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 John K. McKee, Editor - The Tribulation News Network (TNN) Online - http://www.tribnews.net

Current Events Covered from a Prophetic Perspective Comparing Bible Prophecy to Modern Times with Expositions on the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith and Christian/Messianic Apologetics

Mailing Address: TNN Online, P.O. Box 2631, Norman, Oklahoma  73070

From the Website: http://www.tribnews.net/bibanswers/messianic/identity.html


THE IDENTITY OF ISRAEL (Part 2 of 3)
 
WHO IS A GENTILE?

The discussion of Ephraim and Judah brings some very important questions. Again, do you have to be descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be saved? No. But what does this mean when most people sitting in Christian churches all over the world are taught that they are just "Gentiles"? What is a Gentile? Why if you're saved is it inappropriate to be called "Gentile"?

There are two words in Scripture commonly translated as "Gentile," goy - wg (STRONG'S #1471 KJV LEXICON) and ethnos - e[qnoß (STRONG'S #1484 KJV LEXICON):

1471..wg goy, go'ee; appar. From the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (fig.) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.10

1484. e[qnoß, ethnos, eth'nos; prob. from 1486; a race (as the same habit), i.e. a tribe; spec. a foreign (non-Jewish) on (usually by impl. pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.11

In the most common sense today, both words are typically viewed as meaning to represent non-Jews, which is certainly the case to a certain extent, although it should very well be noted that the term "Gentile" can also mean pagan. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives us an appropriate definition:

Gentile (jen'til) n. 1. Anyone who is not of the Jewish faith or of a non-Jewish nation. 2. A Christian as distinguished from a Jew. 3. A pagan or heathen. 4. Among Mormons, a person who is not a Mormon. - adj. Of or relating to a Gentile. [Middle English gentil, gentyle, from Late Latin gentiles, pagans, heathens, from gentilis, pagan, from Latin, of the same clan, from gens, clan, GENS.]12

If you are saved are you a Gentile? Are you pagan? No. You might not be Jewish, but you are certainly not pagan. In fact, as Paul tells us, the true believer has indeed become part of Israel (Eph. 2:11-12 NAS). Consider this commentary from Batya Wootten, author of Who is Israel?, concerning the term "Gentile":

"Yahveha promised Jacob: "A nation and a company of nations shall come from you" (Genesis 35:11). Restated, a goy (nation), and a kahal [of] goyim (nations), would come from Israel.

These words have two multiple meanings:

Goy is used to describe the  "nation" of Israel: "I will make you a great goy." Yahveh said to Abraham (Genesis 12:2).

"Consider too, that this is a goy of thy people," Moses pleaded with Yahveh (Exodus 33:13).

Also, when "Israel" crossed the Jordan, the entire "goy" was circumcised (Joshua 3:17; 4:1; 5:8).

In Scripture, goy/goyim is used to define political, ethnic and territorial groups (without ascribing moral connotation); to speak of a "governed body of people." However, after the Israelites received their covenant and entered into Canaan, among the people of Israel, goy/goyim primarily came to mean the non-covenant, non-believing, pagan, foreign nations surrounding them. It came to mean, the Gentiles."13

In a more literal sense, "Gentile(s)," means "nations(s)" [goyim/ethnos]. One particular Bible version that accurately translates goy/goyim/ethnos as nations is Young's Literal Translation as demonstrated by the following verses:

Isaiah 60:1 (YLT) Arise, be bright, for come hath thy light, And the honour of Jehovah hath risen on thee. 2 For, lo, the darkness doth cover the earth, And thick darkness the peoples, And on thee rise doth Jehovah, And His honour on thee is seen. 3 And come have nations (goyim) to thy light, And kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 is a prophecy of the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

Ephesians 2:11 (YLT) Wherefore, remember, that ye were once the nations (ethnos) in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world;

The Northern Kingdom or Ephraim lost its physical identity because of idolatry against the Lord. However, as Wootten mentions above, "Yahveh promised Jacob: `A nation and a company of nations shall come from you' (Genesis 35:11)."14 Does this mean that the ethnos addressed in the New Testament had physical Israelites in them? Recall that such identities would have been lost because of rebellion towards YHVH, but also that God seeks to redeem all peoples through His Son, Yeshua/Jesus. Nevertheless, we must conclude, just like Paul, that if you are saved you are no longer gentile (adj.) or pagan - you are part of Israel.

