Within the last hundred years a sizable division has formed within the Christian Church wherein some Christians believe there will be a future (end time) salvation for the Jews which will fulfill the Promised Restoration of Israel. This belief is often called “Christian Zionism”. Contrarily, other Christians believe the Promised Restoration has already been fulfilled through Christ and the Church. This belief is often called “Replacement Theology” (the Church has “replaced” the Nation of Israel). So which belief is correct?
In order to know, one is must simply know WHAT was promised to be fulfilled and then see if it has already been fulfilled. If it has been fulfilled, then the Replacement Theology may be correct. If not, then Christian Zionism may be correct. So let’s see what was promised to be fulfilled.
The foremost promise of the Restoration of Israel was the coming of a great Savior-King (Messiah). But the next most prominent promise was that the Messiah would miraculously find and bring the 9 lost Tribes of Israel back into Israel. Indeed, THE RETURN OF THE LOST TRIBES IS THE EARMARK OF THE PROMISED RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. (See prophecy references below). Therefore, if the lost tribes have returned to Israel, then the restoration has been fulfilled and the “Replacement Theology” is correct, but if not, then the restoration is yet to come and the “Zionists Christians” are correct.
Now while Christians know about the promised Messiah, most know little about the promises of the return of the lost tribes. And what they do know is most often based on speculative theories and or stem from sources outside the Bible. For example, some speculate the Lost Tribes are hidden in remote places around the world and will suddenly emerge in the end time. The Mormons claims the lost tribes traveled to the Americas and became the American Indians. Another group teaches they migrated into Europe and formed the base of the European nations (German, British, etc…). Yet another group believes the tribes became the black race who will one day defeat the evil white race and rule the world. Contrarily, some Jews believe the lost tribes were absorbed into the Kingdom of Judah long ago—and so there need be no return. And finally, there are those who give no physical account for the Lost Tribes but hold that the promises were only metaphoric to be interpreted in a spiritual sense only. But all this speculation is completely unnecessary as the Bible fully documents the account of the return of the lost tribes. Most Christians miss it simply because they do not really know the Scriptures well enough. But as you will see, the full account of the return of the Lost Tribes is there. But to see it, some back ground is needed.
The Fall of Israel and Promise of Restoration
God separated Israel from the other nations in order for them to become His Holy nation which would bless the whole world. But instead, Israel became utterly sinful and hopelessly broken. So God decided to destroy Israel. However the Prophets foretold that one day God would “Restore” Israel in such a way that they would finally become that Holy Nation which would bless the whole world. The Bible tells the story of the rise, fall and the Restoration of Israel.
Because a man named Abraham had faith, God promised to make his offspring a great nation which would bless the whole world. Abraham’s offspring became the Nation of Israel which consisted of 12 tribes. God offered Israel a Covenant (contract) through which He promised to be their God and give them a beautiful land if they promised to be faithful to Him by keeping His Law. Israel accepted the proposal and became God’s people:
“I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God.” (Ex 6:7)
Under God’s rule Israel became a great nation. But because Israel became prideful in their newly elevated state they rejected God’s rule and chose a man-king to rule them instead. God allowed Israel to have their man-king and tried to work with them. The first king (Saul) sinned against God and was replaced by King David of the tribe of Judah who had a great faith and loved God with all of his heart. And because so, God promised David an everlasting dynasty from which would come a great King who would bless the whole world. But that great King did not come right away; rather, when David’s son Solomon sinned, God took the kingdom (Israel) away from the Judean dynasty and divided Israel into two kingdoms:
The Kingdom of Israel which retained 9 tribes
The Kingdom of Judah (the Jews) which retained 3 tribes.
Both kingdoms had a series of wicked kings who caused their people to fall into sin. But because the Kingdom of Israel was especially wicked God sent Prophets to tell them that He was going to completely destroy them as a nation and cast them out of the Promised Land. However, the prophets also foretold that one day God would RESTORE them. The Prophets used allegories and metaphors to describe how it would all happen.
The Prophet Hosea depicted the people of the Kingdom of Israel as seeds which would be scattered (Jezreel) amongst the gentile nations, wherein God said they would become “not My people”.
Now God only has one people, Israel. All else are “gentiles”. Therefore, if God said the people of the kingdom of Israel would become “not My people” this would simply mean that they would become GENTILES.
Only the 3 tribes of the Kingdom of Judah (the Jews) would remain in the Promised Land as God’s people.
Now while it would seem to be the end of the 9 tribes of the Kingdom of Israel, Hosea also foretold of a later day when God would bring their DESCENDANTS out from the amongst the nations and REUNITE them with Judah to make Israel one Kingdom again. And on that day the descendants of the lost tribes would once again be called God’s people.
