Ephraim And The House of Judah: Part 9 of 9

Part 9:  Ephraim, Manasseh, the Church and the 21st Century.

Luke 15:11-16
“.....A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

(The return of the Prodigal Son.)

Here, in this story of the Prodigal Son and his older brother, we find the final piece of the puzzle.  What do these two boys tell us about the Church today?

The younger son wanted to claim his inheritance early, i.e. before the death of his father.  Then he ran off to a foreign land where he squandered it all.  He was living pretty high on the hog for a while, forgetting all about his father’s house; that is…..until his money ran out and his so-called “friends” along with it.

He took the lowest, most disgusting job a Jewish boy could take:  Feeding pigs.  He became so hungry that even the pig’s food started to look good to him.  It was at this point of desperation that he remembered his father’s house and how everyone there, even the lowliest servant, had plenty to eat.  So he concocted a story to tell his father.

His older brother, on the other hand, had remained at home.  Nothing at all is mentioned about him until the Prodigal returned home.  Let’s follow the story…

(Even the pig's food began to look good.)

““But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’”

Luke 15:17-19

He fully intended to beg his father to take him back and allow him to EARN HIS KEEP.   Hired servants, of course, work for their food.  Notice he didn’t come back home because he was sorry or even the least bit remorseful for squandering his entire inheritance.  He came home because his stomach was growling!

But look what happened when he got in range of home:
““And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son…..’…..and He never said the last part of his rehearsed speech which was:  “Make me one of your hired servants.   How could he in light of such a superabounding grace?  The father lavished on him every blessing just for being his son.  WOW!!!

“…..But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

Luke 15:20-24

(The Prodigal Son's older brother was angry and jealous.)

The older brother had been out working in the fields.  When he heard all the commotion and that his brother had returned home, not only was he not happy that he was safe at home again, he was angry and jealous.  He didn’t even refer to him as his brother.  He also some choice words for his father.  Those words make it clear that, though he was faithfully working away for his father in his fields, there is no love or warmth in his relationship with his Dad.

The father, however, was not angry nor did he rebuke the elder son.  He simply said, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ””

Luke 15:31-32

The older son represents Israel, our elder brother since they have been around a lot longer than us, Church. The Prodigal, however, who wasted his inheritance, represents much of the Church in this way:

Down through history, many churches have squandered their precious inheritance of healing, wholeness and provision by rejecting clear, Biblical teachings that Jesus heals us physically.  They’ve discounted tongues, in particular, and other gifts of the Spirit as for the Church today, to bless and benefit us.  There are many who don’t believe there’ll be a rapture.  Some hold the belief that all prophecy was fulfilled in 70A.D.  Many Churches have reduced all of God’s blessings to only “spiritual,” (as opposed to physical) blessings when in fact they are both.  Then there’s the faux “doctrine” of “replacement theology.”  Many teach that God has rejected Israel and that the Church has replaced her.

These are godly, well-meaning Christians, mind you, who have forgotten that it was through the Jewish people that The One was born Who saved us all; that it is a Jewish tree into which we have been grafted.

Remember, as non-Jewish Christians, we are “adopted” sons of God.  (Please refer to this link on Rightly Dividing the Word of God, part 13 for more on this topic:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-13-of-16rightly-dividing-word-of.html)

The Church is both Ephraim and Manasseh.  

Ephraim, as you know, means “double fruitfulness.”  (See part one of this series.) The Church has been fruitful for God for the last 2,000 years. But Manasseh, which means “forgetfulness,” represents that part of the Church that has forgotten Israel.

But thanks be to God more and more are realizing the truth about Israel.  God, since 1948, has turned back to His ancient people and made them a nation once again.  He is drawing them to Himself and will ultimately restore to them the visible kingdom.  To understand the difference between the kingdom visible and the kingdom invisible, please follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-8-of-16-rightly-dividing-word-of.html.

Ephraim is joined to the House of Judah.

God makes the following amazing statement about these two peoples:

“Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ 

Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 

(God's two covenant peoples on earth.) 

In part 8 we talked about the family stick. How does it figure into our story?

We talked about how  God has two Covenant families in the earth:  Israel and the Church.  We also discussed that, in ancient times, the head of the family carried a stick on which was written all the names of the patriarchs and notable members of their families.

God, referring to this custom, told Ezekiel to take two sticks, one for Judah and one, the stick of Ephraim, for Joseph, each inscribed accordingly.  Joseph is a type of our Heavenly Joseph, Jesus!

Then He told Ezekiel to “join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.”  And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.” ’

And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “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.”

Ezekiel 37:15-22

(Jesus returns to earth to rescue Israel with the Church in tow.)

When Jesus returns to earth in His Second coming with the Church in tow, having been raptured before the tribulation, we will be right by His side. He will rescue Israel from all her enemies and they will all be saved in that one, great day, delivered from all their troubles.

We will be joined together with our brethren into one Covenant people, the Church and the newly-saved nation of Israel, never to be divided again!

Jesus will at long last sit on the throne of His father, David, and rule the whole world from Jerusalem in righteousness and peace.  His millennial rule will bring peace, prosperity, justice and righteousness to all peoples.  No more death, no more sickness, no more tears!
Hallelujah, what a day it will be.

