Am I Afraid?
People have come to me and ask if I am afraid regarding the research presented by others that run contrary to my (and others) research regarding the origins of the Igbo. I for sure am not afraid, nor intimidated, yet I am naturally concerned for I see such scholarship as that of the theory of evolution. Any honest researcher will conclude such a theory as evolution is just that, an unproven theory. Sadly, even the most scholarly and intellectual can be gullibly duped and have fallen for the fallacy of evolution which has used unreliable dating methods, poor scholarship as well as presenting theories as if they were facts and as a result have had their faith shaken, become bitter and end up believing and promoting such falsehoods. Same in regards to those who claim Igbo are not Hebrews. Such falsehoods will lead one into spiritual bondage, the same bondage that caused Israel to be taken into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity and the same that caused Ndi Igbo to be taken off into slavery and be dispersed from Igboland. The evidences are there, plain and clear, on so many different levels if one cares to take an honest, prayerful and soul searching look.
I am not afraid because I have the Truth and the God of Israel on my side. God and His Words are not like that of Ba’al or any other false god that needs to be defended. The only thing I have to do is be obedient, present the Truth as it is, let the chips fall where they may and allow God to defend Himself as He did against the false prophets of Ba’al at Mt. Carmel. Besides, how can a finite, frail mortal think he can or should defend an Infinite Omnipotent God!?
Finding the Lost Tribes of Israel
Any serious student of Biblical History will know about Babylonian and Assyrian Captivities respectively and they will tell you that after King Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom called Israel, made up of what are now known as the Lost Ten Tribes and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, comprised of mainly three tribes; Judah, Levi and Benjamin. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was carted off into Babylonian captivity in three waves 597, 587 and 581 B.C. The Biblical Book of Daniel was partially about the Babylonian captivity and Nehemiah and Ezra was written about Judah returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity (538 B.C.) 70 years after they were first carted off into exile.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel sometime referred to as the House of Ephraim, went into Assyrian captivity under Tiglath-Pileser 732 B.C. (II Kings 17) Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were taken away into Mesopotamia and in 722 B.C. (I Chron. 5:25-26) the remaining tribes were taken captive and exiled by the hands of the Assyrians but unlike Judah, Israel’s captivity never ended and as a result, until this day, the 10 Tribes of Israel has been scattered worldwide and have faded into the landscape and peoples of the nations of the world, lost their Hebraic identity and for all intents and purposes are living as Gentiles. And so the 10 Israeli Tribes have been lost to the eyes of man, but not the eyes of GOD.
Actually time relative to creation 2000 years is not that great amount of time and it has only been 2000 years since we lost track of where the 10 Tribes ended up. Because Ya’akov (James), the Jewish leader of the Messianic/Natsari Movement in the 1st century and half-brother of Messiah Yeshua addressed his letter found in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) “to the twelve tribes scattered abroad… (James 1:1b)”
Seeing as we know that the people we recognize worldwide as Jews today, whether they live in Israel, North America or elsewhere are descendants of those taken into the Babylonian captivity and choose to return. Meaning some of Judah, Benjamin and Levi stayed behind and living in Babylon (Ezra 1:5, 2:1) the reason for the census’ in Ezra and Nehemiah to show who left Babylon to return to Jerusalem. Those who stayed behind in Babylon created a great center of Jewish learning which produced the Babylonian Talmud. It is safe to say some Jews/Judeans wound up in both captivities, were scattered and lost as the 10 Tribes were due to the Assyrian captivity.
The Prophets tell us that an end time Exodus will occur for the 10 Tribes lost to the Assyrian captivity.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. - Jer. 16:14-16
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. – Isa. 11:11
This will be done with great pomp and circumstance with help from the Gentiles.
Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. – Isa. 49:22-23
Some of these 10 Tribes eventually ended up in Africa.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. – Zeph. 3:10
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. – Isa. 11:11
Cush is an ancient name for Africa, specifically Ethiopia.
And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. – Gen. 2:13 (KJV)
The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. – Gen. 2:13 (NIV)
Jeremiah 16:14-15 and Zephaniah 3:10 coupled together speak of Assyrian captives taken to all four corners of the globe, “North” (Jer. 16:14-15) and “South” (Cush/Ethiopia) Zeph. 3:10 and all over the world, “and from all the lands whither he had driven them (Jer. 16:14-16).”
