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The most successful proponent of
British-Israelism in the 1930's to 1970's was Herbert W. Armstrong.
He claimed that it was possible to identify the American and British people in Biblical prophecies
through the "now discovered Master Key."1
This article is helpful for any who
have been taught the theory of BI and who may have questions.
Also see in depth ESN article:
Where Are the Tribes of Israel Located? (A Critique of Herman
Hoeh's Article) (shows Hoeh didn't have his facts straight)
The Theory of British-Israelism
The theory of British-Israelism
was once a main doctrine of the Worldwide
Church of God (founded by Herbert W. Armstrong). The
current leadership has since discarded this teaching as biblically incorrect.
However, many offshoot groups of the WCG have clung to all the doctrines held
by the late Herbert W. Armstrong, and so still accept this teaching. Some Christians
are also influenced by this teaching, and need to take a closer look at it.
The book, The United States and
the British Commonwealth in Prophecy outlines the teaching that Britain
and the United States are the lost ten tribes of Israel. In this teaching of
"British-Israelism," the tribe of Ephraim becomes Great Britain, Manasseh is
the United States, and the throne of David is the throne of England.
Herbert W. Armstrong published this
theory as his own special revelation from God. Recent evidence has surfaced that
shows plagiarism from J. H. Allen's book, "Judah's Scepter and Joseph's Birthright,"
a 375-page book published in 1902 and copyrighted in 1917.
This book was written a full thirty
years before Armstrong claimed to have made an "exhaustive"
study of the British-Israelism issue.
Only a Theory
The theory teaches that
when God's people returned to Palestine after the captivity, only the tribes
of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi really returned. The "House of Israel," meaning
the ten lost tribes,2
scattered. By Jesus' day, supposedly only three tribes were represented. According
to the theory, the "House of Israel" was missing.
The Bible Speaks
The Apostle Peter was, however, unaware
of British-Israelism teaching, since he uttered these words in Acts 2: 36:
"Therefore let all the house
of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom
ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
In the BI theory, the judgments against
Israel naturally become directed towards the United States. We thus find the
belief that America will cease to be a nation, and her citizens will be removed,
finding themselves in captivity. (Plain Truth, July 1959, p.
16).
The Bible teaches that a prophet
is false when his words fail to come to pass. (See Deut.18:20-22). Time
has already run out for this prophecy, since it was foretold for 1972 in the
publications of Herbert W. Armstrong. The theory of British-Israelism falls with
the prophecy, and the prophet.
Are "Israel" and "Jew"
Always Different?
Armstrong taught that "Israel"
and "Jew" were two separate nations. "Jew" always meant "The House of Judah,"
and "Israel" meant "the lost ten tribes." 2 Kings 17:18-23 is a favorite passage
of British-Israelism devotees, so let's consider it.
"So the Lord was very angry with Israel,
and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah
only. Also Judah keep not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked
in the statutes of Israel which they made.
And the Lord rejected all the seed
of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers,
until he had cast them out of his sight.
For he rent Israel from the house of
David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave
Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin..
For the children of Israel
walked in all the sins of Jeroboam, which he did; they departed not from them;
until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all
his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land
to Assyria unto this day."
Notice the last phrase of this Scripture.
Israel went as far as Assyria until this day! They relocated, but not far away,
certainly not across oceans! Certainly not scattered far afield!
The Rebuilding
Of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's Day
According to the British-Israelism
theory only Jews should have been participating in rebuilding Jerusalem since
the house of Israel was "long gone." Yet Ezra uses the words "all Israel" several
times in the account. (Ezra 2:70; 6:17; 8:25,35; 10:5; Nehemiah 7:73; 12:47).
Evidently the terms "Jew" and "Israel" were used interchangeably, thus spoiling
the unsupported theory of British-Israelism.
The Ten Tribes
in Christ's Day
If the ten tribes were gone by Christ's
day, how does the BI theory explain that Anna the Prophetess was of the tribe
of Asher? (Luke 2:36). Paul mentioned all twelve tribes. (Acts 26:6,7). James
mentioned all twelve tribes. (James 1:1).
The book of Revelation tells of 12,000
people from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Revelation 7:4-8). All Israel
shall be saved, eventually. (Romans 11:26).
Upon consulting a Jewish
rabbi, he assured me the list in Revelation was a literal one, as are the other
lists in the Bible, although they differ from one another for various reasons.
The Revelation list is not "figurative" or "spiritual" allowing for interpretation
to apply to some other nation, but applies to literal Israel.
Consider the Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul was addressed in three
ways:
- As a Hebrew (Phil. 3:5).
- As an Israelite (2 Cor. 11:22).
