Beth-El Baptist Church

11/22/2009

Greg Tomlinson


Will the twelve tribes of the nation Israel be gathered and restored?


The Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) have as one of their articles of faith that they “believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten tribes”. The future relationship and hope for Israel's complete restoration is hotly debated even in evangelical circles.


  1. Why does much of the world hate Israel?

Genesis 27:38-41, 46-28:9 Genesis 14:13

John 3:18-19 Romans 1:18-21


    There are multiple reasons that much of the world hates the Jews. For those in the Middle East, it is an ancient family feud because Isaac and Jacob were chosen over Ishmael and Esau. Both claim to be the actual favored son of Abraham and Isaac, or should be. The Koran claims that it was Ishmael and not Isaac who was offered on the mountain and that the mountain of the offering is the current Temple Mount in Jerusalem where Solomon's temple, Herod's temple, and the primary Mosque sits. The rest of the world hates Israel because to back Israel would be a form of stating that the scriptures are true and they do not want to face the God of all creation so working against Israel is a way to attacking against God.


  1. Why do some believe that the 12 tribes of Israel will be restored?

Isaiah 11:10-16; 59:20-21 Jeremiah 31:7-11, 31-37; 32:36-41; 33:19-26

Ezekiel 11:14-21; 34:11-16; 37:15-28 Romans 11:1-5


The scriptures talk of assembling the “outcasts of Israel” and of gathering “together the dispersed of Judah” and of making “a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”. The prophets of God speak of everlasting covenant that is based upon God's transforming power. Although the scriptures speak of gathering Israel and Judah, this does not mean that Israel and Judah will be exclusively or uniquely gathered together. Paul is a Jew and he was gathered unto God just as many others who are of the 12 tribes of Israel, many of whom may not even know that they are of the 12 tribes but God knows.


  1. What has become of the Covenant with the 12 tribes of Israel?

Zechariah 11:8-11 cmp Jeremiah 33:19-26 Isaiah 50:1

Jeremiah 3:7-8 Hebrews 9:13-23


The Zechariah indicates that the covenant with the nation of Israel is broken, but the covenant with David remains. The covenant with Israel was a performance based covenant and Israel separated themselves from God through their sin. The covenant with Israel is now null and void since through Jesus Christ, the holder of the covenant died thus severing the obligation associated with the covenant. Any promise to Israel from God is now utterly and completely fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is true representative Israel and the physical descendants of Abraham who believe are also recipients of the promises of God.


  1. Is there a special and different salvation for the 12 tribes of Israel?

John 8:39-43; 14:6 Acts 4:10-12

Romans 10:1-12 Galatians 2:21


Apart from Christ there can be no other salvation. While it is not outside of the power and will of God to bring about a massive conversion of the 12 tribes to Christ (Romans 11:26; Revelation 11:13). The scriptures are clear, even if there is some sort of gathering of the 12 tribes of Israel it will not be salvation gathering apart from Jesus Christ.


  1. Could the gathered Israel be other than the 12 tribes?

Romans 2:26-29; 9:6-8; 11:25-29 Galatians 3:27-29; 4:28-31

Ezekiel 47:21-23


The true Israelite is not an Israelite because of his physical blood ties to Abraham, but the true Israelite is an heir of Abraham by faith. In the scriptures that raise up the idea of a restored Israel, is also the idea of the stranger (non-Hebrew) who is in their presence and thus an indistinguishable part of the saved.


Summary:

The question of the gathering of the 12 tribes of Israel and their restoration as a nation of Israelites can be either understood as the gathering of the 12 tribes who are within the saved church or the gathering of the 12 tribes that is distinct from the saved church. Yet the scriptures are clear that there is no access to the presence of God apart from faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing in particular that would prohibit a type of unique identification of people from the 12 tribes of Israel who are also a part of the church as recipients of God's blessing but the most likely understanding is that the Old Testament prophets are referring to the fullness of the saved and their full reception of the blessings of God through faith.