January 26, 2008
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A ‘Two Houses of Israel’ Tract
A ‘Two Houses of Israel’ Tract
compiled, edited, and composed by Aviel E. Rodriguez
Ezekiel 37:15-19; 22…
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: And 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 of all the house of Israel his companions; and join them for thee one to another into one stick, that they may become one in thy hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying: wilt thou not tell 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 companions; and I will put them unto him together with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand… 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…
The Holy Scriptures refer to Ephraim & Judah as the:
Two Houses of Israel (Isaiah 8:14)
Two Nations & Two Countries (Ezekiel 35:10)
Two Sticks (Ezekiel 37:15-20)
Two Families (Jeremiah 33:24)
Two Sisters (Ezekiel 23:2-4)
Two Branches (Zechariah 4:11-14)
Two Witnesses/Lampstands (Revelation 11:3-4)
Judah & Ephraim/Israel have been at war with one another since the dividing of David’s Kingdom in the days of Rehoboam, his grandson. [1Kings 12:20-24]… and even to this day… However…
JUDAH & EPHRAIM WILL BE RECONCILED AND REUNITED FOR THE COMING OF MESSIAH:
· Isaiah 11:12-13
And He will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the dispersed of Israel [Ephraim], and gather together the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. [Please note that according to the above, it's only when the envy [“qin’ah” i.e., jealousy, anger] of Ephraim ceases towards Judah that then the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off!
· Zechariah 9:13-16
For I bend Judah for Me, I fill the bow with Ephraim, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Javan [Greece], and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man.
And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord GOD shall blow the horn, and will go with whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts will defend them; and they shall devour, and shall tread down the sling-stones…
…And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they shall be as the stones of a crown, glittering over His land.
· Obadiah 1:18
And the house of Jacob [Judah] shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph [Ephraim] will be a flame, And the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; And there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; For the LORD hath spoken it.
So, it becomes quite evident that Judah’s adversaries will not be overcome without the help of brother Ephraim.
WHO IS EPHRAIM???
The Patriarch Jacob/Israel said of Ephraim (the son of Joseph)–“his seed shall become a multitude of nations.” [Genesis 48:17-19] [Ephraim shall be a “Melo hagoyim”: a “fullness of Gentiles”]
In later years, because of their persistent spiritual adulteries, Yahweh would yet again prophesy concerning Ephraim:
· Jeremiah 2:21
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant Of a strange vine unto Me? [Please note that the words “degenerate” and “strange” regarding Israel/Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) have the following respective meanings: “to be degraded” and to now be a “foreign” (alien, unknown) vine to the God of Israel.]
Therefore, according to the Prophets, Israel/Ephraim [The Ten Northern Tribes] would be punished for their sin by Yahweh: in that they would be invaded, captured, deported and ultimately swallowed up among the Gentile nations; and thus lost to their brother, Judah [for a predetermined time (Micah 5:3)]… Thus, Hosea prophesied:
· Hosea 8:8
Israel [Ephraim] is swallowed up; now are they become among nations as a vessel wherein is no value.
· Amos 9:9-10a
For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel [Ephraim] among ALL the nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword…
THE KEY TO IDENTIFYING EPHRAIM!
· Jeremiah 30:24b; 31:1-2; 6-7
… In the end of days ye shall consider it. At that time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Thus saith the LORD: The people that were left of the sword [see Amos 9:10a above] have found grace [unmerited favor/ the ‘good news of salvation’] in the wilderness, even Israel, when I go to cause him to rest… For there shall be a day, that the watchmen [in Hebrew: the NOTZRIM / CHRISTIANS] shall call upon the mount EPHRAIM: ‘Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, unto the LORD our God.’ For thus saith the LORD: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout at the head of the nations [USA]; announce ye, praise ye, and say: ‘O LORD, save Thy people, the remnant of Israel.’[The “Hebraic Roots” or “Christian Zionist” movement spans all colors, nations, and Christian denominations. They’re the staunchest friends and allies of the State of Israel. Their numbers are great; and yet, the vast majority don’t understand what’s written here.
Could it be that they’re responding to a predestined prophetic call which Yahweh has placed in their hearts for this hour? It would appear so. In fact, they’ve begun to fulfill the ancient prophecy pertaining to Ephraim/Israel-- i.e., that of becoming the true Ephraimite “watchmen” [“Notzrim”- meaning: the “preservers/guardians” of Israel].
Isaiah the Prophet confirms:
· Isaiah 10:22
For though thy people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them shall return…
And lastly… Hosea, the Prophet to Ephraim/Israel, confirms:
· Hosea 1:10-11
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, instead of that which was said unto them: ‘Ye are not My people’, it shall be said unto them: ‘Ye are the children of the living God.’ And the children of Judah and the children of Israel [Ephraim] shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up out of the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel. [The great day of recognizing and reaping that which God hath sown!]
This miraculous ‘restoration and reunification of both Houses of Israel’ is now beginning to manifest its ‘birth-pang stages’; after a gestation period of several decades. Despite the great lack of conscious awareness among the Body of Messiah, nevertheless, the fulfillment of ancient prophecies- regarding Ephraim’s return and reunion with the House of Judah- are increasingly gaining speed. Check out the following video in which a well known Orthodox Jewish broadcaster, by the name of Jeremy Gimpel, essentially, seeks to reveal the essence of the last quoted Scripture (Hosea 1:10-11) to a sincere and fervent Christian man. Please click on the following: Orthodox Jew Reveals Hidden Mystery To Christian … and then, click on photo below…
The Two Sticks of Ezekiel 37_One in Yeshua