“…I will say to those called ‘Not my people, You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:23
The Prophet Isaiah also depicted Israel as seeds implanted amongst the Gentiles—whose “offspring” or “descendants” would remain hidden (like dormant seeds) until God “poured His Spirit out like water” to revive them. Thereafter the descendants of the lost tribes would come to life and once again “take the name Israel”:
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the lord’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘the lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel…” Isaiah 44:5
The Prophet Ezekiel foretold of the Restoration using an allegory of a Shepherd and sheep. Ezekiel prophesied that one day, God himself would come as a Good Shepherd to seek and save the scattered sheep (lost Tribes). On that day, the Good Shepherd would make a New and Everlasting Covenant with ALL Israel (All 12 Tribes) and give them a “New Spirit” which would make them Holy in heart. Moreover, the Shepherd would REUNITE the descendants of the 9 Tribes of Israel with the 3 Tribes of Judah and make Israel ONE Kingdom under ONE King again….forevermore:
“For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I MYSELF will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.” … “I will give you a new heart and put a NEW SPIRIT in you…” … Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them ONE nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and ONE king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.” … “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have ONE shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.” … “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an EVERLASTING COVENANT with them.” Excerpts from Ezek 34-37
Fulfillment of the Restoration of Israel
In John chapter 10 Jesus proclaimed that He was the “Good Shepherd” of Ezekiel’s prophecy promised to come, find the lost sheep and reunited them with Judah to make the two folds (the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah) “ONE flock under ONE Shepherd (King)”:
“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have OTHER SHEEP (lost Tribes of Israel), which are not of THIS FOLD (Judah); I MUST bring them also (to fulfill the prophecy), and they will hear My voice; and they (Israel and Judah) will become ONE FLOCK WITH ONE SHEPHERD.” John 10:14-16
Now Jesus clearly fulfilled Ezekiel’s prophecies when He made the “New and Everlasting Covenant” and gave the “New Spirit” (Holy Spirit) to the Jews. But again, the “Good Shepherd” was also promised to bring back the lost sheep and reunite them with Judah. So where were lost Tribes??? Well, the Lost Tribes did indeed return and the promised reunification and restoration of Israel was fulfilled. But in a way far greater than anyone could have imagined.
The Book of Acts describes how and when the Disciples first came to realize the restoration of the lost tribes was being fulfilled. Acts 15 describes how the New Spirit was poured out on Judah (the Jews). But later Gentiles began to receive the Spirit as well. This caused a problem as some of the Christian Jews maintained that the promised salvation was for Israel alone. They argued that the Gentiles must be converted into Israel through circumcision. But just as they were debating this, the Apostle James suddenly received the revelation that the Gentiles who were receiving the New Spirit were the promised descendants of the lost tribes. Indeed James proclaimed that the spirit-filled gentiles who were joining with them (the Spirit-filled Jews) were fulfilling the promised “Restoration of David’s Fallen Tent”—a prophecy which could ONLY be fulfilled by the return of the lost tribes.
“Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will Restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord…” Acts 15:13
IMPORTANT: By quoting this prophecy, James was proclaiming it FULFILLED. Indeed, the apostles would often quote just a SMALL portion of a prophecy expecting the hearer to understand the ENTIRE prophecy. But sadly because most Christians do not study the Old Testament, they are not familiar with the prophecies; thus they do not understand WHAT the apostles were actually saying. Therefore, it is important to go back and read the entire prophecy that is quoted. Here is a larger portion of the prophecy James quoted from Amos:
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom (the Kingdom of Israel), and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” says the Lord. For surely I will command, and I will sift the HOUSE OF ISRAEL among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest pebble shall fall to the ground. All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘the calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.’ “On that day (a later day) I will raise up the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” says the Lord who does this thing. “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of my people Israel (lost Tribes)…” Amos 9:8
Like Hosea, the Prophet Amos also foretold that God was going to destroy the Kingdom of Israel (not Judah) and banish its people from the Promised Land. And like Hosea, Amos also foretold of a later day when God would lovingly bring back the descendants of the lost Tribes and restore the broken kingdom: “I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down and repair its damages…” Here Amos typified “David” as the last king of the united Israel and the foreshadow of the Savior King promised to restore it. Moreover, Amos added that as another result of the Restoration —Israel would also come to possess gentiles.
In Acts 15, the Apostle James proclaimed that this two fold prophecy (the reunification / restoration of Israel and their possession of gentiles), was being fulfilled at the same time by the gentiles who had received the Holy Spirit and were joining with them (the Spirit-filled Jews). And indeed both prophecies could be fulfilled at the same time by the gentiles—for the Lost Tribes had become gentiles!
The Other Prophets also foretold of the Restoration of Israel and the Great Gentile Blessing synonymously —as though they would take place at the same time. For example:
“And now the LORD says—he who formed me (Jesus) in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:5
So the Prophets would prophesy of the Restoration of Israel and the Gentile Blessing at the SAME TIME because they were to be the SAME EVENT. And they were to be the same event because the lost Tribes had become Gentiles.
IMPORTANT: the descendants of the lost tribes were NOT required to be pure blood Israelites, just their “descendants”. And that could mean very distant descendants—as would be the case here.
After James revelation in Acts 15, the Apostles continued to quote prophecies relaying that the reunification and restoration of Israel was being fulfilled through the Gentiles. In Romans 9:25, Paul attributed the not My People/are My People prophecies of Hosea to the Spirit-filled Gentiles. Those prophecies were given to the people of the Kingdom of Israel—who became the lost Tribes. By attributing those prophecies to the Spirit-filled Gentiles, Paul was explaining that the gentiles were the descendants of the lost Tribes.
