INTRODUCTION
TO THE
DENVER DECLARATION
During the course of 2017-2019 a number of believers in
Messiah – Jesus – realized from their doctrinal backgrounds that the major
theological paradigms now prevalent primarily within evangelical circles were
either inherited from Roman Catholicism and Reformational Churches and/or from
more modern forms of systematic theology, primarily those with
premillennarian/dispensational emphasis. Coupled with these older bodies of
doctrinal emphases were eschatologies which emphasized the “disinheritance” of
Israel (aka, the Jews) expressed in the corpus of what is considered
Replacement/Rejection theology wherein “Israel” is solely the New Israel of
God—i.e., the Church; whereas in Dispensational thinking the Ekklesia/Congregation/Church
is wholly disconnected from the tribe of Judah (i.e., the Jews) wherein God’s
plan for both the Church and “Israel” are utterly disconnected, the one from
the other.
Neither theological extremity sufficed this band of brethren concerning their relationship with what they saw written in the “prophetic Scriptures” (Rom. 16:26) – for they saw in the prayer of Jesus in John 17 “that they all may be one” through the work of the cross would not only open up the floodgates of universal redemption but would as well, break down the “middle wall of separation” – making of the two (Jew and Gentile) ONE NEW MAN – SO MAKING PEACE.
Furthermore, neither did
the current movements within Messianic Judaism – followers of Yeshua – placate
these extremes of profound, even eternal, alienation
found in Replacement /
Dispensational theologies due to the growing isolationism within far too many
of the Messianic confederated organizations – most standing “apart” from their “Gentile”
counterparts. Neither were we convinced
with most of the “Two-House
Theology” during the last hundred years (e.g., British Israelism, Mormonism).
Yet, lest we become inflated with “comparing ourselves with ourselves” – we
have been greatly blessed by elements within all these branches of Biblical
understanding and research.
We are keenly aware of both the hostile/superior theologies
within Christendom and the isolation among our Messianic brethren;
consequently, and as greater fellowship over issues related to the Ekklesia and
of the prophetic scriptures related to the Breach of Jeroboam and the true work
of the cross in reconciling both the House of Judah and the House of Israel
(aka, Ephraim), we set about in developing what we feel is a body of
knowledge/truth which would reconcile these theological extremes, while
challenging the isolation amongst our Messianic brethren – and, in so doing,
build greater understanding and bridges with the House of Judah in preparation
for the coming Messianic Era – the Final Redemption.
Thus, since 2017 we have increasingly reached out to a
diverse group of leadership—primarily among Christian communities in holding
bi-annual convocations, “teaming-up” with other ministries for the “faith of
the gospel” and spreading our research through sundry expressions like publications
and social media. What you see here
within this DENVER DECLARATION is an initial expression of our findings—knowing
full-well the insufficiencies of our discoveries; yet, at the same time,
introducing these efforts to the greater Body of Messiah because we are
persuaded the time has come to take a vibrant stand for the “Truth of the
Gospel” in proclaiming not only the Gospel of the Grace of God for so great a
salvation wrought through our Savior, but embracing the Gospel of Peace in
bringing His people in both Houses—Judah and Ephraim—to see their prophetic
roles at the culmination of this age.
May God Almighty bless this declaration.
The
Denver Declaration
Summer - 2019
PREAMBLE:
What follows here are
simply sundry statements—not necessarily in order of preference—but each, in
the main, standing on its own theological understanding. They do not necessarily build upon one
another for an ultimate conclusion/summation; however, and although this is NOT
a complete reservoir of our immediate understanding of the Scripture of Truth –
it is an earnest attempt to state those theological truths we deem essential in
the current drama of Redemption.
The Living God desires relationship with man. Fellowship has
been extended to chosen people through a series of covenants. God desires
obedience but requires faith in His identity and in His intent to accept,
bless, and show mercy (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 9:32)*. Both the House of Israel (Ephraim) and the House of Judah
broke their covenant with God (Jer. 11:10). The House of Israel was declared to
be divorced (Jer. 3:8); and, “not My people” (Hos. 1:9). Thus God’s covenant
with Ephraim was technically broken. The House of Israel/Ephraim was
intentionally, divinely scattered and diffused among the Nations (Gentiles) so
that they were “swallowed up.” The House of
Judah was sent away without a certificate of divorce (Isa. 50:1). Although a
remnant of Judah did return to the land after their Babylonian Captivity, they
were later scattered among the Nations and “Jerusalem was trodden down of the
Nations; led away captive into all nations – until the times of the Nations be
fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). We today are
witnessing the run-up to the terminus of the “times of the Gentiles/Nations”
(Luke 21:24), and most certainly, “until the Fulness” or “Completion” “of the
Nations be come in” (Rom. 11:25).
