Getting the Brothers Back Together Again

Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath Services. And a big thank you to the Ensemble. How beautiful piece. Thank you for that and for adding to Sabbath Services today in such a wonderful way. Welcome to our guests, welcome to those watching online, and wherever you are. It's a beautiful day in Cincinnati right now. And gorgeous weather. I'd like to comment for a moment about the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, the United States and the other Gulf nations. What is being called the 2026 Iran War really began, some say, 47 years ago. But others note it goes back thousands of years to the time of the Jewish Babylonian captivity. The most recent events began on February 28 of this year when the US and Israeli forces launched massive airstrikes on Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, air defenses, and especially the leadership. And Iran retaliated with missile and drone barrages by the thousands, including Israel, US bases, and most of the other Gulf nations, which also disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic. Now, a conditional ceasefire took effect two months ago, but tensions persist in a very fragile stalemate with ongoing talks for a peace treaty, which some say may be signed in the next day or two. But 2600 years ago, in 586 BC, the ancient kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire, resulting in the destruction of the first temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon. And Babylon is the area of modern-day Iran now, right? However, in 539 BC, about 60 years later, Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. And a year later, in 538 BC, issued a historic decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, ending the Babylonian captivity. So the Persians were at peace with the Jews.

Generations later, during the reign of King Hezir-Eris, a new threat arose when the Persian court advisor Haman plotted the genocide of all the Jews in the Empire. You'll recall that Queen Esther, a Jewish woman, and her cousin Mordecai famously foiled the plot, leading to Haman's execution and the deliverance of the Jewish people. And so the Persians and Jews continued to be at peace. What we saw 2,600 years ago was a rebuilding and healing of the rift between the Jewish nation and the Persian people. And to this day, there are many Persian Jews living in Iran. We had an ABC instructor here about 15 years ago that was a Persian Jew. You may recall Ralph Levy. His descendants were Persian Jews. Going back to the time of the Babylonian captivity, right? But the dynamics today have greatly changed. The current government of Iran is now hostile to the Jewish nation and its allies, Israel and the United States, especially hostile to the United States, but it wasn't always this way. So some things have been more recent times. The question is, will this rift ever heal again? It could happen and we can earnestly pray that the current conflict with Iran is resolved. And it'll be nice if we saw a warm relationship once again between the Persians and the Jews, like happened in history, much like what happened in biblical times. Now that would certainly be great if it happened this week, right? We can pray. But with this in mind, I want to talk today about another ancient crisis which will be resolved. Right now we have a number of crises in the world that we ought to be praying about, but I want to speak about a particular crisis, ancient crisis that will be resolved when Jesus Christ returns. And the title of the message today is, Getting the Brothers Back Together Again. Getting the Brothers Back Together Again. In the war with Iran, the current war, the nations of Israel and the United States of America are very closely allied. We have the sharing of military intelligence, common defense systems between the US and Israel, similar military hardware, joint surveillance, shared troops, and the latest technology. Israel and the US are acting like family. They have each other's backs in this war. Why is that? Some say blood runs thicker than water. And why in 1948 did we see the United Kingdom so involved in the formation of the modern state of Israel? And why do you see the United States of America and Israel as such staunch allies today against Iran? Is it because they're family? Now, just leave that question with you to think about and also ask, where are the other brothers of Judah in all this?

You've heard the term, Getting the Band Back Together Again. A famous rock band will reunite for one last world tour. You actually can't even believe they can stand up. They're so old now. In fact, one band I followed when I was a teenager in Australia, they actually performed sitting down now, but they're still back together. So they get back together for one last world tour, then you find out next year they have another final really last world tour. And they go on tour again. They get the band back together. So is it possible the biblical 12 sons of Jacob, the sons of Israel, will ever get back together? Will the band ever reunite for a world tour? Everyone knows where one of the brothers is today. Judah living in modern-day Israel and as Sabbath keepers scattered throughout the world. But what about the other 11 brothers? I want to start by going to Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. As you know, we have an understanding of where the sons of Joseph, one of the brothers, are today. The sons of Joseph were Ephraim and Manasseh. And here in the church we have an understanding about Joseph in particular today. But notice Matthew 19 verse 27. Matthew 19 verse 27. Then Peter, and I might add being very straightforward as usual, Anson said to Jesus, look, we've left everything and followed you. What's in it for us?

