The Restoration of The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Good evening, everyone. Good evening. It is 7.30, and time to begin the Bible study. We'd like to welcome everybody. Please be finding your seats real quickly, and we'd like to say happy Sabbath to everyone, and also welcome. It is the sixth day beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. Good to see all of you. Good to see the warm fellowship, and be sure to continue with more of it right after the Bible study. Okay, we're going to begin the Bible study with prayer. Would you all please rise? Our Father in Heaven, Almighty God, we come before you on the sixth day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Thank you for the wonderful feast that we are having, that you are giving to us here in beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia. Father, we thank you for all that the feast represents, a time of refreshing and a time of restoration. And certainly this world needs it desperately, and we look forward to that time. Thank you so much for all that this feast represents and means for us and for the world. Well, now we thank you for this Bible study tonight. Help us as we open the Bible and read Scriptures that are very pertinent to the times that we are living in and to our nation and to the world. And we look ahead to the time of restoration just ahead. Father, be with us then and inspire the speaking and the hearing tonight. And be here. Guide us through your spirit.

And we give you thanks and committed them to your hands in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. I believe the Bible study tonight is very pertinent to the times that we are living in.

Two years ago, we will remember in the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the presidency of our country with the slogan, Make America Great Again. And you'll have to say that in a couple of years, less than a couple of years, Mr. Trump has really accomplished a lot, even though he has had a lot of opposition that is held in back from some of the things he would like to have done.

But a nice Bible study is going to focus on the future of the United States as well as Great Britain and other Israelite nations. And Mr. Trump wants to make America great again.

Is he going to be able to do that? I don't think he's been able to so far, though he maybe has improved the economy in certain areas. But let me just say right off the bat that America is going to be great again, is going to be great in a way that she never was before. And Britain, tonight we're going to look at the Israelite tribes today and also prophecies of what lies just ahead and especially a time of restoration. The Bible has many, many verses. We can only begin to read a few of them tonight on a time of restoration that lies ahead.

This feast represents times of restoration, times of refreshing, and we're going to look at one little aspect, one very important aspect of the restoration that will take place. And that is the restoration of the 12 tribes of Israel. And so that is the title of the Bible study, The Restoration of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Now this Bible study assumes, and I believe correctly, that most of us are very familiar with this booklet published by United Church of God, United States, and Britain in Bible Prophecy.

Of course, we read other booklets that we had back in former days as well, I'm sure. So I'm assuming we have read this. If not, I certainly do recommend that we read and study this booklet on the United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. Also, fundamental belief number 15 of the United Church of God promises to Abraham, bring out the promises, the spiritual as well as national promises made to Abraham, then Isaac and then Jacob, and passed on down.

I'd like to, as we warm up to this topic a little bit, I'd like for us to consider seven questions. And I'm going to make it easy on all of us this time and we'll answer it collectively as a group. The questions will be true or false, and they'll be very easy, I think, for us. Number one, the history of Britain and America's greatness goes back to Genesis and promises to the patriarchs. True or false? True. Absolutely. Those promises really are covered in most of the book of Genesis, beginning in chapter 12 all the way through the end of the book. Those promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, including Joseph and the sons of Joseph.

Number two, true or false? God chose the 12 tribes to be a holy nation and be an example and model to other nations. True. Absolutely true. We'll read verses in a few minutes on that. Number three, true or false? Ancient Israel succeeded in being a godly model of God's way to the other nations. Okay, we're on tonight, 100%. Okay, number four, true or false? The ten northern tribes of Israel went into captivity where they were absorbed into other nations and they ceased to exist as a people.

I heard true and I heard false. So which is it? Let's do that one once again. The ten northern tribes of Israel went into captivity where they were absorbed into other nations and they ceased to exist as a people, a unique people. Okay, that is false. They were taken into captivity by Assyria, but they were not absorbed there.