God has not forgotten nor forsaken either Judah or Ephraim.
(Isa. 49:14-16; Jer. 3:12; Rom. 11:1-2)—notwithstanding their “scattering.” Both the everlasting Abrahamic covenant and
the Mosaic covenant remain in place on God’s part: “Concerning the
election...the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:28-29); “If
we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
How God might legally take back his unfaithful partner,
Ephraim; and, how God might bring the Gentiles/the Nations (who were “strangers
from the covenants of promise”) into a covenant relationship, was a mystery.
This mystery of the Servant-Savior, was stated but not comprehended in Isaiah’s
narrative (Isa. 49-53) which addressed: The Gentiles, the divorce, and the
vicarious suffering and death of Christ for the sins of all parties - “the sins
of the world” (John 1:29; 1 John 1:22).
The overarching divine intent is the prophesied
reconciliation and restoration of the Two Houses of Israel (Judah and Ephraim)
which will occur at the prophesied End-Time Harvest, with the Gathering
together of All Israel. This is “the Prophesied Reconciliation and
Restoration of the Two Houses of Israel” which will occur during the End-Time
Harvest with the Gathering of All Israel in the Blood of Messiah from out of all
the nations as a Unified International Congregation, originally expressed as
the “Commonwealth of Israel” (Eph. 2:11-14).
Yes, a single undivided Elect wherein both Testaments agree: “The tabernacle of God is with men, and He
will dwell with them, and they shall be His people . . . God Himself will be
with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3; Ezek. 37:27).
THEREFORE - BE IT KNOWN
Section 1
Whereas: It is evident to those within and
without the body of believers in the Holy One of Israel that God’s assembly has
fallen grievously short of the unity, peace, and effectiveness portended by Holy
Scripture; God, having accomplished everything necessary on earth and in the
heavenlies to afford such unity and peace to His people, we, the parties of
Commonwealth of Israel comprised of those near, those far, and those included -
identified in Ephesians, Romans, and elsewhere as the House of Judah, the House
of Israel (lost tribes), and the Gentiles - do hereby call, plead, and appeal
to our fellow heirs in the heritance of God to realize the peace on earth and
goodwill announced at Messiah’s appearance.
The Holy Scriptures* clearly state those who are “in Christ”
are redeemed under His shed blood and are likewise brought nigh into the Commonwealth of Israel— (Eph.
2:11-14). This is the ultimate national
identity of the Congregation of Israel’s Messiah, the Ekklesia, “the pillar and
ground of reality” (1 Tim. 3:15) – a spiritual house, the heavenly expression
of the Living God manifested both as the descending New Jerusalem (Rev. 21)
from a “heavenly perspective” and as the Holy District with Holy City and
Sanctuary, from its earthly perspective—yet it is ONE HOLY CITY—beyond man’s finite
mind to comprehend in its multi-dimensional expression.
“They who were ‘swallowed up of the Nations’ [aka, Ephraim,
Israel, Jezreel, Samaria – Hos. 8:7-9]; yet, He “will gather them” for “As He
says also in Hosea: ‘I will call them My
people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it
shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My
people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God’” (Hos. 2:23; 1:10;
Rom. 9:25-26). The prophetic “latter
rain” reality of the ONENESS of God’s people will intensify within the crucible
of the Seventieth Week of Daniel—the Final Week of seven years of human history
until the Messiah—the Deliverer—shall roar out of Zion (Rom. 11:26; Isa.
59:20-21). The supernatural concept of “Divine
Deliverance” – of “Messiah,” the “Deliverer,” “Savior” – is embedded in Hebrew
and Christian Scriptures and is espoused by both Jewish and Christian
theologies. Joseph/Ephraim and Judah with their companions (Ezek. 37:16)
constitute ALL ISRAEL to be delivered by the Deliverer.
