Ephraim Comes Back!
The USA in Iraq:
Has the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes Began?
The USA in Iraq:
Has the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes Began?
Is the American and British presence in Iraq the initial phases of the Lost Ten
Tribes Returning?
Was it prophesied that the first point of return of Joseph to the Middle East
would be from Kurdistan which has been in effect occupied by the USA and Britain since the
First Gulf War?
Will the next phase be the Allies occupying Syria and Lebanon?
Will this occupation eventually result in settlement of Peoples from the West in
those areas?
Why should the question as to whether the Lost Ten Tribes are among Western
Peoples interest the Jews?
Note the position of Kommagene (Kummuh besides Mutsri?) in relation to Syria (Bashan and Gilead)
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Ephraim Comes Back
Allied Forces in Iraq and the Kurdish Connection
The USA today has very large numbers of personell stationed in Iraq itself in addition to substantial investments in manpower and facilities elsewhere in the Middle East.
USA forces are accompanied in Iraq by smaller contingents from the UK, Australia, and elsewhere. American involvement in Iraq stems from the two Gulf Wars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War
The Gulf War or Persian Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991) was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force from 35 nations authorized by the United Nations (UN) and led primarily by the United States in order to liberate Kuwait.
As a result of the First Gulf War the USA and UK established a no-fly zone over Kurdistan meaning the northern third part of what was then Iraq. They also established a de facto presence in
Kurdistan itself basically detaching the area from Iraqi domination. From then on the USA was in the area from the ground level on a permanent basis that encompassed but went beyond the mere maintanence of a strategic base.
Already at that stage media reports possibly directed by "inside" sources hinted at the possibility of the USA remaining in the region for good.
Following the First Gulf War the government of Iraq did not abide by agreements reached, behaved like a rogue
state and threatened its oil-producing neighbors as well as other nations with a future use of non-conventional weapons.
The Iraqis had already demonstrated an alacrity in the use of poison gas against residents of their own country in Kurdistan.
Iraq also posed a threat to the nearby State of Israel. Finally Iraq became a party to terrorist attacks against domestic targets within the USA itself.
The result was the Second Gulf War also known as "Operation Desert Storm" or simply the "Invasion of Iraq".
Shortly before the Invasion Iraq had began to fix the price of oil in Euros instead of dollars thus threatening the US economy and world peace.
In very crude terms:
For every dollar of oil on the international market whose price is fixed in dollars it is almost as if those dollars
were in a bank in America. What is more, the US can issue credit for these non-existent dollars several times over as if they were checks for which there is little chance of ever being required to cover for. Even more than that, the US in practice can extend credit on the basis of oil that in THE FUTURE
will have its price fixed in dollars.
If this were to change the US system of payments would face a crisis and the US would no longer be able to maintain its international policies. The balance of power would be altered and foreign assistance programs abandoned. Millions of people throughout the world would be in danger of starvation and less positive forces would step in to fill the vacuum the US would leave behind it.
The US economy itself might collapse and a world-wide depression result. If other oil-producing nations had have gone in the footsteps of Iraq a crisis could have developed. At present Iraq has returned to fixing the price of its oil in dollars. This alone may justify US presence in the region.
Consequently US forces have remained in Iraq. They may soon be withdrawn but logic says they will not be since they
are protecting US interests, ensuring some stability in the area, preventing the outbreak of new local conflicts, and having a restraining effect on Iran which is just across the border. It is in the interests of the USA as well as US allies in Europe, vulnerable entities such as the Kurds of Kurdistan, and the State of Israel that US forces remain.
A key to the US presence is Kurdistan whose people in the past have been a prey to their Turkish, Iranian, and Iraqi neighbors.
Kurdistan also serves as a potential doorway or "gate" to its neighbor states each one of which is liable to require at some stage US and allied intervention. In addition Kurdistan has oil resources and is stable enough to allow these resources to be secured and exploited.
[For more see "
Kurdistan: Background" below.]
Prophecy, Return to the Land of Israel, and Kurdistan
Brit-Am Biblical Studies identify the US as encompassing in its population a significant proportion of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. The Lost Tribes will eventually return to Israel.
Prophecy indicates that "Matsor" or the region of Kurdistan would be one of the areas the Lost Ten Tribes would return to on their way to the Land of Israel!
