| Brit-Am and Herbert Armstong. Brit-Am, Movement of the Ten Tribes. Ten out of the Twelve Tribes of Israel were exiled and lost their identity. Their descendants are now to be found amongst Western Peoples. This is proven from the Bible, Talmud, and Rabbinical Sources as well as from Secular Studies in Ancient History, Archaeology, Mythology, Linguistics, and related fields. Brit-Am is concerned with this study and with spreading knowledge about it. Long before us, Herbert W. Armstong played an important role in spreading knowledge concerning the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel being in the west. In the article below we discuss the influence of HWA and some of the similarites as well as the differences between us. SCROLL DOWN! |
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Brit-Am and Herbert Armstong.
10 May 2012, 18 Iyar 5772
Contents:
1. BB Opens Up.
2. Who Was HWA?
3. The Influence of HWA.
4. Some Summarized Highlights of the Work.
The United States and Britain in Prophecy by Herbert W. Armstrong.
5. Brit-Am and the Offshoots of HWA.
6. Difference of Approach.
7. Differences of Understanding.
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1. BB Opens Up.
Brit-Am Reply: Shalom, The United States and Britain in Prophecy by Herbert W. Armstrong is still available for free in .pdf form. http://www.thetrumpet.com/'page=book&b=44 We had read the work in the past. Here and there we used it. Millions of copies were distributed for free, some decades back. Even in Israel I have met Jews from the USA who had picked the book up at a super-market or otherwise got hold of it or had been exposed to articles and lectures based upon it. Many of them were impressed enough to afterwards hold a more sympathetic attitude and interest in the idea that the Ten Tribes were amongst Western Peoples. In addition to the book his organization supplied additional articles and information on the subject. Nowadays his Church has broken up into different groups but in several cases these too are continuing the work of spreading this belief. 2. Who Was HWA? Herbert W. Armstrong Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_W._Armstrong Extracts and Adaptation: Herbert W. Armstrong (1892 - 1986) founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College (later Ambassador University) in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon. ... His teachings included the interpretation of biblical prophecy in light of British Israelism,[3] and required observance of parts of the covenant Law including seventh-day Sabbath, dietary prohibitions, and the covenant law "Holy Days". The book The United States and Britain in Prophecy was published in 1954. It became the most well known and requested church publication, with over six million copies distributed.[33] In this book, Armstrong makes the claim that the peoples of the United States, the British Commonwealth nations, and the nations of Northwestern Europe are descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.[34] This belief, called British Israelism, formed the central basis of the theology of the Worldwide Church of God.[35] The volume of literature requests for material written by Armstrong continued to grow during the 1960s and 70s, and the literature was translated into several languages and distributed to a worldwide audience. They were distributed for free "as a public service." The Plain Truth magazine continued to be published and circulated, eventually reaching a monthly press run of eight million. On January 5, 1968, the Radio Church of God was renamed the Worldwide Church of God.[38] Shortly before, the church began to broadcast a television version of The World Tomorrow.[24] The program would eventually expand to 382 US television stations, and 36 television outlets internationally. After HWA died the Worldwide Church of God changed its name and doctrines altogether. The heritage of HWA however continued through the teachings of splinter groups who adopted many of his teachings. See: Related denominations http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Communion _International#Related_denominations 3. The Influence of HWA. Anyway, what interests us is the teachings concerning the Ten Tribes of Israel. Tens of millions of people around the world in some way or other must have been exposed to the Ten Tribes message by virtue of HWA and his followers. Herbert W. Armstrong researched the subject and wrote up his findings from which the booklet was later produced. It was not however (as distinct from Brit-Am) a one-man show. HWA headed a Church that received tithes and offerings from its followers and enjoyed the use of very large sums. HWA himself had worked in advertising. He had many followers as well as a large full time staff many of whom were quite accomplished in their own right. They had money and their own state-of-the-art editorial services, a publishing and printing set-up and the experience of regularly issuing a magazine of which they would publish and distribute millions of copies. They also had two College Campuses that were quite well considered. HWA and his followers were in a position to put out high quality publications and they did. The United States and Britain in Prophecy is simple yet focused and with substance. It uses Biblical Proofs some of which Brit-Am also uses. 4. Some Summarized Highlights of the Work. The United States and Britain in Prophecy by Herbert W. Armstrong. http://www.thetrumpet.com/'page=book&b=44 Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 The Lost Master Key Has Been Found? Chapter 2 Prophecies Closed Until Now! Chapter 3 National Greatness Promised Israel! Yet the Jews Never Received It? Why? Chapter 4 The Separation of the Birthright and the Scepter. Chapter 5 The Davidic Covenant. Chapter 6 Children of Israel Become Two Nations. Chapter 7 Jeremiah's Mysterious Commission. Chapter 8 The Mysterious Breach. Chapter 9 Israel's New Land. Chapter 10 Birthright Withheld 2,520 Years!. Chapter 11 Why Israel Lost