In Galatians Chapter 4, Paul quoted another prophecy of the Restoration of Israel to declare to the Gentile Galatians that THEY were the miracle children of the barren woman (Israel), who was told to “enlarge the place of her tent” because her “descendants” would be returning to her in great numbers, “spread abroad” and “possessing the nations”:
“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.” Gal 4:27 / Isaiah 54
THE PROMISED SEED and the MYSTERY of the RESTORATION
With all the allegories of the lost tribes pictured as seeds, it is important to note that the seeds (descendants) of the lost tribes in themselves are not the FUL-fillment of the Promised “seed” of Abraham foretold of in Genesis. Indeed, because Abraham had faith and believed God, it was counted as righteousness to him. And God promised Abraham that through his seed, the whole world would be blessed. Moreover, that He would multiply Abraham’s seed to make them like the stars of heaven and also give them the Promised Land forever. Now although Abraham’s seed did pass down through his descendants (Isaac, Jacob, David, etc…); and his descendants did live in the Promised Land, the Apostle Paul explained that the “seed” which would obtain the fullness of the Promises was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. For while Jesus was the son of Abraham and David—He was also the Son of God. Therefore, because He was of man and of God (Spirit), His “Seed” would form a NEW type of King and Kingdom—the Kingdom of Israel according to the SPIRIT.
And just as the Messiah was promised to be a physical descendant of Abraham and David AND the Son of God, the children of the restored Israel were promised to be the physical descendants of Israel AND the “sons of the Living God”. However, because Jesus is the ONLY begotten Son of God, we can only become “sons of God” through our FAITH in Jesus—faith like that of Abraham. So although one may be physical descendants of Israel, it is ONLY through FAITH in Jesus and receiving His Spirit that they can become a child of the Israel of the Spirit.
Now the Jews who believed in Christ and received His Spirit simply transitioned from the Israel according to the flesh into the Israel according to the Spirit. But the descendants of the lost tribes did not have it so easy. Indeed they had become Gentiles and thus did not fully understand their heritage as the Jews did. Although code had been written on their DNA which caused them to “know” the Shepherd’s “voice”, they needed to relearn the details of their long lost heritage. In fact, they were so far removed they were considered wild branches which needed to grafted in—but not into the old Israel of the flesh to once again be burdened with ceremonies, sacrifices and laws, but into the Israel of the Spirit and the fulfillments of those things through Christ.
THE “MYSTERY” of the RESTORATION
Now the fulfillment of the return of the lost tribes through the Gentiles was not what the Jews were expecting. Indeed, over the centuries the Jews were quite perplexed as to how the lost tribes could possibly ever return and restore Israel in order to bless the whole world as promised. In fact, Paul often referred to this as the great “mystery”. But by sowing the Israelites amongst the Gentiles and then restoring them through Christ, the Promised salvation of Israel has become a salvation for the whole world—and “so that ALL NATIONS might believe and obey”.
“Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him…” Romans 16:25
And through Jesus New Covenant and His Spirit the divided Kingdom of Israel has become ONE again. And by making Israel ONE He has made the whole world (Jew and Gentile) ONE!
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the MYSTERY of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This MYSTERY is that the GENTILES are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Eph 3:4
When the people of the Kingdom of Israel were first banished from the Promised Land, the people of the Kingdom of Judah most likely anticipated that their promised return would happen fairly soon. But after so much time had passed, with no sign of them, the Jews anticipation must certainly have turned to dismay. Indeed, after hundreds of years, Israel’s old territories remained inhabited by the foreign peoples who had been settled there by the Assyrian Empire. Surely it seemed impossible that the lost tribes could ever return. But the Jews did not perceive the prophecies. Indeed, they did not perceive how when Israel became “not My people”, that they had become Gentiles; nor that the Gentiles would become the promised “descendants” who would return to restore Israel. But most importantly, the Jews seemed to have missed the prophecies of which foretold that the descendants of the lost tribes would only return to Israel through the “Good Shepherd” and His “New Spirit”. Instead the Jews have only ever looked for them to return through some fleshly means. But through Jesus and His Holy Spirit, the great “mystery” has been solved. The Promised Restoration of Israel has fulfilled, and the whole world has truly been blessed!
Finally, the Restoration of Israel will continue to be fulfilled as Israelites continue to come to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are still in the “time of the Gentiles“, but once “the full number of Gentiles” (descendants of the lost Tribes) “have come in” (into the Restored Israel), and thus “ALL Israel“(All 12 Tribes) have been “saved”, this wicked world will come to its end. Then the sons of God, the people of the Spiritually Restored Israel will dwell in the eternal Promised Land and the glorified Kingdom of our Great Shepherd King Jesus the Messiah, forever and ever Amen!
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this MYSTERY, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, AND IN THIS WAY all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob (Israel). And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Rom 11:25-27
For more details of the fulfillment of Great Restoration click here: Restoration of Israel (Lost Tribes) Part 2 (coming soon)
RESTORATION CORRUPTIONS
Christian Zionism (Romans 11)
European Migrations
Black Israel