Summary 1

  • Promises Beyond Boundaries – All the families and nations of the earth are to be blessed by God’s people (Gen 12:1-3).  God’s people are as numerous as the stars of the sky, the sand of the sea, and the dust of the earth (Gen 15:5, 22:15-18, 26:3-5, 28:14).  They possess lands that stretch far in all cardinal directions (Gen 28:14).
  • Faith Above Lineage – They are unified and brought near by one law, which is applicable to both native born and foreigner alike (Exod 12:48-49, 45:4-8, Lev 19:34, Num 15:13-16, 15:29, Deut 10:18-19, Is 56:8, Eph 2:18-19).  God’s inheritance are His people, Jacob – Israel (Deut 32:9), and they are a distinct people who are not defined according to the fixed borders or places of worship that are on the earth (Deut 32:8-9, Joel 3:2, John 4:20-24), rather, they are a Kingdom of priests, a holy nation set apart by God (Exod 19:5-6, 1 Pet 2:9), and a people defined by faith and promise, not by the flesh (Deut 10:16, Acts 10:34-36, Rom 2:25-29, 9:6-8).
  • The Blessing and The Curse – The blessing and the curse were set before them, such that following God’s ways meant unity, while falling away meant dispersion (Lev 26:33, Deut 28:62-64, Deut 30:1-4) and removal of their blessings (Hos 2:8-12).
  • Jealous of No People – For not following His ways, God will make His people jealous with those who are not an identifiable people, and provoke them to anger with a foolish people (Deut 32:21), yet this is also the mechanism by which God will later vindicate His people (Deut 32:36).
  • An Earthly King Desired – Israel fell away (Judges 2:17) and desired a King over them against God’s wishes (1 Sam 8:4-9,19-22).  They became divided into 2 houses, the 10 northern tribes of the House of Israel, and the 2 southern tribes of the House of Judah (1 Kings 11:31-39). Their rift begins with a northern desire for grace that is contrasted with a southern desire for legalism (1 Kings 12:3,14,19).
  • Staggered Judgements – Despite being split, the 2 houses further transgress God’s commands (Amos 2:4,6), and prophets state that their judgements will be staggered through the preservation of a remnant (Amos 9:8-15, Is  1:9), such that the northern House of Israel will be identified as ‘No Mercy’ (Hos 1:6, 1 Pet 2:10), but then reconciled to Him as an instrument to make the Southern House of Judah, ‘Not My people’ (Hos 1:8)  jealous (Deut 32:21), and in so doing, vindicate them (Deut 32:36) and unite them under one anointed head (Hos 1:11).
  • Lost Sheep – The unification through Christ will be through the salvation of the scattered north, the gentile lost sheep of His flock, for they are known to God and they hear His voice (Deut 32:21, Hos 1:8-9, 2:23, 6:1-6, Jer 50:4-6, Matt 15:21-28, Luke 15:1-32, John 10:14-16,26-27, 1 Pet 2:9-10,24-25).  
  • Fall of the North – These staggered judgements begin with the North, who turn their back to God, but not their face (Jer 2:27, 18:17).  Though they are within God’s protected vineyard, His hedge is removed and they are destroyed by the Assyrian (1 Chronicles 5:25-26, 2 Kings 15:29, 17:28-34).
  • God’s Vineyard – The south are given mercy in fulfillment of Hosea 1:7, and remain as a booth or tower (Amos 9:11, Is 11:8), lest all of Israel be destroyed as was Sodom and Gomorrah (Is 1:9-10, Rom 9:29).  They are preserved within His vineyard to bring in Christ, for the sake of His servant, David (2 Kings 19:34), and it is through Christ that God will extend His hand a 2nd time and provide another exodus to His people from the nations through this root of Jesse (Is 11:10-11, Rom 15:12).  Despite their temporary preservation, the south are warned that they should not be over confident, for they are still in judgement for seeing what befell the north, and continuing in their ways (Deut 29:19, Amos 9:10).  