They had their own identity and eventually were set free and ended up in northwestern Europe, as we know. Okay, let's go to number five then. True or false? There is no biblical proof that all 12 tribes of Israel exist today. False. There's a lot of Bible proof which we can discover much much and I'll mention some of it probably as we go along. Number six, true or false? The Old Testament prophets foretold a gathering and restoration of Israel at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. True. And we'll read many, many verses on that tonight.

A gathering and a restoration of all 12 tribes. I tell you, this is a very significant thing that is going to happen because Israel is then, at last, going to be that model nation that God intended them to be. Okay, the last question, number seven. God has not cast away the 12 tribes of Israel and He will yet have them fulfill His purpose for them. True, I just gave you the answer to that one anyway.

All right, well that's good. That kind of warms us up to where we're going to be going tonight. We're going to see then that no God has not cast away the 12 tribes of Israel. He will yet He does remember. He will remember His covenant He made with the patriarchs. All Israel will be saved.

Israel will be a great nation. And yes, Israel will be great. And Americans and British and other Northwestern European nations, the Jews, will all be a part of those 12 tribes which will truly be great in a godly way. And Israel will yet fulfill its destiny. So that's where we're going tonight. I'm not going to go back too much into the book of Genesis because I think we're very familiar that beginning in chapter 12 God called Abraham.

He promised to make of him a great nation and all nations would be blessed. And we know that those blessings are two-part, first of all, spiritual and that eventually that would flow through the tribe of Judah and through Jesus Christ, the spiritual promises. And we know that there were national promises of greatness and eventually that would flow into all 12 tribes but the birthright promises would flow through Joseph, through the tribe of Joseph and to the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh.

So I think we are very familiar with that and we're not going to go back and read all those verses but you can do that if you need to and do a good study of this in the book of Genesis. I want us to notice something. What was God's purpose and intent in choosing the Israelites, the 12 tribes of Israel as it turns out?

What was his purpose? What was his intent? Let's read a couple of verses on that. First of all, Exodus chapter 19 and verses 5 and 6. What did God have in mind for the Israelites? Were they to be a people that were favorite people and who he liked more than any of the others? Well, they were to be a special people but they were not to be better than. God loves all people equally. He's not a respecter of persons or nations. But here's what he had in mind in Exodus 19 and verse 5.

Now therefore if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people for all the earth is mine.

And you shall be to me. Here's what God wanted them to become, or to be. A kingdom of priests and a holy nation. That's what God wanted Israel to be. A special people, a kingdom of priests or ministers who would serve and help other nations. They were to be a holy nation. Let's read a couple of places in the book of Deuteronomy as well as to what Israel was to be.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 and verse 6. Deuteronomy chapter 4 and verse 6. Therefore be careful to observe them, for this is your wisdom. God wanted them to remember the commandments and the statutes and the judgments he had given. This is your wisdom and your understanding and the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. You know, if someone would just take the Ten Commandments and live by them, any nation, they would indeed be a great nation. And Israel was to do that.

That's what God wanted them to do. Verse 7. The nations would then say, for what nation, what great nation is there that has God so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon him. And what nation, what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as in all this law which I've set before you this day. So God wanted the Israelites to exemplify his law and his way of life.

He wanted them to be a model of his law in motion. Let's read one other passage here in Deuteronomy chapter 14. Deuteronomy chapter 14 and verse 2. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for himself. That is that God has chosen, had chosen Israel for himself.

They were his to be his. A special treasure above all the peoples are on the face of the earth. Well, they were to be a priesthood nation. They were to be a servant nation. They were to exemplify the laws of God in action. The national promises would be granted to them, and the spiritual promises would come through them as well.

Again, through the tribe of Judah and through Jesus Christ. So in the Old Testament, the Israelites were to... this was what they were to do, but they utterly failed. We answered that false that they had fulfilled what God intended them to be to do. Yes, they utterly failed. You can read about it as well illustrated in Samuel, or Kings, Chronicles, also in the prophets. We'll read some of those. Ancient Israel and Judah both failed utterly, and eventually... it took a few hundred years, but eventually the ten northern tribes went into national captivity around 720 BC to the Assyrians.

