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This essay is part 6 in a 17-part series on what biblical prophecies say about the
fate of the ten "lost" tribes of Israel. These seventeen essays are directed mostly
to people who have been subjected to Anglo-Israelism (British Israelism), but they
can be beneficial even for others.
This present part considers the question, the lost ten tribes of Israel – when will they be restored and blessed again? And also, what about the "2520 years" that some talk about? This essay considers the facts regarding that subject.
Links to the other parts in this series can be found under the heading "Tribes" on the index-page keyw-t4.htm. Some of them are mentioned even in the "Additional reading" section towards the end of this essay.
That is, this essay looks for a biblical answer to the question, when will the lost ten tribes of Israel be restored and blessed again?
And also: What about the "2520 years" that some talk about? Even that matter will be considered here.
There are many kinds of dogmas regarding these things; this essay takes a look at prophecy and the biblical record, in order to see what the Bible really says about the promised, restored blessings for the tribes of Israel. In short, this essay give an answer to the question, the lost ten tribes of Israel – when will they be restored and blessed again?
The essay ey05c.htm has the full details regarding the "2520 years" dogma, but here are some notes on that matter.
Several bible-passages talk about the blessings the tribes of Israel would have, if they obeyed the Lord. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 are such passages. However, the people of Israel turned their backs on the Lord, and thus their blessings were taken away from them. They were punished and became rejected, just as the Lord had warned them that they would be, in such a case (Leviticus 26). They were driven out from the Promised Land and became dispersed among the nations, without having a country of their own.
Some Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that the ten "lost" tribes of Israel supposedly were to automatically receive back their blessings "after 2520 years", without turning back to the Lord and without making a new covenant with him. They have based their claims on a certain wording that some English bible-translations have in four verses in Leviticus 26. But, a more careful study of the passage in question shows that it does not at all talk about "2520 years". In fact, the Hebrew text of the verses in question does not even contain the word which some Anglo-Israelist preachers have based their claims on.
This has to do with Leviticus 26:14-39, which records how the Lord told the Israelites that if they did not obey him, he would punish them, through five consecutive "rounds" of punishment. In verses 18, 21, 24 and 28, the Hebrew text contains the word sheba, "seven". That referred to the intensity of the punishments that the Lord warned about. There was to be an initial "round" of punishment, and after that four more rounds, each seven-fold harder than the preceding one.
A number of bible-versions have in those four verses translated the Hebrew text as "I will punish you seven times". Mostly, they have at least in one of those verses the clarifying word "more" – "I will punish you seven times more for your sins". That was the meaning, but some Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that the meaning was not "seven times more" but that the word "times" supposedly referred to "years", and further that each year was to be counted as 360 days, and that it was a matter of "a day for a year". In that way, 7 x 360, they have created their "2520 year" dogma.
Here, it must be noted that the Hebrew text of those verses does not contain any word for "times", but only the word sheba, "seven", in the meaning "sevenfold". Putting that in other words: The Hebrew text of those verses does not contain any word that could be translated as "times" in the meaning "years". Again, the word sheba, "seven", in those verses referred to the severity of the punishments the Lord was warning about. That is: If the Israelites did not "learn the lesson" after the first round of punishment, the next round would be seven-fold worse. The Lord told them:
Leviticus 26:18 And if for this ye hearken not unto me, I will punish you sevenfold more for your sins (DBY, highlighting added)
(Some translation have "seven times more" instead of "seven-fold more", but the meaning is the same.)
It was to be the same with the remaining rounds as well. Each of them was to be seven-fold worse than the preceding one. The last one was to lead to exile and dispersion. The warning regarding the fifth and final round of punishment is recorded here:
Leviticus 26:27 And if for this ye hearken not to me, but walk contrary unto me, 28 then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven-fold for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. 30 And I will lay waste your high places, and cut down your sun-pillars, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols; and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will lay waste your cities and desolate your sanctuaries; and I will not smell your sweet odours. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation; that your enemies who dwell there in may be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the nations, and will draw out the sword after you; and your land shall be desolation, [1] and your cities waste. [1] (DBY, highlighting added)
And, as it happened, the Israelites did not obey the Lord, and so, the five rounds of punishment, including this fifth and last one, did come upon them, just as the Lord had warned them.