He says, therefore what shall we have? Yeah, he says, what's in it for us, Jesus? We have given up our businesses, our fishing enterprises.

And Jesus said to them, assuredly I say to you that in the regeneration, in other words, when the kingdom comes and when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, talking of himself, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. So Peter, here's what's in it for you, eternal life. Okay, is that enough? And to help me rule in the kingdom. And all through the Bible is an emphasis on the 12 tribes of Israel. All the way from Genesis through Revelation, we see the importance of the 12 tribes expounded upon. And as Revelation chapter 21 also confirms, the 12 apostles are going to be ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel during and after the millennium. Unfortunately, you'll find that most Bible scholars have not paid sufficient attention to the tribes of Israel and their study or in their study of prophecy. And when they do, it's surprisingly superficial what they come up with. Sometimes they say they've found some exotic Jewish community somewhere in Africa. They say they've found lost Jews in Africa or somewhere. But they're not the lost Israelites. They're not the lost tribes of Israel. When Israel separated from Judah after the death of King Solomon in the time of King Rehoboam, most in the northern kingdom, it was now called Israel, had already stopped obeying God.

They forsook the Sinai covenant and the commandments and eventually didn't even call themselves Israelites anymore. They became known as the House of Omri. The Omri dynasty was the ruling house of the northern kingdom of Israel founded by King Omri. And in the Bible, the Omri rulers of Israel were Omri, Ahab, Aaziah, and Jehoram. And even five different Assyrian records from the captivity refer to Israel as either Land of Omri or House of Omri. The northern kingdom of Israel lost their name, and they lost their godly beliefs. And over the centuries, they forgot their original history. It probably took a long time, but it started in the 8th century BC when the northern kingdom was depopulated and taken away by the Assyrians. And now most people in the world do not know where they are, the last 10 tribes. We are now in the 21st century AD. So wherever these ethnic groups are today, the descendants of the 10 northern tribes of Israel, they seem to have really lost that knowledge of their original background.

We're out of the last 10 tribes today. That's actually a subject for another day. I'm not going to go into that. Many Bible scholars are not sufficiently conversant with the importance of the 12 tribes. When they do talk about them, it tends to be rather shallow. But it's actually very important, as Jesus told his followers in Matthew 19 that we just read, the 12 tribes of Israel will be led by the 12 apostles in the Messianic age. The brothers are going to get back together. The band of brothers will reunite, and everyone will realize and know what happened to the 10 tribes.

So there are two branches of the people of Israel. The most visible one today is Judah. The tribe of Judah had the scepter. The tribe of Judah was to be the kingly tribe, the Messianic tribe, having the scepter promise of the Messiah. The Messiah came from the tribe of Judah. But then there's the descendants of Joseph, specifically Ephraim and Manasseh, with Ephraim leading as the dominant brother. Notice 1 Chronicles chapter 5. I just want to read a couple of verses in 1 Chronicles chapter 5, because Ephraim and Manasseh, these brothers, were given the birthright blessing, the blessings of great prosperity, of great national wealth and global influence. So we read about it in 1 Chronicles chapter 5. Notice the first two verses, 1 Chronicles 5 verses 1 and 2. Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph. So because of the firstborn's sins, the birthright was actually given to the sons of Joseph, way down the line, like the 11th brother. The son of Israel said that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright. So when you look at Christ's genealogy, it doesn't come from Reuben. Verse 2, "...yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler," which became Christ, right? "...from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's." So there's the promise of the Messiah, the Christ, coming from Judah. But we also have the birthright blessings that were given to Joseph through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. So that we have two branches of one nation, one dominated by Ephraim and one dominated by Judah. It was a very prosperous time when the 12 brothers were united. The nation of Israel, with all 12 tribes, was tightly unified under King David, ruling there from Jerusalem. Then, under King Solomon, next, they saw the greatest period of Israel's wealth, influence, and power. Solomon had a 40-year reign, and his reign was almost like a paradise of prosperity for the people. And of course, from that came the beautiful temple. Solomon had a lot of wisdom given to him by God. But unfortunately, over time, he began to think of himself as the exception to the rule. God's commandments didn't really apply to him.

