The Lost Tribes of Israel

From: Pamphlets By: Charles Stanley

• 1.1 hr. read • grade level: 8

There is an opinion spreading in this country that the English nation is composed of the lost tribes of Israel. We should have nothing to say to this if it did not affect faith as to the purposes of God, or His dispensational dealings in connection with the person and glories of Christ.

A scripture is quoted, so ancient as the prophetic blessing of Jacob, in Genesis 49:22-26²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: ²³The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: ²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) ²⁵Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: ²⁶The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (Genesis 49:22‑26), as referring to England; and it is said that these verses are fulfilled in the present position of England; and that some great person will be found in England to answer to the last clause of verse 24, “From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel” (Gen. 49:24²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24)). Of course this gives vast importance to England; and still greater to this coming one.

We will now, in dependence on the Holy Spirit, examine this inspired prophetic sketch of the history of the sons of Jacob. As he said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days” (Gen. 49:1¹And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. (Genesis 49:1)). We shall find the order of this prophecy marks distinct periods in Israel’s history.

In Reuben, the first-born, after the order of the flesh, might, and strength, the excellency of dignity and power ends in utter instability and failure through sin — the lesson everywhere taught in the Word of God.

Next in order are Simeon and Levi, cruelty and anger. “In their anger they slew a man” (Gen. 49:6⁶O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. (Genesis 49:6)). “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel” (Gen. 49:7⁷Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:7)). This marked the history of Israel until Judah, that is, until Christ was born. Instability and sin marked their whole history in Egypt, the wilderness, and the land, culminating in the cruel murder of the man, the Son of God. “They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion” (Psa. 22:13¹³They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Psalm 22:13)). “The assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet” (Psa. 22:16¹⁶For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16)). Such was the history of Israel; the history of the tribes from Reuben to Judah, that is, up to the birth of Messiah. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen. 49:10¹⁰The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)). This took place; “for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah (Heb. 7:14¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. (Hebrews 7:14)). But “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11¹¹He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)). He made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness. And as Messiah He was cut off, and during this present period He has nothing. (See margin Dan. 9:24-26²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ²⁵Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:24‑26).) Then the city was destroyed, and the people scattered amongst all nations.

Still the time must come when the people shall be gathered unto Him, Jehovah-Jesus.

We will now notice the sketch of the period from Judah to Joseph; the history of Israel during this very period in which we live, in which God is gathering His Church to Christ for the heavens.

Our Lord sprang from Judah, was rejected, and put to death — He “whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21)). The gospel of God, even forgiveness of sins through Jesus, having been first preached to His very murderers; the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven bearing witness of this great salvation; and all rejected; the city was then destroyed, and the people scattered.

We now come to “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships,” etc. (Gen. 49:13¹³Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. (Genesis 49:13)). The Jews, being scattered, become a trading people in all nations.

Issachar — they then sought rest and good in the lands, submitting, and paying tribute.

Dan — though he shall judge his people, yet for the present he is a serpent by the way — the same deadly enmity to Christ as when Satan bruised His heel. Nothing can be expected from man. “I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord (Gen. 49:18¹⁸I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. (Genesis 49:18)). Such alone is the hope of the remnant.

Gad — for the present Israel is overcome; now note the change; in Asher there is prosperity and royal dainties.

In Naphtali the last state before Joseph is very striking — “a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words (Gen. 49:21²¹Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. (Genesis 49:21)).

Have not all these features been seen in the history of this remarkable people? Even the last? Is it not the Jew, by nature, that gives goodly words in the world’s great counsels?

This brings us to the scripture in question; and, to make our inquiry clear, it is this: Does the Holy Spirit, in this scripture, set England before us, or Christ?

No one with the least spiritual discernment can fail to see that Joseph is the most striking type of Christ. The one who had been in the pit of death was separated from his brethren, sold, rejected, dead (or considered so); yet all this the purpose of God, for his brethren’s salvation. Was not all this true in Jesus? Sold, rejected, crucified, dead, and buried; yet all this God’s eternal purpose, for the salvation of sinners; and also for that nation.

In figure, it was the Joseph risen from the dead that was Lord of all Egypt — first-born on the principle of resurrection.

It may be said that Reuben was the first-born; quite true, he was. Then what proof have we that he was set aside because of sin; and the privilege of the first-born given to the sons of Joseph? The Word of God speaks clearly on this very point, “Now the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s)” (1 Chron. 5:1-2¹Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. ²For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:1‑2)). This is the great truth of the Word of God, both as to Israel, and also the Church. All that is of nature, lost through sin; the glorious privileges of Christ, the first-born from among the dead, ours through divine grace. We cannot reckon our genealogy from what we are in ourselves; all is lost through sin: but what we are in Christ, risen from the dead. Thus are we to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, and alive to God” (Rom. 6; 7 Col. 2).

To return to Israel. In thus looking at the typical Joseph, we see, how when all has been lost, through sin -all their strength, excellency, dignity, power, set aside through utter failure — in Joseph, that is in Christ, all shall be more than made good. Is not Christ the fruitful bough? Only He must die or remain alone; as He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). Yes, He must be lifted up. He has died; and who can tell the fruit of that death, in resurrection? Think of those coming millennial days. “A fruitful bough... by a well” (Gen. 49:22²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (Genesis 49:22)). Yes, the Holy Spirit, the well of living water, came down from the Father, consequent on Christ’s resurrection, and ascension to glory. And did not the archers sorely grieve Him and hit Him? Yet did He fail, like Reuben? No! holy, holy, holy One, Thy bow abode in strength. God hath raised Him from the dead. It is from resurrection: “From thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel” (Gen. 49:24²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24)). Can you not in these words see the Shepherd that died for the sheep? The stone that the builders refused? Oh, what a day, when He shall be made the head of the corner! Yea, God hath made Him the head of the corner; but we see not yet all things put under Him. Oh, read every line in Jacob’s blessing on Joseph; on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Surely every word points to the coming glory of the once rejected Jesus.

Is it a light thing, then, to take these precious words, that point to the coming glories of Christ as Messiah of Israel, and apply them to England? This may not only flatter and amuse, but really prepare the way for the man of sin, that future one who, coming in his own name, shall deceive the multitude. What a sketch in a few words, pronounced 3,500 years ago. The nation’s ruin, and God’s remedy; yea, also man’s ruin, and God’s remedy. Joseph, a type of Jesus, rejected and delivered unto death for our iniquities, but raised from the dead for our justification. Yea, believing God, we are justified from all things, accounted righteous, and have peace with God. (See Rom. 4; 5) May the eye of Israel soon be directed, not to England, but to the risen Christ! Vain is the help of man. Blessings await her tribes, through the first-born from among the dead; blessings also in the heavens above; yes, unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of our Jesus, and on the crown of Him that was separated from His brethren. Glory to God in the highest! Israel shall soon receive, through Jesus, far, far more than they lost through sin.

The Blessing of Moses

Before we look at their dispersion and history, we will turn for a moment to the blessing of Moses (Deut. 33). We have seen, in the words of Jacob, their failure and ruin, yet all made good in the risen Joseph, type of the risen Christ. Now in the BLESSING of Moses we see the tribes of Israel blessed in the millennial kingdom, beginning where Jacob ends.

