3 October 2023
On or about the year 722 BC, the ten northern tribes of Israel were led away as captives by the army of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (Wikipedia). What ever became of these tribes? Were they lost to history, or did they resurface in various places all over the world, as some believe? Actually, in the sixth century BC, the Persians, under Cyrus, allowed the Jews to return to Israel, and many did [see Wikipedia, the Book of Ezra].
For a real Christian, this notion of the lost 10 tribes is at the best a myth and a the worst a heresy. If you are a true Christian who believes that these 10 tribes were somehow 'lost to history' (and many people do, it seems), then it must be on the basis of events that occurred after the first century AD, not before. Because before that, there is loads of scriptural evidence that the twelve tribes were still around and indentifiable.
The Apostle Paul explained to King Agrippa:
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers: 7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. -- Acts 26:5-7So, when Paul said "twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night," he referred to the present situation of his day -- which was mid-first century AD.
Then there was the Apostle James:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. -- James 1:1What James proclaimed is that the twelve tribes (twelve = 2 + 10) which were geographically scattered, but obviously not lost to history, at least not in his own day, which is the point I'm trying to make.
Apparently the twelve tribes of the children of Israel were not lost to the Apostle John at the end of the first century AD.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: -- Revelation 21:10-12.
Jesus had things to say about the twelve tribes too.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:27-28Here it seems that Jesus is still keeping tabs on the Twelve Tribes well into the future, for the events He spoke of are, even in this day, yet to come (The Millennial Reign of Christ).
A true Christian cannot just ignore the evidence in these verses. You cannot get by by saying, "Well, maybe Paul was wrong," for example. If you're going to dismiss the verse I quoted, you're going to have to prove that Paul was wrong, and then your entire faith would be on sinking sand.
You either get control of your lusts and feelings of entitlement or they will get control of you. -- Ilfinor