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. – Jer. 16:16
This prophecies’ that the LORD YHWH Himself will call His people to hunt and “FISH” for the Lost Tribes. What was one of the objectives of Yeshua (Jesus) and His Talmidim (Disciples)?
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. – Matt. 4:18-20
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. – Mark 1:17
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matt. 10:5-7
Clearly Yeshua wanted His Disciples to hunt for sheep and fish for men. Specifically hunt for the lost sheep of the House of Israel and fish for the 10 Tribes of Israel. And when Yeshua sent His Talmidim out to hunt and fish for these Israeli Tribes, they knew where to find them because Yeshua’s half-brother Ya’akov (James) knew where they were (James 1:1b).
Igbos: The Prodigal Son
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, 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. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:11-32
The parable of the Prodigal Son is actually a prophetic parable regarding the Lost Tribes of Israel. The father in the story represents YHWH, the older faithful brother being Judah (Jews) and the younger prodigal son being the Lost 10 tribes of Israel, or the Hebrews.
To be clear, Jews are those from the Tribe of Judah who went into and eventually returned from Babylonian captivity. Hebrews are the remaining Tribes of Israel who went off into Assyrian captivity, became lost among the Gentiles nations ain which they were scattered and essentially became gentiles themselves because they had forgotten who they were and thus lost their identity.
After Israel broke away from Judah and the Nations of Israel became two kingdoms, like the North and South Korea, enemies. They became two Houses; Judah kept the Messianic monarchy going and having a large contingent of Levites and having control of the Temple, they too were the ongoing custodians of Torah.
Israel however, the 10 Northern Tribes wanted to be out from Judah’s shadow and yoke and established a Kingdom of their own modeled after Judah with generous helpings of paganism like the nations surrounding them and thus became like them.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, the eldest brother remained faithful to the teachings of his father and remained close to home, whereas the younger brother, desiring to get out from under the law of his father and the shadow of his older brother, cashed in his inheritance early and broke out on his own and went out into the world.
Israel found in his freedom and rebellion the wealth of the kingdom far spent and was taken captive by Assyria and forced to live in destitute uncleanness (Deut. 28). In like manner the prodigal son went crazy with freedom and blew his inheritance with wild living and found himself forced to slop unclean pigs in order to partially fill his starving belly.
But we read that the prodigal son came to his senses, recalled his heritage and his secure and prosperous life under the rule of his father, labouring beside his big brother and decided to return home.
Many Lost Tribes of Israel, especially the Ibo (Hebrew) of Gad have found themselves in the pig sty of African paganism and Babylonian and Romanesque Christianity and recall the better days (Deut. 27, Jer. 16:16a) under their Father’s Law beside their older brother Judah and are returning Home. The Father is rejoicing, but Judah is jealous and reluctant to take his younger brethren back in. In other words, Judah (modern state of Israel and Judaism at large) will verbalize that they (the Ibo) are his brethren but is reluctant to kill the fatted calf and throw a welcome home party. Basically, Judaism is reluctant to allow his long lost prodigal brethren to make Aliyah (immigration to Israel officially recognized as a lost tribe) by not just verbally, but officially recognize them as Hebrews that need no “conversion.”
The prodigal Ibos (Hebrews) who are coming home see this and fail to see the acceptance and excitement of the Father (YHWH) and instead see only the reluctance and obstinacy of his big brother Judah to fully accept him. And so many of the Ibo (Hebrews) feel if they can gain big brother Judah’s acceptance, in turn they will have gained the Father’s approval. Not realizing the Father has already approves and fully accepts them. The Ibos (Hebrews) are trying to walk, talk, look and act like big brother Judah. After all he never left home and rebelled…. Really!? There is what is called the Babylonian captivity that the Jews (Judah) went off into and the Rabbi’s and Sages say that it was due to, not necessarily the rebellion against Torah, or the Law of the Father, but because of lack of love for his brethren! Indeed, we see this lack of love in the character of the elder brother in the prophetic parable of the prodigal son.
