By Maria Merola
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There seems to be a growing trend of misunderstanding surrounding what many today call “The Two House Theology.” This misunderstanding stems from the fact that there are some people who are erroneously teaching that all “born-again” Christians are literally the DNA descendants of the House of Ephrayim. But, beloved that is not what the Two House doctrine is about at all. In reality, we learn from scripture that it does not matter whether someone is physically born with Yisra’elite DNA in them or not. YaHuWaH himself explained in Ezekiel 47:22 that if any stranger wants to “sojourn” or dwell among any of the Tribes of Yisra’el, that stranger is then counted as “one born among them” and that stranger becomes part ofthat particular tribe. And so if we are “dwelling” or abiding in the Messiah who is from the tribe of YaHuW’dah (Judah) we are counted as “one born into the House of Judah.”![]()
In Ezekiel 37:16 we read an end-time prophecy about two groups of people coming together and becoming “one” in the last days at the resurrection. The first group is called “the stick of Judah” which is actually “the tree of Judah” because the word “stick” in Hebrew is ets which means “tree.” And then we read about “the tree of Joseph” that is in the hand of Ephrayim. But both of these groups have Gentile “companions”who join them and they are also grafted into the House so that they are every bit as much a part of the House of Yisra’el as the natural DNA children. Also in Galatians 3:28 the Apostle Sha’uwl states that “if we belong to Messiah, we are Abraham’s Seed and heirs to the promise.” ![]()
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:
16 Moreover, you son of man, take you one stick, and write upon it, For Yahuwdah (Judah), and for the children of Yisra’el his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Yahuwceph (Joseph), the stick of Ephrayim and for all the house of Yisra’el his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.
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*Explanation:So far we can see many similarities between this story and the story of Yahuwceph (Joseph) in Bereshiyth (Genesis) 30. Joseph received a portion of his Father Ya’aqob (Jacob)’s inheritance when his father gave him a “coat of many colors.” The coat of many colors symbolizes the various colors of the flags of the nations. It also symbolizes “covenant” because in Genesis 9:13, YaHuWaH set the rainbow in the sky as a sign to Noah and the inhabitants of the earth, of his “seven covenants” which are all “everlasting covenants.” These covenants are as follows:
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Because there are “seven colors” in a rainbow, YaHuWaH was showing us that all seven of his covenants are really one and the same covenant! Also, at one time all nations of the earth were connected as one continent. But in Genesis 10:32 YaHuWaH divided the nations of the earth:
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After YaHuWaH divided the nations of the earth, how many continents did he divide the earth into? SEVEN CONTINENTS FOR SEVEN COVENANTS!
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Luqas (Luke) 15:
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*Explanation: In this account, we are seeing a prophetic picture of Two Houses of Yisra’el: Judah & Joseph. Judah later on in history became known as the “Two Southern Tribes” of Yisra’el, and Joseph became the “Ten Northern Tribes” of Yisra’el. What is interesting is that this story is reversing some of the events that happened to Joseph and making those same events happen to Judah. For example, even though Joseph is the one who was sent away by his brothers and he was the youngest (like the prodigal) in the story of Joseph, instead of him going back home to his father Jacob’s house, the other brothers (symbolic of the older brother Judah) go to Egypt to buy grain. What we are learning in this story is that in the end times, the same thing that happened to Joseph (typified in the prodigal son) ends up happening to Judah (typified in Joseph’s ten brothers).
You see even though Judah is the one who is called the Two Southern Tribes, in the end, Judah’s circumstances match what also happened to the Ten Lost Tribes of Ephrayim. This happened because Judah was puffed up and thought he was more righteous, like the older brother in this story of the prodigal. Because of this, the Heavenly Father in the last days ends up allowing Judah to go through the same thing as Joseph or the prodigal son! He allows Judah to experience the same exile, shame and humbling experiences. In this story, instead of Joseph (symbolic of the prodigal) coming back home and repenting, this time it is Judah (symbolic of the ten brothers) who end up coming back to Joseph to repent! Even more interesting is that in the story of the prodigal the father “fell on the son’s neck and kissed him.” But in the story of Joseph, in Genesis 45:14, Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and then in Genesis 46:19, Joseph fell on his father Jacob’s neck and wept. What we are seeing here is that in the end times, these two stories and these two houses (Joseph & Judah) are reversed because there is a process of restoration going on! And so the story of the prodigal son continues to unfold right up until the end as we can see many parallels in Luke 15:
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*Explanation: What we see here is that Jacob had givenJoseph a “coat of many colors” because he favored him above all of his brothers. As I mentioned earlier, the coat of many colors symbolizes the nations. In Genesis 37:31, Joseph’s brothers after selling him into Egyptian slavery, took his coat and dipped it in the blood of a kid (a goat). What does this symbolize? The Yom Kippur sacrificial goat! You see Joseph is a symbol of the Messiah and his coat of many colors being dipped in the blood of the goat represents the fact that our Messiah has “sprinkled many nations” (Isaiah 52:15) with his own blood and he became the “atonement” (covering) for them!