  • The Potter’s Vessels – The south’s judgement is staggered, and they are endured as Potter’s vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order that they may bring in Christ as prophesized through the line of David, the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:8-12, 2 Kings 19:30-34, Is 11:1-3,9-16, 28:1-2,14-16, Jer 18:5-11, Rom 9:1-11,22-30, 15:8-13).  The south reject their Messiah, and in judgement, Christ is made their stumbling stone.  Yet through their stumbling, He is made the cornerstone (Ps 69:22-23, Ps. 118:22; Is 8:14, 28:1-2,14-16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11; Rom. 9:33; Eph. 2:20; I Pet. 2:4-6, Rom 9:32, Rom 11:11,25, 1 Pet 2:7-8) of a united Israel.  Through salvation of the north, the south will be made jealous for Him, and return (Deut 32:21, Rom 11:11-13).  
  • Those Near and Far – It is through Christ that those southern tribes who are near, and those northern tribes who are far, (Is 5:25-26, 33:13, 45:18-20, 57:18-19, Dan 9:7, Zech 6:12-15, Acts 2:36-39, Eph 2:11-17) are united under one head (Hos 1:11), through whom the two mountains, split from the Mount of Olives, are unified.
  • The Mountainous Highway – Christ’s ascension to heaven from the Mount of Olives begins reconciliation of the two houses, which are reconciled within His valley of refuge (Joel 3:1-3, Zech 14:4-5, Acts 1:8-9, Rom 11:25-36) which shall itself rise and be made a highway for His Kingdom (Is 2:1-3, 11:16, 26:1-7, 27:12-13, 35:8-10, 40:1-5, 49:11-12, Jer 18:15), and become a new dwelling place (Zech 6:12-15, Eph 2:11-13, Rev 21:22), within which the cornerstone is Christ, the foundation is the apostles, and the entrance is through the gates of the 12 tribes of Israel for those written in the lamb’s book of life (Eph 2:20-21, Rev 21:10-14).
  • Unfaithful Marriage – So God has divorced the House of Israel (Jer 3:1,6-8, Deut 24:1-4) and they are scattered, but just as the north had done, the southern Israelites that remained in Jerusalem then turn their back on God, and not their face (Jer 32:30-35), as though lukewarm believers.
  • Glimpse of the New Covenant – We start to see how reunification through staggered judgements will take place, as the new covenant in Christ will be God’s doing, not ours, and it will provide for a 2nd exodus/highway for Israel (Jer 30:1-11) and for the forgiveness of sins (Jer 31:34).  It will be written on thier hearts (Jer 31:33) and established in the spiritual realm between the House of Judah and the House of Israel (Jer 3:9-18, Jer 31:27-31, 50:4-7, Ez 11:14-21).  
  • Judgement on the South – The remaining southern House of Judah becomes an unfaithful wife, just as her sister, the north.  Both of them, neither hot nor cold (Ez 23:35-39, Rev 3:14-17), the daughters of their harlot mother, Israel (Ez 23:2-22,31-34, Lam 4:5-6,16), who think themselves safe (Deut 29:19, Zeph 1:12).  Jerusalem becomes the rebellious, haughty city who does not accept correction, as though sitting as a widow queen upon His Holy mountain who sees no sorrow (Is 47:8-9, Zeph 3:1-2,8-20, Lam 1:1-3, Rev 18:7), and is ultimately conquered and destroyed by Babylon in 586BC (2 Kings 24:10-14, Jer 50:17, Ez 33:21).
  • The South Shown Mercy – Despite Jerusalem’s destruction, they are shown mercy in fulfillment of Hos 1:7, and allowed to return and rebuild the temple 70 years after their Babylonian exile (Jer 29:1,10-14).  In 445BC, a decree is given for the southern house to rebuild the city, its walls and its streets (Ezra 10:7-9, Neh 2:1,5,8), and fulfill their calling to bring in Messiah.  