Ephesians 2:11 (CJB) Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth  - called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised - 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra'el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God's promise. You were in this world without hope and without God..19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's family. (emphasis ours)

Paul simply calls the non-Jewish believers that they are "Gentiles (ethnos) by birth," but in reality "are no longer foreigners and strangers," but "fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's family."

If this is the case, than who is a  "Christian"? Put simply, the terms Christian and Messianic are synonomous. One is derived from the Greek word Christos - Cristovß (STRONG'S #5547 KJV LEXICON) or "Christ" and the other is from the Hebrew word Mashiach - xyXm (STRONG'S #4899 KJV LEXICON) or  "Messiah." Both Christ and Messiah mean "Anointed/Chosen One" and are indicative of Yeshua/Iesous/Jesus ([wvy/Ihsouß/Jesus). Nevertheless, all true believers are Christians and all true believers are Messianics.15

But what of the term "Gentile Christian"? More precisely, this is "Pagan Christian," a total inaccuracy and contradiction. One cannot be both pagan and a follower of the Christ. Wootten commentates:

"Through all the theories in question runs a common thread: non-Jewish Believers are, "Gentile Christians." However, Ephesians 2:11-12 says they are "former" Gentiles. Specifically, verse 2:19 states, "You are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household [of Israel]."

Webster's Dictionary defines a Gentile as a heathen. In Greek, Gentile is ethnos, which can mean foreign (non-Jewish), pagan, heathen. And, the Hebrew word goy/goyim primarily came to mean foreign, heathen, Gentile.

Those who believe in the God of Israel and in His Messiah are not foreign to Him. If they are true to Him, they are no more heathens. Thus, the contradictory title, "Gentile Christian," is an
oxymoron, an unbiblical paradox.

       While the doors to the commonwealth of Israel were always open
to whosoever would  "sojourn," or "live in harmony," with them -
Israel could not join the Gentiles."16

Non-Jewish believers are not Gentile (pagan); they are simply non-Jewish. Using the term non-Jew as opposed to Gentile is more accurate as Gentile can and does mean pagan.

So who is a Gentile? Primarily, in the Biblical sense it means nations (peoples) or pagan nations. Surely, all people who are saved and know the Messiah of Israel, Jesus Christ, are not pagan. If you are saved is it appropriate to be called Gentile? We do not believe it is.

THE CHURCH VS ISRAEL

If the body of believers has been made part of Israel, than what does that leave the entity known as the "Church." Are the "Church" and Israel two separate bodies as has been taught for centuries?

The word "church" is not in the New Testament Scriptures. The Greek word is ekklesia - ejkklhsiva (STRONG'S #1577 KJV LEXICON), which can be a direct reference to Israel.17 Its Hebrew equivalent is kahal - lhq (STRONG'S #6951 KJV LEXICON), which is almost always used in direct reference to Israel. Eddie Chumney, author of Restoring the Two Houses of Israel, commentates further:

The Greek Word for Church is Ekklesia

In the King James translation of the Bible, the English word "church" is only found in the New Testament (Brit Hadashah). For this reason, the word "church" is most often associated with the house of Israel (Christianity). The English word "church" is Strong's word 1577 in the Strong's Greek dictionary. It is the Greek word, "ekklesia." In the Strong's Greek dictionary, "ekklesia" is defined as "a calling out, a popular meeting, a religious congregation, a Jewish synagogue or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both."

