Questions on the Promises and Prophecy
See also:
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Being Sure of Israelite Descent
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Ephraimites
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Messiah
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Re-Unification of Judah and Joseph (the Lost Ten Tribes)
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Returning to the Land
The Two House Doctrine and Ephraimites
1. HOW MANY ISRAELITES WILL THERE BE?
2. What Are Prototypical Prophecies?
3. Can Prophecy Change? Does what is prophesied have to come?
4. How will the Return Take Place?
5. Why Were Israelites Chosen? What for?
6. (a) How Do We Know that Prophecies concerning the Lost Ten Tribes have not already been fulfilled?
(b) Also, How do we know that such prophecies are to be taken Literally?
1. Question: HOW MANY ISRAELITES WILL THERE BE?
Answer: There will be at least Several Hundred Million Israelites!
Concerning other Biblical verses predicting that the Lost tribes of Israel in the Latter days will number an immense multitude by world standards: Analysis of the verses in question leads to the clear conclusion that a future age is being spoken of and in that time the numbers of Israelites will be incredibly great by world standards at the international level
See our note on this matter of
Number of People
In Short,
It was prophesied that the Lost Ten Tribes would be extremely numerous and numbers 100s of millions or more.
Genesis 15:5, 22:17, 24:60, 32:12, Numbers 23:10, Isaiah 10:22, 24:16, 26:15 Hosea 1:10
We must therefore look for a group of peoples related to each other who do have such numbers as well as fulfilling all the other criteria given by the Bible.
Only the Brit-Am solution fulfills these conditions.
Abraham was promised that his seed would be extremely numerous.
[Genesis 15:5] AND HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH ABROAD, AND SAID, LOOK NOW TOWARD HEAVEN, AND TELL THE STARS, IF THOU BE ABLE TO NUMBER THEM: AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, SO SHALL THY SEED BE.
[Genesis 22:17] THAT IN BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE, AND IN MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY THY SEED AS THE STARS OF THE HEAVEN, AND AS THE SAND WHICH IS UPON THE SEA SHORE; AND THY SEED SHALL POSSESS THE GATE OF HIS ENEMIES;
[Genesis 22:18] AND IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED; BECAUSE THOU HAST OBEYED MY VOICE.
Isaac married Rebecca who it was predicted would become the mother of alfei revava or thousands of ten thousands (Genesis 24:60), translated as thousands of millions by the King James.
[Genesis 24:60] AND THEY BLESSED REBEKAH, AND SAID UNTO HER, THOU ART OUR SISTER, BE THOU THE MOTHER OF THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS, AND LET THY SEED POSSESS THE GATE OF THOSE WHICH HATE THEM.
Isaac was to be the ancestor of innumerable descendants.
[Genesis 32:12] AND THOU SAIDST, I WILL SURELY DO THEE GOOD, AND MAKE THY SEED AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, WHICH CANNOT BE NUMBERED FOR MULTITUDE.
The Israelites will be so numerous that they cannot be counted:
[Numbers 23:10] WHO CAN COUNT THE DUST OF JACOB, AND THE NUMBER OF THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL? LET ME DIE THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS, AND LET MY LAST END BE LIKE HIS!
The Lost Ten Tribes at the end times will number an enormous number of people.
We saw how the Jews of Judah will be astounded at the numbers of Lost Israelites who will return even though they were not previously known to belong to Israel:
[Isaiah 49:21] THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?
YIsaiah predicted that in the Last days only a few would survive and that disasters would occur:
[Isaiah 10:22] FOR THOUGH YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM WILL RETURN. DESTRUCTION IS DECREED, OVERFLOWING WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS.
<<BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA>>: Descendants of Israel will be exceedingly numerous towards the end times.
Isaiah says that the nation will be increased greatly and be removed unto the ends of the earth (Isaiah 24:16, 26:15) meaning the geographical extremities of the world such as Britain, North America, Scandinavia, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Hosea also said that the Children of Israel will be innumerable:
[Hosea 1:10] YET THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, WHICH CANNOT BE MEASURED NOR NUMBERED; AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM, YE ARE NOT MY PEOPLE, THERE IT SHALL BE SAID UNTO THEM, YE ARE THE SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.