The order will therefore be different, a new life, as it were, to the once lost tribes. “Let Reuben live, and not die; and let [not] his men be few” (Deut. 33:6⁶Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few. (Deuteronomy 33:6)). This is more fully brought out in Ezekiel 37, the vision of the dry bones. Thus God “will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all” (Ezek. 37:21, 22²¹And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ²²And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: (Ezekiel 37:21‑22)). Immediately after this announcement of life to Reuben (though few men) we have the blessing of Judah. He who sprang from Judah, Jehovah-Jesus, is now the king over all the tribes, all blest in Him. Every blessing points to, and is found in, the risen Christ. He reigns in Judah; He teaches in Levi. “Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah” (Deut. 33:8⁸And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; (Deuteronomy 33:8)). What (Thummim and Urim) perfections and lights will be with the once smitten Jesus! Teaching, blessing, and victory now over all enemies.

Next comes blessing in Benjamin, the beloved of the Lord: not so much conflict and subduing, as in Jacob’s words, but dwelling in millennial safety. Christ is very distinctly seen in these two characters, Benjamin and Joseph: beloved of Jehovah, and blessed of Jehovah.

The Church is blest with all spiritual blessings in the heavens in Christ (Eph. 1). Israel is here blest with all earthly blessings in the land. “Blessed of the Lord be His land (Deut. 33:13¹³And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, (Deuteronomy 33:13)). Read the list of blessings (Deut. 33:13-16¹³And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, ¹⁴And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, ¹⁵And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, ¹⁶And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. (Deuteronomy 33:13‑16)). The glory of Joseph, in the land of Egypt, was but a type of all this. Thus does the Spirit delight to unfold the glories that shall be on the head once pierced with thorns: “Upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns” (Deut. 33:16-17¹⁶And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. ¹⁷His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deuteronomy 33:16‑17)). Each of the tribes that follow has its peculiar mark of millennial blessing. And just as they did sink lower and lower, during their history, in apostasy, now the blessings, through Christ, their true Joseph, rise higher and higher. “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27²⁷The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:27)). “Israel THEN shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also His heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord!” (Deut. 33:28-29²⁸Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. ²⁹Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. (Deuteronomy 33:28‑29)). As surely as Joseph was rejected by his brethren, and afterward crowned with Egypt’s glory; yea, as surely as Jesus has been rejected by His nation, dead and buried, and raised again from the dead, sitting at the Father’s right hand, waiting until He gives Him the kingdom; even so shall every blessing here pronounced by Moses be made good to Israel when He comes to reign.

There is the deepest profit in studying these two scriptures together, the last words of Jacob and Moses; whether we take the way in which God will finally triumph over Israel’s sins and apostacy, or the case of our own salvation. When all our efforts had ended in sin and failure — even to hatred and rejection of Christ; when all as to nature, or what we are to God, had ended in ruin — none righteous, no not one; then the righteousness of God shone out towards us, in the death and resurrection of our Joseph — Jesus risen from among the dead. So that by His blood and in Him, in Jesus risen, we are justified, and blest infinitely, through faith, beyond all we lost through sin. Oh, the riches of His grace! To Him be all glory and all praise. Yes, as to Israel, the birthright of the earth is given to the sons of Joseph. As to the Church, the birthright of the heavens is given to the many brethren of the risen Christ (Eph. 1; Col. 1:18, 2:10; Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)). God has purposed to give all earthly blessing to the one; He has blest the other with ALL spiritual blessings in the heavens in Christ. Thus the two purposes, and the two blessings, are as distinct as the heavens are distinct from the earth.

The Tribes of Israel —Their Dispersion

It is remarkable that those tribes which chose the well-watered, fertile lands of Bashan and the east of the Jordan were the first to be taken captive. Compare Numbers 32:1-4¹Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; ²The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, ³Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, ⁴Even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: (Numbers 32:1‑4) with 2 Kings 15:29²⁹In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29). It had been so of old with Lot, who chose the fertile lands of Sodom. It is so in Christendom. They who deny their heavenly calling, by seeking to be great ones on earth, are the first to be taken captive in its snares. “In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria” (2 Kings 15:29²⁹In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29)). Then a little later, in the ninth year of Hosea king of Israel, “The king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings 17:6⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (2 Kings 17:6)). This was seven hundred years before Christ. They were thus carried far away beyond the Euphrates, the opposite direction from Britain, the river Gozan emptying itself into the Caspian sea.

Near eight hundred years after this, in the first century of our era, Josephus wrote the following, when speaking of the king of Assyria: “He quite demolished the government of the Israelites, and transplanted all the people into Media and Persia,” etc. “So the ten tribes of the Israelites were severed out of Judea” (Book 9, ch. 14. 1).

Again he says, “Wherefore there are but two tribes, in Asia and Europe, subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates TILL NOW, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers,” with much more information about them (Book 11, ch. vs. 2).

True, this is only history; but is there not every probability that such a learned man as Josephus would not have written so distinctly about the ten tribes, if it had not been well known in his day that they were beyond the Euphrates; that is, in the direction of Afghanistan?

It is also striking, that in the company named at Pentecost there were some from these very parts, “Parthians and Medes” (Acts 2:9⁹Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (Acts 2:9)). James also addresses his epistle “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, GREETING” (James 1:1¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1)).

There does not then seem to be the least doubt that at that time it was well known where the ten tribes were, and if so, the testimony of Josephus is conclusive; that at that time they, the ten tribes, were beyond the boundary of the Roman empire, beyond the Euphrates. Since then there is nothing very clear about them in history.

Eldad, a Jew of the thirteenth century, “places them in Ethiopia, and gives them the sovereignty of the Saracens, and twenty-five kingdoms”; others later have located them in the deserts of Arabia, East India, Tartary; and still later writers have identified them with the Afghans But all this is mere conjecture. They are lost, so that in their restoration the divine principle of grace will be true of them, as in the case of every individual sinner, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which WAS LOST” (Luke 19:10¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). But there is another point we may take up and consider. England, or Britain, was well known to the Romans when Josephus wrote of the ten tribes being beyond the limits of the Roman empire. So that at the very time that the ten tribes were far beyond the Euphrates, these islands were then peopled by the Britons, Picts and Scots.

We now come to the Saxons, who were invited to come over and assist the Britons against the inroads of the Picts and Scots, about the year 449 A.D. The Saxons were a most barbarous race of warlike Germans, the terror of the neighboring nations. So far as history goes back they sprang from the extreme north of Germany and the Cimbrian Chersonesus, and had possession of all the sea coast, from the mouth of the Rhine to Jutland. All beyond this is lost in deep, fabulous obscurity; so much so that Hengist and Horsa, who first landed in the Isle of Thanet, were said to be the great grandsons of their god Woden. To suppose these savage Saxons to be the lost tribes is the merest conjecture, without a shadow of a proof, or the remotest probability.

Their religion was far more barbarous than that of the ancient Druids. “All the refined arts of life were unknown among the Germans: tillage itself was almost wholly neglected.” It would be difficult to imagine superstition more degraded than the gross idolatry of the Saxons. Their chief deity, whom they regarded as the god of war, was called Woden, the object of their religious worship. They believed if they obtained his favor by their valor, they should be admitted after death, into his hall, and repose on couches, satiating themselves with ale from the skulls of their enemies whom they had slain in battle.

Swarm after swarm of these savage idolaters landed in Britain, destroying its cities towns, and people. The most diligent search of ancient history, however, utterly fails to give the shadow of a proof that these savages of the far north were ever the lost tribes of the far east. That such a thought should be spreading in this country is surely a proof how ready the human mind is to receive what is untrue.

It may be objected, that if all is mere conjecture, not history, the opinion that highly-favored England was peopled by Israel is not thereby proved to be false. Very well then, admitting that there is no proof whatever of this Israelitish origin in history, we will turn again to the sure word of God.