So today we have the Ibos (Hebrew Gadites) trying to imitate big brother Judah. This may have been cute and even admirable when Judah and Israel were young. For most every little brother looks up to and tries to emulate their big brother. But there inevitably comes a time when little brother must become his own person, his own man. The Father knows he has two unique sons with unique destinies and does not expect Israel (10 Tribes) to be like Judah. Just as two sons keep the same law (Torah) of their Father, nonetheless they are individuals with unique gifts, callings and personalities and the Father desires each son to express themselves as the individuals that they are.
I see Ibo trying to look and act like the Orthodox Jews in the West when actually the ancient Ibo way of dress and living is actually more authentic and Hebraic than Judah who lives in the West. YHWH has not called Israel, the 10 Tribes, to be carbon copies of Judah. All one has to do is read Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33 to see ach tribe has a unique purpose and destiny despite each Tribe being under One Torah (Law). There is enough wiggle room within the 613 Commandments of Torah for one to be a unique individual and fulfil a unique calling.
I urge the Ibo or any Lost Tribe coming home for that matter, to be the unique tribe of Israel GOD has called them to be.
It is of the utmost importance that Israel as well as Judaism and Christendom recognize the Igbo as a portion of the Lost Tribe of Gad, as well as any other African people who can undisputedly be linked to Judah or any other Tribe of Israel, because Messiah is returning for His Bride and will not come for half of a Bride or an unready (Matt. 25:11-13a) or incomplete Bride, but a whole, complete, unspotted and untainted Bride. So it is important that these Lost Tribes are found and brought back into the Fold.
The Lost Ten Tribes and the Return of Messiah
I believe the return of Messiah Yeshua is inextricably linked to the identification, location and return of the lost ten tribes of Israel. Christendom seems to focus on the world and its governments and nations going to hell in a hand basket, morally and economically as “THE” signs of Messiah’s eminent return, as well as the abundance and frequencies of natural disasters and warfare; often quoting Matthew 24. This morbid obsession with Armageddon causes them to fail to see who is at the center and focus of His return and that is Israel and all who connect themselves to her through following her God and the Word of her God. Yes, these things mentioned above are prerequisites that must happen for Messiah to return, but so is the identification, location and return of the lost ten tribes of Israel. After all who is Messiah returning for? ISRAEL, physical descendants of Abraham and his 12 sons as well as all who have joined themselves to them by following their God and His Words.
After all, it was Israel and the mixed multitude (Jew/Hebrew and Gentile) that mutually accepted the YHWH and His Torah (Laws/Instructions) at what Judaism calls the marriage of God and Israel at Mount Sinai.
Exd. 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, [even] very much cattle.
Rabbis believe at least one gentile from all 70 nations went out of Egypt with Israel during the Exodus.
Exd. 19:7-8 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Verse 8 says, “all the people” which included the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with Israel, all accepted God’s Law. So, though Israel is the primary recipients and caretakers of Torah, the Law was also given to and equally applies to the Gentiles.
Thus being said we can assuredly say that a Jew is from Judah and a Hebrew or Israelite is from the other 10 tribes as well as gentiles who believe and accept Israel’s God and His Laws is the Bride that Messiah will return for when He comes again. Messiah is not going to return for a partial bride, an incomplete bride or half of a bride, no, He is returning for a whole and complete bride; meaning all 12 tribes must be located and identified.
We know that Israel, after Solomon, was split in to two nations, Judah in the south and Israel sometimes called Ephraim in the north. Judah was taken off into Babylonian captivity and only a portion eventually returned to the Land of Israel while others stayed in Babylon. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was carted off into Assyrian captivity and has never returned and has been “lost,” to man but not to God. This means that there are people scattered all over the world who are Hebrew or Israelite and don’t even know it because in the millennia of captivity they have been scattered and assimilated into the various ethnicities of the world and have lost their Identity as Israelites.
“According to Eliezer Shulman in his book “The Sequence of Events in the Old Testament”, Avraham was born in the year 1948 from creation (aprox. 2050 BCE). His son of promise Yitzchak, (Isaac) was born one hundred years later in 2048 from creation (aprox. 1950 BCE). This places the birth of Yitzchak some 3950 years from the present time. Using 25 years as a generation means that today we are 158 generations removed from Avraham. Using 40 years per generation, still removes us nearly 100 generations.
