John Gibson 1758 map of Negro Land in Guinea with Judah/Whidah on the slave coast
Although I did go over this topic in my article Law Vs Love, I wanted to write this because it has been on my heart and there is a lot of going back and forth regarding what it means to be an Israelite. What exactly does it mean when a person says they’re an Israelite/Jew/Hebrew and is there any value to having lineage of the children of the Covenant after Yeshua (Jesus) has ascended? The same Paul that tells us there is neither Jew nor Greek is also the same Paul that went out of his way to let us know that he was a Hebrew Israelite by birth of the tribe of Benjamin of the House of Judah. When Paul states that there is neither Jew nor Greek, he is speaking of salvation. Salvation is through Yeshua alone and there is no partiality regarding claims to the Kingdom of Heaven. But there is also a specific reason that YAH chose a specific people among the families of the Earth.
6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
-Deuteronomy 7:6–8
Lineage and Race
So here we find out that the reason YAH chose His people was not because they were a large, intimidating family of people. They were a small peoples and likely would have starved to death in the great famine had Elohim (God of Israel) not saved them through their brother Joseph in Egypt. It is also important to understand that lineage and race are two different things. Lineage is anthropology, descendants according to blood throughout time. To say you are Hebrew is to say your ancestors go through Abraham. To say you are Israelite is to say your ancestors go through Jacob. To say you are a Jew is to say you are of the Southern Kingdom of Israel: the House of Judah by birth. So race wouldn’t tell you any of these things and simply put, race is very deceptive and spreads confusion because race hides lineage. So again, when speaking about salvation, lineage does not matter because whoever has Yeshua has life regardless of lineage. So how do we know that lineage still matters then? Well it is certainly useful in understanding prophecy and helpful in figuring out where the world is regarding end time prophecies (see my article on the Daughter of Babylon for reference here). But outside of the world timeline of end times events, is Israel still important? In Revelation, Yeshua makes an interesting statement:
Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
-Revelation 3:9
So there is a lot being said here but for now, let’s focus on why Yeshua would say this. It clearly reveals that it upsets Him that there are people claiming to be Jews who are not. If it no longer mattered who the Jews are, then why would Yeshua make this statement regarding these false jews? This is even the second time He mentioned these false jews in Revelation. He also reveals that He Himself will move against them and make them recognize the true Jews and to know that He loves His people as Yeshua is a Jew Himself. Now notice that I say that He “is” a Jew and not “was.” Let’s take a look at another passage from Revelation:
So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
-Revelation 5:4, 5
Yeshua The Jew
So here this elder calls Yeshua the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David even after Yeshua’s resurrection and His ascension back into Heaven.
"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
-Revelation 22:16
Notice here in chapter 22, Yeshua confirms what the elder implied. That He indeed is (present tense) the Root and Offspring of David, deliberately mentioning His lineage and therefore He is still a Jew even in the resurrection. So then does that mean that being a Hebrew Israelite makes you better than others or puts you higher than others? No, we know this because many of us have realized our Hebrew Israelite heritage through the curses, not the blessings. In fact, it is clearly stated that it was not because of Israel’s righteousness that they were chosen, for YAH knew His people were stiff-necked to begin with:
Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
-Deuteronomy 9:6
Weight of Being Hebrew Israelite
To say you are of Israelite heritage is to say your ancestors were responsible for handing over Yeshua the Messiah to the Gentiles to kill Him, it means it is the Negro/Jew’s ancestors that killed nearly all the old prophets. So there is a heavy accountability that goes with saying we are Hebrew Israelites and it is not a light statement. In fact in many ways it is as heavy as the curses that are on us today as I write this… In any case, being Israelite also means you are of the chosen people of YAH and therefore more is expected of us. This is why Israel has suffered so much throughout the history of the world, we continually fall away from our Elohim and He has revealed Himself to us so He expects us to know better. His wrath blazed against us but He is just as relentless in His mercies toward us when we believe on Him. Let’s continue to look at some other passages:
"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. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." ' "
-Ezekiel 37:24–28
YAH's Chosen Family Among The Earth
Now here when Elohim says “them,” it was revealed in verse 21 that He is speaking to Israel as Elohim also reveals in verse 28. The first statement shows us that Yeshua will be KING over the Israelites. Then Elohim will make a covenant of peace with them (Israel). Elohim’s House will be with Israel where He will dwell with His people. In verse 28, it states that these things will be done so that all the nations will know YAH has set apart Israel for Himself and that will be His sanctuary forever among them. So this is clearly a future prophecy and we see that Israel is still a distinct people in which YAH Himself has set them apart. This also explains the passage:
"For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth."
-2 Esdras 6:9
So Edom will rise near the end of the age and Israel will rise in the beginning of the age to come. But I want to again reiterate that apart from Yeshua, there is no life and lineage has no meaning for the outcasts in the lake of fire. But for those who have life in Yeshua, Israel is the bride of the Lamb which is why the New Jerusalem is being presented in Revelation. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel/Judah and represents Israel. This is also very consistent since the Elohim of Israel has always dwelt among His people in the land He chose for them. Elohim held Israel by the hand through the desert and has always established His dwelling place (or tabernacle) among His people throughout history. I want to again clarify here that Elohim will wipe away all tears of all citizens who enter His Kingdom by Yeshua. This article is to clarify the significance and/or relevance of Israel as a people and more than that, Elohim’s people. After all, remember that He is not the elohim of this world but is known as the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac and the Elohim of Jacob. Notice that all throughout history nearly, Israel has been oppressed and certainly near the end of time in modern days today. So what will Elohim do about this?
I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
-Joel 3:2
Mystery of Israel
So here Elohim has gathered the nations together because of what was done to His heritage Israel and even to the land of Israel that was divided (please see my article Greater Israel if you’re confused about the parting of Elohim’s land). Armageddon is the great battle in which all the nations of the Earth will gather together to fight against YAH. They will gather in Megiddo which is in the land of Israel. So if the lineage of Israel is no longer relevant, then why is YAH gathering the nations together to judge them on account of what was done to Israel?
The truth is it should not be necessary to have this argument, the only thing that has changed is that Elohim has begun the awakening of true Israel while we are in our captivity as YAH told us through the ancestors (old prophets). So Israel is not saying or claiming anything that has not already been appropriated as this has become an unfortunate familiarity to Israel. For who can really say why Israel became the chosen people? But we do know YAH has a peculiar way of choosing people.
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
-1 Corinthians 1:26–28
So while some may now say they do not care about who true Israel is among the world (after learning the truth of who Israel really is), Elohim has made it clear Israel is still His firstborn and chosen people among the Earth. This still matters to Him and to Yeshua both even after Yeshua’s resurrection/ascension and even now under the new Covenant. These things should certainly matter to Israel because this means we will come out of our captivity soon and made whole again as a nation. Above all though, Israel is the family Elohim chose to bring the Lamb, the Lion of Judah, Yeshua the Messiah through that would die and be resurrected for all who would believe in Him.