- As a Jew (Acts 21:39; 22:3).
Obviously, Paul recognized no such distinctions
as invented by this theory. All terms interchange.
Christ the King
Since Christ had a sign over his head
on the crucifixion reading "King of the Jews3,"
are we to assume that He was King for Judah only? No, for the Scriptures are
plain that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah for all Israel. The disciples
understood this when they questioned Him in Acts 16, "Lord, is it at this time
You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?"
Obviously, "Jew" and "Israel" were used
interchangeably in Christ's day.
After putting up the sign, "King of the Jews," His mockers then said, "...if
He be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe
Him" (Matthew 27:42). Again, the terms interchange.
Problems
With the Stone
British-Israelism claims that the stone
under the Queen of England's coronation chair is the very "pillar stone of Jacob"
which was first transported by Jacob, and finally by Jeremiah to the British
Isles, via Egypt.
The Scriptures know nothing of this
invented event! We would expect, if the
theory is correct, that the English coronation stone could be analyzed and found
to be of the type found in Israel. The stone has been analyzed and "The Marson
Report " [by Richard A. Marson] page 128, records:
"The stone in Westminster Abbey has
been analyzed and shown to be a calcareous type of red sandstone of Scottish
origin."
Conclusions
on British-Israelism
British-Israelism is not a revelation
from God as some teach. Rather it is a theory that cannot stand up to Biblical
or scientific examination. It should be rejected by those professing Christianity.
--Article submitted by former member of Worldwide
Church of God
NOTE:
The Lia Fail (Stone of Destiny) is of Irish
myth. According to the legend it was supposed to "roar" if a true king touched
it. David Williams, in an article on BI, noted that “Professor A.C. Ramsey of
the Geology Department of London University inspected the "coronation" stone
and identified it as red sandstone, probably of Scottish origin. "The nearest
red sandstone to Bethel, where Jacob found his stone is in Petra, nearly one
hundred miles to the south; the stone around Bethel where Jacob slept is white
limestone." In 1996, British Prime Minister John Major said, "The stone of destiny
holds a special place in the hearts of the Scots. I believe that on this, the
700th anniversary of its removal from Scotland, it's appropriate to return it
to its historic homeland."
The key verses used by
BI proponents are identical to the ones HWA used--and distorted. Their premise
is that the ten tribes of Israel were "lost" and today are found in the Anglo-Saxons.
The theory fosters racial and national pride. No matter who we are, if we are
in Christ Jesus, our future is not linked to a particular land or race, but to
an incorruptible inheritance. (I Peter 1:4) The Davidic Covenant was fulfilled
in Jesus, the Son of God, and the Word of God is clear that we are to seek
Him.
Notice to former members:
Believing that the United States and Britain
were modern Israel may have been what started many becoming heavily involved in
the WCG or one of its offshoots or splinter
groups. It can become a part of one's self-worth (thinking we are special,
chosen, the elite, etc.) Learning the truth about these things can be a huge
letdown, but we must come see our special
position in Christ.
Recommended books:
The Delusion of British
Israelism by Anton Darms. Available through Barnes & Noble
out of print, used & rare books
The History of the Ten "Lost" Tribes by David Baron (This is a classic work
on the subject). Rare; check your library or used book stores.
Armstrongism: The "Worldwide
Church of God" Examined in the Searching Light of Scripture by Dr. Robert
L. Sumner. (Chapter 8: "The Armstrong Teaching About Israel" covers Herbert Armstrong's
Anglo-Israel theory.)
The Armstrong Empire
by Joseph Hopkins (See Chapter 5: "The United States and British Commonwealth
in Prophecy.") (out of print; check your library)
Footnotes by ESN:
1 Herbert W. Armstrong, The United States and
British Commonwealth, 1967, p. 4.
2
HWA referred often to the "ten lost tribes,"
but these words are not found in the Bible. See our article,
Where Are the Tribes of Israel Located?
3
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance states
that the word for "Jew" in these verses means "Judah" in the sense of a country:
Jew: Greek word #2453 loudaios (ee-oo-dah`-yos); from
#2448 (in the sense of #2455 as a country); Judaean, i.e., belonging to Jehudah
["Judah"]: KJV--Jew (-ess), of Judaea.
Fallacies Built
Up by Men (reply to email on "the so-called lost tribes of
Israel")
The Origin of British
Israelism (Examines BI in much detail)
[offsite link]
Article showing British-Israelism
has documented pagan druidic roots (scroll
about 2/3 of the way down the page to where the sentence starts with "Brothers
supposedly...") [offsite link]
Back to Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong
(was he who he said he was?)
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