The number of ancestors for any single person increases exponentially with each generation (two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, etc.). Going back only 40 generations yields a potential of over one trillion direct ancestors for a single individual. This number far exceeds the total number of people who ever lived on earth since the beginning of time. With such immense numbers involved, it should be no surprise that we are all more closely related than might have been imagined.
Avraham lived nearly four thousand years ago. Surely, if this statistical model is anywhere near correct, every person on earth could conceivably be descended from him, just as Nivrecu Theory suggests. Equally possible is the theory that every person on earth could be descended from the twelve sons of Ya’acov, the progenitors of the children of Israel.” – Hebrew Roots Issue 02-2 pg. 20
It was sometime after the 1st century that we lost touch with who the 10 Israeli tribes were because Yeshua’s brother Ya’akov (James) addresses his letter to the 12 tribes scattered abroad (1:1)
Consider the words of Jeremiah regarding the end days and the finding of the lost tribes:
Jer. 16:14-17 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
This, “lands of the north” is anywhere above Israel and can thus include North America, Europe and Scandinavia. And “and from all the lands whither he had driven them” could mean anywhere on the globe.
So close to the end of days and close to Messiah’s return, hence today, Jeremiah tells us people will be hunting and fishing for these tribes.
To be sure much speculation has been made on who the lost 10 tribes really are and much in depth and scholarly research must be done to positively identify these 10 tribes but already some lost tribes have been identified and accepted by the Israeli government and other peoples are being able to trace their beginnings back to one of the sons of Jacob. So slowly but surely the lost ten tribes are being found, setting the stage for Messiah’s return for His Bride.
Isaiah 11 has been attributed to being a Messianic prophecy of Messiah Yeshua Himself and indeed I wholeheartedly believe that this is true, but within Isaiah 11 is another prophecy ignored or skipped over by theologians and Bible scholars, and that is the prophecy of the return of the tribes from exile.
Isa. 11: 10-16
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
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.
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.
15 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Verse 11 speaks of those lost in Assyrian captivity; Pathros is considered to be Upper Egypt while Cush is Sudan and Ethiopia. Elam and Shinar are modern day Iraq. Hamath encompasses Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. Then we have The islands of the sea which surround some of these places or could even hint of the Caribbean Islands where some African slaves who had cultures uncannily similar to Israel, where dumped off on the way to the auction blocks in the Americas.
Verses 12-13 names Israel and Ephraim which indicate the 10 Israeli tribes and we see Judah is mentioned too, possibly referring to the Judeans who remained in Babylon after the others returned to Jerusalem from the exile as recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Now who is the one who will rally, rouse and wake these lost tribes to their true Identity? Messiah Yeshua (v.10)! And this has been done and is being done through world evangelism and missions’ work of Christians and Messianics.
Isaiah chapter 12 is a hymn or psalm of praise that the lost tribes will sing when they are found and return to the Promised Land of Israel.
Let’s look at Isaiah 14:1-2:
For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
Notice how this is specifically referring to the lost ten tribes. Phrases like, “House of Jacob,” “House of Israel,” are mentioned but not Judah. Take note as well that the ambiguous nature of their locals prior to their return to the Land of Israel proper opens the possibilities for the 10 tribes to be scattered is such places as North and South America, Europe and Scandinavia where many believe many of these lost tribes will be found.
Now take the Parable of the Prodigal son:
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Many Evangelicals will say this is a parable about personal redemption and salvation, but totally fail to see that Messiah was speaking of the salvation and redemption of Israel as a whole. The Father represents God. The Older Son is Judah who even in Babylonian captivity maintained their Identity as Jews and even in Captivity cultivated much of the Rabbinic literature Rabbis read and use today. The Younger (Prodigal) Son represents the ten tribes of Israel who was taken off into Assyrian Captivity and eventually lost their Identity. We see one day the Prodigal Son wakes up in a pig sty, which is symbolic of being in the unclean gentile nations in captivity and decides to return home. Just like today, the lost ten tribes of Israel that are scattered all over the globe are waking up to who they really are and want to come home. The Father is there with open arms wanting through a party while Judah the Older Brother is jealous and questioning the Father’s acceptance of his wayward long lost brother. And today, Judah scrutinizes and even rejects authentic, documented, provable claims of certain lost tribes that have been found such as the Igbo people of Nigeria who can prove they come from the Lost Tribe of Gad and his sons Eri, Areli and Arodi (Gen. 46:16).
