as the bride of Christ; a virgin.   A virgin has only one husband; a whore has many men.  These 144,000 Evangelist are virgins meaning they will have not whored after other gods, but have always worshiped the one God of Israel; YAHWEH.  Also, they are probably single; not married or bound to family matters or burdened with other things that would impede their mission; so possibly they could also literally be virgins.  Just saying

     Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and Seventh Day Adventist all believe that the 144,000 will come from within their own denomination.   Some of the 144,000 selected could literally be within your own church if they are JEWISH descendants from one of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Otherwise… not so much; but good luck anyway.  SELAH; ponder that.

 



[1] 1 Kings 12:6-7 - The Old Men; Speak good words, be lenient

[2] 1 Kings 12:10-11 – The Young men; Speak tough words, be harder

[3] 1 Kings 12:14 – Rehoboam took the Young men’s advice, and was harder

[4] 1 Kings 11:29-40 Ahijah prophesized Israel’s split into TWO kingdoms

[5] 1 Kings 12:19-20 - Jeroboam made king of TEN Tribes

[6] 1 Kings 14:7-16 -  Prophecy – Ten Tribes will be stricken

 

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