The Prophet Micah in chapter seven predicted the return of the Lost Ten Tribes:
[Micah 7:12] IN THAT DAY ALSO HE SHALL COME EVEN TO THEE FROM ASSYRIA,
AND FROM THE
FORTIFIED CITIES, AND FROM
THE FORTRESS EVEN TO THE RIVER, AND
FROM SEA TO SEA, AND FROM MOUNTAIN TO MOUNTAIN.
<<EVEN TO THEE FROM ASSYRIA>>: The Commentaries ALL AGREE
that FROM ASSYRIA means the return of those exiled to
Assyria, the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes.
Who Are the Lost Ten Tribes?
The original Twelve Tribes of Israel split into two sections after the death of King
Solomon.
In the south were the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi as well as a small
portion of refugees from the other Tribes. In the Bible this section is called "The Kingdom of Judah".
Most Jews today descend from people who were in "The Kingdom of Judah".
In the north were Ten Tribes that were called "The Kingdom of Israel" or in
other cases "Samaria" (Shomron).
They are also sometimes referred to as "Joseph" or "Ephraim" since these were
the leading Tribes of the Northern Kingdom.
According to conventional dating around 730-720 BCE all of the northern tribes
were taken away in stages and exiled to different parts of the Assyrian Empire. They never returned. They lost, on the
whole, knowledge of their Israelite identity and they were not recognized as Israelites by others.
They are know as the "Lost Ten Tribes".
In the End Times they will return.
The Return of Ephraim via Kurdistan?
The Book of Micah (7:12) is speaking about the Return of the Lost Ten Tribes:
<<AND FROM THE FORTIFIED CITIES, AND FROM THE FORTRESS>>:
The Hebrew words translated as "THE FORTIFIED CITIES" is "ari Matsor" and the word translated as FORTRESS is "Matsor". This word "Matsor" can indeed mean "fortress"
or when used as an adjective "fortified" but the same word ("Matsor") was the name of an area in the northwest of present-day Iraq, in the region of Northern Kurdistan which in those times in the Annals of Assyria was referred to as "Mutsri"
or "MATSOR".
Note: This is the same term that elsewhere was applied to Egypt, e.g.
"In the Hebrew scriptures it [Egypt] is called Mitsraim, and also Matsor and
Harets Cham"
http://www.image-in.co.il/SHALOM/chemot.htm
so some confusion in the translation sometimes occurs.
There were two places called "Mitsraim" in both Scripture and Mesopotamian
(Assyrian etc) records: One was in the north while the other was the name for "Egypt" .
The researcher Michael Banyai discusses the possibility that there was a place named Musri [i.e. Matsor] in Northern
Syria and also another place referred to by the same name to the north of Assyria.
see "THE ARAB FRINGE. AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING Musri, KUSH, MELUHHA AND MAGAN", Banyai Michael, Stuttgart
<<Musur(ni) must be somewhere between the Na'iri-lands and Aram Damascus west
of the Euphrates.
<<Musur(ni) ... on the eastern side of the Euphrates, south of the Na'iri-lands,
bordering on Kummuh. >>
i.e. one of the northern areas identified with Musri (Mutsri) was besides Kummuh
(Comagene) in Kurdistan.
Brit-Am identifies the Lost Ten Tribes with inhabitants of North America, the
British Isles, and other areas of the West.
This is proven by Scripture supplemented with secular studies.
Brit-Am has a comprehensive Series of
Biblical Studies proving where the Lost Ten Tribes are to be found!.
Kurdistan has been in effect occupied by the USA and Britain since the First
Gulf War.
The allies established a "no-fly" ban over the area and refused the Iraqi forces of
Saddam access to it.
Even today, despite fiction with Turkey to the west, this region remains the most
secure concerning the Allied presence in Iraq and is used as a base to help manage the rest of the country.
This was the first firm foothold of the allies who have since expanded it and used it to
help consolidate their control over the neighboring regions.
We see from Micah (7:12) that Matsor (Kurdistan) was one of the areas linked with the return of the Exiles.
The Settlement of the Returnees in Syria and Lebanon etc.
The rest of the verse in Micah 7:13, "FROM SEA TO SEA, AND FROM MOUNTAIN TO
MOUNTAIN" describes the future borders of the Land of Israel that will stretch from the Mediterranean
Sea to the Persian Gulf.
Micah continues and in the same passage describes the Returning Israelites dwelling in the Carmel (Galilee?) as
well as in Syria (Bashan and Gilead) and Jordan (Gilead).