So we see, that we, as we look for the return of Messiah should not engage our entire eschatological focus on the gloom and doom of the end. We should keep our eyes on these things and act accordingly, as one would seek shelter from a tornado when they spot a funnel cloud. But out eschatological attention should be equally focused on Israel. Not necessarily the Land, but more specifically the People, Jew (Judah) and Hebrew Israelite (Israel/Lost 10 Tribes) as well.
I am not afraid because I have the Truth and the God of Israel on my side. God and His Words are not like that of Ba’al or any other false god that needs to be defended. The only thing I have to do is be obedient, present the Truth as it is, let the chips fall where they may and allow God to defend Himself as He did against the false prophets of Ba’al at Mt. Carmel. Besides, how can a finite, frail mortal think he can or should defend an Infinite Omnipotent God!?
Finding the Lost Tribes of Israel
Any serious student of Biblical History will know about Babylonian and Assyrian Captivities respectively and they will tell you that after King Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom called Israel, made up of what are now known as the Lost Ten Tribes and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, comprised of mainly three tribes; Judah, Levi and Benjamin. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was carted off into Babylonian captivity in three waves 597, 587 and 581 B.C. The Biblical Book of Daniel was partially about the Babylonian captivity and Nehemiah and Ezra was written about Judah returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity (538 B.C.) 70 years after they were first carted off into exile.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel sometime referred to as the House of Ephraim, went into Assyrian captivity under Tiglath-Pileser 732 B.C. (II Kings 17) Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were taken away into Mesopotamia and in 722 B.C. (I Chron. 5:25-26) the remaining tribes were taken captive and exiled by the hands of the Assyrians but unlike Judah, Israel’s captivity never ended and as a result, until this day, the 10 Tribes of Israel has been scattered worldwide and have faded into the landscape and peoples of the nations of the world, lost their Hebraic identity and for all intents and purposes are living as Gentiles. And so the 10 Israeli Tribes have been lost to the eyes of man, but not the eyes of GOD.
Actually time relative to creation 2000 years is not that great amount of time and it has only been 2000 years since we lost track of where the 10 Tribes ended up. Because Ya’akov (James), the Jewish leader of the Messianic/Natsari Movement in the 1st century and half-brother of Messiah Yeshua addressed his letter found in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) “to the twelve tribes scattered abroad… (James 1:1b)”
Seeing as we know that the people we recognize worldwide as Jews today, whether they live in Israel, North America or elsewhere are descendants of those taken into the Babylonian captivity and choose to return. Meaning some of Judah, Benjamin and Levi stayed behind and living in Babylon (Ezra 1:5, 2:1) the reason for the census’ in Ezra and Nehemiah to show who left Babylon to return to Jerusalem. Those who stayed behind in Babylon created a great center of Jewish learning which produced the Babylonian Talmud. It is safe to say some Jews/Judeans wound up in both captivities, were scattered and lost as the 10 Tribes were due to the Assyrian captivity.
The Prophets tell us that an end time Exodus will occur for the 10 Tribes lost to the Assyrian captivity.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. - Jer. 16:14-16
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. – Isa. 11:11
This will be done with great pomp and circumstance with help from the Gentiles.
Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. – Isa. 49:22-23
Some of these 10 Tribes eventually ended up in Africa.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. – Zeph. 3:10
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. – Isa. 11:11
Cush is an ancient name for Africa, specifically Ethiopia.
And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. – Gen. 2:13 (KJV)
The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. – Gen. 2:13 (NIV)
Jeremiah 16:14-15 and Zephaniah 3:10 coupled together speak of Assyrian captives taken to all four corners of the globe, “North” (Jer. 16:14-15) and “South” (Cush/Ethiopia) Zeph. 3:10 and all over the world, “and from all the lands whither he had driven them (Jer. 16:14-16).”
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. – Jer. 16:16
This prophecies’ that the LORD YHWH Himself will call His people to hunt and “FISH” for the Lost Tribes. What was one of the objectives of Yeshua (Jesus) and His Talmidim (Disciples)?