In the epistle to the Romans (the inspired letter of the apostle to all saints by calling in the great Gentile city) no less a subject is treated, in the first eight chapters, than the revelation of the righteousness of God in justifying all who believe Him, Jews and Gentiles alike. This is shown to be, first, as to their sins, by the death of Christ for their iniquities, and the resurrection of Christ, from among the dead, for their justification; then as to sin, the root of all sins, and law, from Romans 5:12¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) to Romans 8. They are accounted dead with Christ, and by that death delivered from sin and law. Thus all in Christ are without condemnation. The Spirit of God also is IN them. God is their justifier, and there is no separation from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

But if this is so, and there is now no difference between Israel and Gentiles, what about all the special promises to Israel? This is the question taken up in Romans 9; 10; 11 And note, it is ISRAEL; not merely the Jews. “Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law,” etc. (Rom. 9:4, 5⁴Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; ⁵Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:4‑5)). “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But ISRAEL, which followed after the law of righteousness; hath not attained to the law of righteousness” (Rom. 9:30, 31³⁰What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. ³¹But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (Romans 9:30‑31)). “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:3³For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)). Now, frankly, is it not impossible to apply these words to the ancient Britons, Picts, Scots, or Saxons? Did any of these answer to Israel going about to establish their own righteousness, and refusing to submit to the righteousness of God? Refusing to believe in the righteousness of God in justifying them that believe through the death and resurrection of Christ? Can any man find a line in history that would thus characterize them from other nations or Gentiles? Nay further, so far from this being the case, do we not find these very statements, describing the Gentiles, most true in the tribes that peopled this land? Thus “the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness” (Rom. 9:30³⁰What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (Romans 9:30)). Yes, the Saxons, which followed not after righteousness, had no knowledge of God, were sunk in the darkest superstition ever held by men. They who were the fiercest idolaters have been favored, highly favored, with the glad hidings of righteousness through faith.

But if this modern notion be right, that the Saxons are Israel, then all this divine revelation would be false. The gospel was preached to Israel, but they rejected it, and went about to establish their own righteousness. Read Romans 10:19-21¹⁹But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. ²⁰But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. ²¹But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:19‑21). “Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you” (Rom. 10:19¹⁹But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. (Romans 10:19)). “I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me. But to Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Rom. 10:20-21²⁰But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. ²¹But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:20‑21)). Has England, above all other nations, thus rejected the Word of God? For note; it is to Israel these words are said. Nay, rather, is not England more like the foolish nation that asked not after God; and as Gentiles, which they certainly were; have they not thus been blest?

Now Romans 11 proves that, while individuals of the tribes of Israel were saved, Paul of the tribe of Benjamin was proof of this; and while during the present dispensation a remnant of Israel, according to the election of grace, is saved, as in the days of Elias, yet the nation, as such, is cut off through unbelief. “But through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:11¹¹I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (Romans 11:11)). “Blindness in part is happened to ISRAEL, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:25-26²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:25‑26)). Has the Saxon nation been cut off? Has blindness, judicial blindness, fallen upon them beyond all other nations? Such a thought, as that of the English being the tribes of Israel, falsifies every word in these chapters.

In contrast with this thought every word in the prophets is in perfect harmony with these chapters. According to Daniel 9 Messiah came at the fullness of the time; by His cross He made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness; and He was rejected by the people: “Messiah shall be cut off, and shall have nothing.” (Margin.) (see Dan. 9:26²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26)). Then the city was destroyed, “and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Dan. 9:26²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26)). Then we read what will take place at the end, during the last seven years before the setting up of the kingdom. The Lord Jesus describes their condition from the destruction of the city until He comes again for their salvation (Luke 21:20-28²⁰And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. ²¹Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. ²²For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. ²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:20‑28)). while in Romans 11, as we have seen, Paul describes the spiritual condition of ISRAEL until Messiah comes again. That is, during this whole period of surpassing grace to the Gentiles, Israel, as a nation, is cut off. But when Messiah comes as their Deliverer, then all Israel shall be saved (Rom. 11:25-27²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:25‑27)). But this notion of England being favored Israel sets aside the whole of God’s dispensational dealings, both with Israel and the Gentiles. It is exactly the reverse of the truth.

In Ezekiel 36-39 we have a full account of the future restoration of Israel. There is first the condition of Israel during their dispersion; and all that the Lord God can say of them is that they have profaned His holy name among the heathen. Then their restoration is of pure grace (Ezek. 36:22-30²²Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. ²³And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. ²⁴For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. ²⁵Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. ²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. ²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. ²⁸And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. ²⁹I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. ³⁰And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. (Ezekiel 36:22‑30)). After their restoration follows their repentance (Ezek. 36:31³¹Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. (Ezekiel 36:31)). They loathe themselves in their own sight for their iniquities and abominations. Still not a syllable that could be applied to the nation of England. Then follows their blessing and marvelous increase. In Ezekiel 37 we have the vision of dry bones. The whole house of Israel say, “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts” (Ezek. 37:11¹¹Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. (Ezekiel 37:11)). Then as a nation the dead hear His voice, and live. The whole is in perfect harmony with the ways of God. In each individual case, the goodness of God, in the gift of His Son, and the work of redemption, is first made known by the Spirit. This leads to repentance, utter judgment of self. Also the dead hear His voice, and they that hear live. Then we get, in the figure of the two sticks, the lost tribes and the house of Judah made one nation upon the mountains of Israel, to be divided no more. The tabernacle of God is then with them. He is their God, and they are His people.

Then comes the great invasion of Gog, prince of Rosh, of Meshech, and Tubal — the vast Russian empire, their total overthrow, and destruction. Now what follows is of the greatest moment in our inquiry. Read Ezekiel 39:22-29²²So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. ²³And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. ²⁴According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. ²⁵Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; ²⁶After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. ²⁷When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; ²⁸Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. ²⁹Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:22‑29): “And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity because they trespassed against Me, therefore hid I My face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to all their uncleanness... Have I done unto them, and hid My face from them” (Ezek. 39:23-24²³And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. ²⁴According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. (Ezekiel 39:23‑24)). Can this be said of the English nation? Compared with other nations, has God hid His face from them?

Then, further, “When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations” (Ezek. 39:27²⁷When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; (Ezekiel 39:27)). It is utterly impossible to apply these words to the English nation. In no sense can they be said to dwell in their enemies’ land’s. The barbarous Saxons robbed their friends, the Britons, of their land; and so, indeed, again of the Normans — they were the invading robbers. So, then, if the English are the lost tribes, who is the enemy to whom England belongs? But God will most surely gather the tribes, as we have seen, from their enemies’ lands.

If we read carefully these two chapters, Ezekiel 38 and 39, it is evident that the prince or head of the Russian empire is the great enemy of the house of Israel in the latter day. And note the fact, that although this prophecy was written near twenty centuries before there was any Russian empire at all, yet at this moment there is such a vast empire, steadily spreading over those very countries thus described. Not only will he have power to bring up all the bands of Gomer (no doubt all outside the restored boundaries of the yet-to-be-restored Roman empire of Revelation 17:8-12⁸The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. ⁹And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. ¹⁰And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. ¹¹And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. ¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Revelation 17:8‑12) — that beast which was, and is not, and shall be again,) thus leaving all the nations north of the Rhine and the Danube under the power of Russia; but, what is still more to the purpose, we find this vast empire of Rosh has dominion over Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya or Phut. This will cover Media and the Caspian — the very locality where the tribes were last heard of. while it is utterly impossible then to apply Israel’s gathering from the enemies’ lands to England, it is not only possible but exceeding probable that they will be found in the midst of those Asiatic nations, subject to their great enemy the Russian empire.

