From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Chapter 1: Who are the Two House of Israel
FOREWORD
from
the book by Eddie Chumney
"RESTORING
THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL"
Copies can be purchased for individual or
group study by
writing to me (Eddie Chumney) at: (chumney@hebroots.org)
For over 2,000 years, Orthodox Jews have prayed
for the
Ingathering of the Exiles (Qibbutz Galuyot) from the four corners of
the earth (Deuteronomy 30:1-5). Ever since the destruction of
Jerusalm (Yerushalayim) and the Temple (Beith HaMikdash) by the
Romans in 70 CE (Common Era), Orthodox Jews have prayed three times a
day for this Ingathering (Rafael Patai, The Messiah Texts, Pg 181)
The requests for Redemption and the coming of the
Messiah
(Mashiach) are part of the Amidah prayer (known also as "The Eighteen
Benedictions"). This prayer along with the Shema ("Hear O Israel") is
recited three times a day by Orthodox Jews and is regarded as the
most important daily prayer. The Amidah prayer was edited by Rabban
Gamaliel II soon after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple by the
Romans in 70 CE. The tenth benediction of the Amidah prayer is a
prayer for the Ingathering of the Exiles (Qibbutz Galuyot) (Rafael
Patai, The Messiah Texts, Pg 321) The full text of this tenth
benediction reads as follows:
"Blow the Great Shofar for our
freedom, and lift up a banner
to gather the exiles, and gather us
from the four corners of the
earth. Blessed art Thou, O Lord,
who gathers the banished of thy
people Israel."
This is a prayer for ALL 12 TRIBES to be
gathered back to
the land of Israel. Closely associated with the Ingathering of the
Exiles (Qibbutz Galuyot) is the Ingathering of the Ten Lost Tribes
who were exiled by the Assyrians in 721 BCE and believed to dwell
beyond the mythical river Sambatyon (Rafael Patai, The Messiah Texts,
Pg 181).
It is widely believed among Orthodox Jews
that Elijah will
precede the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach) and will announce the
redemption of the seed of Jacob (all 12 tribes). In an Orthodox
Jewish rabbinic commentary to Leviticus (Vayikra) 26:42 (Mid. Haser
w'Yater, pp. 16, 42) and Rashi ad Leviticus 26:42) it is taught:
"Everywhere in the Bible the name of Jacob
is spelled without
the Hebrew letter vav, except for five
places; and everywhere the
name of Elijah is spelled with a vav,
except for five places. Why? To
teach you that Elijah will come and
redeem the seed of Jacob.
Jacob took the vav from the name of
Elijah as a pledge that
Elijah would come and announce the
redemption of the world
to his children." (Rafael Patai, The
Messiah Texts, Pg 144).
In Luke 1, Zacharias was a priest of the
course of Abijah (I
Chronicles 24:10) who was praying the Amidah prayer in the Temple
(Beit HaMikdash). As he was praying, the angel Gabriel spoke to him
and told him that his prayer had been heard and that he would have a
son named John (Yochanan) who would be of the SPIRIT and power of
ELIJAH. In Luke 1:5-9, 11, 13, 15-17, 67-68, 72-73 it is written:
"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a
certain
priest name Zacharias, of the course of Abia (Abijah); and his wife
was of the daughter of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they
were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that
Elisabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years.
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the
priest's office, his lot was to burn incensewhen he went into the
temple of the Lord ... and there appeared unto him an angel of the
Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense ... the angel
said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard: and thy
wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son; and you shall call his name
John ... he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his
mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel (the seed of Jacob
.. Mid Haser w'Yater, pp. 16, 42, and Rashi ad Leviticus 26:42) shall
he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the
SPIRIT and power OF ELIJAH, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the
children (Malachi 4:5-6) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord ... And his father
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he has visited and redeemed
his people ... to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to
remember his holy covenant; The oath which he swore to our father
Abraham ..."
Orthodox Jews
believe that there is a suffering Messiah
and a Kingly Messiah. The suffering Messiah (Mashiach) is known as
Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph). The Kingly Messiah (Mashiach) is known as
Messiah ben David.