Identity. Chapter 12 The Birthright - at its Zenith - and Now! Chapter 13 And Now What? The Prophecies for the Immediate Future. Chapter 14 What's Prophesied to Happen, Now? to America and Britain. Appendix by J. Tim Thompson. The book starts out by stating that Britain and the USA have been so important in the past and still are in the world that it stands to reason the Bible would have spoken of them. Understanding the Biblical Promises is a Key to understanding the Bible. It quotes from Christian sources and takes as accepted the premise that the reader is a Christian or open to it. The promises to Abraham and Jacob implied a globe-encompassing power of wealth and numbers. It could not have been restricted to the Jews alone. Esau the twin brother of Jacob is identified with the Turks. The material aspects of the blessings were to come through Joseph: # the birthright was Joseph's' (1 Chronicles 5:2). # # We shall see that these descendants of Joseph, possessing these birthright promises 'to become numerous, to colonize, thus spreading to the 'north and the south, and east and the west,' until they encircled the globe, to possess the 'gates' of enemy nations' never returned to Jerusalem from Assyria, where they were driven with the 10 tribes after 721 b.c., and were never again mixed with Jews from that time! Here are promises and prophecies which never have been fulfilled by the Jews, by the Church, by the American Indian, or any other fanciful counterparts of modern Israel. But they are fulfilled today if the Word of God is to stand! # The book then switches to the question of King David. David was promised that, # thy throne shall be established for ever # (2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-16). Believe in The Christian Messiah does not contradict belief in the reign of descendants of King David over Israel. [The book quotes Biblical verses but to find their source often requires flitting back and forth over previous pages.] [There are still some points they could learn from Brit-Am!] The Israelites split up into two separate Kingdoms. The Ten Tribes in the northern Kingdom of Israel under king Jeroboam were induced to worship idols. They were subsequently exiled by the Assyrians who brought in foreigners from Assyria and Babylon to settle in their place. Later a Babylonian-Samaritan sorcerer would take over Mainstream Christianity very shortly after its foundation. The Northern Israelites never returned. Meanwhile, Judah remained but was attacked by the Babylonians. Jeremiah the Prophet was commanded to take the daughters of the King of Judah and escape. Jeremiah took one of these lucky lasses to Ireland. [Where else could she go? How would she have coped with all that rain, after sunny Israel?] The Emerald Isle had already been settled by descendants of Zerah. These were a branch of Judah. This is consistent with it having been prophesied that Ephraim would be re-settled to the north and west of Israel. The Lost Tribes were destined to be found in the British Isles. Prophesies about Israel in the Bible are often: # Referring to the house of Israel, not Judah (Isaiah 49:3, 6), God says: 'Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim' (Isaiah 49:12). In the Hebrew, the language in which this was originally inspired, there is no word for 'northwest,' but this term is designated by the phrase, 'the north and the west.' It means, literally, the northwest! The Vulgate renders 'Sinim' as 'Australi,' or 'Australia.' So we now have the location northwest of Jerusalem and even spreading around the world. # #.. the word for 'covenant man,' or 'covenant people,' would therefore be simply 'brit-ish.' And so, is it mere coincidence that the true covenant people today are called the 'British'' And they reside in the 'British Isles'! ... # We also have the Tribe of Dan who left their trail everywhere they went as well as in Ireland. They had begun their journeying even before the Ten Tribes were exiled. # Long prior to 700 b.c. a strong colony called 'Tuatha de Danaan' (tribe of Dan) arrived in ships, drove out other tribes, and settled there. Later, in the days of David, a colony of the line of Zarah arrived in Ireland from the Near East. # Jeremiah took the Princess, Tea Tephi, to Ireland where she married Prince Herremon who later became king. With the colonization of North America descendants of Manasseh separated themselves from Ephraim and gave rise to the USA. Other Israelite nations include: # Holland, Belgium, Denmark, northern France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway. The people of Iceland are also of Viking stock. The political boundaries of Europe, as they exist today, do not necessarily show lines of division between descendants of these original tribes of Israel. # The promised blessing had been withheld as prophesied for 2520 years ending in ca. 1800. After this came the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. This doubled the size of the USA. It also helped ensure that the eastern and western halves of North America would be united. The might and progress of Britain also expanded by leaps and bounds after this time. The Israelites had lost their identity because they did not keep the Sabbath which is a sign of Israel. The Assyrians also migrated to the west where they became the Germans. Possession of material wealth and resources helps prove Israelite origins. # Whoever is Ephraim and Manasseh today must have been in possession of the Earth's choicest agricultural, mineral, and other wealth - the great gold and silver mines; iron, oil, and coal; timber and other resources. What nations fulfill these prophecies? Why, only Great Britain and America! # All of the above points are explained, gone over, elaborated upon at length. Threads of interest are abruptly cut short only to be taken up again later. This adds interest and keeps the reader involved. The present-day descendants of Israel through the Ten Tribes should realize who they are, repent, and be saved. Otherwise they are in danger