We affirm but ONE OLIVE TREE (Jer. 11:16) yet “two branches”
but “one root” – these two are seen as the “natural branches” (Judah) and the
wild branches (those “elect from among the nations” – Rom. 11) – the common
“root that bore them both” is our same Messiah. Judah has been “blinded in
part” – whereas, we, “the wild branches” now “see through a glass dimly” – none
should boast! God in His infinite wisdom
has included all in disobedience that He might have mercy on us all. He is able to graft them (Judah) in again –
How much more will these (Judah), who are natural branches, be grafted into
THEIR OWN OLIVE TREE?” (Rom. 11, excerpts).
Section 2
Messiah abolished in His
flesh, via His death at Calvary—the enmity (the hatred between the House of Judah [i.e., the Jews] and the
Nations [viz., the Gentiles – including the House of Joseph, i.e., Ephraim
scattered among the nations; and the “rest of mankind” or Edom]). Thus, this “middle wall of separation” has
been destroyed! He abolished this enmity
derived from “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” to make of the
aforementioned Two—ONE NEW MAN, so making peace. Messiah was “cut off” (Dan. 9:26) for us and
our salvation, bringing us all into the
Congregation / Commonwealth of Israel—we are no longer aliens but
fellow citizens of the “household of faith.”
Now, at the close of this age—ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE DELIVERED—as a
single, undivided elect, manifested as the United Kingdom of David. Both Houses (Judah and Ephraim) retaining
their distinction in their anointings under the Holy One of Israel, but “One in Messiah” (Acts 15:14-17; Amos
9:11-12).
Section 3
Whereas: The “Commonwealth
of Israel”* shares identification with the Congregation or Ekklesia in the
Wilderness (Acts 7:38). Their mutual
harmony and complimentary destiny are assured through the Messiah of
Israel. Together they constitute the
ultimate manifestation of the New Jerusalem having the 12 Gates bearing the
Names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the 12 Foundations of this Holy City
bear the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb (Rev. 21; Ezek. 48). There
are NOT “Two” Holy Cities—there is only One Holy City, One Bride, One New
Covenant, One Body, One New Man, One God and Father, One Baptism, One Faith –
both heavenly and earthly – the New Jerusalem is beyond our current
comprehension – SHE is Multi-Dimensional!
Although the covenant
people of God, currently estranged in both houses, they are nevertheless
destined to become reconciled, reunited, and their identity fully restored as “All Israel.”* We affirm His promise made in Ezekiel
37:15-28 that He “Will make a covenant of peace with them [between the House of
Judah and the House of Ephraim], and it shall be an everlasting covenant with
them . . . 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 kingdoms again. . . Then they shall be
My people, and I will be their God . . . David My servant shall be king over
them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My
judgments and observe My statutes and do them.”
We affirm the prophetic
climax of the ages and the manifestation of the Kingdom of “My Servant David
shall be their prince forever” . . . for “Thus says the LORD GOD: ‘Surely
I will take the stick of Joseph, which is 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 they will be one in My hand” (Ezek. 37:25,
19).
Section 4
Whereas: The “called
out” Ekklesia, the “Elect” from
the nations, having been redeemed through the “blood of the cross,” find their
salvation in Messiah’s first coming; and as Israel’s promised Pascal Lamb their
final salvation and glorification will come with Messiah’s Second coming—this
time as the Lion of the royal Jewish House of Judah, the holder of the scepter,
the promised Shiloh, (Gen. 49:10), to
whom the national sovereignty of Israel belongs, and to whom all allegiance is
due. There are not two Messiahs—there is but one—the same one who came
precisely as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9,
“Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation,
lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Matt. 21:5; Mark
11:7, 9; Luke 19:38; John 12:15). He is the same one who “will cut off the
chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut
off . . . He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea
to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zech. 9:10) – this ONE: “And
the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—’The LORD is one,’ and His name one.” (Zech.
14:9). Glory! Messiah’s First and Second Comings are
acclaimed by the prophet Zechariah.
First as the “suffering servant” – then as “King of kings, and Lord of
lords – Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it” (Rev. 19:16; Isa. 9:7).
It therefore follows:
We “elect from among the nations” and our Jewish counterparts do NOT
have a different God. Nor do we have different salvation plans. Both houses of
Israel purport to give homage to Yehovah-God Almighty, the Eternal God of
Israel, and as the end-time drama unfolds both houses will discover and take
part in this unifying reality in Messiah; thus, we affirm, our God is ONE—eternally existing and distinctly: The
Father, the Son; and the Holy Spirit (Isa. 63:16, 8, 10-11; Zech.
