This paper is based on G-d’s truth as given in His Word, and the reader with the Set-Apart Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) as his witness will have to determine if he accepts it.To insure ease of reading, all scripture has been included for the reader’s convenience in determining the accuracy of the thesis presented. I prayerfully hope this paper will help assist those who have been indoctrinated into the man-made doctrine of Church Replacement Theology will be better equipped to rightly divide the Word of G-d.
In Gen. 17:7-8 G-d restated His covenant made with Abraham with utmost clarity:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a G-d unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their G-d.
This covenant and its promise resident in the “Promised Son” Isaac was passed on down to the Jews of today as the only identifiable, legitimate heirs of G-d’s promise through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Those that dislike the Jews have a few problems with this covenant and many have substituted “church replacement” theology in order to reconcile their agenda to fact. Some try to limit it to Old Testament times, but it is everlasting as we have just seen. Israel and the Jews are chosen and the land is given to them “forever” (Gen. 13:15). We must clarify a “true Jew” which is defined by Yahshua in Romans chapters 2-3 and lovers of G-d in John chapter 14.
Gen. 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
We see the evidence of the partial fulfillment of this covenant today. The Jewish people are back in the land of Israel, but not all the land as of yet. However, I should like for you to note that only the tribe of Judah is back in the land awaiting the return of the remainder of Israel. The mistake most people make is viewing Israel and Judah synonymous, or as one. Think of it this way, all Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews. You will see the distinction as we progress further in this study.
Let us now examine the scripture quoted by most scholars as authoritative for G-d establishing a “new” covenant with the Gentile Church. All translations are from the KJV except where indicated.
Jer. 31:31-33
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-d, and they shall be my people.
The above scripture testifies that the “New Covenant” is to be made with Judah and Israel and it should be understood that G-d is speaking of a physical, corporate Israel, made up of Judah/Israel and Ephraim/Israel…not a spiritual Israel as many Christians incorrectly suppose (Church Replacement Theology). We have yet to see the regathering of all Israel and all of Judah. This scripture also serves as evidence against antinomians who claim they have a new law and that G-d’s Torah is dead or for the Jews only. When that prophecy is fulfilled Israel (The ten lost tribes) and Judah will have been reunited and that want take place until the Messiah comes again.
Now let us go to scripture for the fulfillment of this promise.
Luke 22:20 The backdrop here is Yahshua’s “Last Supper” and He is celebrating Passover that the church has turned into communion.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
What did Yahshua say? In fulfillment of the promise of Jer. 31 He says this is the “New Testament,” or better, refreshed, renewed, Covenant with Israel as represented by His Talmidim seated around the Passover table. There are no Gentiles at this table.
In Ephesians, we read Sh’aul speaks of those that “were formerly Gentiles.”
Eph. 2: 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without G-d in the world.
13 But now in Messiah Yahshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah (NIV).
Furthermore, in Romans 11:17 we see that Gentiles must be grafted into Israel and partakers of Israel’s covenants.
Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
This plainly means that Gentiles must be partakers of the covenants of Israel including the Torah and no covenant exists outside the commonwealth of Israel.
Now read Hebrews 8:6-12
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:(quoting from Jer. 31:31-33)
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a G-d, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Note that the writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31 through Jeremiah 33 verbatim. There can be no doubt that this new, renewed or refreshed covenant is with the House of Israel and the House of Judah and not with the “Gentile Church.” It should also be pointed out that in references to the “church,” the Greek, ekklesia rendered “church” is in fact “called out ones.” For instance, the Bride of Christ, “the church” is in fact the “called out ones.” Judah/Israel, Ephraim/Israel as scripture plainly teaches.
The reference to “better covenant” means the transformation of the Temple cult from the Levitical Priesthood to the Priesthood of Yahshua as Cohen HaGadol of the order of Melchizedek. Read all the passages and you will find the subject is the Levitical priesthood being transformed by a better, permanent, heavenly order of priesthood of Yahshua after the Order of Melchizedek. It is not about a “New” Covenant or Testament.
What most Christians forget is that the early “church” was not a “gentile church.” Scripture speaks of the early believers as another sect of Judaism. They were following the promised Messiah of Israel and the promises of YHVH Elohim as relates to their people. Further, they continued to meet in synagogues and the Temple; for the Scripture speaks of them, calling them members of “The Way.”
Acts 24: 5
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: (today in Israel the Hebrew word for Christians is Nazaret)
We’re talking about Sha’ul (Paul) here standing before Herod’s judgment hall in Israel and Paul responds to the charges in Acts 24:14.
Acts 24:14
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the G-d of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Acts 26: 5-7 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straightest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of G-d unto our fathers: (Patriarchs)
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving G-d day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (Jewish Leaders).
To be sure that there is understanding I shall have to regress. We have to get the premise right in order for al the suppositions to be right. With the correct understanding, even when read as translated in most English bibles we note that when the L-rd speaks of this “new covenant” He says He will make it “with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah”
Why does G-d speak of Israel and Judah? Christianity has made Jew/Judah synonymous with Ephraim/Israel. As I earlier indicated, the land of Israel exists today, but only Judah is back in the land.
After the death of Solomon, the twelve tribes of Israel divided into two separate kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom-Israel and the Southern Kingdom-Judah. We read about this in the following passages:
1 Kings 11:26-39
26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.
28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the G-d of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the G-ddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the G-d of the Moabites, and Milcom the G-d of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
And in 12:21 we read:
21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
These two houses repeatedly went to war against each other and to the very end maintained two separate kingdoms and kings. We read the following in:
1 Kings 14:30
30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
1 Kings 15:16
16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Their separateness, hostility and warfare continued until the Assyrians completely took away the Ephramite Kingdom, The Ephraimites/Israel were assimilated among the Assyrian Nations and thereafter became known as the ten Lost Tribes.