He knew what to do, but he didn't fulfill it himself. And as he got older, things got worse and worse. And finally, King Solomon led the country into idolatry, which leads us to 1 Kings chapter 11. 1 Kings chapter 11 verse 9. And this is actually something for us to really take note of here. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 9. So the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. I don't know if you recall the two times that God actually appeared directly to King Solomon. It's in 1 Kings 3 and 1 Kings 9. If you want to look up those two times that God actually spoke with Solomon in 1 Kings 3 and 1 Kings 9. Verse 10. And it commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods. Solomon was warned, you'll be blessed if you obey me and don't go after other gods. But Solomon did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore, verse 11, the Lord said to Solomon, because you've done this and have not kept my covenant and my statue, which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. And in a minute, we'll find out who that servant is or was. But I wanted to stop here for a second here with verse 11.

The sins of King Solomon going after idolatry has had repercussions on us for the last 2,000 and some years. 2,600 years or so. Because of King Solomon, the kingdom was torn apart because of his sins. You think of the repercussions of other things that happened in history. You think of Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau and what we're dealing with today because of the rift between those brothers. Look at the Middle East, right? Some of the problems in our world go back thousands of years because of the sins of a king or the sins of a father. So as you see what God decided here because of King Solomon's sins and what we're still dealing with today as a result, it makes you stop and think. Is there anything I'm doing that's going to affect my family for decades to come? Is there anything I'm doing the way I'm living now that's going to affect my kids, my grandkids? And so, yeah, the repercussions sometimes for generations, even thousands of years because of what a dad did. So just something to think about here when God says, I'm going to tear the kingdom away from you because you've done this, Solomon, because you went after foreign gods. Verse 12, God says, nevertheless I will not do it while you're alive for the sake of your father David. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. So Solomon's son, Rehoboam, who would experience this split in the kingdom. Verse 13, however, I will not tear away the whole kingdom. I will give you one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen. So this predicts a split in the kingdom because of Solomon's sins. Only one tribe, Judah, would remain in Jerusalem.

However, as we'll soon see, this punishment was not to be forever. We'll see from Scripture how God desires for Israel to be united once again, for the brothers to get back together with Jerusalem as a capital and a Davidic ruler over them all once again. But for a while, for a couple of thousand years, God prophesied this split.

And this leads us next to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who's mentioned here in verse 26. I once gave a sermon titled, You, Me, and the Sins of Jeroboam, the Son of Nebat. It's actually a fascinating, dramatic, unsettling story of our own ancient church history, with ancient Israel being the church in the wilderness. So Jeroboam is listed here in verse 26 of this chapter. Then Solomon's servant, so the servant that would rip the kingdom apart, would be Jeroboam. The Solomon's servant, Jeroboam, the son of Nebat and Ephraimite, from Zerida, whose mother's name was Zerua, a widow, also rebelled against the king. So the tribes to the north were not happy with what was happening in Jerusalem. And without going into detail, Solomon was afraid that Jeroboam would take over, and so he went after him. Solomon was worried that when he died, Jeroboam would take over. So for a while, Jeroboam lived in exile in Egypt. But notice what happened to him, to Jeroboam. Verse 29. It would happen at the time that Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah, the Shillanite, met him on the way. And Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. And then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into 12 pieces. Sometimes these prophets were really dramatic, weren't they? Has a brand new coat on, comes up to Jeroboam and just starts ripping it apart. What are you doing, buddy? Brand new coat! Verse 31. He said to Jeroboam, Take for yourself 10 pieces. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I'll give 10 tribes to you, Jeroboam.

So here we see how it was all going to take place, this split in the kingdom that God had prophesied because of Solomon's sins. Verse 34. However, I'll not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand, because I've made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of my servant David, whom I chose because David kept my commandments and my statutes.

But I'll take the kingdom out of his son's hand, which was Solomon's son was actually Rehoboam. I'll take the kingdom out of Rehoboam's hand, but give to you 10 tribes. And to his son I'll give one tribe that my servant David may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself, to put my name there. So verse 37, I'll take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. So Rehoboam was promised to be the king of all but one of the tribes. If Rehoboam would obey God, his dynasty would continue.