14:9). The ONEness of God confounds the natural mind:
“‘I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have
brought him, and his way will prosper’ . . . ‘Come near to Me, hear this: I
have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was
there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me.’ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel; I am the LORD your God . . .” (Isa. 48:15-17).
“Surely, I am more stupid than any
man, and do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge
of the Holy One. Who has ascended into
heaven, or descended? Who has gathered
the wind in His fists? Who has bound the
waters in a garment? Who has established
all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s
name, if you know?” (Prov. 30:2-4; John 3:13-16; Rom. 10:6-10; Deut.
30:11-15). Surely, the Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6) – to be a Father – must
have an “Everlasting Son” – otherwise, He would never have been called the
Everlasting Father!
Section 5
Whereas: The Holy Scriptures present separate names and
terms of address for two prophetic entities, namely, the “House of Judah” (aka, the “Jews”)
and the “House of Israel OR
Joseph/Ephraim”, (aka, the “Elect”). Jesus, Paul, John, and Peter’s use of the
term “elect” in the ultimate climax of the ages is all-inclusive of both the
House of Judah and the House of Israel—distinct, but not separated—altogether
they constitute THE ELECT. The “Light to
the Gentiles/Nations” – has shined on them that “sit in darkness” – the
expansion of God’s Elect is, in this sense, indistinguishable from the Elect
from the House of Judah (Isa. 9:2; Matt. 4:16; Acts 26:18; John 8:12) – the
House of Ephraim constitute His Elect today, as well, and together (both
Houses) shall His angels “with a great sound of a trumpet . . . gather together
His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matt.
24:31) “immediately after the tribulation of those days” (Matt. 24:29) when the
“Sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven . . . and they will see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt.
24:30).
Therefore, we are
committed to look further into how they are distinct and different and yet how
they are destined to become a single
Elect fully harmonized and complementary to one another in the restoration
of ALL Israel which is so prophesied. May the LORD give us
greater insight! (See also: Isa. 11:12; 1 Chron. 16:13; Ps. 33:12; Ps.
105:6, 43; Ps. 135:4; Isa. 45:4; Isa. 65:9; Isa. 65:22; Rom. 9:24—”Even us He
called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Nations?”)
May the LORD give us greater insight into His eternal plan
and purpose for the ages . . . “According to the revelation of the mystery kept
secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all
nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to
the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Yeshua, the Anointed One, to
whom be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 16:25-27). It is because of our immediate deliverance
through the Messiah we are constrained to reconcile with the House of Judah—so
making peace!
Section 6
The “Breach of Jeroboam” occurring after the death of King Solomon
between King Rehoboam of the royal Jewish tribe of Judah [the Two Tribes of the
south, and the Levites] and Jeroboam, the leader of the Ten Tribes of Israel,
split Israel into two kingdoms. We recognize that a strident law vs. grace dichotomy was the root
cause of this breach and has led to what has become a family feud, even a blood
feud, and that out of the darkness of ignorance of this Biblical history, and
due to the “religious traditions and ordinances” of men – a multitude of
spurious teachings/doctrines demanding eternal separation between both houses
of Israel has spawned anti-Semitism
within the House of Ephraim toward the House of Judah; while engendering
fearful suspicion within the House of Judah toward the House of Joseph (i.e.,
the House of Ephraim), leading to
acrimonious and grievous histories between the two factions of Israel and their
isolation one from the other ever since that time (nigh 3,000 years).
NOTWITHSTANDING
– OUR JOSEPH WILL DELIVER: We, of “the Stick of Joseph [i.e., the Shepherd of
Israel—Psa. 80:1], which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel,
his companions” (Ezek. 37:19) have come to terms with what we affirm to be the “divine
order” and our mutual, prophetic destiny in harmony with the Stick and Scepter
of Righteousness, in Shiloh, of Judah.
For the One to whom the scepter belongs, the Son of David Who sits upon
the throne of David in the royal Jewish House of Judah, the Lion of the Tribe
of Judah, our Messiah and King, the sovereign to whom we owe our ultimate
allegiance – sits, as Joseph, before both Houses. Yet, as well, seated before Joseph are those
(Egyptians) from among the nations for he has “saved us all” (Gen.
47:13-26). Now, at the “time of the end”
the Shepherd of Israel at the darkest hour will go out to save the last of His
lost sheep (Gen. 49.24).