Although Christianity refers to the Jews/Judah as though they were all of Israel, scripture plainly teaches that these two Houses: Judah and Israel have never reunited as some teach.
Read: Zech 8:3, 7, 13; 9:13; 11:14 you will understand what I mean.
8: 3 Thus saith YHVH; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of YHVH of hosts the holy mountain.
7 Thus saith YHVH of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
9:13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
11:14 Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
And we continue to read in Jer. 3:14-18; 31:19-19, 50:4-5, 20
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith YHVH, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of YHVH: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of YHVH; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of YHVH, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art YHVH my G-d.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
4 In those days, and in that time, saith YHVH, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their G-d.
5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant (yet to come) that shall not be forgotten.
20 In those days, and in that time, saith YHVH, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
In Isa. 11: 11-14, 1 Sam 17:45; Oba. 1:18; and finally in Eze. 37:23 we read:
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea (Britian~US-Australia-etc.)
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 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.
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
1 Sam 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of YHVH of hosts, the G-d of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
Oba 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph 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 YHVH hath spoken it.
Eze. 37: 23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their G-d.
The Israelites have been lost to their identity since Assyria swept them away, but their exile and anonymity was their Divine Destiny for when Jacob/Israel crossed his hands to bless the sons of Joseph he said of Joseph’s son Ephraim, his descendants shall become a melo hagoyim (Gen. 48:19)” Melo means “fullness” and Goyim means “Gentiles.” Thus, Jacob prophesied that the descendants of Ephraim/Israel would become the “fullness of Gentiles.” That’s another way of saying that they would become unrecognizable from Gentiles.
The prophet Hosea warned the Ephraim/Israelites of their pending punishment and YHVH scattered them among the nations. Yet, YHVH promised that one day the descendants of these people would become the “sons of the living G-d.”
Hos. 1:10 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 in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living G-d.
We cannot with certainty know the absolute truth about one’s physical/biological heritage. It remains hidden to humanity, but not hidden to an all-knowing G-d. He who knows the number of hairs on your head. He also knows exactly where scattered among the nations are the Israelites. Hosea says, “though swallowed up among the nations,” (Hos. 8:8) “nevertheless they are not lost to the Father.”
Hos. 8: 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
For in Amos 9:9 we read what G-d says:
9: 9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
G-d is saying not one kernel will be lost to Him. Yahshua began to search for the lost sheep of the House of Israel and to gather them into a flock, even as He prophesied.
In Romans 11:15-28 we read:
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if G-d spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of G-d: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for G-d is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Sha’ul (Paul) here is talking about Ephraim/Israel being cast off, scattered throughout the Gentile nations, but eventually to be brought back into union with Judah. And at that time true Gentile believers will be grafted into Israel as partakers of the covenants and promises delivered to her. He is explaining the mystery that seem to have deluded most of Christianity until now.
But to better understand read Eze. 37:19-28
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G-D; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, (gentiles) and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G-D; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And 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:
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their G-d.
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their G-d, and they shall be my people.
28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
Is there a lot to explain when scripture is followed and you comprehend how separate covenants and promises were delivered to Ephraim/Israel and Judah/Israel, separate entities. An analogy would be my being a Floridian, but also a US citizen. Not all US citizens live in Florida, so a New Yorker is a US citizen, but not a Floridian. We have federal laws, privileges, and entitlements as US citizens, but state laws and entitlements are different, and punishment for their infractions or the privileges received different depending on the state. Being cognizance of this should help to unravel the mystery of Judah and Israel. Isn’t it obvious that in verse 19 G-d is going to gather the stick of Judah, and the stick of Joseph combining Israel with his fellows, Ephraim (A technical word for Gentiles) together (all true believers) and make One stick of them. He is going to bring them all into the land He has given them, make them one nation which shall walk in His judgments and observe and do His statutes. He is going to set Yahshua HaMashiach over them forever and G-d is going to dwell in the midst of His people Israel.
Yahshua said in John 17:11 that He desired that His people be ONE as He and the Father are ONE. And He who is ONE with the Father said: “I was sent to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Yahshua also said, “I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other (Gentile) sheep, which are not of this fold, I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become ONE flock (Israel) with ONE shepherd” (John 10:16).
True believers who define themselves according to the Seven Fold Witness of Yahshua found in Revelations are a prototype of the latter day called out ones of G-d. We see Judah and Israel being presently regathered becoming one entity along with their fellow travelers Gentiles in these latter days. The covenants were given to Israel and different promises were given to the tribes, but no promise or covenant was ever given to the Gentile Church. One day the eccleskia, Jew, Israelite and Gentile shall regathered united as one in Yahshua HaMashaiach, who was born a Jew, as foretold by Jewish prophets in the Jewish Scriptures, who is to return and will rule a reunited Israel as a Jewish King sitting on the throne of David, from Jerusalem, in the land of Israel.
Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai
Original written by Rabbi Davis (R. Milchamah b. David)
Booklets available for $3.00 each by sending a check to Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue P.O Box 203 Lecanto, Fl 34461
chadash, khaw-dash’; a prim. root; to be new; caus. to rebuild:–renew, repair. 2319. chadash, khaw-dawsh’; from H2318; new:–fresh, new thing. This is the word used for a new moon. The moon is not recreated or made new it is simply a phase or renewal of an eternally existing orbital object.
3501. neos, neh’-os; includ. the comp. neoteros, neh-o’-ter-os; a prim. word; “new”, i.e. (of persons) youthful, or (of things) fresh; fig. regenerate:–new, young
=242. diatheke, dee-ath-ay’-kay; from G1303; prop. a disposition, i.e. (spec.) a contract (espec. a devisory will):–covenant, testament.