And the Assyrians had the practice of moving peoples. They moved the Israelites, the ten northern tribes, to Mesopotamia, and later they migrated from that point, eventually toward northwestern Europe. The two southern tribes of Judah remained for just over another hundred years, but then around 600 BC they went in the captivity to Babylon. So both the ten northern tribes of Israel and the two southern tribes of Judah failed to live up to what God... their end of the Covenant, to what God wanted them to do. So, question, did God give up then? He said, this is just not working. I give up on this Covenant thing, these promises to Abraham. Did God give up on his purpose for Israel to become his model servant nation? No, God doesn't give up. And we're going to read later that he has not cast away his people at all. And at the coming of Jesus Christ and into the 1,000 years, God will restore Israel, and they will at last be his model nation. We'll read that later on. But what about modern Israel? We fast forward if we would like to our time, and we know that modern Israel then migrated into northwestern Europe, and we find them in Great Britain and eventually in the United States, the nations of northwestern Europe like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium, Luxembourg. Those are some tribes of ancient Israel, and they even carry with them the Israelite traits. The Israelite traits are just a bit different than the Gentile traits, and you can see that in their national character. But what about modern Israel? This is the time that God also decided to fulfill his promises given in Genesis 48 to the two sons of Joseph that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations, and Manasseh would become a great nation.

This would be, you could say, somewhere beginning around 1600 and forward, you find the British Empire forming and developing, and then later the United States. And we know that this is the fulfillment of that prophecy that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations, and Manasseh would become a great nation. And truly, America and Britain have been great. Just there have been no other peoples, and the peoples, they are the same peoples. They speak the same language, but yet there are differences, obviously, between the English and Americans, but they're still related.

They're actually brothers from Ephraim and Manasseh. But America and Britain have done so much good.

They took the Bible to the world. They maintained order and peace in the world. Our nation today strives to maintain order and peace, and our nations, the British as well as Americans, have improved nations and helped them to prosper. The British improved the life of the native peoples wherever they went. And America has done the same. What other nation after World War II would have done what the United States did, rebuilt our former enemies who were trying to do us in?

You know, the enemies would not have done us that way had the war ended the other way around.

But what other nation other than America and Britain would help Germany and Japan get back on their feet? Again, this is the character of Israel, the character actually of Joseph, we can see, the goodness of Joseph. But the sad thing is that America and Britain have lost and especially in the last few decades, and I think it has accelerated rapidly just in the last few years, and even maybe this very year, we have lost our moorings. We have lost our moral values. And God and the Bible are rejected by many. We're not the same God-fearing Bible reading, praying nation we were at one time. We want to legalize just about anything, just about anything. And there's increasing sexual immorality and marriage between the same sexes in our country. And America and Britain are no longer great as they were great at one time. We have been losing it.

Alexis de Tocqueville, a French statesman, visited America back even in the 1800s and made this statement, America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great. I think that's what we are seeing. The thing that has made America and Britain so great is the moral advantage. We did live to a certain extent to the best of our ability or knowledge, according to some of the principles of the Bible. But aren't we so very sad what we see happening here in our own country? We are being torn apart, angry, bitter, almost anarchy. It is so sad to see what is happening. And it was even called on the news now a political war.

Our nation is a divided nation, and we are no longer a shining city on a hill.

And like ancient Israel, our sins are mounting up and our sins are catching up with us.

And like ancient Israel, there are prophecies that indicate our people will go into a national captivity and there will be punishment. But then prophecy indicates, and we want to especially emphasize that tonight, we'll bring out some of the prophecies about the time of trouble that is coming and our sins mounting up. We'll read a little bit of that, but we're going to read much more of the Restoration after Jesus Christ returns. After we go through a time of punishment just ahead, punishment and captivity, then we are going to have a time of repentance, first of all, and then restoration. We'll see that as we begin to read some of these prophecies.