Rehoboam's family would have continued to rule over Israel, and very likely even a descendant of Rehoboam would have married a descendant of David and would have been in the messianic line to Jesus. Very likely. But that's not what happened. Rehoboam totally messed up. Verse 38, God says, if you heed all I command you, Rehoboam, walk in my ways, do what is right in my sight, keep my statutes, my commandments, as my servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house as I built for David and will give Israel to you.

Verse 39, and I'll afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever. But not forever. So here's a hint, right, of the brothers getting back together again. Verse 40, Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shushak, king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. So Jeroboam hid out in Egypt until Solomon died, and then he came back to take over the northern part of the kingdom.

So Solomon evidently had some awareness that Jeroboam was going to wind up taking the kingdom from his son, Rehoboam. So he tried to undo that, an attempt to kill Jeroboam, which of course wasn't wise, and he was unsuccessful in that. So now we have the split in the kingdom. Jeroboam had the northern ten tribes. Rehoboam has just Judah, and actually also Benjamin, as we'll see. Judah and Benjamin in the south. And later on we see that many Levites left the northern kingdom of Israel and went back to Judah.

Judah had the advantage of having the city of Jerusalem and the temple, which the Levites respected. So in the southern kingdom of Judah, from time to time, some righteous kings did arise. Like Hezekiah and Josiah. And Judah had the prophetic ministries of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and of course Daniel. So when the kingdom split north and south, Judah salvaged the covenant, because elements of Judah remained faithful.

Of course, even to this day elements of Judah remained faithful, right? Of course, not all Jews are commandment keepers, but Judah has remained to be known as the people of the book even today. So one tribe that everybody still knows where it is. On the other hand, the northern kingdom forsook its commitment to the covenant, was eventually taken captive by the Assyrians, and has subsequently disappeared from history. Even the name of Israel became known in history as the family of Amri. So today we have the last ten tribes. But the brothers will get back together again, and the last ten tribes will eventually be identified for all the world to see.

An interesting parallel is in the story of Joseph in Egypt. Remember the famine in the land when Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food? At the time, their youngest brother Joseph, whom they'd left for dead, thought he was gone, was actually the number two ruler in Egypt under Pharaoh. And in asking for food for Jacob's household, Judah spoke to Joseph, not knowing who he was, went to the palace to ask for food, was introduced to Joseph. Joseph broke down in tears and identified himself to his brothers. And a great reconciliation took place between Joseph, Judah, and all the other brothers. The band got back together there in Egypt for a while.

The brothers were back together again. This is actually a foreshadowing of what will happen in the end time. Israel will once again be identified and unite with Judah and be one nation.

But let's read here further as to why there was a split. In the next chapter, 1 Kings 12, we see how Rehoboam followed bad advice. Solomon had died and his son Rehoboam was being very demanding of the northern tribes. A lot of resources and wealth of the country were coming into the capital. A lot of hard work was being done to build up Jerusalem with a temple and, of course, Solomon's palace. But the northern tribes felt like they were being oppressed and wanted relief from new king Rehoboam. So Rehoboam's senior advisors said, yeah, give them relief.

But Rehoboam didn't listen. Instead, he listened to younger advisors, his contemporaries, and they gave him bad advice. But look what happened after Solomon died and Rehoboam is now ruling Judah with Jeroboam ruling in the north. 1 Kings 12 verse 13. Then the king, Rehoboam, answered the people roughly and rejected the advice which the elders had given him. And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father Solomon made your yoke heavy, but I'll add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges. The Hebrew word there is scorpions, by the way. I'm going to chastise you with scorpions. Verse 15, so the king did not listen to the people for the turn of events was from the Lord. Yes, this is part of God's plan, right, because Solomon sins. He might fulfill his word which the Lord has spoken to Ahijah the Shillanite to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I said, I'm going to give you the north ten tribes. Verse 16, now when all Israel saw that the king, Rehoboam, did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What share have we in David? Why would we want to have anything to do with Jerusalem? We have no inheritance to the son of Jesse. To your tents saw Israel. So let's go back to the north. We're done. Now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents. In verse 20, King to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back from Jerusalem, they sent for him, called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. So that's in the northern kingdom. Jeroboam became king of the north. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. They're in the southern kingdom. So to this very day, we have two separate peoples. Where are the people of the northern kingdom, Israel, today? Like I said, that's a topic for another sermon. The point here today simply is this. The ancient crisis created a split in ancient Israel. But the brothers will reunite again. The band will get back together, so to speak. Here in the United States, we had a civil war between north and south. But later, it was resolved. We came back together. But ancient Israel and Judah still have not reunited.

