Part One
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWELVE TRIBES

I am getting a little ahead of things in this first portion, but bear with the conclusion of this section. Later it will all come together.
THE TWELVE SONS OF ISRAEL (JACOB)

1. Reuben 2. Simeon 3. Levi 4. Judah 5. Zebulon 6. Issachar 7. Dan 8. Gad 9. Asher 10. Naphtali 11. Joseph 12. Benjamin

THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAELLevi has no inheritance in the land. They only have cities. They are the priests and serve all the tribes. They have no land. Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, become tribes instead of Joseph. They replace Levi and Joseph among the remaining ten tribes bringing the count back to twelve. Geneses 48-49

Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulon, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh then make the twelve tribes. If we count Levi, we then have, technically, thirteen tribes

JUDAH THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OR HOUSE OF JUDAHThe Southern Kingdom of Judah consisted of Judah, Benjamin, and most of Levi. This house was referred to as Judah or Jerusalem and was taken into captivity to Babylon around 586 BC. The land area was also called Judah or Judea. Judah was first called “the Jews” in 2 Kings 16:6 when they were at war with the house of Israel.

Today, Judah is the Jews and comprise the nation of Israel. Yes, there probably are some Israelite’s living there, but the nation is mostly made up of the tribe’s of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi.

ISRAEL THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OR HOUSE OF ISRAELThe remaining ten tribes make up the House of Israel or Northern Kingdom. This house is referred to as Israel, Jacob, Ephraim, Manasseh, or Joseph. The land area was called Samaria. They were taken captive by Assyria around 716 BC, 130 years before Judah was taken captive into Babylon. They are known as the ten lost tribes of Israel.

Assyria removes them from Samaria, replaced them with other people who did not fear the Lord. 2 Kings 17:22-28

The Lord rooted up Israel from the land and replaced them with other people. 1 Kings 14:15-16

Samarian Israelites carried away to Assyria. 2 Kings 17.1-6 Samarians replaced by other peoples. 2 Kings 17.24-33 Naphtali and others carried into exile. 2 Kings 15.27-29 Israel is Jacob, “Let my name be upon them,” Gen 48:15

Ephraim and Manasseh are the birthright tribes. Genesis 48. These blessings are for the latter days.

Ephraim and Manasseh’s blessing: Genesis 48.15-20 Manasseh to be great, Ephraim to be a multitude of nations. These prophecies are for the "latter days" (Genesis 49.1).

Descendants of Ephraim becomes the nation of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth.
Descendants of Manasseh becomes the great nation of the United States of America. This will be explained later in the study.

When Jacob blesses Manasseh after the younger Ephraim, Manasseh becomes, in effect, the thirteenth tribe. Thirteen is an important number to the United States of America. We will discuss this further in a later chapter.

God’s government is a constitutional monarchy similar to the British monarchy. The law (Torah, 10 Commandments) are the constitution and the monarchy is God. A line of kings, begins with Yehovah, passes to David’s throne, and back to Yehovah (Jesus Christ) (Ex 20, Luke 1:30-33, Rev 19). Jesus constantly preached about the Kingdom of God, of which He is the King.

In Matthew 10:5-42 we see Jesus explaining to the twelve disciples the mission they are going to undertake. In Matt 10:5-6 he is telling them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the ten scattered tribes. The mission Jesus describes in this chapter is difficult and demanding. It comes at great cost and greater rewards!

The lost tribes of Israel are scattered throughout the earth and in many nations. To these people the twelve were sent. Later, after Jesus’ resurrection, the commission expanded to the gentiles/pagans. Therefore when reading the Old Testament when we see God referring to Jacob, Israel, Ephraim, Manasseh, or Joseph it is usually referring to the ten lost tribes whom today may not realize they are descendants of Israel, but think of themselves as gentiles. Therefore you could be Israel and the United States and Britain’s population could be comprised of many Israelites. Throughout the millennia we have lost our identity. The prophetic warnings to Israel then could be warnings to the United States, Britain, and host of other gentile nations who have lost their identities.

In Ephesians 2.11 thru 3.7 we understand that we are grafted into the “commonwealth of Israel”. What does this mean? That is the purpose of this study. To find out who we are. The answers will surprise you. In Ezekiel 37.15-28 we see the coming together of two sticks. What does that mean? Isn’t there only one stick, the Jews? We will shortly answer all these questions.

God is chastening the western Christian nations for their disobedience to Him just as he chastened the northern Kingdom of Israel. The two greatest Christian nations are the United States and Great Britain. These nations have fallen away from the commandments of God and are in moral and financial decay. God is judging/chastising these nations through their moral decay and the collapse of their financial system. The pride of their power is being broken. Power and wealth are being transferred to the east. God will use Godless nations to bring about His chastisement on the west.

He is re-gathering His people from the four corners of the earth. He is restoring to them their lost identities. The two sticks or houses are being reunited!

Tomorrow: Pt 2 Israel's Golden Age