[1] Verse 33, "Your land shall be desolation" and "your cities waste" – that did then happen, and large parts of the Promised Land were for a long time "a desolation" (without inhabitants), and its cities were "waste" (without inhabitants). Those things are recorded in the Bible. They happened a long time ago, in the 700s and 500s BCE. They are a fact of history and a thing of the past.
For more on this matter in connection with Leviticus 26:14-39, see the essay ey05c.htm. As to the present-day state of the ten "lost" tribes of Israel, see the next heading.
The Lord told the prophet Hosea to marry a harlot, a woman of whoredoms. That was symbolic of how Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord. The prophet's wife's children served as symbols and types of Israel, and of Israel's fate. We read:
Hosea 1:6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, "Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them. 7 But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen." 8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. 9 Then the LORD said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God." (NRSV)
That passage and that symbolism referred to the fact that because of the unfaithfulness of the ten northern tribes of Israel, the Lord rejected (divorced) them and called them Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah, "Not my people" and "No mercy". That ended the Old Covenant on their part. (The Old Covenant was a covenant relationship between the Lord and the nation Israel, a covenant relationship which was in many ways similar to a marriage.)
Since then, those tribes have not had any covenant-relationship with the Lord. They still remain in their rejected state. Other bible-passages show that it is only when they return to the Lord and make a new covenant with him, that they will be restored and blessed again. That has not happened yet.
So, today, Israel's ten "lost" tribes are not the Lord's people, and they do not have any covenant-relationship with him. There are no blessings promised for them, while they are in that state.
The essay ey05c.htm shows in more detail how the "2520-year" dogma is based on a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of certain things in Leviticus 26. The essay ey02c.htm analyses what the "breaking of the pride of your power" mentioned in Leviticus 26:19 really refers to. The essay ey01b.htm shows what the Bible actually prophesied regarding how the ten "lost" tribes would be doing, in our day.
It is clearly stated in the Bible that in the future, the Lord will remember the tribes of Israel, and will gather (restore) them, and will have mercy upon them and will once again call them "Ammi" instead of "Loammi" ("My people", instead of "Not my people"). There are many bible passages which help one to find out, when that will happen.
A note: Here, we are talking about a physical nation and not about the saints who are a "spiritual Israel". Mostly, about the ten northern tribes of Israel, but not exclusively; some of these things apply to all of Israel, including the southern tribes who are called "Jews".
It was in the book of Hosea that it was stated that Israel would become "Not my people", and that the Lord would have "No mercy" on them. Hosea the prophet had to call his children by such names (Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah), as a symbol of that. But, the book of Hosea also states that that curse will eventually come to an end. At that future time, instead of a curse, a blessing will be given to the tribes of Israel.
Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. [comfortably: or, friendly: Hebrew, "to her heart"] 15 And I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 16 And it shall be at that day, said the LORD, that you shall call me Ishi; and shall call me no more Baali. [Ishi: Hebrew, "my husband"; Baali: Hebrew, "my lord"] 17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. 19 And I will betroth you to me for ever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness: and you shall know the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, said the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. [Jezreel: "God sows"] 23 And I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, You are my people; and they shall say, You are my God. (AKJV, comments added)
The above-quoted passage talks about the time when the Lord will once again make a covenant with the (physical, earthly) nation of Israel.
Please note what Hosea 2:21 says: "And it shall come to pass, in that day", and then after, the (restored) blessings are mentioned. Not earlier, but only after the (physical) tribes of Israel have been restored and have made a new covenant with the Lord. But today, they still remain "Not my people".
• Many Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that the tribes of Israel would be blessed in our day, before their restoration and gathering and before they have made a new covenant with the Lord. But the Bible mentions no blessings for the "lost" tribes during the time between the beginning of their exile (it began around 2700 years ago) and the still future time when they (as a nation) will make a new covenant with the Lord. Also: The restored blessings they have been promised, are tied to the Promised Land (Canaan); it is there they will be blessed again. There is no other earthly Promised Land.