Glorious and sure promises are given to Israel in Micah 4. “And the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion” (Mic. 4:7⁷And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. (Micah 4:7)). “The first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem” (Mic. 4:8⁸And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:8)). Now note the order: “They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,... out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:1-2¹Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. ²But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:1‑2)). Jesus was smitten on the cheek. He did come out of Bethlehem. He was rejected by man, and received up to God. Yet He is to be the ruler in Israel. And He is the everlasting God, whose goings forth have been from of old, from eternity. Clear, distinct proof of the real manhood, Godhead, and yet Messiahship of Jehovah-Jesus! But is it not as distinctly said, “Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she that travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel” (Mic. 5:3³Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:3))? All this is in perfect harmony with the rest of Scripture. Jesus was rejected by the Jews, and they now, like the ten tribes, are given up, until that time of great tribulation, such as never was, and never shall be again. This giving up, or cutting off Israel as a nation, is one of the marks of the present dispensation, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. But to suppose highly-favored England to be that nation is thus to utterly mistake the testimony of Scripture.

If we now read on in Micah 5 we find, at the time of the gathering of Israel, “this man,” yes, this Man, once crucified, now at the right hand of God, but coming again — “This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land” (Mic. 5:5⁵And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. (Micah 5:5)). And it is at that time that the remnant of Jacob are found among the Gentiles. Comparing this with Ezekiel, it is evident the Russian empire, the great enemy of Israel, will thus also be the Assyrian of that day. And is not Russia also steadily spreading her vast power towards Assyria?1 Every sentence of the Word of God must be fulfilled. Let us not forget, “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance” (Deut. 32:8-9⁸When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. ⁹For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (Deuteronomy 32:8‑9)). Not, a movement can take place on this earth, to hinder the purpose of God to that people. All the songs of David and glorious promises of Isaiah, yea, every word written, shall surely be fulfilled. Yet is all this earthly. Take one of the brightest descriptions of this earthly blessing in store for Israel — Isaiah 60 or Zephaniah 3:9-20⁹For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. ¹⁰From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. ¹¹In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. ¹²I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. ¹³The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. ¹⁴Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. ¹⁵The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. ¹⁶In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. ¹⁷The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. ¹⁸I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. ¹⁹Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. ²⁰At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:9‑20) — and compare it with the heavenly glory of the Church of God, as seen in Ephesians 1-3, and we must at once own the very greatest importance in distinguishing between the blessing of Israel and the hopes of the Church.

To make then England to be Israel, blest now in earthly places, is utterly to mistake the true character of the Church of God, blest even now with all spiritual blessings in the heavens in Christ. It can only be the result of ignorance of the present purpose of God, in taking out of this sinful world, during this dispensation, the joint-heirs of Christ, to reign with Him who is head over all things to the Church.

No doubt the heavenly calling and glory of the Church, in contrast with the earthly calling and earthly glory of Israel, has been lost for dark centuries. Indeed, may we not say the very earthly promises to Israel have been applied to the Church for earthly aggrandizements?

We will now examine the supposed proofs that England is identical with the lost tribes. We have inquired for the best works written on the subject. The first is given to us bearing the title of A Resume, by Philo-Israel.

The writer urges the careful examination of the context of each scripture quoted. This is remarkable, as we utterly fail to find one text that refers to Britain.

We will examine some at least as specimens. “A nation and company of nations,” “as the sand by the sea shore innumerable, as the dust of the earth, and as the stars of heaven for multitude” (Gen. 22:17, 32:12, 35:11; Num. 23:10¹⁰Who 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! (Numbers 23:10); Rom. 9:27²⁷Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (Romans 9:27)).

Take the first passage quoted and read the context (Gen. 22). Here we have the offering up of Isaac as a type of the one great sacrifice for sins — the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaac is received in figure from the dead — type of the risen Christ; then this glorious promise because of that offering, “Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice” (Gen. 22:16-18¹⁶And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: ¹⁷That 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; ¹⁸And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:16‑18)). “PHILO-ISRAEL” applies all this to Great Britain. The Holy Spirit applies it to Christ. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16¹⁶Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)). Thus, dear reader, whether it be to your own soul, to the Church of God now, to Israel and the world in millennial days to come, all, all is through that one atoning death, and in the resurrection of that One, typified in Isaac; and that One is Christ. Beware, then, of supplanting Christ with Great Britain. Thus all was secured in the future precious risen Christ, four hundred and thirty years before the law was given. Woe be to us if we rest our souls on being Saxons, or on anything else, except the death and resurrection of Christ! Danger, untold danger, in anything that draws away faith from Christ! Is it a little thing then to put Britain in the place of Christ? That these scriptures abundantly quoted refer to Israel’s future blessing in Christ is most clear; but where is there the remotest proof that they refer to Britain?

It would be childish to attempt to answer such misquotations, were it not for the dangerous error underneath. Take the next sign or mark, page 5: “A single nation” (Jer. 31:36³⁶If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. (Jeremiah 31:36)). What is the context of this passage? The most glorious promises to Judah and Israel; the restoration of the whole house of Israel; then the new covenant. Note these words: “They shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34³⁴And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)). There is a boastful spirit in these writings of Philo-Israel. But can anyone have the boldness to declare that this passage refers to Britain? Do they all know the Lord from the least to the greatest? Is it certain because you are English that God will remember your sins no more? This is the first of a long list of Scripture marks of the lost tribes, and the writer with boldness declares: “GREAT BRITAIN, she, and she alone, responds to them, EVERY one: she, and she alone, lacks not one.” “This is the ground on which we take our stand, and on which we challenge discussion.”

Note, we are to take the context of every scripture quoted, and this is the first. Let not Philo say he merely quoted this text to prove the unity of the one nation, Israel. For that unity is after their restoration and also the declaration that God will remember their sins no more, the Holy Spirit assuring our hearts that this is blessedly true, now, of all believers (Heb. 8:12, 10:16, 17). Philo quotes this scripture as a present mark of Britain. Before we pass on, can the reader allow such a scripture to be applied to England? I am an Englishman, therefore God will remember my sins no more! Would it not be difficult to find a parallel to this mistake? If you can say, “Unto Him that loveth us, and hath washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)), you will not be quite prepared to give up Christ, and trust in being a Briton.

He then quotes Isaiah 51:4, 65:1, as marks that England is Israel, which, the reader will observe, have no connection with the subject whatever. The author might just as well open the Bible by guess, and point out any text.

Micah 4; 5 Isaiah 60. These scriptures are quoted in identification of Britain with Israel. Now what is revealed in these scriptures? Surely the future blessing of Israel. The nations going up to Jerusalem to worship; a time of peace; strong nations beating their swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning-hooks; the Lord reigning in Mount Zion; the kingdom and first dominion given to the daughter of Jerusalem; and all this is brought about by the personal coming of Christ, and judgment on the wicked (Isa. 11:4⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)). Then follows the gathering of both Judah and the other tribes. Read the whole chapter. The Lord recovers the remnant of His people from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, etc. He assembles the outcasts of Israel; for outcasts they evidently are, until that time. Now read Isaiah 60. We are gravely told that Isaiah 60:5-11⁵Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. ⁶The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. ⁷All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. ⁸Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? ⁹Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. ¹⁰And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. ¹¹Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. (Isaiah 60:5‑11) “has been realized by GREAT BRITAIN for a thousand years, but not by any other nation of the world.” Why not go on to the next verse? “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall he utterly wasted” (Isa. 60:12¹²For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. (Isaiah 60:12)). Such a delusion and wresting of Scripture would warrant England, in its present state, in entering on a crusade to exterminate the whole human race. Nay, was not, and is not, a similar misapplication of these scriptures the very root of the persecuting spirit of Rome?