The Hebrew Word for Church is Kahal

In the Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament numerically coded to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it will give a more complete and detailed definition of the Greek Word, "ekklesia." The Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament will define the Greek word,  "ekklesia" to mean "an assembly" and will explain that the corresponding equivalent word in the Septuagint (Jewish Scriptures translated into the Greek language/the Old Testament [TeNaKh]) as being the Hebrew word, "kahal." The Hebrew word "kahal" is the Strong's word 6951 in Strong's Hebrew dictionary and is defined to mean, "an assembly, congregation, company, multitude.""18

This is very intriguing. This could very well prove that the "church" (more accurately the ekklesia) and Israel are not two separate entities. In fact, some even preach a heresy that Israel (which they consider to be the Jews) and "the church" are not only two separate bodies, but they are under two separate covenants. In other words, Jews must  "earn" salvation through legalistic observance of the Torah, and non-Jews ([pagan] Gentiles) come to salvation by simply "accepting Jesus." The written word of God is clearly against this:

Romans 1:16 (KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:12 (KJV) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Galatians 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Equally so, today's Messianic Jewish movement has (overall) created a rift between those of standard evangelical Christian settings and those in Messianic congregations. There is a certain superior mentality among many Messianic Jews that "we're God's chosen people, and the rest of you are just Gentiles (which we discussed previous means "pagan")." This is totally non-Biblical, although the Messianic Jewish movement and many evangelicals have a comfortable arrangement with this. This way the so-called Jewish believers can keep the "burden" of having to keep the law to evangelize fellow Jews, and the "Gentiles" can go on thinking that they are not part of Israel, meaning that it is not necessary to identify as God's people as specified in the Torah.19 There is only ONE body of believers. Israel and the "Church" are not two separate entities.

Ephesians 2:19 (YLT) Then, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being chief corner-stone, 21 in whom all the building fitly framed together dothincrease to an holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom also ye are builded together, for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

But where does this leave Christian believers who have been taught that they are not part of Israel? Who is "the Church"?

The ekklesia is the ENTIRE Body of Christ/Messiah, made up of believers who have been born again (spiritually regenerated) regardless of their physical ancestry.

However, we would like to go back to another intriguing phenomenon which as of late has been highly contested amongst some of the world's major Messianic Jewish organizations. What happened to the Northern Kingdom of Israel [Ephraim] that was dispersed and assimilated? Some suggest that a significant number of them indeed became future Christianity.

The Northern Kingdom Becomes Future Christianity

Once again, in Hosea (Hoshea) 1, the G-d of Israel proclaimed that the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) would not be His  people (Lo-Ammi - Hosea 1:9) and He would have no mercy (Lo-ruhamah - Hosea 1:6) upon them. But, if they would repent, (teshuvah) (Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 3:5, 12-13) they would be called again  His people (Hosea [Hoshea] 1:10). The Apostle (Shaliach) Peter (Kefa) makes a direct link with those from among the nations who have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) with the prophecy that the G-d of Israel made to the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) in Hosea (Hoshea) 1. In I Peter (Kefa) 2:5-6, 9-10 it is written:

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up on a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ [Yeshua HaMashiach]. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded [Isaiah 28:16].But you are a chosen generation [Deuteronomy 7:6], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people [Exodus 19:5-6].which in time past were not a people [Lo-Ammi - Hosea 1:9] but are now the people of God [Hosea 1:10]: which had not obtained mercy [Lo-ruhamah - Hosea 1:6], but now have obtained mercy [through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus who is of the seed of David (Revelation 5:5)]."