Non-Jews who
believe that Yeshua/Jesus is the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) also believe in a suffering Messiah and a Kingly
Messiah. However, they believe that both of these roles will be
fulfilled by the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In His first
coming, He came to fulfill the role of the suffering Messiah (Messiah
ben Yosef (Joseph)). In His second coming, He will come to fulfill
the role of the Kingly Messiah (Messiah ben David).
In the
first coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus, Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) came in teh
SPIRIT OF ELIJAH (Luke 1:17). Orthodox Jews believe that Elijah will
announce the redemption of the seed of Jacob to his children (Mid.
Haser w'Yater pp. 16, 42 and Rashi ad Leviticus 26:42). Is it
possible that prior to the second coming of the Jewish Messiah
(Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus that the God of Israel will use the SPIRIT OF
ELIJAH through an outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT to announce the
redemption of the seed of Jacob (All 12 tribes) to the seed of Jacob
(house of Israel / Christianity and the house of Judah / Judaism) and
to the world?
*************************************************************
CHAPTER
1
WHO ARE THE TWO HOUSES
OF ISRAEL?
from
the book by Eddie Chumney
"RESTORING
THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL"
Copies can be purchased for individual or
group study by
writing to me (Eddie Chumney) at: (chumney@hebroots.org)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER
1
WHO ARE THE TWO
HOUSES OF ISRAEL?
Who are the two houses of Israel? Historically, they were the
Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) and the
Southern Kingdom (house of Judah). Today, the two houses of the G-d
of Israel are known by the more common names of Christianity (house
of Israel) and Judaism (house of Judah). Both Christianity (house of
Israel) and Judaism (house of Judah) worship the G-d of Israel.
However, they have historically disagreed with the method of
expressing true Biblical worship to the G-d of Israel. These
disagreements have divided the children of the G-d of Israel into two
houses of worship of the G-d of Israel. Why are the two houses of
Israel (Christianity and Judaism) divided?
There are two MAJOR disagreements between the two houses of
Israel (Christianity and Judaism). These two
major disagreements are the role of the Torah in true Biblical
worship of the G-d of Israel and who is the Jewish Messiah
(Mashiach). In spite of these two disagreements, both houses of
Israel have been used by the G-d of Israel to preserve the following
two very important truths within the Kingdom of the G-d of Israel.
Judaism (house of Judah) has preserved the truth that the Torah is
eternal and is the Tree of Life given by the G-d of Israel.
Christianity (house of Israel) has preserved the truth that
Yeshua/Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach).
THE
FAMILY OF THE G-D OF ISRAEL
IS
LIKE AN OLIVE TREE
Allegorically speaking, the family (mishpochah) of the G-d of
Israel is likened to an olive tree. In Jeremiah
(Yermiyahu) 11:16-17 it is written:
"The Lord called thy name. A green olive tree . For
the Lord of
hosts, that planted thee . the house of Israel AND of the
house
of Judah."
The house of Judah (Judaism) is the root and natural branches of
the olive tree of the G-d of Israel. The
house of Israel (Christianity) is GRAFTED into this olive tree.
In
Romans 11:13, 17 it is written:
"For I speak to you Gentiles [Christianity] . and
thou, being a
wild olive tree, wast grafted in among them [the natural
root of
the house of Judah]."
From the viewpoint of the G-d of Israel, He only has one family
(mishpochah) that consists of natural branches
(house of Judah/Judaism) and wild branches (house of
Israel/Christianity). The wild branches have been grafted into
the
natural root (house of Judah/Judaism). In Ephesians 4:3-6 it is
written:
"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit [Ruach]
in the bond
of peace [shalom]. There is one body
[kahal/congregation/ekklesia/church] . one Lord, one faith
[emunah] . one God and Father of all, who is above all and
through all, and in you all."
A REJECTION OF
REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY
It may be a new revelation to many members within traditional
Judaism and Christianity that the house of the G-d of
Israel is divided and that Judaism represents the house of Judah and
Christianity represents the house of Israel. Furthermore, there are
an increasing number of people within both houses of Israel to whom
the G-d of Israel is revealing this truth through the outpouring of
His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh).