But they will. God intends for them to come back together in a time not too distant from now. King Rehoboam actually tried to force a reunification with the northern kingdom by going to war against them. Rehoboam tried to pull everyone back together. But as we know, it wasn't to be. God had other plans. And those plans are tied into the final blessings God will give to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, separately from the Scepter promise for Judah. And, of course, because of King Solomon's sins, the split had to happen. And we're still dealing with it to this day. Verse 21, And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin so this Judah and Benjamin actually here in the south, 180,000 chosen warriors. That's a big army. 180,000 chosen men who were warriors to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. But, verse 22, the Word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying, Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, Thus says the Lord, don't do it. Okay? You shall not go up in the fight against your brethren, the children of Israel, that every man return to his house, for this thing is from me, says God. Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord and turned back, according to the word of the Lord. So thankfully Rehoboam followed God and wisely did not go against Israel. So the split in the kingdom now became permanent. Note the next verse, verse 25. My Bible here has a subheading of Jeroboam's gold calves. So the northern ten tribes immediately went into gross paganism.

Jeroboam didn't have just one golden calf, but multiple calves to worship throughout the nation. He went all out. Forget just one golden idol. Let's have lots. And it only got worse from there. He also pushed the autumn festivals like the Feast of Tabernacles to one month later. He made drastic pagan religious changes. And next he began making priests of whom every wanted, rather than using the Levitical priesthood. So many Levites then went south. Judah became mostly comprised of Jews, Benjamites and Levites. And even today, a significant number of Jews are priests and Levites.

If you want to make a note of it, 2 Chronicles 11 talks about the priests and Levites moving from Israel back to Judah. There's a whole chapter in 2 Chronicles 11 about how the Levites all moved back to Judah to serve at the temple again. Why did Jeroboam create his new pagan religious system? He had his reasons. And 1 Kings 12 tells you why he did it. If you want to take a look at it later, 1 Kings 12 says why Jeroboam went into paganism. So Jeroboam led the northern kingdom of Israel astray and it never recovered. Eventually the ten tribes were carried off by their Assyrian captors, lost to history. Remember God had promised Jeroboam, if you do obey, your dynasty will last forever. But he failed, which is of course a serious lesson for all of us to take note of. Be careful how you live your life. It can affect generations to come. What you do. So Judah is known today as the people of Israel. That's technically true, but they're not all Israel. They're just 1-12th.

The northern kingdom still has to be reunited with the southern kingdom. The brothers still have to get back together. Judah survives to this day as the remnant of the nation of Israel. So let's now go forward in history to Isaiah chapter 11. We have the histories of Israel and Judah written extensively in 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles. There's lots about their future in the prophecies of Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33. But notice Isaiah 11. Here we see a time coming when Israel and Judah, which had been at odds, will be reunited, will be at peace. The boys will reunite. Isaiah 11 11 Isaiah 11 11 Which will come to pass in that day. And when we read in that day, it's talking about the end time when Christ returns. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people who are left. From Assyria and Egypt, from Pethros and Cush, from Elam and Shainar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea.

So basically from all nations around the world, the brothers are going to be brought back together and identified. Verse 12, he will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcast of Israel. You know, those who were carried off and lost their name, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. So the lost tribes are everywhere right now. Verse 13, also the envy of Ephraim, who became the leader of the north, shall depart and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. So this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. It has not happened. But we will see the brothers, true brothers, united again and spiritually serving God.

It will once again be a glorious time for the nation, for the brothers of Israel, of Jacob. And a Davidic ruler will be over them with each of the 12 tribes under one of the 12 apostles, as we read from the very words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 19. The 12 apostles ruling over the 12 tribes. Notice Ezekiel 37, just one more. It's another prophecy of this reunion which is yet to come. And once again, in many ways, it's foreshadowed by the story of Joseph in Egypt, reuniting with his brothers. Ezekiel 37 verse 19.