So let's do that. Let's notice some prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to begin with. We may get into a few other books as well. And notice that these prophecies in Isaiah will begin there. They begin with the national sins of Israel. They have an application in the Old Testament. Old Testament Israel, Isaiah lived in that time when Old Testament Israel was going in the captivity to Assyria. Jeremiah and Ezekiel lived at that time when Judah was going in the captivity to Babylon. And they wrote about Israel and Judah at that time. And there's an application to Old Testament Israel and Judah. But as we read this, I think we're going to see that there's a larger, much larger application that applies to an end time Israel. That's America and Britain, Northwestern Europeans, Jews today, the 12 tribes of Israel today. Let's begin in the book of Isaiah and just notice a few verses, first of all, about sin and disobedience and why God is going to allow a punishment to come on Israel. We'll begin in Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 4, Alas, sinful nation of people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corruptors, they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the whole heart faints from the sole of the foot even to the head. There's no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. And we could say that this is, in so many words, describing what we see happening in our own country today and it's very sad.

To the ancient Israelites and to the modern day Israelites, God says, change your ways.

Notice in verse 16, wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow, change your ways, repent. So God sends a warning of repentance. That's going down to verse 24.

Therefore the Lord says, the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel, ah, I will rid myself of my adversaries and take vengeance on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you and thoroughly, and this is what God is going to do to modern Israel as he did also allow ancient Israel to go into captivity, I will thoroughly purge away your dross and take away all your alloy. And this is actually talking about a time just ahead of us now. Verse 26, I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called a city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her penitence with righteousness. And it was not long after that that you have chapter 2 that we read often about chapter 2 and verse 2. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days. The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established. God's kingdom will be established on this earth. We've read that already, this feast. So God is going to clean up Israel, and these chapters in Isaiah right away get into the need for it because of sin. Just a few other verses here just to show that things were going a very wrong direction in ancient Israel as they are in our country today. Chapter 3 and verse 5, the people will be oppressed every one by another and every one by his neighbor. The child shall be insolent toward the elder and the base toward the honorable. We see that happening.

In verse 12, as for my people, children are their oppressors and women rule over them. O my people, those who lead you cause you to err and destroy the way of your paths.

In chapter 5 and verse 20, just getting a few of the highlights of the sins of Israel and why God would have reason to punish. Chapter 5 and verse 20, woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Don't we see a lot of that going on? And in verse 24, the latter part, because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Verse 25, therefore what? The anger of the Lord is aroused against his people. He has stretched out his hand against them and stricken them. God will punish. Our sins will find us out.

We cannot live the way of life that we are wanting to live in our country today and get away with it without punishment. You can read on through these chapters. The first 12 chapters especially dwell upon Israel's sins and impending captivity. Every now and then, though, in these chapters, you'll get a glimpse that goes on over into the millennium with the restoration of Israel. And it certainly comes to that very well in chapter 11. Let's just read a verse or two here.

Isaiah 11, verse 10, And that day there shall be a root of Jesse that will stand as a banner of the people, to the people. For the Gentiles shall seek him, and his rest in place shall be glorious. 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, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea. And I will set a banner for the nations and assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The scriptures indicate, and I don't know that we understand all the ways that this might be accomplished, that there is coming a captivity, a punishment upon our people that will scatter us far and wide. But this is sad to think about. This is that direction that our nation is heading for, according to the scriptures. But then there is going to come a time that God will begin to gather Israel and gather them back to the land that he promised and gave to Abraham. There are verses in Isaiah that later on that say, truth has fallen to the street.

That applies to us today. It does. There's no justice in the land. That we grow up and we stumble like the blind. We see that going on in our country right now. It is sad. It is very, very sad what is happening. Well, we see the same pattern. We don't have time to read all the verses at all, but we see the same pattern in the book of Jeremiah. I think Jeremiah captures the emotion. I don't know if you're feeling the emotion of what is happening in our country, but it is so very, very sad to see a country that we love so much, that has been so blessed the way things are going, that we're ripping ourselves, tearing ourselves apart. Jeremiah saw some of the same things going on in ancient Judah. Let's read in Jeremiah 7 and verse 28. Jeremiah 7 and verse 28.

