Where the ancient tribes of Israel were
dispersed and the prophecy of their restoration. The "everlasting
hills" actually extends the circumference of the globe.
Chapter Twelve
The Scattering and Gathering
Wednesday, February 02, 2000 4:02 AM
We have previously quoted the prophecy of Moses indicating that the Lord
would scatter Israel among all nations. This prophecy is repeated numerous
times in the Bible. Another specific one is found in Amos: "For lo, I
will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a
sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." Amos 9:9
Another quote: "And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and
disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of
thee." Eze 22:15
"And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in
far countries; and they shall live with their children and turn again."
Zech 10:9
In the Bible the Master compares Israel to his wife whom he claims as his
own when she is faithful, but when she is not he issues here a bill of
divorcement: "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding
Israel committed adultery, I HAD PUT HER AWAY, and given her a bill of
divorce" Jer 3:8. Those who had the potential of releasing the power of
Israel within them and finding the true hidden God, had sought after false
gods, or committed adultery against the true light; thus those who were called
to be Israelites (called to manifest the powers of God) were given a bill of
divorcement.
On the other hand, we are told that this divorcement is not a permanent
situation. The Lord said: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but
with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from
thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
saith the Lord thy redeemer." Isa 54:7-8
We are clearly told that the divorcement would not last forever "but
with great mercies I WILL GATHER THEE." This gathering creates the
physical representation of New Jerusalem or the new bride of the Master:
"And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared AS A BRIDE adorned for her husband." Rev 21:2 The bride
was to have "the glory of God" Rev. 21:11 The word "glory"
here comes from the Greek DOXA which is derived from another Greek word DOKEO
which means "to think". If we use this root meaning then we have an
indication that gathered Israel will "think as God". When they think
as God then they will prevail as God and have the true power of Israel and be
a faithful wife to the Master.
We find that the scattering of Israel took place in three steps. First the
kingdom of Israel was divided in two in the days of Rehoboam. The southern
kingdom consisted of the tribe of Judah, Benjamin and a few Levites and the
Northern Kingdom was composed of the other ten tribes with Ephraim as the
leader. Those connected with the southern kingdom were eventually called
"Jews" and those of the northern kingdom were later to be known as
"the ten lost tribes".
Around the year 721 B.C. Shalmanezer IV, king of Assyria, attacked Samaria,
the third and last capital of the Northern Kingdom, and after three years the
city was taken by Sargon, Shalmanezer's successor. We are told that"
"In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and
carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the
river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." II Kings 17:5-6
According to this account, Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were
scattered around what is now modern day Iraq and Iran. From there one would
guess that they were scattered throughout many nations.
We do have a clue given in the approcryphal book of Esdras: "Those are
the tribes which were carried away captives out of their own land in the time
of Hosea the king, whom Shalmanezer the king of the Assyrians, took captive,
and crossed them beyond the river, so were they brought into another land. But
they took counsel to themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the
heathen, and go forth into a further country where never man dwelt, that they
there might keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own Euphrates.
For the Most High showed them signs, and stayed the springs of the flood till
they were passed over. For through the country there was a great journey, even
a year and a half, and the same region is called Arsareth (Ararah). Then dwelt
they there until the latter time, and when they come forth again, the Most
High shall hold the springs of the river again, that they may go
through." II Esdras 13.
This group mentioned by Esdras was undoubtedly just a portion of the ten
tribes. The most probable direction they took was to England among the ancient
Celts where they established the religious order of Druidism. The Druid had a
Priesthood amazingly like the ancient Israelites and even had a priestly order
set apart like the Levites. They offered sacrifices on alters, believed in the
immortality of the soul, and taught the doctrine of reincarnation. They also
believed they were literally descended from God.
Because Esdras says that they went to a further country "where never
man dwelt" some think that they found an entrance o the center of the
earth and will return from thence in the near future. Others think they may
have went to another planet, perhaps near the North Star or some hidden place
in our solar system. Whatever the case the Bible indicates that some of each
of the tribes are scattered abroad on the earth just as prophesied. It is
written: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, TO THE
TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD, greeting." James expected his
letter to be read by members of the various twelve tribes.
In speaking concerning Jesus the Jews asked: "Whither will he go, that
we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles?"