These scriptures evidently speak, not of this period of grace, but of the future reign of Messiah in righteousness. He alone, the Lamb as it had been slain, is worthy to reign.

Let us look at another scripture, quoted to prove Britain to be Israel. The mark is this, “possessing a magnificent heathen empire; which is true of our country and no other.” I will only notice the first Scripture proof (Psa. 2:8⁸Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8)), “Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” “Unto the Son He saith” (Heb. 1:8⁸But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)). Ah, that is nothing to our author. It is nothing to him that the Holy Spirit declares this is Jesus, in Acts 13:33³³God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (Acts 13:33). With him it is Britain, not Christ! The Lord awaken His own people to know the danger of this delusion — a delusion, thus robbing Christ of His inheritance, and giving it to England. Now read the next verse, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psa. 2:9⁹Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalm 2:9)). Is Britain then to break the nations with a rod of iron? Surely the reader must see such misquotation of the inspired word of God is terrible. That such will be the future righteous reign of Christ is certain. Compare Isaiah 11:4⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4); Acts 17:3³Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Acts 17:3)1 Thess. 1:2, 7-10:8, and many other scriptures which can only refer to Christ.

But in the meantime He says: “I pray (or ask) not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me” (John 17:9⁹I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:9)). The time is not yet come when He will ask according to Psalm 2. But that time will surely come, and then, oh, beware, poor, deceived England? Remember, to whom much has been given, of the same shall much be required. Many other scriptures are quoted not less erroneously. But the question is this, What is the great root-mistake in all this confusing of things that differ? It is this: All the scriptures describing Israel’s blessing cannot possibly apply to Britain, or any other nation, during the present dispensation or period. This must be so, as the following scriptures will show. Read Isaiah 2:1-4¹The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ⁴And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:1‑4). All this blessing is thus connected with Jerusalem. All nations shall then flow to it. “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)). This is abundantly confirmed in other scriptures (Zech. 12:6-9⁶In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. ⁷The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. ⁸In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. ⁹And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6‑9), Zech. 14). There can be no question that then Jerusalem shall be the metropolis of the whole earth. The prophets are full of this subject.

But now note the teaching of Christ, that from the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, Jerusalem shall be trodden underfoot; and further, that these times of the Gentiles close with the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:24-27²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:24‑27)). It therefore follows that all the prophecies of Israel’s blessing must be after the close of the times of the Gentiles, and after the coming again of Christ.

What are these times of the Gentiles? If we turn to Daniel, we have them described in Daniel 2 as the times of the four great Gentile empires. The closing state of the last, or Roman, is, that it is divided into ten parts or kingdoms. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44⁴⁴And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44)). Now these ten kings had received no kingdom in the year A.D. 96, (Rev. 17:12¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Revelation 17:12)). They have never existed since then, the Roman empire composed of ten kingdoms under one head, or the beast, so that the days of those ten kings have not yet come. And thus Jerusalem is trodden under foot until the times of these four empires have run their whole course. Do not say that the Roman empire is not, and therefore the Word of God has failed. This was distinctly revealed that it would be so (Rev. 17:8⁸The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)). And do not forget the coming again of Christ is the closing scene of the time of the Gentiles. He is the stone that shall smite the empires of this world in judgment. It is all therefore a great mistake to apply the scriptures, which foretell the kingdom of God on earth, which must be after the times of the Gentiles, as though they described England NOW; yea, when, as is well known, England was, and therefore will be again, part of that very Roman empire. Those ten kingdoms have not yet appeared; therefore the days have not yet come, when the God of heaven shall set up His kingdom. And when He does set it up, it will not be by the preaching of the gospel, but, God assures us, it will be by the personal coming of Christ. “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven.... And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him,” etc. (Dan. 7:13-14¹³I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. ¹⁴And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13‑14)). THEN surely, not NOW, shall the prophecy of Jacob to the sons of Joseph be fulfilled.

Remember a great part of Scripture is occupied with the purpose of God to bless Israel in that day. It is perfectly childish to apply those promises to England. Who can describe the vast increase of Israel, multitudes of peoples, during that millennial time, when “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (Dan. 7:27²⁷And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27))? Again, What is said in Scripture about both Judah and Israel, during this long period when God is gathering out of the nations the disciples, the brethren of Christ, the Church of God? That they are cut off through unbelief. As they refused to believe the mercy of God to the Gentiles, they have forfeited all claim to the promises, as natural branches. So that at last the riches of the grace of God will triumph, saving them also in pure mercy (Rom. 11:15-33¹⁵For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ¹⁶For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; ¹⁸Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. ¹⁹Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. ²⁰Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: ²¹For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. ²²Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ²³And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. ²⁴For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? ²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. ²⁸As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. ²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. ³⁰For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: ³¹Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. ³²For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. ³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:15‑33)). After all their struggles, rejecting mercy, and seeking to be saved by the law, and all their subsequent apostacy, as a nation they will be saved at last in mercy. Precious word! Is it not so in every individual case? After all our struggles to keep the law, and all our sins, we are brought at last to be saved by the pure mercy of God in Christ. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)). It is therefore a mistake to apply either the fullness of the Gentiles, or the times of the Gentiles, to Great Britain. The fullness of God’s gathering from the Gentiles, and the times of the Gentiles, close with the personal coming of Christ (Luke 21:27²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27)).

It may be said that these remarks apply to Judah, and not to the ten tribes. They may have accepted Christ, the true foundation-stone, and therefore be England; while Judah, as we all know, has rejected Him.

Let us hear what the word of the Lord says. while He is the blessed sanctuary to His disciples, yet “He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense, to both the houses of Israel” (Isa. 8:14¹⁴And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 8:14)). Yes; while Judah put to death the Lord of glory, yet is it not evident that Israel rejected the testimony of God to the risen Christ? (Acts 2:9⁹Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (Acts 2:9)). Were there not some from the very places where Josephus says the ten tribes were — Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites? Does Paul speak of rejecting Jews only, or of rejecting Israel? (Rom. 9; 10; 11). There can be no mistake: the Holy Spirit thus speaks of them in the New Testament. This then marks the present condition of both houses of Israel. To them Christ is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. Reader, what is Christ to you? Can you say He is your everlasting refuge? Beware of any other.

Is it equally clear, that the first great gathering of Israel as a whole will be in unbelief, and their regeneration and repentance after? Nothing can be more clear. At the time of Israel’s gathering, we find them profaning the name of Jehovah amongst the heathen (Ezek. 36:21²¹But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. (Ezekiel 36:21)). He gathers them in pure pity for His holy name’s sake. He takes them from the heathen, gathers them from all countries, and brings them into their own land (Ezek. 36:24²⁴For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)), THEN He sprinkles clean water upon them, gives them a new heart, puts His Spirit within them. This is explained by the Lord to Nicodemus to be the new birth (Ezek. 36:26, 27²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. ²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26‑27)). They then dwell in the land. Creation is blest for their sakes, and THEN, but not till then, they deeply repent, and loathe themselves, which really is repentance. Thus, as in the case of every believer, the goodness of God leadeth to repentance. So shall it be with the whole nation of Israel (Ezek. 36:28²⁸And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:28), read to the end of the chapter). This same principle runs through the prophets. Take one place more — “Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth” (Jer. 31:19¹⁹Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. (Jeremiah 31:19)), words of Ephraim, and words now of every true child of God. Are they your words? Has the goodness of God in Christ led you to abhor yourself?