Indeed, we all sit before Joseph incognizant of His role in
the end-time ingathering of the “fullness of the Nations be come in” (Rom.
11:25—the MELO HAGOYIM) – for we
all have been “theologically quarantined” to the extent we—those saved out from
among the nations under the blood of the New Covenant—sit with Joseph among His
brethren (Gen. 43:32). Alas! Neither do the Ten Tribes, even Judah,
consider they all sit before Joseph!
In this “spiritual house of the redeemed” sitting before
Joseph—this archetype of Messiah, the Shepherd-King holding both the rod and
the staff . . . the One “ministering and ruling” in the dual office of the
Order of Melchizedek—is “seen in a mirror, dimly” (1 Cor. 13:12). Nevertheless, the time is fast upon us where
the alienation and isolation of “them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate
with him by themselves” will be ended—but only when our Joseph can no longer
hold back his love, his identity - for now we “know in part” - but when “that
which is perfect is come then shall we know, even as we are known” – “now abide
faith, hope and love - but the greatest of these is love!” (1 Cor. 13:13) . . .
then it shall be fulfilled: “The [jealous] envy also of Ephraim shall depart,
and the [anti-Semitic] adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not
envy Judah, and Judah shall not [harass] vex Ephraim (Isa. 11:13).
What immediacy awaits the House of Ephraim! Are we not designated the “watchmen upon the
mount?” “For there shall be a day,
[that] the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go
up to Zion unto the LORD our God” (Jer. 31:6).
Is there not divine revelation seen in John’s Gospel when “Caiaphas,
being high priest that year, said to them . . . ‘It is expedient for us that
one man should die for the people’” . . . “Now this he did not say on his own
authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die
for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that he would gather
together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad . . .
Therefore, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there
into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim” (John
11:49-54).
Yes, “Then the Assyrian oppressed them [mainly Ephraim into
captivity] . . . ‘Now therefore, what have I here,’ says the LORD, ‘That My people are
taken away for nothing? Those
who rule over them make them wail,’ says the LORD, ‘And My name is blasphemed
continually every day. Therefore, My people
shall know My name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am
He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’” – “How beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings
of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
(Isa. 52:4-7; Rom. 10:15).
Yes, again, the reconciliation lies before both Houses: “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with
the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see EYE TO EYE, when the
LORD shall bring again Zion – [for] I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O
Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make
mention of the LORD, keep not silence
(Isa. 52:8; 62:6).
Section 7
The
exhortation given to us in Isaiah 58 in the context of sacrifice for others now
commends us all to be “repairers of the
breach” not only “between the two” but within Judah and within the lost
house of Israel out from among the Nations.
Furthermore, that a contributory cause of this “breach” was recognized
by the early Ekklesia in Acts 15 as a “yoke” of expansive legalism not based
upon the Ten Commandments as written in the Torah but based upon the
traditional oral law of the rabbinical priesthood (viz., “the law of
commandments contained in ordinances” – Eph. 2:15) known in Greek as
dogma – Strong’s G#1378 … “an opinion or judgment” – Col. 2:14: “Having wiped out the handwriting of
requirements [“ordinances” or “dogma”] that was against us, which was contrary
to us. And He has taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross.” This dogma arose in earnest after the
Babylonian Captivity of Judah. All these
“ceremonial ordinances” were “a shadow of things to come, but the body
[tangible substance] is of Christ [Messiah/Anointed One]”—Col. 2:17.
Now, through the “Gospel”
the enmity between Judah and the nations has been “abolished,”
and in its place there is to be an issuing forth in the United Kingdom of David
(aka, “Tabernacle of David”)* in fulfillment of Amos 9:11-12 - a New Covenant
of Peace which is extended out as an invitation inclusive of those coming to
Messiah from “the rest of mankind.” “Mankind” is used in Acts 15:17 – quoting
from Amos 9:11-12 where the word “Edom” is used instead of “mankind” in that
the Septuagint translates the Hebrew word as “Edom” or “Adam” – shedding
greater light upon the House of Obed-Edom, the servant of Edom, who was greatly
blessed when the Ark of the Covenant did abide in his threshing floor for three
months until Obed-Edom and some 69 other “Edomites” became the gatekeepers in
the Tabernacle of David—joining themselves to the 12 Tribes of Israel (2 Sam.
6:11; 1 Chron.15:18, 24-25; 26:4-8, 12, 15).