as indicated by Scripture. Israelites from the Ten Tribes have been a blessing to the world: # we were a tremendous blessing to the other nations of the Earth - for it is our peoples who have rescued the other nations of the world time and again through the Marshall Plan, the Point Four program, the Alliance for Progress, the hundreds of millions of bushels of wheat for India and other starving nations, etc. The Hoover Program saved up vast food supplies after World War i. It saved millions in other nations from starvation! # Anciently Joseph saved up the wheat and food and made it available to others. Modern Joseph did also. But we are stiffnecked and rebellious toward God and His law, while our ancient forefather Joseph served and obeyed God with a whole heart. It is our peoples who have been like a 'lion' among the other nations of the Earth - preserving in two great world wars the peace of the world and stability for all human life on this planet!# We are however in danger. # God will use a Nazi-fascist Europe to punish Britain- America. Then He will use the Communist hordes to wipe out the Roman Europe. # A Great Tribulation is coming upon Israel. By repenting you can be saved. An Appendix to this edition traces the decline of Britain and recently also of the USA as compared to other nations. People read this book and like it. I found it a bit difficult in some parts. Our own " unprejudiced, obviously unbiased" opinion is that, If it were not for the great detail in places and the names of strange-sounding peoples etc our own works would be found easier to read, than this one. Our summarized points above have probably not done justice to the book but they should have been sufficient for a more or less correct impression. 5. Brit-Am and the Offshoots of HWA. On some points we obviously disagree or are highly reserved. Brit-Am has not got the resources that HWA had so it is unfair to compare us. When our work, The Tribes, first appeared in 1993 personalities who had been attached to HWA or to one of the groups deriving from his contacted us, gave us encouragement, and recommended our work. Names include Herman H. Hoeh, Craig White, Stephen Collins. Raymond F. McNair wrote his own booklet on the subject and quoted from us generously. The UCG (United Church of God) also put out a booklet and quoted from us extensively and still do. e.g. Tracking the Tribes Through Migrations and Maps article by Randy Stiver http://www.ucg.org/bible/tracking-tribes -through-migrations-and-maps/ William Dankenbring bought hundreds of our books and thus promoted our teachings even though on some points they were radically different from his own. There were quite a few others who made contact, were friendly and helpful, and used our information while correctly attributing it to us. In all our dealings with these people we found them courteous, friendly, considerate, and sympathetic. Nevertheless differences of Approach and Understanding naturally exist. 6. Difference of Approach. We are Jewish and value Jewish sources. We also believe in bringing the message to Jews as well as Gentiles. We think that Rabbinical traditions and Commentaries are of value but we do not encourage Gentiles to imitate Jews or compete with them. Our emphasis is on the Bible and on its understanding especially concerning the Ten Tribes. We also refer liberally to secular sources to enhance our understanding. Brit-Am stresses Research and Information. We concentrate on imparting knowledge and revealing new sources of evidence. On the religious side we promote acquiring Biblical Appreciation and challenging the individual to face the Almighty as well as possible. 7. Differences of Understanding. Fundamentally our conclusions are the same. Some of our sources overlap. Concerning the present day whereabouts of descendants of the Ten Tribes and Biblical Promises proving it we agree. That is the most important point. The rest is mainly quibbling detail though here and there if overduly stressed the differences could be important. Here are a few points where we differ: The line of David did not die out. Descendants of David are Numerous. Ancestry through the male line is what counts. See: Sons of David as Rulers. http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleDavid.html. Tea Tephi may not have existed. There is No proof that Jeremiah went to Ireland. Esau is to be found amongst many nations especially Rome and Germany. The 2520 years ending in ca. 1800 is questionable. See: #13. CHRONOLOGICAL FULFILLMENT http://www.britam.org/ephraim-or-menasseh.html#13 Actual Proof of Israelites being in the west in the book of HWA depends on the Blessing to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph with his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. None of the rest of what the book of HWA says to our mind is really pertinent though it could make for interesting reading. Brit-Am brings many more proofs from other sections of the Hebrew Bible as well as from other sources. See: BIBLICAL EVIDENCE http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html List of 122 (was 110) Brit-Am Biblical Proofs http://www.britam.org/ListofProofs.html HWA does not really offer his readers, if they continue with him, more information and a deeper appreciation of Ten Tribes ancestry. It is part of his doctrine and that is what it was, i.e. Doctrine rather than Discovery. Brit-Am, by contrast, offers companionship more than direction. We emphasize the need for more knowledge for all of us and continued research on our own part. With Brit-Am it becomes a never-ending quest forward with no surety of anything but hope for Divine favor. We probably help others along the way without claiming to become a final station. We ourselves are on a journey. That is one meaning of the word "Hebrew" i.e. journey-man. Genesis 12: 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' |
The Tribes - 4th Edition Full Cover Spread.
http://www.britam.org/TribesCover.html
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