Oh, what a day will that be, when they look and say to Jesus, their returned Messiah; What are those wounds in Thine hands? As one before had said, “I am Joseph” (Gen. 45:4⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. (Genesis 45:4)), to his astonished brethren, so our precious Jesus will say, “These with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.” (See Zech. 13:6⁶And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6).) It may be just at that moment they make the marvelous discovery recorded in Isaiah 53:4-10⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. ⁸He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. ⁹And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. ¹⁰Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:4‑10). Has the reader ever thus looked at the wounds of Jesus? “But He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isa. 53:5⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)). Now, since the Scriptures so clearly declare and describe the tribes of Israel profaning the name of Jehovah amongst the heathen, then gathered to their own land, converted after, or born anew; then their repentance; can these clear scriptures that thus speak of Israel be applied to Great Britain? Not for one moment; the whole thing is evidently a mistake. Has England, or the British nation, been restored to Palestine in unbelief? Has she as a nation been born at once there? Has she been blest there, and then afterward has she repented? The more we study these passages, the more impossible such an application becomes.

We cannot find one passage of Scripture quoted that has the least reference to Britain. Take one instance more of Philo-Israel’s mode of reasoning. It is quite true the Sabbath was given to Israel as a mark or sign. “It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever” (Ex. 31:17¹⁷It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17); Lev. 23:23-31²³And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁴Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. ²⁵Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁶And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²⁷Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. ²⁸And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. ³⁰And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. ³¹Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:23‑31); Deut. 5:14, 15¹⁴But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. ¹⁵And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:14‑15), etc.). These, the author tells us, describe Great Britain (p. 6). Now what are the facts? The Jews do observe the Sabbath-day. The Scripture is fulfilled. But never have we met a single Englishman yet that observes the Sabbath-day. Every Christian in Britain very properly observes the Lord’s-day,2 which is a totally different thing. Which day marks the first of the new creation — the day on which Jesus arose from among the dead? Thus the Sabbath is a sign of Israel. The British never keep the Sabbath, therefore they are Israel!

What would a child say, if he read in his little book, A long, bushy tail is one mark or feature of a fox; a hare has not a long, bushy tail; therefore a hare is a fox? The argument would be just the same. Take another, and this is serious. A proof that the British are Israel is this, they are “a people who reverence the whole of the Ten Commandments, which are the covenant of their God.” And then the continual prayer for the last 324 years: “Lord, have mercy on us (Israel), and write all these Thy laws in our hearts, we beseech Thee.”

Now, to say nothing of supposing this to be a proof that we are Israel, to place England under the covenant of the law is simply to deny Christianity. Did not Christ die to redeem the Jews who were under all things which are written in the book of the law to do them (Gal. 3:10¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10)). Is it not true, “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21²¹I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21), (see) Gal. 5:1-4¹Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ³For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁴Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:1‑4))? Is not every Christian “dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another; even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4⁴Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Romans 7:4))? If under law, sin has the dominion (Rom. 7:7-24⁷What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. ⁸But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. ⁹For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ¹¹For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. ¹²Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. ¹³Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. ¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁶If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²¹I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:7‑24)); but if reckoned dead with Christ, and risen in Christ, then sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under law, but under grace.

But has not England nationally given up very much of the Christianity of the New Testament, and put into its place the beggarly elements spoken of in Galatians and Romans? I am not prepared to deny this, but what does this prove? Why just this, the universal tendency to distrust, to disbelieve God. This is not peculiar to England.

If you really do believe God, who also proclaims to you free forgiveness of sins through Jesus, and who declares that all who believe are justified from all things, can you possibly, if you believe God, continue to pray for mercy? If Her Majesty sends a free pardon to a condemned criminal, could he continue to cry to her for mercy? He might, as long as he disbelieved her words. Unbelieving England may continue to pray for mercy. But it is the privilege of every Christian in it to know that God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven him; that he has redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 4:32, 1:7; Col. 1:12-14¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:12‑14)).

Well, I have been looking very carefully in this tract for some proof that the Saxons were the Israelites. Here it is at last — one line! All the evidence that Philo can give is this, “Called by Isaac’s name — Saac-Suna, sons of Isaac — Saxons (Rom. 9:7⁷Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (Romans 9:7)). Has the reader ever found anything about Saac-Suna-Saxons in Rom. 9:7⁷Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (Romans 9:7)? On the last page many scriptures are quoted properly, as referring to Israel’s future blessing, which in the earlier parts of the tract had been quoted as applied to England’s present condition.

We will now notice the second tract on this subject placed in our hands. Is it not reasonable? By Bishop Titcomb.

We feel some hesitation in taking up this work, as there seems to be a tone of self-confidence and challenge about it. “I openly throw down a gauntlet before all those who choose to take it up.” This spirit does not savor of Christ. And we must confess we have no desire to reply to it in the same spirit, but feel more and more our dependence on the Spirit of God, in comparing these statements with the Scriptures of truth.

There is however great candor and considerable ability displayed by the writer; but we are persuaded there is one fundamental mistake in the reasoning.

The writer distinctly says that “the British nation, with its great Anglo-Saxon colonies, represent most if not all of those tribes, by a true lineal descent.”

We need make no remark on several pages, as we and thousands more in Europe have held for many years, that every promise or prophecy in the Old Testament to Israel will be fulfilled literally. (See my tract on the coming of the Lord, and sequel.)

Only every fulfillment will be in pure mercy; when all claim to the promise had been forfeited through unbelief (Rom. 11).

On page 5 there is however the statement made, which we cannot find borne out by Scripture. “The promise of the Messianic birthright was personally conveyed to Judah.”

We have seen that Scripture says distinctly that the birthright having been forfeited by Reuben his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph. “Of Judah came the chief ruler, but the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chron. 5:1, 2¹Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. ²For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:1‑2)). This is very important. The author entirely overlooks the great typical truth set forth in the contrast between Judah and Joseph. Our Lord sprang from Judah as to the incarnation; but He must fulfill the Joseph type — He must die, and rise again, before He could be the source of blessing, and life, and salvation, whether spiritually to believers now, or to Israel, and the world hereafter. This is no little mistake: with the author salvation is of Judah; that is, he distinctly teaches salvation by incarnation, the great root-error of Christendom. He says the teaching of the New Testament is “intended only to show how the house of Judah brought in salvation for mankind THROUGH THE BIRTH of the long-promised Lord” (p. 12).

Now the teaching of the New Testament, and Old too, is the very opposite of this. Our adorable Lord was born of the house of Judah; but there was no salvation possible by His birth. He must needs suffer, and rise again. Redemption by incarnation was the disciples’ mistake (Luke 24:21²¹But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. (Luke 24:21)) — exactly our author’s mistake. But did not the Lord thus rebuke them? “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” and again, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead” (Luke 24:25-46²⁵Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ²⁶Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. ³⁰And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³²And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? ³³And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³⁴Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁵And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. ³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. ⁴⁰And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? ⁴²And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ⁴³And he took it, and did eat before them. ⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:25‑46)). Will our author read John 12:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)? What does the Lord’s reply to the Greeks mean there? Was He not the grain of wheat that must die? Did not Paul preach that “Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead” (Acts 17:3³Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Acts 17:3))? What grieved the priests and the Sadducees? Were they not grieved that the apostles preached through Jesus the resurrection from among the dead? (Acts 4:1-3¹And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ²Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. (Acts 4:1‑3)). Salvation by incarnation! Did not Jesus Himself say, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14))?” Salvation by incarnation! Of Judah, born after the flesh? Hearken to the inspired apostle, “Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more” (2 Cor. 5:16-21¹⁶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. ¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. ²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:16‑21)). We know Him, the One who has been made sin for us. Did not even the types of the law proclaim that “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22²²And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22))? Is not salvation by incarnation a fatal error?