John 7:35 The "dispersed" refers to scattered Israelites and the
word Gentiles here comes from Greek HELLEN which should have been translated
the "Greeks". Evidently, some of these scattered Israelites were in
Greece. Jesus told his disciples to preach to "the lost sheep of the
house of Israel." Matt 10:6 The scripture infers that this was a rather
literal injunction indicating that some of the lost tribes were taught by the
apostles.
Another time a Canaanite lady was refused a blessing by Jesus. His
reasoning was: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." Matt 15:24 However, after she pleaded and exercised faith he
remitted and blessed her.
Even though each man has the power of Israel within him, the Christ himself
taught that he was sent to the direct descendants of the Hebrews and therein
was his mission. Why was this? The reason was because of the consciousness of
the people at that time. World consciousness such as we have to a minor extent
today was unknown at that time. Then there was a high degree of race
consciousness so the Christ was sent first and specifically to the Hebrews and
descendents thereof.
This mission was portrayed by him in the following parable: "The
kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king (God), which made a marriage for
his son (Christ), and sent forth servants to call them that were bidden (The
race of the Hebrews) to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent
forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have
prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are
ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways,
one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his
servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. (Killed the prophets
and apostles.) But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent
forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
(Jerusalem destroyed in 70 A.D.) Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is
ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the
highways, and AS MANY AS YE SHALL FIND, bid to the marriage."
This time they were not instructed to go to the literal "lost
sheep" or Hebrews, but "as many as ye shall find", that is
anyone who can recognize the truth is invited no matter what his race for all
are potential Israelites.
The scripture continues: "So those servants went out into the
highways, and GATHERED TOGETHER (The true gathering of Israel) all as many as
they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And
when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a
wedding garment (Each guest must put on Israel (to prevail as God and commune
with the King within): And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither
not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the
servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer
darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called,
but few are chosen." Matt 22:2-14
The man without the wedding garment did not recognize the living Spirit of
God within him and thought that he could enter the kingdom of God by merely
being a member of a "true church" or by acknowledging Jesus as his
"personal savior", or by following someone else who claims communion
with a Master. The true wedding garment is a garment of light that each guest
must wear. Without this he will be naked and ashamed before the king. And
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth". This is an
appropriate way to describe the feelings of those who find out that their
cherished beliefs were in vain.
All of the parables of a Master and truly inspired prophesies have
correspondences that reoccur as we enter each new sign of the Zodiac, and then
to a lesser extent within lesser cycles of history. The correspondence in
modern history to the early Jews are the Mormons. In fact many of the ancient
Jews have been reborn as Mormons today but "many that are first shall be
last; and the last first". Matt 19:30 The Jews were chosen to be the
first to receive the garment of light and come to the wedding, but they
rejected it and became the last. The same thing is happening to the Mormons
today. Even though they were the first in this age to teach the literal
gathering of Israel, they will be the last to accept it.
When Christ walks openly among us again no group will claim ownership of
Him for his mission will be to the world. Those who are first to preach about
him now will be the last to accept him.
Moses himself prophesied that Israel would be literally gathered again:
"That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion
upon thee, and will return and GATHER THEE FROM ALL THE NATIONS, whither the
Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If thence will the Lord thy God gather thee
and from thence will he fetch thee: And the Lord thy God will bring thee into
the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will
do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers." Deut 30:3-5
This scripture even gives some support to the belief that some of the ten
tribes are on another planet for it speaks of scattered Israel in the
"Outmost parts of heaven". (Deut 30:4) As mentioned earlier there
are many true Israelite brethren inhabiting various star systems, but it is
doubtful that they are literally connected with the ten tribes of the northern
Kingdom.
In this scripture Moses is stressing that Israel will be gathered from
wherever they may be scattered. He also tells us that they will be gathered
"into the land which thy fathers possessed". To many it looks as if
that prophecy is being fulfilled today by the gathering of the Jews in the new
nation of Israel today, but this is a mere foreshadowing of the real thing.
Before the true gathering we are told that God must be "sanctified in
them". In other words, they must put on the true wedding garment and
become true spiritual Israelites. A physical gathering of people, Hebrews or
not, is not a gathering of Israel until those gathered actually "put on
Christ" and have the Spirit of the Living God within them, or the kingdom
of God within them - then the true kingdom will appear without.