Thank you, Daddy, for Your plan to save the whole world!  Thank you, Daddy, for restoring Israel and saving many of our older brothers!  Thank you for bringing Israel to the Church’s remembrance.

And most of all, thank you for that day soon to come where You will fully unite us with our elder brother:  Ephraim with the House of Judah!

If you missed any part of this series, follow this link to part one:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/04/ephraim-and-house-of-judah-part-1-of-9.html

Ephraim And The House Of Judah: Part 7 of 9

Part 7:  Ephraim and Judah in the 21st century. 

Ezekiel 37:1-3  Valley of dry bones.

“The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” 

(Valley of dry bones.)

In the first 6 parts, we’ve seen the prophetic nature of the book of Genesis both of Jesus and of of the last days.  We’ve also discussed how the story of Joseph and his two sons speak of the Church.  We’ve learned about some exiting things that are happening in Natural Israel as the coming of our Lord Jesus draws nearer.  Now let’s turn our sights on God’ prophetic time clock; the tiniest nation of all:  Israel.

The opening verses are some of the most perplexing in all of scripture, aren’t they?  But just stop and think for a minute:  When you read about this “valley of dry bones,” what picture comes to your mind?  Think recent history, now……..A whole bunch of skeletons……one thrown on top of another…….in large pits or mass graves……..That’s right!  The Holocaust.  It conjures up pictures of the mass graves of Nazi Germany where 6 million Jews were murdered.  Clearly, this passage is not talking about the Church in the last days but about what would happen to natural Israel at the hands of Hitler.

God prophesied the holocaust would happen.  It wasn’t His will, you understand.  He didn’t do it.  You see, though the Jewish people have the blessing of Abraham, they don’t have the whole thing.  They don’t have the all-important protection over them Who’s Name is “Jesus.”

You and I have His protection, Church.  We won’t be going through any holocaust.  He went through it for us.  It's not because we are better than they are. Not a chance. It’s simply because of Jesus!

(Jesus wept over Jerusalem.) 

Now do you understand why He wept so miserably over Jerusalem?  His heart was literally breaking for them.  He saw what was going to happen to them in the future.  He saw their temple being destroyed in 70 A.D.  He saw His people being destroyed in the holocaust.  He wanted so much to protect them.  But they rejected His covering over them and, in so doing, were defenseless.  That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Your house is left to you desolate.”   

But He also prophesied they would come back to their land around the same time as the holocaust. It was that event which would precipitate their return.

Ezekiel 37:4-10

Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.” ’ ”

“So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.”

"Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.”

  

As though from dry bones with no life in them to a great army of living, breathing people, God literally resurrected their nation from the ashes of the holocaust and brought them back to their own land to be a people once again.  In an unprecedented decision by the the United Nations, the Jews were given a place to call, “Home,” and on May 15th,1948, they began coming back to Israel!!  It sent shock waves throughout the whole world!

(For more on this topic, follow the link below about the 19th Book:  Psalms:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-19th-book.html)

After the horrors of the Second World War, the Jewish people had nearly lost all hope.  But God had not forgotten them!

Ezekiel 37: 10-14

“They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it, ” says the LORD.’ ””

Please proceed to part 8 where we’ll talk about God’s two groups of covenant people I the world, the family stick and begin to wrap this subject up:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/04/ephraim-and-house-of-judah-part-8-of-9.html

Ephraim And The House of Judah: Part 6 of 9.

Part 6:  The Next Great Event.

"For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and YOU SHALL BE CLEAN; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;

I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses."  Ezekiel 36:24-28

In parts 1-6 we’ve discussed the story of Joseph, his two sons, what they tell us about the Church, the blessing of Abraham and the most amazing event in history to date:  The Jewish people back in their land after 2000 years!  It has not been without incident, however.  In fact, there has been nothing but opposition.  But God has given them great and miraculous victories over their enemies!

(For more on this topic, follow this link about the prophets aspect of the book of Psalms:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-19th-book.html)

In the opening scripture, there is an event of EPIC proportions that has yet to take place.  We are excitedly waiting for this to happen.  Soon, very soon, a great many of them are going to come to faith in Christ.  They’re going to get saved, HALLELUJAH!  You see, they need Jesus just as much as you and I.

Jewish people who come to know their Messiah don’t like to refer to themselves as “Christians,” but instead “Messianic Jews.”

God goes on to say:

“I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this, ” says the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!””

Ezekiel 36:29-32

 

He will bless them SO MUCH that they will be ashamed of their rejection of Jesus and turn to Him.  They will accept Jesus as their Messiah at last!  It will be God’s goodness that leads them to repent!  In Israel today, more and more are coming to realize that indeed Jesus was the One, the promised Messiah.

The nation as a whole does not yet realize this yet and, by the time the rapture hits, about half the nation of Israel will be ready to go up with the rest of the Church.  That’s the meaning of the parable of the five virgins, recorded in Matthew’s gospel.

(Parable of the five virgins.)