While holding firmly the Judah aspect — that is, the true, real humanity of our blessed Lord — yet a more vital mistake cannot be made than to hold or teach salvation by His birth or incarnation. The great work was accomplished in the Joseph character — His rejection and death on the cross, and all salvation and blessing flow from the risen and ascended Christ.

We will now come to another mistake in this tract. “You must allow that the promise of Moses looked beyond Joseph’s Old Testament history, and thereby extended onward to his converted condition in the future times of the Messiah; that is to the dispensation of the gospel.” The last is a great mistake (p. 9).

Note, the author assumes that the gospel dispensation is the times of Messiah. And all his subsequent reasoning is based upon this assumption. We are agreed from Scripture then that the blessing of Jacob, or of Moses, and all the prophecies of Israel’s blessing, were not fulfilled in Old Testament times. That is certain; for the New Testament speaks of them as still cut off and scattered abroad. What then are the true future times of Messiah? We are told in the prophet Daniel that “Messiah should be cut off and shall have nothing,” (in the marginal and correct rendering Dan. 9:26²⁶And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26)). Peter declared, “Whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21)). Are not those times of restitution the very times of Messiah? But Messiah is cut off, and as Messiah has nothing, and the heaven has received Him, and there He is to remain all through the gospel dispensation, until the times of restitution. Then is it not proved that those times — the times of Messiah — do not and cannot mean the gospel period, but a dispensation after it?

But this being evidently the case, from this, and the whole context of Scripture, it follows that every deduction of our author must be wrong.

Now take another proof. During the times of Messiah He is King, and reigns in Jerusalem (Jer. 23:5, 6⁵Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. ⁶In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5‑6); Zech. 14:8, 9⁸And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. ⁹And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:8‑9)). And further, as we have seen, Jerusalem shall be the glorious metropolis of the whole earth (Isa. 2:1-4¹The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ⁴And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:1‑4); Mic. 4:1-8¹But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. ²And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ³And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. ⁴But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. ⁵For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. ⁶In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; ⁷And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. ⁸And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (Micah 4:1‑8)). Do we not believe these words of God, that in the “times of the Messiah” Jesus as Messiah reigns in Judah? And all nations gather to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the whole earth. But our Lord assures us that all through this present gospel period, at least from the destruction of Jerusalem unto the time of His coming again, this very Jerusalem is to be trampled under foot (Luke 21:24-27²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:24‑27)). It follows then that our author is laboring under a total mistake, in supposing that this present gospel dispensation is identical with the times of Messiah.

We might give many more proofs; but surely these are sufficient for all who receive the Word of God, as it is indeed the Word of God. Once see another dispensation, in which every literal prophecy of Joseph, or Ephraim, or Judah, or Israel will be fulfilled, then all becomes clear; while it is evident, from the above, that every application of those literal promises to England, or to anything else during this gospel period, must be a mistake.

Many divine principles of grace and blessing are common to both God’s dealings with individuals now and to the nation of Israel in the times of Messiah; and also that there is now an election from Israel saved is clear from Romans 9; 10; 11, and also Hebrews 8; 10, as we have seen. But where is there a single thought of Joseph or Ephraim being converted into Christian nations? “A Christian people increasing through the world, extending conquests,” etc.?

Now, candidly, is not all this theorizing in direct contradiction of the plainest possible teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ? Take that solemn prophecy delivered three days before His death (Matt. 24; 25). Does He not there describe this whole period, unto His coming again in judgment, on the living nations? What is the foretold condition of the Jews? Wars and desolations, until the abomination of desolation is set up; then the time of their great tribulation; and immediately after, the coming of Christ in judgment. And what is the state of Christendom (Matt. 24:33-25:30³³So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. ³⁴Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. ³⁵Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. ³⁶But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ³⁷But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ³⁸For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ³⁹And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ⁴⁰Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴¹Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴²Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ⁴³But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. ⁴⁴Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ⁴⁵Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? ⁴⁶Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁷Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; ⁴⁹And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; ⁵⁰The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ¹Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ²And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. ¹⁰And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹²But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. ¹³Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. ¹⁴For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. ¹⁵And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. ¹⁶Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. ¹⁷And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. ¹⁸But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. ¹⁹After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. ²⁰And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. ²¹His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²²He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. ²³His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ²⁴Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: ²⁵And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. ²⁶His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: ²⁷Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. ²⁸Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. ²⁹For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. ³⁰And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:33‑25:30))? Does He not teach it will be even at the very close, as it was in the days of Noah? Are not His professed servants eating and drinking with the drunken? And all through the period are not all, wise and foolish, saved and unsaved, slumbering and sleeping right up to the awakening cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom” (Matt. 25:6⁶And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6))? Does not the Holy Spirit expressly describe both the latter and the last days of this Christian period? Is not the picture almost as terrible as that of the Gentiles in Romans 1? (See 1 Tim. 4:1-3¹Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ²Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ³Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1‑3); 2 Tim. 3.) Does not our author bow to all Scripture as given by inspiration of God? Then tell us how can these glorious times of Messiah described in the prophets take place during this period of the gospel? And where is there such a thought in the New Testament as a Christian nation at all? We know not of a single text that could possibly be so used, unless it be Matthew 28:19¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19), and even there, is not the marginal reading the correct one?

Sad and ruinous has been the mistake of some in trying to make it so. Let us bow to the words of Jesus. Thus does He speak of the people of God during this dispensation: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (Read John 15:16-20; 17:14-18¹⁶Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ¹⁷These things I command you, that ye love one another. ¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:16‑20)
¹⁴I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:14‑18).) Thus all identification of Israel with Great Britain falls to the ground.

We are not surprised to find that this author also has no historic proof. When speaking of the Saxons he says, “They wandered from Assyria into the south-west of Europe, adopting the language of the tribes among whom they dwelt; and thus gradually lost their acquaintance with Hebrew. Is there any difficulty in such a belief?” (p. 14). What a question! Is there any difficulty in believing a thing that has no proof or evidence whatever? He says he admits he has no absolute demonstration, but the belief falls in so harmoniously with Scripture prophecy. while the real fact is, as we have seen, it cannot possibly harmonize with Scripture. It is far from our desire to speak harshly, especially judging from the closing remarks of our author, that these subjects must be new to him. He says, quoting Zechariah, “I will bring them again out of Egypt and Assyria”; “Those countries being the figurative representations of exile.”

Now if one single text could be found where it said, “I will bring them again out of Britannia or Albion,” would not that passage have been seized on as unanswerable proof?

Then he tells us, when the Jews see us Anglo-Saxons in Palestine, they will come and join us, and so Jer. 3:18¹⁸In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. (Jeremiah 3:18) will be fulfilled: “The house of Judah shall walk to the house of Israel.” (An incorrect quotation of scripture.) Now had he been acquainted with the Scriptures, he would have known that God would save the tents of Judah first, as we have seen. Yea, if he will read the context, even the preceding verse in Jeremiah 3, he will find that Jerusalem is already at that time the throne of Jehovah. So that his interpretation put upon it cannot possibly be true. Neither can it possibly refer to the present British Empire during the gospel dispensation; for until this has run its course, we have seen that Jerusalem cannot possibly be the throne of Jehovah.

In conclusion, what is all this agitation and commotion about? Is it not a grand diversion? Many may be little aware what it is. I remember when a boy, when the first sounds of the midnight cry were beginning to be heard, Satan raised up a diversion, the Johannaites; it was the very same Israelitish theory I heard once from a noted preacher of theirs, as is now propounded by more learned folk. Then came the Millerites, then the Mormon delusion. What were all these for, but to throw discredit on the awakening hope of the Lord’s return?