Just a little bit of what Jeremiah wrote about all the evils that were going on.

One of the interesting things about the prophets is that we call them prophets, but there's almost more. There's almost more in these prophets about the sins of the nation and all the evils going on. There's almost more than even prophecy about all the iniquities and the evil and the punishment that was coming because of that. In Jeremiah 7 and in verse 28. Let's see, here we go.

So you shall say to them, this is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God, nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

Certainly doesn't that apply to us just as much today? And I think as far as capturing the emotion, the sadness, the mourning, nor you grieve over all that is happening. I know that I do. The news, we do keep up with the news what is happening. And Jeremiah, there's even a book, you can read it, comes next after Jeremiah, a book of lamentations. And Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet, just to capture a little bit of why he is called that. Look at chapter 8 and in verse 21.

For the hurt of the daughter of my people, I am hurt. I am mourning. Astonishment has taken hold of me. Is there no bombing Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? Oh, that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night. How graphic can you put it? He wants his eyes to be a fountain of tears flowing, weeping day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people. Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for wayfaring men. He'd like to go and get away from it all if he possibly could. So Jeremiah really felt the emotional impact of what was going on in his time. I think we are feeling the emotional impact of what is happening in our time today.

Prepare, unless our nation turns around, then things will only get worse in the days ahead.

But I want to focus mainly the remaining portion of the Bible study that God is going to let us go through a time of punishment and even captivity because of our national sins. But then, upon repentance, he is going to begin to deliver and to bring back to the land of Palestine to restore the twelve tribes of Israel. Let's read here in Jeremiah chapter 23, Jeremiah 23, beginning in verse 5. The days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise up to David a branch of righteousness. A king shall reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is his name by which he will be called the Lord our righteousness. So God is going to gather the Israelites out of the lands where they were taken captive. Let's read from Jeremiah chapter 30. Jeremiah chapter 30 first of all mentions about this time of captivity for Israel, and that that is a day of great trouble. In verse 7, Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is the time of Jacob's trouble, and this has an end-time application. The whole setting here is our age today. It is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. There's the good news. It shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord, that I will break his yoke from your neck and will burst your bonds. Foreigners shall no more enslave them, but they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. Therefore do not fear, O my servant Jacob, so we can still have a confidence about Americans and British and Northwestern Europeans and the Jewish people. All twelve tribes of Israel are going to be in a time of correction and captivity, but they will be brought out of it. Do not fear, my servant Jacob, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from afar and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest, and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you. Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you, but I will correct you in justice and will not let you go altogether unpunished. And God will not let us go unpunished for the way of life that we are coming to have in our country. But He's going to bring us back in verse 18. I'll bring back again the captivity of Jacob's tents. Verse 19, other them shall proceed thanksgiving, the voice of those that make Mary. Verse 29, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind. It shall fall violently on the head of the wicked, and the fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days, He will consider it. But we're living in the latter days, and these things are prophesied here in Jeremiah 34, our time. Chapter 31 goes right on with the same theme. Verse 8, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the ends of the earth.

They shall come with weeping. Verse 9, they shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I leave them. Can you imagine tears streaming down the faces of Americans and British and Northwestern Europeans and Jews who have been in captivity during the time of the Great Tribulation?

And in verse 12, though, God is going to deliver and begin to restore. They shall come and sing in the height of Zion. That's the good news, streaming to the goodness of the Lord for wheat and new wine and oil, the young of the flock. They shall not sorrow anymore at all. Verse 13, then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance and the young men and the old together. And I will turn their morning to joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice rather than sorrow, and satiate there the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness. So Israel is going to be restored. This is talking about Israelites, modern day. It's not talking about ancient Israelites way back over over 2,000 years ago. It's talking about modern day Israelites.