Section 8
Whereas: The Biblical and historical evidence is clear
that the lost “House of Israel” in the ten northern tribes were taken captive
by the Assyrians and dispersed between 745-712 B.C. We commend the research
presented by pioneers of Judah/Ephraim understanding, researchers and authors
on the lost tribes of Israel like Yair Davidiy and Steven Collins who
detail the “swallowing up of Ephraim” among the nations; yet, their undeniable
physicality is indeed prophetically breathtaking. Thus, the Northern Kingdom never returned to
the land with the returning captives of Judah in sufficient numbers to
establish sovereignty, either with Ezra in 457 B.C., 275 years later, or with
Nehemiah in 445 B.C., 287 years later.
Therefore, the current Jewish house, as the royal Jewish House of Judah
with Benjamin and elements of Levi, were the only significant portions of
Israel who returned from Babylonian captivity. Consequently, we affirm the
former post-exilic Kingdom of Judah returning to rebuild Jerusalem as a small
city-state under Medo-Persia never did absorb the lost ten tribes of the House of Israel who were literally “swallowed up” by the Nations* (aka, the Gentiles – Hos.
8:7-10 – they were the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”—James 1:1). The
biblical and anthropological history of the Ten Tribes is quite clear that very
few ever re-entered the land with the House of Judah, and never in any
sovereign way as the House of Israel. There is little biblical or historical
recordation of any merit providing justifying evidence, beyond a sprinkling of
individuals among the Ten Northern Tribes who ever returned to the land.
Furthermore, the Jews at
the time of Christ spoke of those “dispersed among the Gentiles” (John 7:35) or
John’s declaration as “the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John
11:52); and Josephus in (Ant., 11:133) stated as a fact that “the ten tribes
are beyond the Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude and not to be
estimated in numbers.”
Section 9
Whereas: The root
cause of animosity/enmity between the House of Judah (i.e., the Jewish
house) and the nations (with the “Elect of Israel” being called out from among the Gentiles/Nations) was a disagreement over
the pre-eminence of Law vs. Grace and was further aggravated at the Breach of
Jeroboam by a rebellious attitude found among the ten tribes and by an
unrelenting YOKE of bondage imposed by the royal House of David upon the ten
tribes at the time (viz., that “yoke” being taxation and exploitation of labor)
which resulted in what is known specifically (today) as “anti-Semitism” but actually at its root being a lawless and rebellious, anti-Jewish, anti-throne of David, anti-Son of David,
Anti-Messiah, Antichrist spirit.
Indeed, this has caused
the lost tribes to go to the princes of Europe like Gomer with her lovers in
search for defenders of the faith (Hos. 1:2-5), thereby entering into covenant
with them in a post-Nicene Nicolaitan, hierarchical, Dominionist spirit,
thereby engendering an attitude of “Christian superiority” leading doctrinally
to “rejection/replacement theology” to justify such superiority AND this being
exacerbated by “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” from the
Jewish side – notwithstanding the “work of the cross” – this “breach” needs an
agonizing reappraisal by both Houses—Judah and Israel— to address such grievous
persistence and to discover an open door to the divinely prescribed remedy that
is to be found in the New Covenant with the indwelling Christ/Messiah committed
to writing His laws upon the fleshy tables of our hearts.
Section 10
Whereas: There persists a fundamental misunderstanding
concerning “Law & Grace” and a biased favoring of one over the other by
each of the two houses and among “God’s People” – We affirm: Jesus
did not come to “abolish the Law”
but to “fulfill the Law” and that the “law of commandments contained in
ordinances” serving a rabbinical priesthood as an external policing authority
is NOT the Law written in the hearts on tablets of flesh (Jer. 31:31). The Law that is written upon tablets of flesh
operating from within, is even now guiding the saints on their pilgrimage in
the gentle bond of love, thereby revealing the very “Character of God” that
makes accommodation for “Grace.” This is the “Law of Messiah” – the “Law of the
Spirit of Life” (1 Cor. 9:21; Rom. 8:2).
This reflection of God’s character is expressed to the nations—this
inner work of the indwelling Torah, the Living Word of God administered
personally by the indwelling Messiah from His throne in the hearts of believers
everywhere was exemplified by Jesus/Yeshua at the Passover Seder/Upper Room
when He inaugurated the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31) wherein “The Law of Christ”
(the Messiah) is at work in believers today.