• Some of those preachers have further claimed that the tribes of Israel would be rich, powerful and numerous today. However, the Bible tells a very different story, and shows that they would be relatively few, scattered, persecuted and without a country of their own. The essay ey01b.htm has more on this.
• Some Anglo-Israelist preachers have even claimed that there supposedly are two (or several) Promised Lands, two times of punishment, two times of restored blessings, and two gatherings. But anyone who has read the Bible with care, knows that that is not true. There is only one earthly Promised Land, the land of Canaan, by the Mediterranean Sea. There is only one time of restored blessings, and to receive those blessings, those "lost" tribes must first return to the Lord and make a new covenant with him; they have not done that yet. Likewise, the Bible talks about only one time of gathering (restoration), for the ten "lost" tribes of Israel, a time which is still in the future. There is more on the punishment-part, in the essay ey05c.htm which shows how the prophesied punishments (Leviticus 26) did happen, a long time ago, and are a thing of the past.
• Many Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that Israel's "pride is to broken". But, the Bible shows that it was broken, when they still were in the land of Canaan. There is no prophesied second time of breaking their pride. The essay ey02c.htm has more on this.
• Some Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that the tribes of Israel supposedly were to "possess important sea-gates", in our day. But, the Bible says no such thing. The essay ey03c.htm has more on that subject.
• Some have claimed that there supposedly would be a descendant of David, ruling over an earthly nation consisting of the tribes of Israel, in our day. But the Bible says that David's house (lineage) would come to its end and that it would not exist any longer, not until "he whose right it is" (Jesus) came. Also, the Bible says that the tribes of Israel would be without a king for a long time. The essay ey12b.htm has more on these things.
• A number of preachers (Anglo-Israelists) have twisted the words of the Bible and claimed that the tribes of Israel supposedly "inherited the world" and that there supposedly must be someone who has "Joseph's blessing" today. But, the Bible makes it clear that the "birthright" of Joseph (actually of his descendants) only meant a double portion of land, in the one and only earthly Promised Land (Canaan). That double portion of land was then divided between the descendants of Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim. The fact that those two tribes (Manasseh and Ephraim) shared (divided in two) Joseph's double lot, meant that they only got one share of land each, just as the other tribes did. (A note: The inheritance they shared was the land of Canaan, not any other land.) And, regarding Joseph's special "blessing"; even that was connected to that one and only earthly Promised Land. This passage shows what and how that blessing really was (remember, in Canaan, not anywhere else):
Genesis 49:25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. (NKJV)
That was fulfilled when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. But, when Israel turned their backs on the Lord, their blessings were withdrawn. But yes, the Lord has promised that in the future, they will be restored. At that time, they will be blessed again – all of the tribes and not only Joseph. But again, that is tied to the one and only earthly Promised Land. The essay ey04c.htm has more on these things, the "birthright" and the nature of the "blessings" Jacob wished to come upon his sons.
• A number of Anglo-Israelist preachers have claimed that the ten "lost" tribes of Israel supposedly "are to be severely punished in the end time". Often, they have quoted Jeremiah 30 as "proof" for their claims. But, even a casual reading of that chapter shows how things really will be in those coming days: Israel's enemies will be annihilated, but Israel will be saved.