And God's going to go ahead and make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah verses 31 and 30 to 34. But I want you, before we get out of Jeremiah, we're going to go to Ezekiel next and see some verses on restoration. But let's go to Jeremiah chapter 50. We have some beautiful verses here about Israel turning to God with a repentant heart. And won't that be wonderful? We'll have a converted nation. We'll have a nation that's ready to be a model nation of God's way of life. Jeremiah 50 in verse 4. In those days and in that time says the Lord the children of Israel shall come. They and the children of Judah together with continual weeping they shall come.

That shows repentance, doesn't it? It shows they're turning to God. They see the evil of, we see the evil of our ways. They turn to God with continual weeping and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces toward it saying come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. The new covenant is a perpetual covenant. Look at verses 19 and 20. Beautiful verses here. I will bring back Israel to his habitation. He shall feed on Carmel and Beishan. His soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days and in that time says the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none. We're not going to have all the bad things happening that we see happening today.

The iniquity will be sought but there will be none. The sins of Judah, but they shall not be found. And why is that? Is that because they're perfect? And no, those human beings will need forgiveness just like we do. But you know when we're forgiven, our sins are not found either, are they? They're forgiven. They're gone. And it goes on to say in verse 20, the sins of Judah will not be found for I will pardon those whom I preserve. So that new covenant provides forgiveness of our sins all along the way. Well, we find the same message of sin and disobedience and punishment and captivity in the book of Ezekiel. I did want to read just a few verses from this book. Let's go to chapter 20. This is one of the finest verses showing, illustrating the repentance the Israelites are going to have when they come with continual weeping. This illustrates what is in their hearts. In Ezekiel chapter 20 and verse 33, as I live says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with theory poured out, I will rule over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with theory poured out. In verse 38, I will purge the rebels from among you and those who transgress against me. Someone that doesn't want to repent will simply be purged out. And in verse 40, on my holy mountain says the Lord there, all the house of Israel, all 12 tribes, all of them in the land shall serve me.

There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings. Verse 41, I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. And that is because Israel is going to illustrate as a model nation God's way of life. I'm going to be hallowed through and by you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted my hand in an oath to give to your fathers. I like verse 43 because it shows that our people are really going to see the error. What we have come to in our country just to want to condone and to accept any old thing as being all right. Verse 43, there in this land that God brings the Israelites to out of captivity, there you shall remember your ways and all your doings from which you were defiled. And what are they going to feel? Will they understand what we have come to today? You shall loathe L-O-A-T-H-E. You shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. And the best real repentance when we loathe our sins and come to see ourselves as we really are. Verse 44, you shall know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways or according to your corrupted doings, O house of Israel. Beautiful passage here of repentance and turning to God.

Let's go to chapter 37 in Ezekiel. There are so many passages I can't begin to read all of them about the restoration of the twelve tribes. When Peter mentioned the restoration of all things, certainly the restoration of the twelve tribes is one of those things that are pretty major, the restoration of God's model nation. That's pretty major. In chapter 37 in verse 21, He said to them, Thus says the Lord God, Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them to their own land. I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king over them all. They shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two nations again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things. And in verse 24 it goes on to say that David, my servant shall be king over them. I'm going to have a king that is well prepared and qualified to lead them in God's holy and righteous ways. They'll have one shepherd, they shall walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them. So again, you can read on the rest of the chapter here, beautiful verses.

I really like chapter 39 very much. I just want to read, we want to read that and see that Israel here is that example to other nations that God wants them to be. Let's begin in Ezekiel 39 and verse 21. I will set my glory among the nations. All the nations shall see my judgments, which I have executed. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God. Verse 23, the Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to me. The Gentile nations are going to come to understand why God allowed Americans and British and Northwestern Europeans and Jews to go into captivity, the tribes of Israel, because they were unfaithful because of their iniquity.

Verse 23, now I will bring back the captives of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel. I will be jealous for my name. Verse 27, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations. God will be hallowed through Israel and the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their own land and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide my face from them anymore, for I shall have poured out my spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord God.

So these are beautiful verses about the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel when Jesus Christ returns. Are there New Testament verses? Yes, there are. You know, even the apostles were asking Jesus in Acts 1, is this the time that you're going to restore the kingdom to Israel?