Section 11
The end-time “raging of
the nations”* (Ps. 2) targets all “God’s People” – inclusive of all true
Christians who will join the Jewish House in affirming that the Jewish Messiah is likewise their own
Messiah, the God of Truth, and the God of Righteous Law, Who from His
throne shall “laugh and have the nations in derision.” Yes, in counter distinction
to the Coming of Messiah is the coming of the “Lawless One” – the “Son of
Perdition” who shall be “consumed with the breath of His [Messiah’s] mouth and
destroyed with the brightness of His coming” (Ps. 2; 2 Thess. 2:8). Therefore, the final “conflict of the ages” –
as the nations rage against Zion . . . for they do not know they gather against
the Lord and against His Messiah – so, He shall bring forth His Witnesses to
the nations “who keep the commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus”
– these are the Two Olive Trees and the Two Lampstands who stand before the
Lord of the whole earth (Rev. 11, Zech. 4).
Divine Judgment shall issue forth in the manifestation of His Kingdom
upon the earth (Zech. 14).
Section 12
True “Biblical Christians”
in the tens of millions have suffered throughout the centuries and have closely
identified with similar persecutions of their Jewish brethren and will be seen,
as well, within the final trials of the future 70th Week of Daniel.
This mutual companionship will become more evident as both houses of
Israel/Jacob gather together in Messiah even in the refining and the awakenings
which will occur at the time of “Jacob’s
Trouble” on this spiritual pilgrimage from “Jacob, the heel, the
trickster,” making the transition to “Israel, prince, and contender with
God.” (“Many shall be purified, made
white, and refined” – Dan. 12:10); nevertheless, being kept, preserved, and
saved (Gr. “ek”), in, through, and out of,
the hour of trial with the promise being that “a remnant shall return” even
as Israel was preserved in the first Passover in Egypt and “carried on
eagle’s wings” at that time of the first exodus (Ex. 19:4). (“And at that time
your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book” –
Dan. 12:1). Moreover, concomitant with
our mutual refinement and preservation is our mutual revival – the “Valley
of Dry Bones” (Ezek, 37:1-14). These
dry bones do not solely represent the House of Judah but “the whole house of Israel” (Ezek. 37:11, 16). It is time the House of Israel (Ephraim) come
to grips with the prophesied collaborative revival—for BOTH Houses are sorely
in need of this great end-times’ revival:
“So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they
lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army . . . these bones
are the whole house of Israel”
(Ezek. 37:10-11).
Section 13
Whereas: Abraham was shown the myriad company of the
redeemed as a starry host as numerous as the stars of heaven - a nation and a melo-hagoyim, a multitude called out of
the heathen nations, and that in this myriad company kings were to come out of
the Seed of Abraham,* with that Seed being singular, (Gal. 3:29); -- the
promised “S”eed of Abraham within his loins being Christ (our Isaac) –
the Messiah Who is the Progenitor of Abraham’s family of faith, even the “Author
and the Finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2).
The primary prophecy of Moses
in Deuteronomy over the prophetic destiny of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
declares that supreme blessing upon Joseph – even “the blessing [shall] come on
the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from
his brothers . . . his glory is like a firstborn bull, and his horns like the
horns of the wild ox; together with them he
shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of
Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh” (Deut. 33:16-17) –
declares Ephraim’s prophetic role, like a two-horned bull, pressing the peoples
to the ends of the earth. There would be
Ephraim’s “ten thousands” indicative of the Gospel of the Grace of God reaching
billions of souls who have come to the saving faith and knowledge of the One
True God through Messiah’s First Coming, even as they eagerly await His Second
Coming.
Section 14
Whereas: The end-time agenda of Yehovah-God is to “gather together into One the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11:52)
which includes all TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, who in Isaiah 49:6 are called in
Messiah, His Head and His Body to be His Servant and a Light to the Nations in extending His DELIVERANCE /SALVATION to the
ends of the earth; moreover, this charge is amplified in its broader Hebraic
context in the Savior’s Great Commission: “Go ye into all the world and make disciples
of all the nations.”* (Matt. 28:18-20).
This will be fully realized at the end of the saga during the final
gathering of that great company of the redeemed numbered in the 12 Tribes, a
spiritual household from every nation, race, and tribe as per the vision John
saw in Revelation 7 and ultimately expressed as the Holy District – the Bride of the Lamb, – the New Jerusalem (Ezek. 40-48; Rev. 21).