This gospel, in particular, was specifically written TO the Jewish people. Jesus was talking to them about what would happen on earth just prior to His return.  I realize many Christians believe that, because it talks about “virgins,” it is about the Church.  That’s why you hear all that talk about being “rapture ready.”  Some believe that if you’re not “watching, praying and being a good Christian,” you’ll be “left behind in the rapture.  Unfortunately, they have not correctly divided the covenants and are misapplying this scripture to the Church.

(For more on the topic of the five virgins, follow this link:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-3-of-16-rightly-dividing-word-of.html)

(For more on the subject of the rapture, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-third-day.html)

In case you were unaware, Israel, like you and I Church, is also called a “virgin daughter.”  “5,” in other words, “half” of natural Israel, will be ready to go at the time of the rapture; the other half will not.  The “5” that are left here on earth during the tribulation, will be rescued by Jesus at His second coming when He splits the clouds for them.  They will be surrounded by their enemies, hopelessly outnumbered by a world intent on their total annihilation.  Jesus will save entire nation and they will all become believers on that one day!

Please continue on to part 7.  We’ll be discussing the Valley of dry bones plus Ephraim and Judah in the 21st century:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/04/ephraim-and-house-of-judah-part-7-of-9.html

Ephraim And The House of Judah: Part 5 of 9.

Part 5:  Ancient Hatred.

Ezekiel 35 

"1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seír and prophesy against it, ³ and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you;
I will stretch out My hand against you,
And make you most desolate;
⁴ I shall lay your cities waste,
And you shall be desolate.
Then you shall know that I am the Lord."

5" Because you have had an ANCIENT HATRED and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, when their iniquity came to an end,"
 

(Map showing Mt. Seir, East of Ezion Geber in the land of Edom.)

 God is speaking here to the enemies of Israel.  He prophesied that when He brought the Jewish people back to their land there would be “ancient hatred” coming against them to shed their blood.  That’s what we have been seeing exploding all over the Middle East in the news, especially of late.  We are seeing “ancient hatred” exploding.  

What is Mt. Seir?  It is where Esau went to live, located in what is now modern day Jordan, a haven for terrorists in the Middle East.  God has set His face against them.  This region fits perfectly to the area where Islam was birthed:  Medina, Saudi Arabia, near the Eastern border of Jordan, the land of Moab.

(Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867)

Isn’t it curious that 100 years ago, nobody wanted Israel.  Mark Twain visited there in 1867 and found it to be a malaria-infested, deserted wasteland.  He said it was”“….. A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds… a silent mournful expanse…. a desolation…. we never saw a human being on the whole route…. hardly a tree or shrub anywhere.  Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”

Before the Jewish people came back to Israel in 1948 it truly was a God-forsaken land and remained so until her rightful owners returned.  Then, the mountains literally “shot forth their branches” for them!  Israel today has become not only very fruitful but THE MOST hotly-disputed, greatly-desired land on earth, particularly the area of the Temple Mount.  Now, because God’s people have reclaimed their land, even the desert is blooming like the rose!  Today, EVERYBODY wants Israel!

Just as God prophesied, when His people returned to their land, there have indeed been many enemies who have shed their blood.  But God’s hand has been against them.  He has laid their cities waste.  Every nation that has come against the Jews or tried to annihilate them has been destroyed or paid very dearly for their evil.

( Israel in the center surrounded by her enemies.)

Read the rest of Ezekiel 35 to see the judgments that are being meted out to her enemies.  In verse 14 we read,  “‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The whole earth will rejoice when I make you desolate.”  Ezekiel 35:14

Oh, yes we will!

God speaks to the land.
Then in Ezekiel 36, God does a very strange thing.  He turns and speaks to the land itself, in particular, the mountains of Israel.
“And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,’ ” ’”

Ezekiel 36:1-2

What have we been seeing in the news for the last several years?  The enemies of Israel laying claim to land that God gave to Israel.  He is NOT pleased.  He goes on in verse 8 to say:

“8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel;”  Ezekiel 36:8-12.       

(The West Bank.)

Whenever you read about “the mountains of Israel,” in the Bible, God is talking about the West Bank.  It has become hot property as well and much in the news.  You see, the devil knows that his time is short.  He knows that Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, will return to rule the world. He’s not coming back to Paris or London or Rome.  He’s coming back to Jerusalem.  When He does, He will destroy our ancient enemy, satan, once and for all.  He is trying to prevent that by keeping Jerusalem in the hands of his people.

When the Jewish people came back to their land, though it was indeed desolate, it quite literally blossomed under their care!  It has become so fruitful that Israel today is the #1 fruit and flowers exporter to all of Europe, even in winter.  Amazing!  Go to the valley of Jezreel and you’ll see fruitfulness everywhere as well as in the wilderness of Arabah.  It is blossoming like the rose!

(Palm trees in Judean desert, photo courtesy of Will Metcalf.)

Why did God single out the Jewish people?  Are they better than other races?  No.  They are not blessed and singled out because of who they are but who God is.

““Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.”  Ezekiel 36:22-23

This next and greatest event of all in regards to our Jewish brethren is coming soon  We are waiting for this to happen!  Please continue to part 6 where we’ll talk about this topic:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/04/ephraim-and-house-of-judah-part-6-of-9.html