[Micah 7:13] NOTWITHSTANDING THE LAND SHALL BE DESOLATE BECAUSE OF THEM THAT DWELL THEREIN, FOR THE FRUIT OF THEIR DOINGS.
The previous dwellers of these regions may yet be obliged to move away for reasons as yet unclear to us.
[Micah 7:14] FEED THY PEOPLE WITH THY ROD, THE FLOCK OF THINE HERITAGE,
WHICH DWELL SOLITARILY IN THE WOOD, IN THE MIDST OF CARMEL: LET THEM FEED IN
BASHAN AND GILEAD, AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD.
<<BASHAN AND GILEAD>> mean the present-day regions of Syria, Jordan, and part of Iraq.
In "
The Tribes" we show from the Geography of Ptolemy how the area of Bashan ("Bathania" in Aramaic) encompassed the region of Northern Syria and part of Iraq.
In Ancient Times Israelite Tribes had been present in these regions, see:
Dan and the Serpent Way.
Micah is saying that the returning Israelites will again settle these provinces.
Zechariah chapter 10 also describes the return of "Ephraim" (representing all the Ten Tribes and especially those of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh), a strengthening of both Joseph and Judah, the assertive might of Ephraim, and their resettling
Lebanon and Gilead (Zechariah 10:10) meaning Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan!
[Zechariah 10:6] AND I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND I WILL SAVE THE
HOUSE OF JOSEPH, AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN TO PLACE THEM; FOR I HAVE MERCY
UPON THEM: AND THEY SHALL BE AS THOUGH I HAD NOT CAST THEM OFF: FOR I AM THE
LORD THEIR GOD, AND WILL HEAR THEM.
This is the re-union of the Lost Ten Tribes with Judah. Joseph and Judah will
re-unite.
Note that Joseph will be saved and re-settled as it says above,
"I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN TO PLACE THEM"
God will cause them to re-settle in the Land of Greater Israel that encompasses
a good portion of the Middle East.
The Promised Biblical Land of Israel included All the present State of Israel,
as well as the eastern section of Egypt, part of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the island Cyprus, together with parts of
Turkey, regions of Iraq and areas along the Persian Gulf.
See
Land of Israel
Much of these areas are potentially quite fertile but they have been ecologically
abused by the Arabs who cut down all the trees and overgraze with goats who eat down to the topsoil. Overgrazing destroys the vegetation and causes erosion.
The resultant lack of greenery brings about a heating of the land surface and less
precipitation.
This process can be reversed.
Scripture indicates that the return of the Land to Israelites will also entail a
"healing" of the Land.
cf.[Leviticus 26:42] THEN WILL I REMEMBER MY COVENANT WITH JACOB, AND ALSO MY COVENANT WITH ISAAC, AND ALSO MY COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM WILL I REMEMBER;
AND I WILL REMEMBER THE LAND.
After recalling a future strengthening of the House of Judah along with a saving of Joseph and resettlement of them Zechariah continues:
[Zechariah 10:7] AND THEY OF EPHRAIM SHALL BE LIKE A MIGHTY MAN, AND THEIR HEART
SHALL REJOICE AS THROUGH WINE: YEA, THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE IT, AND BE GLAD;
THEIR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN THE LORD.
Ephraim will be "a mighty man" i.e. a powerful nation. This ties in with other
prophecies along the same lines.
[Zechariah 10:8] I WILL HISS FOR THEM, AND GATHER THEM; FOR I HAVE REDEEMED
THEM: AND THEY SHALL INCREASE AS THEY HAVE INCREASED.
[Zechariah 10:9] AND I WILL SOW THEM AMONG THE PEOPLE: AND THEY SHALL REMEMBER
ME IN FAR COUNTRIES; AND THEY SHALL LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND TURN
AGAIN.
[Zechariah 10:10] I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN ALSO OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND
GATHER THEM OUT OF ASSYRIA; AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO
THE LAND OF GILEAD AND
LEBANON; AND PLACE SHALL NOT BE FOUND FOR THEM.
The Exiles from the Lost Ten Tribes had been taken to Assyria as well as to "Mitsraim"
which is translated as Egypt and this could be the intention though the term "Mitsraim" was also an alternative term for
"Matsor" meaning the northern area of Kurdistan. Part of the Exiled Northern Israelites had been transported to this region by the Assyrians. They joined the Cimmerian, Scythian, and Gothic forces and with them migrated in stages to Western Europe.