Here is chapter 30 in the book of Jeremiah. Please read all of this with care, and note especially the highlighted parts and what they actually say:
Jeremiah 30:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book. 3 'For, behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.' The LORD says, 'I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it.'" 4 Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah, 5 "For thus says the LORD, 'I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. 6 'Ask now, and see, If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? 7 'Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's distress, But he will be saved from it. 8 'And it shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck, and will tear off their bonds; and strangers shall no longer make them their slaves. 9 'But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 'And fear not, O Jacob My servant,' declares the LORD, 'And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, And no one shall make him afraid. 11 'For I am with you,' declares the LORD, 'to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly, And will by no means leave you unpunished.' 12 "For thus says the LORD, 'Your wound is incurable, And your injury is serious. 13 'There is no one to plead your cause; No healing for your sore, No recovery for you. 14 'All your lovers have forgotten you, They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the punishment of a cruel one, Because your iniquity is great And your sins are numerous. 15 'Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your iniquity is great And your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you. 16 'Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; And those who plunder you shall be for plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. 17 'For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."' 18 "Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have compassion on his dwelling places; And the city shall be rebuilt on its ruin, And the palace shall stand on its rightful place. 19 'And from them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; And I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished; I will also honor them, and they shall not be insignificant. 20 'Their children also shall be as formerly, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors. 23 Behold, the tempest of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, A sweeping tempest; It will burst on the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back, Until He has performed, and until He has accomplished The intent of His heart; In the latter days you will understand this. (NASB-77, highlighting added)
Some words are highlighted, so that the reader can see what that chapter really talks about. It is about good times that are coming for the tribes of Israel. Also, it shows that it is Israel's enemies that will be destroyed. For more on verse 7 and the whole chapter 30 in the book of Jeremiah, see the essay ey08c.htm.
Even this passage, Jeremiah 30, shows that the time when those tribes will be restored and receive back their blessings, has not come yet. It is still in the future.
Regarding the future time when the tribes of Israel are about to receive back their blessings:
Ezekiel 20:33 "As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. (NASB-77)
A note: The NASB-77 is quoted here, because the 1769 KJ version's wording could easily confuse a casual reader.
Those words "I shall be king over you" refer to the coming of the promised Messiah-king. Then, the Lord will once again be their ruler. That is truly good news, for the tribes of Israel. There is more on the other parts of that verse, below.
The Bible shows that in the what we view as "end time" (or, after Jesus has come again), the tribes of Israel will be restored and blessed, but some preachers have claimed the opposite, saying that supposedly, Israel will one more time be punished and taken into exile. Because of that, and because of certain unfortunate wordings in the KJ version, many people may not understand or "see" what Ezekiel 20:33 really says and means.
Here are the facts:
The northern tribes of Israel were driven out from their land. That happened a long time ago. There is no new, repeated exile or dispersion to come, only a restoration that is to come. Today, they still remain in the dispersion which began around 2700 years ago. They still are Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah, "Not my people" and "No mercy". The essay ey01b.htm has more on this.
Then, regarding that the Lord through Ezekiel prophesied that in the future, he will be their Ruler once again ("I will be king over you", Ezekiel 20:33, JPS-1917). That is good news for the Israelites. That is the coming of the promised "Messiah" (anointed ruler) whom Israel has been waiting for. (But, many Anglo-Israelist preachers misquote that passage, in order to control their followers through fear.) The "wrath poured out" (Ezekiel 20:33) is God's wrath which in the future will be poured out upon Israel's enemies, just as it was poured out upon Egypt in the days of the first Exodus. The essay ey07d.htm has more on Israel's coming restoration. The essay ey08c.htm has more on Jeremiah 30.
The book of Hosea shows that in the future, the "lost" tribes of Israel will be gathered (restored), and that they (once again) will be taken to a wilderness. There, they will make a new covenant with the Lord.
The Bible makes it clear that it is only after that covenant-making that they will be allowed to enter the (one and only) Promised Land (Canaan). The promised restored blessings will only be given to them after that, and are connected to that land. It is there, in the land of Canaan, that they will blessed. There is no mention of any other country.
Ezekiel 20 talks about that same gathering in a wilderness.
Ezekiel 20:36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, said the Lord GOD. (AKJV)
The book of Hosea shows what kind that "pleading" really will be:
Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. [comfortably: or, friendly: Hebrew, "to her heart"] (AKJV, comment added)
Ezekiel 20:36 indicates an earlier occasion of a similar kind. That was when the Lord made a covenant with Israel (married her), at Sinai. In the future, it will be similar:
Ezekiel 20:36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, said the Lord GOD. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant (AKJV)
Just like the Lord spoke to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, proposing and making a covenant with them, so will he, once again, speak to the tribes of Israel and ask them to make a new covenant with him. Even on that future occasion, that will happen in a wilderness.
