Two House, Ephraimites, Lost Tribes
Myth: The Ephramite
doctrine, also known as Two House, promotes that the Northern
Kingdom of Israel [10 “lost” tribes] is the “lost” house of
Israel scattered around the world. The House of Israel is more
commonly known as Ephraim which took Joseph’s place as a tribe
along with Manasseh. The premise is that Ephraim is as the sand
of the sea and therefore those who have a love of going back to
keeping the Mosaic Law are really the “lost” tribes of Ephraim.
The Scriptures in the OT that point to Ephraim as having an
inheritance in the land of Israel is central to this doctrinal
position.
A. This
doctrine is not a new one. It was first circulated as
British Israelism and also
Christian Identity, in which it was believed
that the lost tribes ended up in Great Britain etc.. Two
House/Ephraim doctrine is just another variance of the central
theme of “lost” tribes that is recognized by a select group of people
as their own “geneology” [but hidden until one becomes Torah
observant]. Ephramites of Two House also believe that they have
a rightful share to land inheritance in Israel and if their
“brother”, the House of Judah [the Jews], would recognize and
accept them [as they all practice keeping Torah together by
bringing the Two Houses together – House of
Israel/Joseph/Ephraim/Northern Kingdom with the House of
Judah/Northern Kingdom], this would complete the necessary
requirement to usher in the Messiah’s return.
* The Jews consider
themselves to be all the tribes gathered into one as Israel.
They do not designate tribal affiliation other than Levitical
for a future third temple.
* Ephraim is not mentioned in
the NT other than a city. It is also missing from Revelation 7,
as is the tribe of Dan. The Ephraimites today try to force that
tribal affiliation into the tribe of Joseph that is mentioned in
that text. However; it clearly says Joseph, not Ephraim. God
is not confused :) The tribe of Manasseh has 12k, the tribe of
Joseph has 12k. There is no missing 12k to be assigned to
Ephraim. Nor are there any assigned to Dan. Both Ephraim and
Dan rebelled against God and were broken from being a people for
their idolatry and the building of idols within their
cities. The end of that argument, of trying to change what
tribes are listed is found in Revelation
22:18 :
For I testify unto every
man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If
any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the
book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
It states plainly not to
change the words of this prophecy. No one can argue for the name
change without violating those Scriptures.
* The promises of Ephraim in
the OT were contingent on their return to God and to His
commandments, which they rejected and were destroyed. The
remnant which remained faithful to God were taken into Judah, as
were the remnants of all the tribes.
We see that even during the
time of Rehobam's reign those from all tribes joined themselves
to Judah.
2Chronicles 11:16 And
after that, out of all the tribes of Israel such as
set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to
Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
2Chronicles 15:9 And he
gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the sojourners with
them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for
they came over to him out of Israel in abundance, when they
saw that the LORD his God was with him.
During the deportation of the
ten tribes, some of them were left behind, intermarried with the
Assyrians and became the Samaritans. They have not forgotten who
they are after these 2000 plus years.
- By the time of Ezra and
Nehemiah, those of the tribes that had been scattered to
Assyria and Babylon that wished to return did so.
- Ezra 2:70 So the
priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and
the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim,
dwelt in their towns, and all Israel in their towns.
Ezra 6:16 And the children of Israel, the
priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of
this house of God with joy,
Ezra 6:21 And the children of Israel, who had come
again out of captivity, and all such as had
separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of
the nations of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel,
did eat,
Nehemiah 5:8 And I said unto them, We after our ability
have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold
unto the nations; and will you even sell your
brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they
their peace, and found nothing to answer.
- After the exile of both
kingdoms, and following the return from Babylon, there
followed a return of the exiles as one not two kingdoms.
Note Nehemiah makes reference to those that had been sold to
the nations, not just Babylon. When Babylon fell to Persia,
the whole empire that had previously been under the
Assyrians also came under Cyrus. Therefore not just those
exiled to Babylon returned but any of those that wished to
do so that were had been there from the Assyrian exile.
Also, offerings were made for Israel after they returned not
just for Judah.
- Ezra 8:35 Also the
children of those that had been carried away, who had
come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings
unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all
Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven
lambs, twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this
was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
- By the time of Jesus we
see that there were Jews from every tribe in existence and
they weren’t lost, they knew who they were. ALL of Israel
was scattered abroad, not just the northern tribes. From
Acts 2, it is evident that all the tribes could be found all
over. As Acts 2 states, “Jews” from many countries had come
to celebrate Pentecost, one of the three required feasts for
men to attend. This means Jews from all 12 tribes, not one
house or the other.
James wrote to the twelve
tribes that were scattered, note scattered, not “lost”. To those
that like to twist this to mean that James was somehow writing
to the lost tribes, would have meant ten tribes not twelve. And
how would James have known they existed if they were lost - how
would the letter ever reach them?
* There are no longer “two
houses”. In Christ, all Jews from all tribes and all gentiles
from all the nations on earth, all are one new man in Christ.
Romans 10:12
For there is
no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich to all that call on him.
Colossians 3:11 Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but
Christ is all, and in all.
Ephesians 2:13 But
now in
Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by
the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made
both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition
between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to
make in himself of two one new man, so making peace; 16 And
that he might reconcile both to God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Revelation 5:9-10
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10.
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.
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09/21/2009
All Scripture King James Version unless otherwise
stated
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