The people in the New Testament were expecting something. They were expecting God's kingdom back in their time, and Israel would be an independent nation and be great. They did not understand the first and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Even the twelve disciples did not understand that until after the resurrection when Jesus explained it to them. They came to see it then. But they were wondering about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. No, it wasn't a time yet, and that was in the Father's hands Jesus told them. But the Apostle Paul, let's turn to Romans chapter 11, wrote about the restoration here. It would be good to read chapters 9, 10, and 11. They go together. But chapter 11 especially shows Israel's restoration. In chapter 11 and verse 1, I say then, has God cast away His people? Has God cast away the Israelites? The nation He chose?

Certainly not, Paul says. For I am an Israelite, also am an Israelite of the seat of Abraham, tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people, whom He foreknew. God has not cast away the Israelites. But skipping on down to verse 25, blindness in part has happened until, hardening in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles.

In verse 26, so all Israel will be saved when Jesus Christ sets His hand to bring them out of captivity. They will be saved. They will be a repentant people. But the deliverer, as it is written, the deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Plus, it's going to be a wonderful time. It goes on to say, This is My covenant with them when I take away their sins. So God has given His Word on that one. And so after Jesus Christ returns, there's going to be a restoration of all 12 tribes of Israel. They're going to be restored back to the land of the God gave Abraham, the land of Palestine. Can we imagine that?

How's that going to be accomplished? God will say to it. That's what He promises to do.

And at last, then, Israel will be that servant nation. They will be an example to other nations.

Let's read a few verses that God has determined that this is the way it's going to be. It's going to happen in Isaiah 41. Let's go back to the book of Isaiah, Isaiah 41 and verses 8 to 10.

Isaiah 41 verses 8 to 10. God has chosen Israel for a specific purpose, and He's going to see that they fulfill that purpose. Let's begin then, Isaiah 41 and verse 8. But you, Israel, are my servant. You're my holy priesthood nation. You are my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, you are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away. Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Let's read chapter 43 and verse 1. Isaiah 43 and verse 1. But now thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name.

You are mine. You're my nation. You're my servant nation. I stood to verse 19 in the same chapter, chapter 43 and verse 19. Behold, I do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people, my chosen. Could that be on their way back to the land of Palestine? Anyway, this people I have formed for myself.

All right, verse 21. This people I have formed for myself. They shall declare my praise. They're going to do what I chose them to do in the beginning. Chapter 44 and verse 1. Here now, O Jacob, my servant and Israel, whom I have chosen, thus says the Lord, who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you. Fear not, O Jacob, my servant and you, Jesherim, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour my spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring. So Israel is going to fulfill its purpose at last. A passage that I think is my favorite as far as Israel, the restoration of the 12 tribes of Israel, is oddly enough found in the little book of Zephaniah. So let's see if we can find that book in the minor prophets. Zephaniah chapter 3. Zephaniah chapter 3. And beginning in verse 11.

It's a beautiful passage. We might even begin in verse 8 to get the setting here, but it is talking about the end of this age and when God is going to restore the 12 tribes of Israel out of their captivity. Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse 8. Therefore, wait for me, says the Lord, until the day I rise up for plunder. We're all waiting. We're certainly doing that, waiting until that time, until God's time, until the day I rise up for plunder. My determination is to gather the nations to my assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, all my fierce anger, all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language that they may call on the name of the Lord to serve him with one accord from the rivers of Ethiopia and so forth. And verse 11. In that day, you shall not be ashamed. This is especially directed to the 12 tribes of Israel. You shall not be ashamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against me. For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride. There's going to be no pride in Americans and British and others who come out of captivity. The pride will not be there. I'll take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride. You shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. How about that for the Israelites?

The modern-day Israelites will be meek and humble. They shall trust in the name of the Lord.

The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies. Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. That shall be done. Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all your heart. This is really good news. This restoration is a very positive thing. It's a significant part of the times of restoration of all things. Verse 15, the Lord has taken away your judgments. He has cast out your enemy, the king of Israel, who is that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As in your midst, he will be in Jerusalem, in the midst of the nation Israel. You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Do not fear. Zion, let not your hands be weak.