A note: Some Anglo-Israelist preachers want people to believe that the "rod" mentioned in Ezekiel 20:36 would refer to a "beating". But no, in that phrase with symbolic language, the "rod" is a shepherd's rod or staff, used when a shepherd gathers in sheep (see Ezekiel 34:11-14) and when he counts the sheep as they pass under the staff (see Leviticus 27:32).
Another note, regarding the "bond" which is mentioned in Ezekiel 20:37: It is not any "slave-bond" around the ankle; it is the bond of a covenant. In other words: Ezekiel 20:37 talks about the coming new covenant between the Lord and the physical tribes of Israel, just as Hosea 2 does.
Regarding the "purging out of rebels" which is mentioned in the context: That is what happened in the past also; even at that time in a wilderness. The former "purging" happened after ancient Israel had been delivered out of Egypt and after they had made a covenant with the Lord, but before they were allowed to enter the Promised Land. Even then, the Lord allowed the ones "purged" to live a normal length of life, and during that time, he fed them with manna and provided water for them and even light for the night and shade during day-time. That was nothing violent.
In the past, the tribes of Israel were punished extremely hard and the Lord divorced them, but in the future when they are received back, they will receive extremely rich blessings.
Again: The tribes of Israel were not promised any other earthly land except the land of Canaan. It was there they were blessed in the past, and it is there they will receive their restored blessings. It is about the land of Canaan the prophecies talk about, the land from which the tribes of Israel were driven out and to which they will return in the future.
A note: That a number of Jews live there today, is not a fulfilment of those promises. In fact, those who have studied biblical prophecy regarding the events of coming days, such as the forming and taking away of the great multitude, and the incredible destruction that is to come (see the book of Revelation), will understand that the promised restoration of the tribes of Israel will mostly (or wholly) be of the kind that is mentioned in Ezekiel 37 and in a number of other prophetic Old Testament passages. That is – at that time, Israelites of the past will be raised up to a new (physical) life, and will then be taken to the (earthly) Promised Land which most of them never saw during their former life. For more, read Ezekiel 37, Isaiah 65:17-25, and so on. (Even Isaiah 27:13 refers to that coming restoration, but many misunderstand that passage.) As for the Israelites who live here on Earth shortly before Jesus' return – they will instead be given an opportunity to be joined to the great multitude who in those days will be sealed with the Holy Spirit, and be then taken to the ultimate Promised Land instead. (The great multitude will consist of people of all nations, Israelites included.)
The essay et03c.htm has more on the 144,000 and the great multitude. The essay ey07d.htm has more on Israel's coming restoration; the essay eb09c.htm considers the matter of the rising up of the dead.
Does the Bible say that the "lost" tribes of Israel, after they had been driven into exile, would be blessed again, before their still future restoration and gathering? Does the Bible indicate that there would be some other "Promised Land" than the land of Canaan? No, the Bible does not mention anything of that kind.
The "lost" tribes of Israel are promised only one earthly Promised Land. Likewise, there is only one and still future time of restored (physical) blessings, which will occur after the one and only gathering from their one and only and still continuing dispersion. (They were taken to that dispersion in stages, but that is irrelevant in this connection.)
The book of Jeremiah talks about that future time of blessing.
Jeremiah 31:27 "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah. 28 In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the LORD, have spoken! 29 "The people will no longer quote this proverb: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children's mouths pucker at the taste.' 30 All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker. 31 "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the LORD. 33 "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the LORD.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the LORD. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." (NLT-04)
It is important to note and understand that the above-quoted passage is about the still future time of the return of the physical tribes of Israel, a return which is promised and prophesied in many places in the Bible. There is a spiritual fulfilment also, but literally, that passage is about the physical tribes of Israel. And yes, the Bible indicates that in the future, all of Israel (physical people) will receive the Holy Spirit.