At all events the exiles of Israel who were exiled to those areas will return and at least part of them may return through the area of "Matsor" as indicated
above.
The Almighty (Zechariah 10:10 and Micah 7:14) says HE will bring the returnees to Bashan, Gilead and Lebanon but there
will not be enough room for all of them.
"Bashan" means part of Iraq and Northern Syria;
"Gilead" means Syria and Jordan; while "Lebanon" means the country known today as Lebanon. These areas will be re-populated
by the Lost Ten Tribes represented by "Ephraim".
The Return via the Bosporus and Turkey
[Zechariah 10:11] AND HE SHALL PASS THROUGH THE SEA WITH AFFLICTION, AND SHALL
SMITE THE WAVES IN THE SEA, AND ALL THE DEEPS OF THE RIVER SHALL DRY UP: AND THE
PRIDE OF ASSYRIA SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN, AND THE SCEPTRE OF EGYPT [Mitsraim] SHALL DEPART
AWAY.
The Bosporus is the Sea Lane that divides the European part of Turkey from the
Asian part.
Jerome (ca. 347-420 CE) heard from Jewish Sages that the above verse (Zechariah 10:11) referred
to the Lost Ten Tribes and Jews from Judah returning from the north to the land
of Israel and it was implied that some of them would return by crossing the
Bosporus Straits.
* Jerome on [Zechariah 10;11:"And he shall pass through the sea..." : "The
Hebrews say that the Assyrians and Chaldeans took the Jews into captivity not
only to Persia and Media but also to the Bosporus and the north; and at the end
of days God in his mercy will call them back from there."
By "Jews" taken into captivity by the Assyrians Jerome is actually referring
to Israelites from the northern Ten Tribes even though strictly speaking these
were not "Jews" which appellation refers to Judaeans from the southern kingdom
dominated by Judah.
Jerome translated the Bible into Latin and often consulted with Jewish experts
in his translation.
The Main Point at present is to make both Judah and "Joseph" aware of the identity of Joseph!
The identifications above make sense.
They coincide with present day geo-political reality.
Even if we are mistaken on one detail or other, or if these events will occur at
another time, we can see still the possibility of the Realization of Prophecy unfolding before us.
The important thing is to realize that the Lost Ten Tribes should be identified primarily with Western Peoples and that they will return in the End Times as prophesied in the
Bible.
There are many indications that we are now approaching the End Times and
present-day events indicate that the Lost Ten Tribes may soon be returning.
The identity of the Lost Ten Tribes is important to the Lost Ten Tribes
themselves. They need to know who they are.
It is also important to the Jews.
The Importance to Judah
Brit-Am identifies the Lost Ten Tribes with Western Nations.
This knowledge should be important to the Jewish People for the following
reasons:
Torah Knowledge
Knowing who the Lost Ten Tribes are today enhances our understanding of the
Tanach (Scripture) and shows how Prophecy has been fulfilled.
It is an important aspect of Torah understanding.
For the Sake of the Truth
Understanding the truth concerning the Lost Ten Tribes is important in its own
right.
To Understand the Present
This knowledge helps us to understand certain (or rather nearly "all"!) aspects
of the international scene.
The Obligation of Judah Towards the Lost Tribes
Judah has an obligation at some stage to go unto the Ten Tribes and bring them
back (Jeremiah chs.3, ch. 31).
Ezekiel (37:15-28) says that Judah NEEDS the return of the Ten Tribes to complete
its own redemption. The return of the Ten Tribes is an indispensable requirement for the deliverance of Israel and Judah.
The complete return of Judah is dependent upon the return of “Samaria” (Ezekiel 16:53, 55, 61) meaning the Ten Tribes especially Manasseh.
Manasseh today is mainly the USA. God will renew His covenant with Judah and with Israel (Ezekiel 16:62).
What exactly this means and how it is to be done is not known at present but
knowing who the Lost Ten Tribes are must be a pre-requisite.
Other Candidates
There is an arousal amongst Judah and all Bible-conscious believers. People now
feel a NEED to find out where the Lost Ten Tribes are.
Other candidates for being the Lost Ten Tribes are put forward quite forcefully
from time to time and mistakes of judgment are liable to occur.