When you take everything all together and consider who we belief the Lost Ten Tribes to be today and their present numbers and compare them with that which was prophesied: Instead of asking how can them be so many? One could well ask, Where are the rest?
Brit-Am supporter, Colbert Brian, pointed out that an indicated number concerning the Israelites in the future could have been Six Hundred Million Males Plus Their Families!
[Deuteronomy 1:11] THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS MAKE YOU A THOUSAND TIMES SO MANY MORE AS YE ARE, AND BLESS YOU, AS HE HATH PROMISED YOU!
At that time they numbered more than 600,000 males who went out to war. A thousand times 600,000 makes 600 million males on to which must be added females and children under the age of twenty and men over the age of 60.
We have not yet necessarily reached these numbers but will do so in the future.
The blessings to Israel really do require a vast multitude as we have shown:
2. Question: What Are Prototypical Prophesies?
You often say that Biblical Prophecies concerning events in the time of the Prophet were to serve as Prototypes for the End Times. Can you quote a source for this opinion?
Answer: The Prophecies in Isaiah Concerning Cyrus Are Prototypes!
Remember what we said concerning Isaiah's prophecies about Cyrus. A recent leading Israeli Commentator "Amos Chacham" ("Sefer Yishayahu", Daat Mikra, Jerusalem, 1984) said (p.7):
<<The Prophets spoke their words according to the need of their time and for the sake of future generations. The Sages have already said that any Prophecy that was written down, was written down for the sake of future generations. Nevertheless a great general rule for understanding the words of Prophecy at their simple level is that: Even though the Prophecy depicts that which will be in the Last Days it speaks through descriptions and symbols taken from the reality of the generation in which the Prophecy was given.
p.10: <<In the last section of the Book of Isaiah it says: "WHERE IS THE HOUSE THAT YE BUILD UNTO ME?" (Isaiah 66:1). It is possible that by these words was intended the construction of the second Temple. Cyrus is recalled by his name in the Consolations of Isaiah in two consecutive verses only (44:28-45:1). Most of the verses in the Consolations of Isaiah are not concerned with Cyrus but rather with the Redemption of Israel. This will come from the Almighty and make known the greatness of God throughout the world. According to their simple meaning these prophecies were never fulfilled, not in regards to Cyrus and not concerning the eternal salvation of Israel. Nevertheless it is necessary to stress, the main points were fulfilled: As a result of the Decreed Permission of Cyrus there began the Return to Zion and the Second Temple was built. The end result was that the Children of Israel returned and inherited most of the Promised Land. Also Torah-learning and awe of the Almighty increased. Even the name of God became renowned amongst the Gentiles and many converts attached themselves to Israel. All these things had a good and beneficial influence in strengthening the power of survival of the People of Israel in the long Exile that followed the destruction of the Second Temple. In this way the complete fulfillment of the Promises in the Consolations of Isaiah was put off until the Days of Future Redemption. This is what we are hoping will come quickly in our era. It follows that what happened with the Prophecies concerning the liberation from Babylon was similar to what happened with the Predictions about Salvation from [the King of Assyria] Sancherib. Fulfillment of all the prophecies of Consolation was delayed until the future Age of Deliverance. Scripture itself hints at the possibility that the complete fulfillment of these Prophecies was liable to be put off for many days: "I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN HIS TIME" [Isaiah 60:22].
Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus. Some of the Prophecies concerning Cyrus were fulfilled in the person of the Persian King of that name and some were not. An analysis of the verses in question showed that Cyrus was merely meant to serve as a prototype for a figure who is destined to appear in the Latter Days.
The case of Cyrus serves as an example.
THE PRINCIPLE OF PROTOTYPICAL REPRESENTATION HOLDS THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE!
3. Question: Can Prophecy Change? Does what is prophesied have to come?
Answer: Prophecy for good things cannot change but prophecy for the bad can by a change of actions change for the better or at least be put into effect in a less traumatic fashion.