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If this page did not contain what you were looking for, see the links below, and the key-word index and the table of contents, or use the search function.
Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
For a full list of the parts in the "tribes" series, look under the heading "Tribes" on the index-page keyw-t4.htm.
Leviticus 26 and the translation "seven times". What does the Hebrew word sheba in Leviticus 26:16, 18, 21, 24 and 28 really mean and refer to? → ey05c.htm
Leviticus 26:19, "And I will break the pride of your power". When did that happen? How and when was the pride of the tribes of Israel broken? Or, does that refer to some still future event, as some have claimed? → ey02c.htm
Gentiles, pagans and heathen or heathens – what do those words mean? This exposition makes it plain and clear what the concepts "gentile", "pagan" and "heathen" actually refer to, in the Bible. → eg01c.htm
The lost ten tribes of Israel in prophecy. What happened to Israel's northern tribes? Where are they today? Does the Bible give any clues regarding their fate? → ey01b.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
Genesis 22:17, "And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies". What does that mean? → ey03c.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
The line of David the king of Israel – is it still ruling somewhere on Earth, with a mortal king on the throne? → ey12b.htm
The so-called "divine right of kings" – is there such a thing? Are kings, rulers and governments appointed by God? → ew02c.htm
Many people wonder, why does God allow evil, sickness, pain, war and suffering? What is the biblical answer – does the Bible explain that matter, or in some way make it understandable? → ew01b.htm
On Jacob's birthright, and that of Joseph and his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Also: What did the concept "birthright" mean and refer to, in ancient times? → ey04c.htm
Covenant signs, including the sign of the New Covenant which shows who really are God's people. The Old Covenant's sign was the circumcision of males. What is the New Covenant's sign, seal or token? → ec09b.htm
Jeremiah 30:7, "the time of Jacob's trouble". What does chapter 30 in the book of Jeremiah really mean and refer to? → ey08c.htm
Israel's coming restoration. The Bible talks about a time when Israel will be restored. What kind of restoring will that be, and when will it take place? → ey07d.htm
What does the Bible say about resurrection? How many resurrections do the Scriptures talk about? → eb09c.htm
The identity and timing of the 144,000 and the great multitude of Revelation 7, and the first-fruits or virgins of Revelation 14:1-4 – who those groups really are, and when they came or come into existence. → et03c.htm
The two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Also: Similarities between their work and that of Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist. → et01e.htm
What does the English language word and concept "doctrine" literally mean? Likewise, the terms "dogma", "creed" and "tenet", what do they signify? Countless preachers and doctors of theology compile dogmas, creeds, tenets and doctrinal statements of beliefs, and claim them to be "the Truth". But, they do not agree with each other. Their opinions and teachings differ, depending on their denomination and its viewpoints, and there is much confusion. So, the pertinent question is, who has the "true doctrines" or "correct dogmas"? What should one think – do the Scriptures give any guidance regarding this matter? What does the Bible say about "doctrine"? → es08c.htm
On Jesus' teaching regarding "the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven" or "the keys of the Reign of Heaven". Bible study notes on Matthew 16 verse 19, with context. What did the word "keys" depict or symbolise? What is the interpretation of that passage – what was it that Jesus was saying to his disciples? Also, a general overview and comments on the subject of "binding and loosing". → eb08c.htm
What is the Kingdom of God? Where is it located? Does it exist already, or is it only going to be established in the future? Or, is it only something "in the hearts of men" as some have claimed, quoting the translation "within you" in Luke 17:21? → eo01b.htm
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". What did Jesus mean? How were the disciples to go about "seeking the Kingdom"? Also, what did the expression "all these things" really refer to, and when and where were those things to be "added" to those disciples? → eo10d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
filename.htm
Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
search.htm
An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
– A
– B
– C
– D
– E
– F
– G
– H
– I
– J
– K
– L
– M
– N
– O
– P
– Q
– R
– S
– T
– U
– V
– W
– X
– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
The address to this page is www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/ey06b.htm
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This page was created or modified 2010-02-28.