We are not saying that smaller groups from the Ten Tribes as well as descendants of Jews from Judah in the course of
history did not end up in all kinds of places.
The Bible however is quite explicit as to where the Lost Ten Tribes will be in
the End Times and where they will express the characteristics that were prophesied about them.
They will be amongst Western Nations especially North America, the British
Isles, offshoots of the British, and other parts of Western Europe.
This does not necessarily mean that all peoples in such areas are descended from Israel though
we are certain that the MAIN BODY of the Lost Ten Tribes is to be found amongst them.
If anything is to be done concerning the Lost Tribes of Israel then we should
be certain from the beginning who and where the Lost Ten Tribes are and not go
chasing after unknown entities in wrong directions.
The Lost Ten Tribes Are Already Involved with Judah
The peoples Brit-Am identifies as the Lost Ten Tribes are already involved with
Judah.
The Americans, British, Australians, Scandinavians, Dutch, French, etc, are all
nations that according to Scripture had a good proportion of the Lost Ten Tribes
amongst them.
These peoples are often antagonistic to the Jews and to the State of Israel.
On the other hand when and if we do have any friends to some degree or other
they are also usually from amongst these nations. Historically they were almost our ONLY allies.
They were practically our only friends, even though in other
cases they were our adversaries or close to it.
We also know that if the State of Israel wishes to promote its own cause that it
can best do so amongst these peoples.
These peoples are our only friends when we have any friends. Even when we have
NO friends it is mainly these peoples who it can be hoped will change their mind and who may be persuaded to be more positive towards us.
They are also the peoples who support and help the State of Israel as well as
being involved internationally and economically with the nations around us and with nations that we need to relate to.
For example Russia, Japan, China, Iran, Germany (through the EU) are all nations
liable to support the Palestinians and to put pressure on the State of Israel but the USA (and to a lesser degree the UK) holds
them back.
Whether we like it or not the fate of Judah is wound up with peoples identified
by Brit-Am as belonging to the Lost Ten Tribes. Knowing the Israelite identity
of these nations should affect our understanding of
them and how we may relate to them, as well as how they should relate to us and may be persuaded to do so.
To Combat anti-Semitism
The Lost Ten Tribes are technically "Goyim" (Gentiles) at present as it was
prophesied they would be in the Book of Hosea (chs. 1 and 2).
Even so, relatively speaking, when compared to nearly all the others they are
better than the others as far as the Jews are concerned.
The Gentiles may be divided into three groups:
a. They who will probably always be pro-Jewish no matter what happens.
b. They who will always be anti-Jewish no matter what arguments are brought
forward in favor of the Jews or no matter what the Jews do one way or the other.
c. Those who can swing either way according to circumstance, information
received, popular conception, etc.
The Brit-Am explanation concerning the present-day identity of the Lost Ten Tribes
has proven itself effective in generating a stronger support of the State of
Israel and more sympathy for the Jewish people.
Propagating this knowledge widely might well induce many amongst the peoples in question to feel more fraternal towards Judah.
Our Brothers Need Us
The Lost Ten Tribes are "Joseph". These people are the brothers of Judah. They
need Judah in many ways even though they may not realize it.
The awareness of Judah as to who Joseph is can help both Judah and Joseph.
Brit-Am understands the Bible and related sources as saying that Joseph is obliged in these end times to assist Judah
realize the Zionist message of conquering and settling the Land of Israel. This
is for the good of both parties.
The Survival of the State of Israel and the Jewish National Destiny is at Stake.
Joseph, according to the above passages quoted, must conquer Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and other
areas and prepare a settlement of his own peoples in these regions.
This is what the Prophecies of Zechariah and Micah indicate will happen.
Settlements of western peoples in regions surrounding the Holy Land could help the Jewish
State of Israel by providing a rational, humane, and friendly, co-operative progressive presence in the
neighborhood.
Geo-political reality is already pushing Joseph in this direction but widespread
correct Brit-Am knowledge could greatly catalyze the process.
Both Joseph and Judah need to know who Joseph is.
Brit-Am is endeavoring to spread this knowledge.
They who help Brit-Am are furthering the cause of a Biblical requirement and Scriptural ideal.
The reader is urged to peruse our web-site and objectively consider the evidence we present.
It is also possible to purchase from us
Literature that discusses these issues in more depth and to let others know
of our presence.
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