In each of those cases the delusion was very great and unaccountable. In the first the frame of a counter Jerusalem was built, where Ashton-under-Lyne now stands. And numbers prepared to ride to Jerusalem on white asses. In America the effect of the Millerite movement was a vast amount of the infidelity of this very day, and Mormonism is known to all.

But it may be asked, What harm is there in the present movement? Is it not stirring great numbers to read the Scriptures? I hope so, and I confess frankly, my object in writing this paper is to direct them in reading the Scriptures from error to truth.

What harm? This harm: the Spirit of God is awakening the whole Church of God to the blessed hope of the return of the Lord. Satan can no longer keep men in the error of the wicked, saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-17³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ⁶Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. ⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ¹⁵And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; ¹⁶As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁷Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:3‑17)). He can no longer delude the Church of God by the cry of peace and safety, a good time coming, and the world’s conversion by the preaching of the gospel. The midnight cry is going forth, these unscriptural views are vanishing before the awakening virgins. The very world seems aware of the near approach of judgment. Christians are again beginning to wait for the Son from heaven. Their eyes are being opened to see, and their hearts to receive, the blessed truth in such scriptures as 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:14-18¹⁰And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
¹³To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:14‑18); Hebrews 9:28²⁸So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28); Colossians 3:4⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4); Titus 2:13-14¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13‑14). Now what must Satan do? It will not do to let the Church of God awake to this long-lost, blessed hope without a desperate struggle. Now or never he must have a great diversion; men’s minds must be diverted from this blessed hope of so soon meeting the Lord in the air, when the deep longing desire of His heart shall be fulfilled: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (John 17:24²⁴Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)). Oh, wondrous words of untold love! Is it to Palestine, think you, He would have us with Him as AngloIsraelites? Hear Him, believe Him. “In My Father’s house are many mansions (abodes): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3²In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3)). Oh, tell me. Do you believe Jesus? Why should we distrust or fear Him? Oh, how He loves! In Scripture, is not this supreme moment the nearest, yea, the first event for which we wait? No heart can think what joy it will be to Christ to receive us from this sinful world to Himself. In the same glory, the same incorruptible bodies. When we see Him we shall be like Him. Oh, blissful hope!

And is there no harm in giving up this blessed hope of so soon seeing and being like and with Him we love! Blessed Lord, we would not give it up for the universe. Universe! What is it all to compare with Thee? Yes, the enemy may seek to supplant this true, Scriptural, blessed hope for the hope that we are Anglo-Israelites, instead of being caught up to meet the Lord, as all the redeemed will shortly be, at His coming in the air, and all the eternal glory that awaits us with Him. Our thoughts and hopes must not be diverted to white asses, trains, or steamers to take us to Palestine! No harm! Are Christians thus again to be deceived? Not one word would I say to detract from the bright and glorious hopes of the tribes of Israel through the long millennial times of Messiah. But this is not the hope of the Christian. His calling, his hope, his destiny are heavenly. The Holy Spirit will never deceive him by putting before him the hopes of Israel. Therefore the present Anglo-Saxon Israelitish movement cannot be of the Spirit of God. He cannot be the author of confusion. We shall enter the glad fruition of all these blessed heavenly hopes in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, if still alive and remaining here (1 Cor. 15:52⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)). If sleeping in the graves, we shall be raised first (1 Thess. 4). Thus if a believer, justified from all things, you may before you close this paper be forever with the Lord.

Israel cannot enter upon theirs, even those gathered in unbelief, and their temple rebuilt, without passing through those three and a half years of tribulation, such as never was and never shall be again (Matt. 24:15-31¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) ¹⁶Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: ¹⁷Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: ¹⁸Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. ¹⁹And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! ²⁰But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: ²¹For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. ²³Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. ²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. ²⁵Behold, I have told you before. ²⁶Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. ²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ²⁸For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. ²⁹Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: ³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:15‑31); Rev. 12:14, 13:5; Dan. 12:1-11¹And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. ⁴But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ⁵Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. ⁶And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? ⁷And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. ⁸And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? ⁹And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. ¹¹And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:1‑11)).

The manner, time, and order of gathering the whole house of Israel, and setting up the kingdom of Messiah on earth, it would be very interesting to inquire into; but it would stretch this paper far too long. If the Lord will, we may take it up on another occasion.

Beloved brethren in Christ, search the Scriptures. There is no pretension to infallibility in this paper: test every thought by the Word of God, and reject whatever is not clearly revealed therein. The mere quotation of isolated texts proves nothing. Study in prayerful dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit the distinctive character and object of each book in the Holy Bible. And on this subject it is of all importance to keep clear and distinct the earthly hope and calling of Israel, and the heavenly calling and hopes of the Church of God. And how much depends on the state of one’s soul when studying that blessed word! Unless you are born again, and have the indwelling of the Spirit, you cannot understand anything aright. (Compare John 3:3³Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) with 1 Cor. 2:14¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)).

Beware, then, of meddling with these questions until the great question between God and your own soul is settled forever. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them; for they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). The Christian student of the Word of God, when examining these subjects, will find great help in observing one peculiar mark of the present period that is not found either in the dispensations before it, or in the Messianic dispensation which is to come after it. He will find the mark in the following scripture: “Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32³²Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)). We never find these three parties before or after the present dispensation. Where in the Old Testament history of Israel do we get such a distinction? There was the assembly of Israel in the wilderness, but it was Israel.

But now there is the Jewish nation, though scattered; and there are the Gentiles; and, besides these, there is the Church of God, totally distinct from both, and gathered out of both.

Now in all the prophecies, from Genesis to Revelation, that speak of the glorious kingdom of Messiah, we never once, after the Church of God is taken up to heaven, find a single instance where these three parties are found on earth again. The Jews, or Israel, and the Gentiles, are constantly found, as in Isaiah 60; but never once the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God. Now this is a very important mark to guide us in the study of dispensational truth. It may sound strange, but many Christians have never seriously examined what the Church is, as distinct from the dispensations past and future.

Not only is it a mistake to apply those Old Testament promises to Great Britain, as a Christian nation, a thing utterly unknown in and contrary to Scripture, but it is also a grave mistake to apply them to the Church of God. The mystery of the Church was kept hid — was not made known — until revealed to the apostles and prophets of the New Testament (Eph. 3:3-10³How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; ⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. ⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; ⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: ¹⁰To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:3‑10)). It is not a nation, but every individual Christian on earth, forming and formed by the Holy Spirit into one body — the body of Christ. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,” etc. (1 Cor. 12:12-13¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13)). The idea of a Christian nation, and the misapplication to the Church of Old Testament scriptures, which only speak of the nation of Israel at the times of restitution, all this has well-nigh obliterated the true knowledge of the Church of God. The hope too of the Church is to be quickly caught up to heaven, to be with the Lord. Such a hope is never presented to Israel in the prophecies. Thus the Church of God has not to wait or to look for the fulfillment of prophecy; but, resting in the precious words of Christ, she waits for Him from heaven. Do not then for a moment suppose you can understand the Old Testament without the New. A clear understanding of what the Church of God is will greatly aid in a right application of all Old Testament prophecies. We would therefore earnestly entreat all who have been aroused to search the Scriptures, to seek the teaching of the Holy Spirit as to that which is totally distinct from both the Jews and the Gentiles — the Church of God.

Appendix

The letter inserted below came into the publisher’s hands as the second edition was going to press. The dishonor done to the Lord Jesus, and the denial of all need of His atonement, is such as should be a warning to all Christians as to the issue of E. H.’s teaching. According to this absurd theory Paul spent a life of wickedness in seeking to win his countrymen to Christ.