  • The Messiah Foretold – Christ as Messiah is foretold by Daniel to be cut off 70 weeks of years after the 445BC decree, in 30AD (Neh 2:1,5,8, Dan 9:1-3,7,13-14,17,20-24, Num 14:34, Ez 4:5-6, Gen 29:27, Zech 2:4-5).
  • The Branch – Christ is the unifying branch, having the root of Jesse, giving mercy to the meek, and extending His hand a 2nd time to recover the remnant of both houses, eliminating the jealousy between the north and the south (Hos 1:11, Is 11:1-3,9-16, Jer 23:3-8, 33:14-18, Ez 37:15-28).  He washes away the sins of Israel and serves as a protective tower from judgement (Is 4:2-6).  
  • The Stone with 7 Eyes – As the stumbling stone made cornerstone, He removes the iniquity of the land in a single day and searches out the earth through 7 eyes in the establishment of 7 churches (Zech 3:8-10, Rev 1:12-13,16,20, 5:3-6), which provide safe passage for the 2nd exodus (Is 11:1,10-13,15).
  • Olive Trees and Lampstands – Christ is of the order of Melchizedek, fulfilling the roles of prince and priest, represented by the two Olive Trees which stand before the Lord and unify the two lampstands of the two houses into a single calling (Gen 14:18-20, Zech 4:1-14, 6:11-15, Ps 110:1-4, Matt 22:44-41, Heb 5:5-10, 6:19-20, 7:1-3,14-15,20-23).
  • Christ as Culmination – As prophesized, Christ enters on a mule, and through Him, Ephraim’s chariot will no longer depart, and Judah will no longer be under siege (Zech 9:9-13, Matt 21:4-5).  The cornerstone strengthens the two houses and they hear His call from afar (Zech 10:6-9).  Before they are unified, Judah must fall into judgement as vessels of wrath prepared for destruction for profaning God’s sanctuary and piercing their Messiah (Jer 19:1-11, Zech 12:9-11, 13:1-2, Mal 2:10-12, 3:5, Rom 9:22-23).  The price for His efforts being 30 pieces of silver, thrown to the Temple potter (Zech 11:7-14, Matt 27:3-7).  God sends Elijah, the messenger of the new covenant in the personhood of John the Baptist, prior to Christ (Mal 3:1-6, 4:2-6, Matt 17:10-13).  We are instructed to remember His commandments (Mal 4:4), and that through Christ we will be cleansed of sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1-2).  We are told that Christ builds up the valley created by the splitting of the northern and southern halves of the Mount of Olives, and that keeping the feasts will be an important component of unification (Zech 14:1-21).
  • Israel’s New Covenant – For the valley between the north and the south is to become a holy mountain, and in order to do so, the lost northern tribes must follow after preserved southern tribes. (Zech 8:1-8,11-15,20-22, Is 42:1-6).
  • Heart Matters – What matters is the heart, for Lineage is unimportant. God can raise up sons of Abraham from the rocks if He needs them, and many genetic descendants will be thrown in the outer darkness while those of faith, like the woman at the well, are saved (Matt 3:7-10, Mat 8:5-13, Matt 15:21-28).  Those who do not listen to the prophets or even God’s Son, are the poor caretakers of Gods vineyard in Matt 21:33-45, and Christ, working through the hearts of His people, is the corner stone and sanctuary for those with faith, and stumbling stone and rock of offense for those with hardened hearts (Is 8:14-15, Luke 10:25-37).  Ones heart must be born again in spirit (John 3:4-6).  Christ is the shepherd of the lost sheep of both houses, and the sheep follow him from faith, and true hearts desire (John 10:1-9,14-18, Jeremiah 31:31-34).