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. – Matt. 4:18-20
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. – Mark 1:17
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. – Matt. 10:5-7
Clearly Yeshua wanted His Disciples to hunt for sheep and fish for men. Specifically hunt for the lost sheep of the House of Israel and fish for the 10 Tribes of Israel. And when Yeshua sent His Talmidim out to hunt and fish for these Israeli Tribes, they knew where to find them because Yeshua’s half-brother Ya’akov (James) knew where they were (James 1:1b).
Igbos: The Prodigal Son
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, 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. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:11-32
The parable of the Prodigal Son is actually a prophetic parable regarding the Lost Tribes of Israel. The father in the story represents YHWH, the older faithful brother being Judah (Jews) and the younger prodigal son being the Lost 10 tribes of Israel, or the Hebrews.
To be clear, Jews are those from the Tribe of Judah who went into and eventually returned from Babylonian captivity. Hebrews are the remaining Tribes of Israel who went off into Assyrian captivity, became lost among the Gentiles nations ain which they were scattered and essentially became gentiles themselves because they had forgotten who they were and thus lost their identity.
After Israel broke away from Judah and the Nations of Israel became two kingdoms, like the North and South Korea, enemies. They became two Houses; Judah kept the Messianic monarchy going and having a large contingent of Levites and having control of the Temple, they too were the ongoing custodians of Torah.
Israel however, the 10 Northern Tribes wanted to be out from Judah’s shadow and yoke and established a Kingdom of their own modeled after Judah with generous helpings of paganism like the nations surrounding them and thus became like them.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, the eldest brother remained faithful to the teachings of his father and remained close to home, whereas the younger brother, desiring to get out from under the law of his father and the shadow of his older brother, cashed in his inheritance early and broke out on his own and went out into the world.
Israel found in his freedom and rebellion the wealth of the kingdom far spent and was taken captive by Assyria and forced to live in destitute uncleanness (Deut. 28). In like manner the prodigal son went crazy with freedom and blew his inheritance with wild living and found himself forced to slop unclean pigs in order to partially fill his starving belly.
But we read that the prodigal son came to his senses, recalled his heritage and his secure and prosperous life under the rule of his father, labouring beside his big brother and decided to return home.
Many Lost Tribes of Israel, especially the Ibo (Hebrew) of Gad have found themselves in the pig sty of African paganism and Babylonian and Romanesque Christianity and recall the better days (Deut. 27, Jer. 16:16a) under their Father’s Law beside their older brother Judah and are returning Home. The Father is rejoicing, but Judah is jealous and reluctant to take his younger brethren back in. In other words, Judah (modern state of Israel and Judaism at large) will verbalize that they (the Ibo) are his brethren but is reluctant to kill the fatted calf and throw a welcome home party. Basically, Judaism is reluctant to allow his long lost prodigal brethren to make Aliyah (immigration to Israel officially recognized as a lost tribe) by not just verbally, but officially recognize them as Hebrews that need no “conversion.”
The prodigal Ibos (Hebrews) who are coming home see this and fail to see the acceptance and excitement of the Father (YHWH) and instead see only the reluctance and obstinacy of his big brother Judah to fully accept him. And so many of the Ibo (Hebrews) feel if they can gain big brother Judah’s acceptance, in turn they will have gained the Father’s approval. Not realizing the Father has already approves and fully accepts them. The Ibos (Hebrews) are trying to walk, talk, look and act like big brother Judah. After all he never left home and rebelled…. Really!? There is what is called the Babylonian captivity that the Jews (Judah) went off into and the Rabbi’s and Sages say that it was due to, not necessarily the rebellion against Torah, or the Law of the Father, but because of lack of love for his brethren! Indeed, we see this lack of love in the character of the elder brother in the prophetic parable of the prodigal son.
So today we have the Ibos (Hebrew Gadites) trying to imitate big brother Judah. This may have been cute and even admirable when Judah and Israel were young. For most every little brother looks up to and tries to emulate their big brother. But there inevitably comes a time when little brother must become his own person, his own man. The Father knows he has two unique sons with unique destinies and does not expect Israel (10 Tribes) to be like Judah. Just as two sons keep the same law (Torah) of their Father, nonetheless they are individuals with unique gifts, callings and personalities and the Father desires each son to express themselves as the individuals that they are.