There are various "Christian" groups who teach that
there are two
houses of Israel. However, some of these groups
teach a poisonous and unbiblical doctrine of elitism (they are a
special race of people) and replacement theology (they are the
"new
Israel") against the house of Judah (Judaism). Because of
these
poisonous and unbiblical doctrines, many within true Biblical
Christianity (house of Israel) who reject the poisonous doctrines
of
elitism and replacement theology against the house of Judah
(Judaism)
are reluctant to accept the Biblical truth that there are two
houses
of Israel.
In embracing the truth of the two houses of Israel, this book
REJECTS all forms, thought and intent of elitism and
replacement theology against the house of Judah (Judaism). On the
contrary, the purpose of this book is to promote restoration,
reconciliation and unity between the house of Judah (Judaism) and
the
house of Israel (Christianity).
THE RESTORATION OF BOTH HOUSES OF
ISRAEL
In order for restoration and reconciliation to come to both
houses of Israel, they need to repent (teshuvah) to the
G-d of Israel and to each other. The house of Israel
(Christianity)
needs to embrace the Hebraic/Jewish roots of their faith in
Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah (Mashiach). Meanwhile, the house of Judah
(Judaism) needs to continue to follow the Torah of the G-d of Israel
while maintaining and keeping their Jewish identity when accepting
that Yeshua/Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). The repentance,
reunification, reconciliation and unity of both houses of Israel are
prophesied in Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 37:15-27 as it is written:
"The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
Moreover, thou
son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For
Judah,
and for the children of Israel his companions: then take
another
stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim,
and
for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them
one to
another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine
hand.
And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,
saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?
Say
unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the
stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the
tribes
of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even
with the
stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be
one
in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be
in
thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith
the
Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from
among
the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on
every
side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make
them
one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and
one
king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more
two
nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms
any
more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more
with
their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any
of
their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their
dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse
them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
And
David my servant [Messiah ben David] shall be king over
them;
and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk
in my
judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them [follow the
Torah of the G-d of Israel]. And they shall dwell in the
land
that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your
fathers
have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and
their
children, and their children's children forever: and my
servant
David [Messiah ben David] shall be their prince forever.
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it
shall be
an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them,
and
multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of
them
forevermore [the Messianic Age/Athid Lavo]. My tabernacle
also
shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they
shall be
my people."
MAY BRETHREN
DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY
When and how will the two houses be reunited? This book will
examine some of the theological issues that have
historically divided the two houses of Israel and when and how
they
will be reunited in the end of days.
The first part of the book will discuss some of the theological
issues that have historically divided the two houses of
Israel. Among the items that will be studied are the issues of
Torah
and grace, the Sabbath (Shabbat), the Jewishness of the Messiah
(Mashiach), the deity of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach), the 7,000
year plan of the G-d of Israel and who is the church and who is
Israel.
The second part of the book will focus on how and when the two
houses will be reunified in the end of days. The
importance of the birth of the modern day state of Israel,
the city
of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) and the role that Israel's peace
agreements with her Arab neighbors will play in the eventual
reunification of both houses of Israel will be studied. By
parting
the land of the G-d of Israel (Joel [Yoel] 3:2) and the city of
Jerusalem (Zechariah [Zecharyah] 14:2), the G-d of Israel will
judge
the nations. When the two houses of Israel repent and are
redeemed,
restored, reconciled and dwell together in unity, the following
events will occur.
1. The exile of both houses
of Israel will end and they
will return to the land of
Israel (Ezekiel [Yechezekel]
37:15-27).
2. The Jewish Messiah
(Mashiach) will dwell with His people
teaching the Torah to all
nations from the city of
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
during the Messianic Age (Athid
Lavo) (Isaiah [Yeshayahu]
2:2-3).
May brethren from both houses of Israel dwell together in unity.
In Psalm (Tehillim) 133 it is written:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
[from the
house of Israel (Christianity) and the house of Judah
(Judaism)]
to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious
ointment
upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's
beard:
that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of
Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of
Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life
forevermore."
May the G-d of Israel pour out His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)
and bring restoration, reconciliation and unity to
both the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel
(Christianity) speedily in our days. Amen!
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