The Lost Tribes of Israel

George Burnside

Fact or Fiction?

DOES THE BIBLE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE JEWS?

It has been claimed that there is a distinction right through the Bible between the Jews and Israel. All Jews are Israelites, but all Israelites are not Jews.” It is also claimed that the Jews or Judah, returned from captivity, but the tribes of Israel were lost. This, we are assured is the Key to the British-Israel Truth.

What are the Bible Facts on this Question?

When the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah went into captivity, God promised that He would cause them both to return again to their own land. Jeremiah 29:10-14.

Both Judah and Israel would be in this Restoration from captivity, for the destruction of Babylon would immediately be followed by the deliverance of both Israel and Judah “together.” This is the clear statement of the sure Word of Prophecy.

Jeremiah 50:4. “In that time, said the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together,” Note that both houses of Israel - for Judah was part of Israel would be involved when God promised (Jeremiah 50:19), “I will bring Israel again to his habitation.” To claim that only Judah was restored is to ignore the plain statement of Scripture.

Jeremiah 30:3. “For lo, the days come, said the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, said the Lord: and I will cause them (both Israel and Judah) to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.”

Jeremiah 33:7. “And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and I will build them as at the first.”

These infallible predictions and promises were fulfilled in the restoration of both Judah and Israel. To claim that only Judah returned is to ignore the plain statements of Scripture.

Ezra 6:17. “Offered at the dedication of this house of God a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.”

With repetition for emphasis, we read a similar statement in Ezra 8:35. “Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel.” The twelve bullocks represented the twelve tribes of “all Israel.”

It is very evident that no tribes were lost. The Word of God, never mentions any lost Tribes of Israel, for there never were any lost tribes.

In Luke 2:36 we read of Anna, “a prophetess, of the tribe of Aser,” while in Acts 4:36, “Barnabas a Levite,” is mentioned, yet both of these tribes are claimed to be lost. These tribes were not lost. The phrase “the lost tribes of Israel,” or any similar statement is not found within the covers of God’s Word. To claim they were lost is to add to the Bible.

Judah and Israel become One Kingdom after the Captivity.

Ezekiel 37:16, 17. “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 your hand.” The stick represented the tribal rod. (Numbers 17:2).

Ezekiel 37:22 “1 will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.”

After this restoration from captivity, we find the terms “Jews,” and “Israel,” used interchangeably for the same people. In Ezra, the same people are called “Jews” 8 times and “Israel” 40 times. In Nehemiah the same people are called “Jews” 11 times and “Israel” 21 times. Then in the New Testament the same people are called “Jews” 174 times and “Israel” 74 times. As Judah was the strongest tribe in the restoration, the term Jews, (from Judah,) became a common expression to designate the people of Israel.

The “British Israel” teachings fail on many other counts. For instance here are but a few

The British and Americans are not Israel. They came of the line of Japhath, whereas Abraham and later Israel, came of the line of Shem.
The Sabbath was the sign of Israel. Exodus 31:13-18. The British and American peoples have never as a people kept the true seventh-day Sabbath, which is the sign of Israel. A small percentage of them have, but the same small percentage is to be found among practically all nations and peoples. These few have the sign of the Israel of God.
Circumcision was given to the father of Israel and this was to be practiced by them. Genesis 17:14. It was to be the token of the covenant between Me and thee,” declared the Lord. Genesis 17:11. No one would be foolish enough to declare that this was a practice among the British or American peoples.

2 Corinthians 1:20. “All the promises of God are in Him (Christ Jesus).” Those in Christ those who are born again, blood-bought children of God, these and these only, constitute the Israel of God today. These are the only Israelites that come into the scope of God’s promises today. Israel means a God-ruled man. Nationality in God’s sight counts for nothing.

Romans 2:28. “He is not a Jew which is one outwardly.” God’s people are not of the tribe of Judah, Britain, or the U.S.A., but they are of the tribe of God.

Romans 9:6. “They are not all Israel which are of Israel.” Many therefore, are descendants of Israel, but they are not Israelites in God’s sight.

Isaac was born by a miracle. God’s Israelites are by grace, not race. They are thus God-ruled men and women. May we be Israelites indeed – God ruled.