Section 15
Whereas: The
eternal plan and purpose of Yehovah-God is manifested in the Gospel of the
Grace of God, for His Servant, Who is the Messiah, to heal the partial
blindness, or partial hardening* in both houses of Israel, recovering the
broken staffs of Beauty (Favor/Grace) and Bonds (Unity)*, to join together the
two sticks of Joseph and Judah, and to
consummate in One Body – One New Man* – from out of both Jew and Gentile
companies – through the preaching of “this Gospel of the Kingdom to all the
world” – bringing about a great end-time harvest of souls, all of whom are
destined to be refined, reconciled, reunited, and restored as “All Israel” -
ultimately, saved and delivered by the Deliverer Who shall come out of Zion
(Rom. 11:26).
Furthermore, embedded within the Gospel’s message is not
only the Gospel of the Grace of God (as clearly delineated in Romans 1-8 in
reference to one’s personal salvation; also:
Acts 20:24); moreover, the Gospel of Peace (Romans 9-16) illuminates the
ultimate purpose of the Almighty: “How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad
tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15; Isa. 52:7; Nah. 1:15). The “fullness” (or “completion”) of the
blessing of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 15:29) is predicated upon Romans 11:31: “For
God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”
“He has made of the two
One New Man, so MAKING PEACE” (Eph. 2:16).
This is “the TRUTH of the Gospel” which we are called to be “straightforward”
in our practice (Gal. 2:14)—the “elect” from the House of Judah (the Jew), the
House of Ephraim (those “scattered among the Gentiles”); and the “rest of
mankind” (Edom) NOW constitute the Household of Faith – “For the Scripture
says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD
shall be saved’” (Rom. 10:11-13).
Therefore, we preach that
all men be reconciled to God and to one another through the God of Peace (Rom.
15:33) . . . for the answer to our Lord’s prayer in John 17 “that they all may
be one” is the preaching of the Kingdom of God (Acts 28:31; Rom. 14:17). Prophetically: “I will cut a covenant of
peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them” (Ezek.
37:26-28) bespeaks of that time “I will set My sanctuary in their midst
forevermore, . . . My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be
their God, and they shall be My people.
The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My
sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
It is time to preach the “Fullness” (or “Completion”) of the
Gospel—GRACE & PEACE. For if unity can and should take place between the
most divided (Jew and Gentile), then all other divisions are readily
resolved: “That the world may know that
You have sent me” (John 17:34).
Section 16
Whereas: The dual office
of Messiah is established forever in the Order of Melchizedek; He being BOTH High Priest of God Most High and
King of Salem or Prince of Peace—this is affirmed and declared in Psalm 110:4;
therefore, this dual office provides the solid Biblical basis for the
reconciliation and the reunion of the two houses of Israel under Messiah.
Section 17
Whereas: The Biblical
evidence of the eventual combining of the two houses of Israel as a single
reconciled, reunified, restored covenant people of Yehovah-God is stated by
Moses in Exodus 19:6 and restated by the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:9, NOT as a
purely Jewish royal nation and holy priesthood/church, but as both Moses and Peter have used similar expressions,
very deliberately, and very tellingly via a cross-linking
phraseology: “A royal priesthood and a holy nation” and “A kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Section 18
The prophet Zechariah*
(Zech. 4) saw the two olive trees in
the dual anointing of King and High Priest feeding the oil of
anointing into the seven lamps that are the menorah of Israel—today’s National
Shield of Israel--and was told that these are the two anointed ones who stand
before the God of the whole earth. Similarly, the apostle John (Rev.11:4) in a
vision was told that God’s two witnesses
were two olive trees and two lampstands who stand before the God of the earth;
furthermore, that two angels are seen over the Ark of the Covenant . . . even
so, the Jewish women light the two
Sabbath candles on the eve of Shabbat with a Sabbath prayer, heralding the
glorious unity of the two anointings in the Millennial Thousand-Year Sabbath
yet to come—altogether, this is in full harmony with the prayer of Yeshua/Jesus
in John 17:21 when He prayed this prayer for unity among ALL His covenant
people.
“THAT THEY MAY BE ONE; even
as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, that the
world may believe that you sent Me.”
We, therefore, the
undersigned pen our signatures to this Denver Declaration as Testimony and
Witness to the One True God – That they all may be one:
*Scriptural citations are at times so stated and/or are
pending entry or expansion.
------------------------------------
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