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Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 52:
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You see at first Joseph was the one who was humbled (like the prodigal son) as he was sent away to the nations, and then he was later restored and exalted by Pharaoh. And when he was exalted, then he helped bring his brothers back to restoration as well (symbolic of older brother Judah). You see Joseph typifies the Messiah at his first and second coming! He first typifies him as “the suffering servant” when he was humbled and beaten unjustly by his brothers. But then when he is later on exalted as King, he typifies the Messiah at his second coming for then he will restore his brothers!
On so a corporate level, the Ten divorced or scattered Northern Tribes of Yisra’el represent Ephrayim (the younger son in the story of the prodigal). And this group typified in Ephrayim-Joseph will follow YaHuW’dah (Judah) as prophesied in Zechariah 8:23.
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The Hebrew word for “skirt” is“kanaph” and it means: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner of the garment. In Malachi 4:2, another prophecy about the Messiah is told as one who comes with “healing in his wings:”
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We are shown that these “ten men” (figurative of Ephrayim) will grab hold of one Yahuwdiy (Jew) or the tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) into obedience to Towrah.
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In the book of Ruth we read about a Moabite woman named Ruth who converted and left her pagan idols in Moab behind. She followed her mother-in-law Naomi back to “Bethlehem-Judah” and she made a confession---a declaration with her mouth:
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Chazown (Revelation) 14:1-4
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Tziyown (Zion), and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads….These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins….These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Elohiym and to the Lamb.
The House of Ephrayim represents more than just the physical descendants of Yahuwceph (Joseph). Ephrayim is a metaphor of every human being who admits his fallen state and comes back to the Father repenting and when he does, he receives blood atonement.
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We see this principle illustrated by Yahuwshuwa in this parable about the Publican & the Pharisee:
Luqas (Luke) 18:
9 And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohiym, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote (beat) upon his breast, saying, Elohiym be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
In the illustration above, the Pharisee trusted in his own righteousness by Towrah obedience. But the Publican admitted his fallen state and his prayer was accepted. This is the principle seen with Ephrayim & Yahuwdah (Judah). Ephrayim is like the Publican (tax collector) who received mercy when he repented. But Yahuwdah (Judah) represents the Pharisee who trusted in his own righteousness and he soon forgets that he too was born with a sinful nature.
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Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
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Yahuwchanon (John) 3:
On an individual level, in the kingdom of heaven, we have to die if we want to gain eternal life. We have to go low if we want to come up higher. We have to humble ourselves before we are exalted. We have to become the least before we can become great in the kingdom. We have to admit our fallen state before we can repent and become a “new creature.”
You see it is not necessary to be physically born into the literal DNA children of Yisra’el, for we literally become Abraham’s seed when we are “born-again” by the blood of Messiah who then makes us related to Abraham! The word “seed” in Greek is “sperma” in Galatians 3:28 which means that we literally become “Abraham’s descendants” through YaHuW’shuwa Mashiyach!
The word of YaHuWaH came to Ezekiel and said:
16 Moreover, you son of man, take you one stick, and write upon it, For Yahuwdah (Judah), and for the children of Yisra’el his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Yahuwceph (Joseph), the stick of Ephrayim and for all the house of Yisra’el his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.
In this prophecy, we see two groups of people who were once united as one nation—one family under King Dawiyd (David), but then they were torn into two separate nations when idolatry and greed (the law of sin and death) made them“two” and no longer“one” (see 1st Kings 12). In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, our Mashiyach (Messiah) told this story as a metaphor of the “Two Houses of Yisra’el” but not only was this an illustration of the “Two Houses of Yisra’el,” this was also a personal message to each of us as individuals. This parable has a corporate application for two nations (Ephrayim & Judah) and it also has a personal application whereby we can learn a principle of what it takes to become “the first born” in the eyes of YaHuWaH. Our Messiah Yahuwshuwa was using this parable to illustrate a “kingdom principle” that will be the very attitude that we must all adopt if we are ever going to see “the restoration of Yisra’el.” What is this principle? It is a basic human principle that applies to both Houses of Yisra’el. Simply put, YaHuWaH“gives grace to the humble” but he“resists the proud” (James 4:6, 1st Peter 5:5).