See
"Brit-Am Now"-577
#1. Questions on Validity of Prophecy
#2. Can Prophecy Change? Does it have to happen?
#3. Replies to Criticisms of Brit-Am Biblical Understanding?
"Brit-Am Now"-580 #2. Comment on the Changing of Prophecy.
"Brit-Am Now"-301
#7. Prophecy as a whole in Context
4. Question: How will the Return Take Place?
Answer:
"Brit-Am Now"-367
#7. The Pathway of Return?
"Brit-Am Now"-383
#1. End Times Now?
"Brit-Am Now"-412
#5. Question on the future
"Brit-Am Now"-419
#1. The Order of Redemption
"Brit-Am Now"-421
#5. Question on the "Messianic Process"
"Brit-Am Now"-446
#5. The Transfer of populations in the Middle East and colonization by "Ephraim"
"Brit-Am Now"-447
#8. Comparisons of Tribal Allocations and Ezekiel 48
"Brit-Am Now"-458
#3. Future Biblically-predicted Expulsion of Palestinian Arabs from the Land of Israel
"Brit-Am Now"-558
#2. Steve Collins: Joseph's Return
"Brit-Am Now"-561
#1. Luke Martin: Cecil Rhodes Vision of British settlers in Israel and the Euphrates Valley
5. Question: Why Were Israelites Chosen? What for?
Answer:
"Brit-Am Now"-548
#5. Are Israelites Chosen?
6. Question: (a) How Do We Know that Prophecies concerning the Lost Ten Tribes have not already been fulfilled?
(b) Also, How do we know that such prophecies are to be taken Literally?
From: "Latham, David CTR MDA/THT"
Yair,
As I begin talking to evangelical Christians about BritAm and
the Lost Tribes many agree about the historical aspect i.e.
deportations, destructions etc. but some view the promises (seed,
wealth, throne, land) being fulfilled either after Messiah returns or a
"spiritual" rather than a literal fulfillment. How would I convince them
that the promises are real, tangible, and many are to be fulfilled
before Messiah's return?
David L. Latham
Answer:
(a) Concerning the Timing of Events Prophesied to Take Place:
We have a principle that the prophecies are to be fulfilled in the events leading up to
the end times. Even things spoken of by the Prophets as happening in their own times or
shortly afterwards are found to be prototypes of what will come in the future.
See:
Brit-Am Replies to Queries:
Promises and Prophecy
Question 2. What Are Prototypical Prophesies?
An important Prophecy that we use to help us identify the Lost Ten Tribes today is the
blessing of Jacob to his sons who were the ancestors of the different Tribes:
[Genesis 49:1] AND JACOB CALLED UNTO HIS SONS, AND SAID, GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER, THAT I MAY TELL YOU THAT WHICH SHALL BEFALL YOU IN THE LAST DAYS.
IN THE LAST DAYS: This prophecy was pertinent to the Latter Time prior to the Messianic Era. Many believe that we are in the times spoken of.
The Commentary "Sfat Emet" (R. Yehudah Arye Leib of Gur, 1847-1895) points out that these final blessings follow on from the blessing to Joseph and that in effect all the tribes receive their blessing through that given to Joseph.
We have here it expressly mentioned that the Prophecy to each of the Tribes
was to be fulfilled
"IN THE LAST DAYS".
Likewise we can go to each individual Prophesy that we use for purposes of identification
and show that it is most fully pertinent to the End Times.
See our extract from Nachmanides where he proves from the
Bible that the Ten Tribes are destined to return and have>
NOT YET DONE SO!
Nachmanides: THE TEN TRIBES WILL RETURN!
The Bible Says So!
See also our article:
Isaiah's Fourteen Aims of Prediction
Articles worth looking at include
Jewish eschatology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology
and
Eschatology: Judaism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology
(b) Concerning the Literal Meaning of Prophecy:
No-one can convince someone who really does not want to
be convinced.
We can however appeal to logic and show that the Prophets were giving specific
descriptions and they intended them to be kept.
There are verses that obviously are figurative whereas others are literal.
Nachmanides took as an example
the commandment to circumcise the flesh which obviously means to cut off
the foreskin.