The Apostle (Shaliach) Paul (Rav Sha'ul) also wrote about how the G-d of Israel would pour out His mercy upon the Northern Kingdom  (house of Israel) through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Romans 9:23-26 it is written:

"And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy [those who accept the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus], which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles [those from the house of Israel and from the nations who previously assimilated into Gentile culture]. As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved [Hosea 2:23]. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God [Hosea 1:10].""20

So where does this leave us? Is the "Church" separate from  Israel? No. In fact, it is entirely possible that Christianity has been primarily represented by physical Israelites who were assimilated into the nations some 2700 years ago. Consider these words of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 15:21 (KJV) Then Jesus went  thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a  devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and  besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (emphasis ours)

The passage above records Jesus going to Tyre and Sidon and conversing with the Canaanite woman. She asks Him for help as her daughter is possessed by a demonic spirit. Yeshua, a Jew, responds to her "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," implying that perhaps He only came to save those of the physical line of Jacob. However, please notice how the woman responds:

Matthew 15:25 (KJV) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (emphasis ours)

Eventually, the Canaanite woman is shown to have such great faith that Jesus grants her request. Yeshua does not respond, "Lady, you're not an Israelite. Forget it!" He says "O woman, great is thy faith." Does this mean that only people of the physical line of Israel can be saved? No. But it did mean that the gospel may have gone to these people first.

Consequently, it is no surprise that the good news of salvation was brought first to the Mediterranean basin and spread throughout Europe (some of the lost sheep of the house of Israel/Ephraim?). Europeans and their colonial counterparts are primarily responsible for spreading the gospel to other parts of Planet Earth (which may also have dispersed Israelites among them). Did the dispersed Northern Kingdom [Ephraim] become future Christianity? It is quite intriguing. But are the "church" and Israel separate? No. They cannot be especially if a significant portion of the born again ekklesia has its lineage tracing all the way to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Church/Ekklesia = Israel/Kahal

Now that we have established that the  "church" and Israel are not two separate entities, where does this leave us? Is the ekklesia Israel? It appears as this is the case. Batya Wootten commentates:

Genesis 24:60 (NAS) And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."

".the blessing given Isaac's wife, Rebekah, was "Be the mother of thousands of millions," or, "myriads" (Genesis 24:60). Together, they passed their multitudinous blessing to their son, Jacob: "May God make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a congregation of peoples" (Genesis 28:3).

From Jacob there would come forth a congregation - a kahal, an assembly, company, congregation, multitude - an ekklesia. In the Greek Septuagint, the Hebrew kahal was translated ekklesia (the New Covenant word (mis)translated church). And in the New Covenant, ancient Israel is called, "The ekklesia that was in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38). For just as our God is "One," so in the end he will have but one "called out" people."21

Please take important note of the phrase translated "church in the wilderness" in Acts 7:38 in the King James Version; in reality a direct reference to Israel:

Acts 7:38 (KJV) This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (emphasis ours)

Again, we emphasize that anyone prior to Christ could have become part of Israel, which from approximately 700 B.C.E. was represented only by Judah. When the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:11-12 KJV that non-Jewish believers are part of [the Commonwealth of] Israel, he is obviously telling us that those who are born again are not separated from Israel. However, not all of Israel has been "saved," per se.

It is commonly held within evangelical Christianity that "Israel" is the Jewish people. This is true to a certain extent, although as we have discussed previous, the Northern Kingdom of Ephraim has been spread throughout the nations, and it should be noted that the Book of Revelation tells us that some Jews are of "the synagogue of Satan":

Revelation 2:9 (KJV) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

What does this verse mean? How do we reconcile it to when the Apostle Paul tells us "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26 NAS)?

Not all of Judah will be saved, as there will still be Jews who refuse to receive Yeshua as Messiah, and will unfortunately spend eternity in hell. Equally so, if Israel is the ekklesia, could it have something to do with predestination (Rom. 11:5 KJV), or the idea that God knows who will be saved and who will not be? (This article is not intended to discuss this doctrine.) This is quite intriguing. In this case, "Israel" clearly implies not just the Jews nor just people of ancient Israelite descent. Wootten commentates further:

"In Romans 11, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, explains the manner in which the Father has determined that "salvation" should come to "all Israel," meaning, all who will accept salvation. And,  "Yeshua" means "Salvation,"."22

We believe that ultimately the ekklesia is Israel, composed of the born again assembly of people - be they physical descendants of  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or otherwise.