There is not true freedom today in the nation of Israel, and without full
individual freedoms there can be no true gathering of Israel. Nevertheless,
the kingdom of God will manifest in Israel in great glory, but the first shall
be last, and since they were once first and missed the opportunity they shall
be last to see the kingdom. Nevertheless, some Jews as individuals may be
among the first to see the Kingdom.
Scripture tells us of this time: "Thus saith the Lord God; When I
shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are
scattered, AND SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN THEM in the sight of the heathen, THEN
SHALL THEY DWELL IN THEIR LAND that I have given unto my servant Jacob. And
they shall dwell safely therein (This has not yet happened), and shall build
houses, and plant vineyards; they shall dwell with confidence." Eze
28:25-26 At the time of this writing they are certainly not dwelling with
confidence. The true power of Israel will not manifest there until they
sanctify God. As yet they have not even yet recognized the Christ as a
spiritual leader. Concerning true Israel the Christ said: "I . . .am
known of mine . . .the sheep follow him (Christ): for they know his
voice." John 10:14, 4. True Israel will always recognize intuitively that
the outer and inner Christ was sent from God. Then too other servants
expressing the God within will not be ignored.
The land of the "fathers" is usually thought of as merely being
the ancient Hebrew territories, but the truth is much broader than that. The
Fathers of the present Israelites who are scattered around the world came from
numerous lands, most notable was the ancient American continent. In ancient
days some of the great Atlanteans dwelt here making America an actual land of
promise represent the seed of Joseph. Joseph in the Hebrew means "he will
add or augment". The power of Israel in Britain, Europe and America
greatly augmented the progression of all humanity. Joseph's two sons Ephraim
and Manasseh are represented by the White man and the American Indian and
other minorities. Ephraim means "double fruit" and it is clear that
the Aryan race has enjoyed and given mankind great blessings. Manasseh in
Hebrew means "forget or neglect" and the Indian is indeed the
forgotten Israelite.
Concerning Joseph, his father said: "his seed shall become a multitude
of nations". Gen 48:19 This is fulfilled in Great Britain and North and
South America.
It is also written: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough
by a well whose branches run over the wall." Gen 49:22 This indicates
that Joseph's posterity (branches) would cross the wall (the ocean). That
would take them to America.
Joseph was blessed "with the blessings of heaven above (revelation and
knowledge), blessings of the deep that lieth under (plenty of water),
blessings of the breast (abundance), and of the womb (a large posterity): The
blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors
unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of
Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separated from his
brethren." Gen 49:25-26
Joseph will be blessed "unto the utmost bound of the everlasting
hills". Where would that be? To be everlasting in the literal sense a
mountain range would have to be circular with no beginning or end. We can find
such a range if we start with the Alps and follow the mountains through Turkey
and then to the Elburz mountains through Iran. These are joined by other
ranges through Afghanistan and Pakistan finally reaching the Himalayas and
various mountains through China. Next we go through the Islands of Indonesia
which are the mountain tops of an ocean range and then to The Great Dividing
Range of Mountains in Australia to an underwater range that takes us to
another group of mountains that flows straight across Antarctica which takes
us up to the tip of South America to the Andes. Then we are brought up to the
Sierra Maudre ranges in Mexico and finally to the Rocky mountains and then up
across the mountain ranges of the Arctic ranges and ending with the Kjolen
range of Norway. All of these ranges form an everlasting chain that can be
traced on any map.
>From the Mideast where the prophecy was written the "utmost bound
of the everlasting hills" would be the Rocky Mountains and the Andes.
This is another interesting indication that the seed of Joseph would be in
America.
An even more elaborate blessing is given in Deuteronomy 33:13-17. In the
last verse we are told that Joseph's "glory is like the firstling of his
bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push
the people together to THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (the ends of the earth from Egypt
where the blessing was given is America): and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim
(Aryan race) and they are the thousands of Manasseh" (Indians, Mexicans
and others). Deut 33:17.
Joseph evidently had a land promised to him and his two sons Ephraim and
Manasseh for it is written: "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord
be HIS LAND . . ." Deut 33:13 The blessing then extols the great virtues
of this land of Joseph which was to be at the end of the earth.