I see Ibo trying to look and act like the Orthodox Jews in the West when actually the ancient Ibo way of dress and living is actually more authentic and Hebraic than Judah who lives in the West. YHWH has not called Israel, the 10 Tribes, to be carbon copies of Judah. All one has to do is read Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33 to see ach tribe has a unique purpose and destiny despite each Tribe being under One Torah (Law). There is enough wiggle room within the 613 Commandments of Torah for one to be a unique individual and fulfil a unique calling.
I urge the Ibo or any Lost Tribe coming home for that matter, to be the unique tribe of Israel GOD has called them to be.
It is of the utmost importance that Israel as well as Judaism and Christendom recognize the Igbo as a portion of the Lost Tribe of Gad, as well as any other African people who can undisputedly be linked to Judah or any other Tribe of Israel, because Messiah is returning for His Bride and will not come for half of a Bride or an unready (Matt. 25:11-13a) or incomplete Bride, but a whole, complete, unspotted and untainted Bride. So it is important that these Lost Tribes are found and brought back into the Fold.
The Lost Ten Tribes and the Return of Messiah
I believe the return of Messiah Yeshua is inextricably linked to the identification, location and return of the lost ten tribes of Israel. Christendom seems to focus on the world and its governments and nations going to hell in a hand basket, morally and economically as “THE” signs of Messiah’s eminent return, as well as the abundance and frequencies of natural disasters and warfare; often quoting Matthew 24. This morbid obsession with Armageddon causes them to fail to see who is at the center and focus of His return and that is Israel and all who connect themselves to her through following her God and the Word of her God. Yes, these things mentioned above are prerequisites that must happen for Messiah to return, but so is the identification, location and return of the lost ten tribes of Israel. After all who is Messiah returning for? ISRAEL, physical descendants of Abraham and his 12 sons as well as all who have joined themselves to them by following their God and His Words.
After all, it was Israel and the mixed multitude (Jew/Hebrew and Gentile) that mutually accepted the YHWH and His Torah (Laws/Instructions) at what Judaism calls the marriage of God and Israel at Mount Sinai.
Exd. 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, [even] very much cattle.
Rabbis believe at least one gentile from all 70 nations went out of Egypt with Israel during the Exodus.
Exd. 19:7-8 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Verse 8 says, “all the people” which included the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with Israel, all accepted God’s Law. So, though Israel is the primary recipients and caretakers of Torah, the Law was also given to and equally applies to the Gentiles.
Thus being said we can assuredly say that a Jew is from Judah and a Hebrew or Israelite is from the other 10 tribes as well as gentiles who believe and accept Israel’s God and His Laws is the Bride that Messiah will return for when He comes again. Messiah is not going to return for a partial bride, an incomplete bride or half of a bride, no, He is returning for a whole and complete bride; meaning all 12 tribes must be located and identified.
We know that Israel, after Solomon, was split in to two nations, Judah in the south and Israel sometimes called Ephraim in the north. Judah was taken off into Babylonian captivity and only a portion eventually returned to the Land of Israel while others stayed in Babylon. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was carted off into Assyrian captivity and has never returned and has been “lost,” to man but not to God. This means that there are people scattered all over the world who are Hebrew or Israelite and don’t even know it because in the millennia of captivity they have been scattered and assimilated into the various ethnicities of the world and have lost their Identity as Israelites.
“According to Eliezer Shulman in his book “The Sequence of Events in the Old Testament”, Avraham was born in the year 1948 from creation (aprox. 2050 BCE). His son of promise Yitzchak, (Isaac) was born one hundred years later in 2048 from creation (aprox. 1950 BCE). This places the birth of Yitzchak some 3950 years from the present time. Using 25 years as a generation means that today we are 158 generations removed from Avraham. Using 40 years per generation, still removes us nearly 100 generations.
The number of ancestors for any single person increases exponentially with each generation (two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents, etc.). Going back only 40 generations yields a potential of over one trillion direct ancestors for a single individual. This number far exceeds the total number of people who ever lived on earth since the beginning of time. With such immense numbers involved, it should be no surprise that we are all more closely related than might have been imagined.