[Genesis 17:11] AND YE SHALL CIRCUMCISE THE FLESH OF YOUR FORESKIN; AND IT SHALL BE A TOKEN OF THE COVENANT BETWIXT ME AND YOU.
There is however an injunction to circumcise the heart
and if this was taken literally one would die. It obviously means that the center of
emotion and religious feeling should be opened up and have the encrusting
"foreskin" of obstinacy removed.
[Deuteronomy 10:16] CIRCUMCISE THEREFORE THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART, AND BE NO MORE STIFFNECKED.
In other words we must appeal to reason and simply read what is written
and show how and where the most logical application is a literal one.
See our separate entry on this matter:
Brit-Am Replies to Queries:
The Literal Meaning of Prophecy
Sources on Prophecy
"Brit-Am Now"-301
#7. Prophecy as a whole in Context
"Brit-Am Now"-345
#5. Will all Israelites Return?
"Brit-Am Now"-346
#3. Question on Ezekiel 26 and Tyre
"Brit-Am Now"-420
#1. The Order of Redemption
"Brit-Am Now"-421
#1. Genesis 49 concerns the last days
#4. Question on Conversion of Ten Tribes
#5. Question on the "Messianic Process"
"Brit-Am Now"-535
#2. Questions on Abraham, the World, and the Holy Temple
"Brit-Am Now"-540
#Why the Mystery?
"Brit-Am Now"-544
#1. The Fourteen Aims of Prophecy in Isaiah
#6. ISAIAH: Brit-Am Highlights
"Brit-Am Now"-546
#4. Hosia: Highlights
"Brit-Am Now"-577
#1. Questions on Validity of Prophecy
#2. Can Prophecy Change? Does it have to happen?
"Brit-Am Now"-580
#2. Comment on the Changing of Prophecy.
"Brit-Am Now"-605
#1. New Source: Did Isaiah 18 Predict British Restorationism?
"Brit-Am Now"-608
#1. Malcolm Osborne: Israel Not Divorced
#2. Jack Flaws: Isaiah 18
"Brit-Am Now"-609
#1. Steven Collins: The Abrahamic Covenant
"Brit-Am Now"-620
#4. Ray Lee: How Many Israelites Will There be?
"Brit-Am Now"-651
#4. Was a future union between Islam and Christian Europe predicted in the Vision of Daniel?
"Brit-Am Now"-775
#9. Rob Jones: Question on the coming destruction of Damascus
"Brit-Am Now"-826
#1. The Gates of His Enemies
"Brit-Am Now"-830
#1. Jonathan Tillotson: Israel is a light to the nations
"Brit-Am Now"-833
#7. World Map of Comparative Happiness
"Brit-Am Now"-859
#2. Hidden "Stephen" and the Lost Ten Tribes
"Brit-Am Now"-962
#7. Inverness: The Test of the Book of Obadiah
"Brit-Am Now"-965
#5. Question on Psalms 81
"Brit-Am Now"-968
#4. Answer to Cantankerous Correspondent and the Book of Jasher
"Brit-Am Now"-969
#4. Lane Kelly: re "The Book of Jasher" -Thank You
"Brit-Am Now"970
#2. Leah Todd: In Defence of The Book of Jasher and Brit-Am Reply
"Brit-Am Now"986
#5. The Encampment in the Wilderness and Today
"Brit-Am Now"987
#2. Encampment Around the Tabernacle
"Brit-Am Now"1001
#3. Highlights of Ezekiel
"Brit-Am Now"1002
#1. Question on Ezekiel 11:18, Whose idols will be put away??
"Brit-Am Now"1004
#1. Question on the expression "House of Israel".
Jerusalem News-248
#3. Mongolia - Another "Gate" to be Acquired?
Jerusalem News-282
#1. Climate Change Approaching?
#3. More on Climate Change
Jerusalem News-359
#2. Britain in Danger of Flooding? Will the British Need to be Evacuated?
Jerusalem News-362
#2. Brit-AM on Hosea 9: Arab Moslems Liable To Bring Disaster to "Ephraim"
#3. Climate Change