The Biblical Israel is the olive tree of the G-d of Israel. The physical natural born descendants of Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzhak), and Jacob (Ya'acov) will remain a remnant of people and a part of  the redemptive plan of the G-d of Israel as long as there is a sun, moon, and stars. Biblical Israel consists of the natural root of Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzhak), and Jacob (Ya'acov) and the assimilated Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) and all people from among the  nations who are grafted into the natural olive tree by repenting (teshuvah) their sins and accepting Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). Those from the Southern Kingdom (house of  Judah) who accept Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach) are natural branches  grafted into their own olive tree. So, Biblical Israel consists of the physical descendants of Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzhak), and Jacob (Ya'acov) and a mixed multitude from among the nations  who are grafted into the natural olive tree. Therefore, the Biblical terms  "church" and "Israel" are synonymous terms."23

ASSIMILATED INTO THE NATIONS

What ever happened to the Northern Kingdom? As we recall, they lost their physical identity because they committed idolatry against YHVH and were taken by Assyria to be spread throughout the nations. The Book of James opens with a very intriguing statement:

James 1:1 (NAS) James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings.

The part that few understand is James' greeting "to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad." As any Biblical student should understand, Judah retained its national identity, although there were  Judahites living in both Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) and in the Disapora. There were Jewish synagogues in what today  comprises the State of Israel, as well as Jewish communities in Asia Minor (Turkey), Greece, Rome, Egypt, etc.

But what happened to Ephraim? It is feasible to conclude that the ten Lost Tribes (Ephraimites) may have been assimilated into the nations where the gospel was first spread, as well as other locations. However, we know from Acts and other New Testament writings that the good news was received readily amongst non-Jews living in the Roman world. Could it be partly because a significant number of the Greeks and Romans who came to faith were physical descendants of Jacob? Consider this quote from the Apocryphal Book of Maccabees:

1 Maccabees 12:6 (NJB) 5 The following is the copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 `Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests and the rest of the Jewish people to the Spartans their brothers, greetings. 7 `In the past, a letter was sent to Onias, the high priest, from Areios, one of your kings, stating that you are indeed our brothers, as the copy subjoined attests.. 19 The following is the copy of the letter sent to Onias: 20 `Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings. 21 `It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and of the race of Abraham. 22 Now that this has come to our knowledge, we shall be obliged if you will send us news of your welfare. 23 Our own message to you is this: your flocks and your  possessions are ours, and ours are yours, and we are instructing our envoys to give you a message to this effect.' (emphasis ours)

This historical record tells us that the Jews were seeking an alliance with the Spartans to help drive out the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes who had defiled the Temple and were occupying Eretz Yisrael (during this time the legends surrounding the Jewish holiday of Hanukah were formed). The high priest Jonathan writes the Spartans confirming "you are indeed our brothers," and then he attached a letter that the Spartans had sent them which states "It has been discovered in records regarding the Spartans and Jews that they are brothers, and of the race of Abraham." Apparently, documentation existed that the ancient Spartans were confirmed by Judah as biological descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If so, what other peoples on Planet Earth could have ancient Hebrew ancestry?

The various theories concerning the Lost Tribes of Israel are quite perplexing. No one save God Himself knows where they are, so it is feasible to conclude that perhaps billions of people on this planet have ancestry tracing back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Not that one needs such a lineage to be saved.)

Ultimately, the Body of Christ/Messiah is composed of those who are born again, regardless of ancestry. But what if many Christian believers are indeed physical Israelites? How does this change one's perspective concerning the Scriptures? The biological sperma (seed) of Abraham was was promised by God to be spread worldwide. Could it be that there are few people on Planet Earth that can claim to be a true "Gentile," without any ancient Hebrew blood? Consider the possibilities.

                                                  (End Part 2 of 3)

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