Avraham lived nearly four thousand years ago. Surely, if this statistical model is anywhere near correct, every person on earth could conceivably be descended from him, just as Nivrecu Theory suggests. Equally possible is the theory that every person on earth could be descended from the twelve sons of Ya’acov, the progenitors of the children of Israel.” – Hebrew Roots Issue 02-2 pg. 20
It was sometime after the 1st century that we lost touch with who the 10 Israeli tribes were because Yeshua’s brother Ya’akov (James) addresses his letter to the 12 tribes scattered abroad (1:1)
Consider the words of Jeremiah regarding the end days and the finding of the lost tribes:
Jer. 16:14-17 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
This, “lands of the north” is anywhere above Israel and can thus include North America, Europe and Scandinavia. And “and from all the lands whither he had driven them” could mean anywhere on the globe.
So close to the end of days and close to Messiah’s return, hence today, Jeremiah tells us people will be hunting and fishing for these tribes.
To be sure much speculation has been made on who the lost 10 tribes really are and much in depth and scholarly research must be done to positively identify these 10 tribes but already some lost tribes have been identified and accepted by the Israeli government and other peoples are being able to trace their beginnings back to one of the sons of Jacob. So slowly but surely the lost ten tribes are being found, setting the stage for Messiah’s return for His Bride.
Isaiah 11 has been attributed to being a Messianic prophecy of Messiah Yeshua Himself and indeed I wholeheartedly believe that this is true, but within Isaiah 11 is another prophecy ignored or skipped over by theologians and Bible scholars, and that is the prophecy of the return of the tribes from exile.
Isa. 11: 10-16
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
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.
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.
15 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Verse 11 speaks of those lost in Assyrian captivity; Pathros is considered to be Upper Egypt while Cush is Sudan and Ethiopia. Elam and Shinar are modern day Iraq. Hamath encompasses Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. Then we have The islands of the sea which surround some of these places or could even hint of the Caribbean Islands where some African slaves who had cultures uncannily similar to Israel, where dumped off on the way to the auction blocks in the Americas.
Verses 12-13 names Israel and Ephraim which indicate the 10 Israeli tribes and we see Judah is mentioned too, possibly referring to the Judeans who remained in Babylon after the others returned to Jerusalem from the exile as recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Now who is the one who will rally, rouse and wake these lost tribes to their true Identity? Messiah Yeshua (v.10)! And this has been done and is being done through world evangelism and missions’ work of Christians and Messianics.
Isaiah chapter 12 is a hymn or psalm of praise that the lost tribes will sing when they are found and return to the Promised Land of Israel.
Let’s look at Isaiah 14:1-2:
For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
Notice how this is specifically referring to the lost ten tribes. Phrases like, “House of Jacob,” “House of Israel,” are mentioned but not Judah. Take note as well that the ambiguous nature of their locals prior to their return to the Land of Israel proper opens the possibilities for the 10 tribes to be scattered is such places as North and South America, Europe and Scandinavia where many believe many of these lost tribes will be found.
Now take the Parable of the Prodigal son:
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Many Evangelicals will say this is a parable about personal redemption and salvation, but totally fail to see that Messiah was speaking of the salvation and redemption of Israel as a whole. The Father represents God. The Older Son is Judah who even in Babylonian captivity maintained their Identity as Jews and even in Captivity cultivated much of the Rabbinic literature Rabbis read and use today. The Younger (Prodigal) Son represents the ten tribes of Israel who was taken off into Assyrian Captivity and eventually lost their Identity. We see one day the Prodigal Son wakes up in a pig sty, which is symbolic of being in the unclean gentile nations in captivity and decides to return home. Just like today, the lost ten tribes of Israel that are scattered all over the globe are waking up to who they really are and want to come home. The Father is there with open arms wanting through a party while Judah the Older Brother is jealous and questioning the Father’s acceptance of his wayward long lost brother. And today, Judah scrutinizes and even rejects authentic, documented, provable claims of certain lost tribes that have been found such as the Igbo people of Nigeria who can prove they come from the Lost Tribe of Gad and his sons Eri, Areli and Arodi (Gen. 46:16).
So we see, that we, as we look for the return of Messiah should not engage our entire eschatological focus on the gloom and doom of the end. We should keep our eyes on these things and act accordingly, as one would seek shelter from a tornado when they spot a funnel cloud. But out eschatological attention should be equally focused on Israel. Not necessarily the Land, but more specifically the People, Jew (Judah) and Hebrew Israelite (Israel/Lost 10 Tribes) as well.