The Lord your God is in your midst. Right there in your midst. The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

I will gather those whose sorrow over the appointed assembly. Verse 19, behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict to you. I will save the lame and gather those who were driven out. I will appoint them for a praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame.

Those areas where the Israelites have been in captivity will go back and fame. In every land, they were put to shame. At that time, I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you.

For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth. When I return your captives before your eyes, says the Lord. So that's where the book ends. It ends on that very positive note of restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel. But then what a different world that's going to be.

And God has restored a repentant Israel. I want to read just a little bit from the last page or two of our booklet, United States and Britain in the Bible Prophecy. Just a few excerpts. When the Israelites turn to God in repentance and obedience, God will again shower physical blessings on them. Their land will become abundantly productive. As other nations see Israel's prosperity and relationship with God, they will inquire how they too can be blessed.

They will soon learn that Israel's prosperity comes because of its obedience to God.

The nations will begin to learn God's ways with the help of a restored and obedient Israel.

Finally, Israel will at last really be the world's model nation.

Exemplifying the blessings and way of life, other nations will strive to emulate.

The glory of the restored Israel will shine far greater than Israel's golden age under Solomon, or that of any other nation or kingdom the world has ever seen. Israel will finally become the example God intended her to be. God has not forgotten, nor will he ever forget his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The pages of history and prophecies yet to be fulfilled show God remaining true to every detail of his word. I recommend reading that last chapter sometime, reviewing it if you've not done so recently. The title of the last chapter is From Punishment to Destiny. From punishment, the captivity that we've talked about some, to destiny, being the model nation that God intended Israel to be.

Can we picture all of this? Can you imagine all 12 tribes of modern-day Israel, not ancient Israelites, modern-day Israelites being brought out of captivity and gathered back to the land God gave to Abraham in the Middle East? British, Americans, Jews, Northwestern Europeans, Norwegians, Swedes, Danes. These lost tribes who now know their identity. They're no longer the lost tribes. They know who they are. Can you imagine borders stretching from the Nile River all the way to the Euphrates? That was promised to Abraham in Genesis 15 and verse 18. Can you imagine all 12 tribes together? And for the first time since Solomon, actually. Imagine Jesus Christ dwelling in their midst. He'll be there in Jerusalem. And imagine David there also, probably in Jerusalem as well. King over all 12 of the tribes of Israel. And then the 12 apostles, each of them judging one of the tribes of Israel under King David. And then other kings and priests and judges working under them over cities and local areas. Can you imagine a humble, repentant nation now with a meek, humble, converted heart? Can you imagine a New Covenant nation, everybody, led by God's Spirit, being baptized and having God's Spirit, and trusting God for protection? No military. Ezekiel 38 and 39 shows Gog and Magog, apparently to the north and east of areas, coming against restored Israel, now prospering. But Israel is described as a nation with unwalled villages, no walls, no protection, except God. And it says God will take care of them and defeat those nations. And what it will take seven months, I believe it is, to even bury everybody. It will take seven years to clean up all the debris. So God, you know, is the best form of defense after all. And it doesn't cost anything, no military.

So Israel, at last, will serve as God's model nation, a great servant nation, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Mr. Trump has wanted to make America great, but only God can make America and Britain and all the Israelite tribes truly great. I hope you've enjoyed tonight's Bible study, and that it's been interesting, a restoration of the twelve tribes, and a story. What a story! What a story! American history then begins back in the book of Genesis. It doesn't begin where we studied it in school. That's the way it will be taught in the millennium as well. American history began with the promises to Abraham.

Let's review our booklet, The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy, and Fundamental Belief No. 15, The Promises to Abraham.

Please remember the webcast tomorrow afternoon, 3 p.m., and we should be in our seats about about 10 minutes early. So, brethren, have a good night at rest, and good morning until tomorrow morning. See you tomorrow afternoon. Good night.