  • Apostolic House of Israel – The apostles viewed the new church as the restoration of Israel (Acts 1:6-9, Acts 2:36).   The remnant of Israel in the Apostles time is from Judah, not the northern house (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:5-39).  Just as Ezekiel euphemistically refers to the House of Judah as Sodom in Ezekiel 16, so too does Stephen refer to the House of Judah euphemistically as the House of Israel in Acts 7:42-43 from Amos 5:25-27.  The apostles quote Amos 9:9-12, which is directed at the Northern House of Israel, at the Jerusalem council when referring to the gentiles in Acts 15:13-18.  And in Hebrews 8:7-13, we see the covenant solidified among the two houses of Israel, and no other groups are mentioned in a quotation from Jeremiah 31:31-34.
  • 12 Tribes – The 12 tribes of the two houses constitute the entirety of Israel for whom the old and new covenant are established, being one body and one bride in Christ (Acts 26:6-7, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1-2).  The 12 tribes are the light unto the nations (Isaiah 49:6, Luke 2:25-32, Acts 13:44-48, Acts 26:22-23).  One can only attain the new Jerusalem and eat of the tree of life by having their names written in the lamb’s book of life, IF they are part of the 12 tribes, for the gates of New Jerusalem are the 12 tribes, built on the foundation of the apostles (Rev 21:10-14,22, Eph 2:18-22).
  • One Body, One Bride, One Church, One Head, One Israel – We do not have two distinct chosen people.  We do not have Israel and the ‘Church’, there is one body, one bride, one church, one head in Christ, and One Israel, God’s people, raised from the two mountains in the central valley of refuge (Isaiah 49:3,11-16, 1 Cor 12:12-13, Eph 3:6, John 10:16, Col 1:18,21-22,24, Eph 5:23). Once there was no mercy to the north, but by mercy being shown through Christ, God brought the gentiles in, and together with the remnant of the south who believe, all Israel is saved (Romans 11:25-32).
  • You are Israel – As a true Christian, you are an ambassador of Israel, a royal priesthood (Rom 2:28-29, 1 Pet 2:9-10, 2 Cor 5:16-20).  The Biblical language describing a reconciliation of the church into one entity, is due to the realization that there was a schism.  The view that Israel and Gentiles come from distinct origins does not align with the whole of scripture, which repeatedly pits the two houses in opposition.  They ultimately appoint for themselves one head, who is Christ (Hosea 1:11, Eph 4:1-6).  There is one church, Israel, and it is not of the flesh (Deut 10:15-16, Philippians 3:2-3, Gal 3:7-9).  Circumcision represented Judaism in its entirety, and Christ made a better covenant through His sacrifice (Heb 7:22, 8:6, Rom 6:23).  Paul tells us the Circumcision Party wanted to make a good showing in the flesh, but speaks a blessing to the true Israel (Gal 6:11-16).  Ephesians 2:11-22 beautifully summarizes the whole of scripture, the great mystery of the ages (Rom 11:25,  Eph 3:1-6).  So if Paul spoke against full Judaism and the Circumcision party, what are we to do as Christians?  We are left with two choices, either the law was completely abolished, or those aspects which Christ completed are changed.   Did the NT writers still observe the law, despite the realization that faith is what matters for salvation?  It is my contention that works of law do not bring about salvation, but rather, are evidence of salvation through faith.  The law was given to a stiffnecked people who were not living by faith (Ex 32:9, Ex 33:3-5, Ex 34:9, Deut 10:16, Deut 29:19, Jer 3:17, Jer 23:17, Acts 7:51).  Repeated transgressions brought the penalty of death to sin (Rom 8:2), and Christ abolished the need for those penalties through the changing of one’s heart through the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:17-29).  The law is still in effect, but we are the Temple, the Law was our moral guardian, and Christ is our sacrifice.  Do we transgress the Law then?  No, the Law is holy and good (Rom 2:13, 3:31, 7:12), and we do not desire to transgress it, for it is written on our hearts (Jer 31:31-34).

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