Ezekiel 37, 19, here in this prophecy, say to them, thus says the Lord God, quote, surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim. Remember the two brothers under Joseph's two sons were Ephraim and Manasseh. Take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will join them with it with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and there shall be one in my hand.

Verse 21, then say to them, thus says the Lord God, surely I will take the children of Israel from among all the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side, and bring them into their own land, and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be over them all. They shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. It's an amazing prophecy that we're waiting to see be fulfilled here. In verse 23, they shall not defile themselves any more with their idols, like golden calves, right? No more of that, nor with the detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions. Just think of the transgressions and sins in our nations today, right? All that's going to end, and I'll deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they've sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. So it's a total restoration and reuniting of all the brothers, and all obeying God. Verse 24, David my servant shall be king over them, that you all have one shepherd, and shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And then they shall dwell in the land that I've given to Jacob my servant, because Jacob is Israel, right? Given to Jacob, or Israel my servant, where your fathers dwelt, and they shall dwell there, they, their children, their children's children forever, and my servant David shall be their prince forever. It's a wonderful future for the twelve tribes of Israel, and this will actually form a basis for all nations in the millennium, because the tribes of Israel are the first to be offered salvation when Christ returns. And then the other nations follow suit. Remember some of the prophetic scriptures we read at the Feast of Tabernacles about Gentiles tugging on the coat of a Jew, saying, teach us about God.

The twelve apostles will be over the twelve tribes of Israel, and under them, of course, will be the saints whom God has chosen from throughout history. But people will come to Jerusalem to learn God's ways, and the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel will set the pace, set the example properly this time. The brothers of Jacob will be reunited as one family, as one kingdom. It's actually an exciting thing to pray for. Thy kingdom come when some of these things take place. But in conclusion, there's more to the story, actually, even than this. Let's go even beyond the millennium to the time of the New Jerusalem and the Holy City in Revelation chapter 21. Revelation 21 verse 12. So chapter 21 of Revelation is after the millennium. This is the time of the new heavens and the new earth and the holy city coming down from heaven. So Revelation 21.12, breaking kind of into the story here, also she, talking about the holy city Jerusalem, had a great and high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. So that when the New Jerusalem comes to earth, the twelve gates will be named after the twelve tribes of Israel. So you see, Israel is mentioned from start to finish in the Bible. It's part of God's overall plan. Revelation 21 verse 12, we have the twelve gates here of the holy city. The names written on them are the names of the twelve tribes of children of Israel. But then look at verse 14. Verse 14, now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. So in these verses, just like Jesus said in Matthew chapter 19, the first thing we read today, we see the connection between the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the twelve tribes of Israel. And it seems here then, when we look at the New Jerusalem, when you look at God's heavenly kingdom, all of the various nations of the world are going to be organized under these twelve tribes for eternity. The twelve tribes of Israel will be the basis for organizing God's eternal family. There's going to be certain functions for all nations to perform within God's kingdom. And beyond this and how this all works out, we can only imagine. You know, a baby can't imagine what it's going to be like to be an adult, right? We can't fully imagine life in the kingdom. But we're given clues here. We're given promises about how wonderful it's going to be. It seems God's family, in at the time of the New Jerusalem, will be organized into twelve segments. Which is what it looks like here, based on Revelation 21 and the New Jerusalem. The kingdom will divide it into twelve. In any case, when this crisis is resolved, when the twelve tribes of Israel come together from being scattered across the globe, Judah and the other brothers will be reunited. The band will be back together. The brothers will be back together. And it will be a blessing for all humankind, with eventually even the New Jerusalem being organized under the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel. An ancient crisis will be resolved. So we're praying for the modern state of Israel and Iran to get along, for their leadership to get along finally. But here's another, an actual ancient crisis that will be resolved. And may God speed that day, we pray for Jesus Christ's return, for his kingdom to be set up on earth, for the brothers to be back together again, for all nations to be learning God's way, to be keeping God's holy days, God's Sabbaths, God's commandments, for Satan to be banished for a thousand years. For things to be different. And so we continue to pray, by kingdom come.