In this parable of the prodigal son, when he humbled himself, the Father gave him “grace” (favor and free gifts). But the older son who displayed pride and dependence upon his own righteousness, was not given anything “extra” for his works of obedience. His reward was not doubled as it was with the younger son who returned and repented. Let us now revisit the story of “The Prodigal Son” as told by the Mashiyach himself, Yahuwshuwa.
Luqas (Luke 15):
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
1.) Adamic
2.) Noahite
3.) Abrahamic
4.) Mosaic
5.) Davidic
6.) Messiah’s Renewed Covenant
7.) The Everlasting Covenant.
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 10:
25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
That is what the rainbow symbolizes and that is what Yahuwceph’s coat of many colors represents! Joseph’s coat symbolizes all of the nations of the earth coming into covenant with our Creator in the last days! Interestingly, Yahuwceph (Joseph)’s very name means “YaHuWaH will increase” but his son’s name Ephrayim means “double fruit.” You see Yahuwceph (Joseph) will become doubly fruitful through his son Ephrayim who was prophesied over by his grandfather Yisra’el (Jacob) that he would become “a multitude of nations.”
Not only did Joseph have favor with his earthly father Jacob (evidenced by the coat of many colors), but Joseph also had favor with his Heavenly Father. Because of the great favor he had, however, Joseph boasted about his prophetic dreams and it made his brothers angry. That is when they took revenge on him and they sent him to a far-away country and they sold him into Egyptian slavery. Later on when Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into jail, it is very similar to this story of the prodigal son who was in the pig-pen feeding the pigs. In both stories they were at their lowest point. But then Pharaoh had a dream in which Joseph received the interpretation and that is when he was promoted to the “second in command” to Pharaoh himself. Joseph saw in Pharaoh’s dream that there would be a famine in Egypt and in this story of the prodigal son, there also was a famine in the land. Now let’s continue with the story of the prodigal son:
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain (desired) have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,
19 And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son.
*Explanation: In this account, we are seeing a prophetic picture of Two Houses of Yisra’el: Judah & Joseph. Judah later on in history became known as the “Two Southern Tribes” of Yisra’el, and Joseph became the “Ten Northern Tribes” of Yisra’el. What is interesting is that this story is reversing some of the events that happened to Joseph and making those same events happen to Judah. For example, even though Joseph is the one who was sent away by his brothers and he was the youngest (like the prodigal) in the story of Joseph, instead of him going back home to his father Jacob’s house, the other brothers (symbolic of the older brother Judah) go to Egypt to buy grain. What we are learning in this story is that in the end times, the same thing that happened to Joseph (typified in the prodigal son) ends up happening to Judah (typified in Joseph’s ten brothers).
You see even though Judah is the one who is called the Two Southern Tribes, in the end, Judah’s circumstances match what also happened to the Ten Lost Tribes of Ephrayim. This happened because Judah was puffed up and thought he was more righteous, like the older brother in this story of the prodigal. Because of this, the Heavenly Father in the last days ends up allowing Judah to go through the same thing as Joseph or the prodigal son! He allows Judah to experience the same exile, shame and humbling experiences. In this story, instead of Joseph (symbolic of the prodigal) coming back home and repenting, this time it is Judah (symbolic of the ten brothers) who end up coming back to Joseph to repent! Even more interesting is that in the story of the prodigal the father “fell on the son’s neck and kissed him.” But in the story of Joseph, in Genesis 45:14, Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and then in Genesis 46:19, Joseph fell on his father Jacob’s neck and wept. What we are seeing here is that in the end times, these two stories and these two houses (Joseph & Judah) are reversed because there is a process of restoration going on! And so the story of the prodigal son continues to unfold right up until the end as we can see many parallels in Luke 15:
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither (here) the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The Hebrew word “Kippur” (atonement) comes from a root word “Kaphar” which means “covering, coat.” Now in the story of the prodigal son, here we see that the father is giving his son a “robe” (a coat or covering) and he is killing a “fatted calf” instead of a goat. Why? It is because the House of Ephrayim is symbolized by the Red Heifer or a Bullock (Jeremiah 31:18, Hosea 4:16, 10:11, Numbers 19:2) and the House of Judah is symbolized by the goat (Genesis 38:20-28, Zechariah 10:3). In Leviticus 16, the instructions are given for the High Priest every year on Yom Kippur. The priest is instructed to kill first a “bullock” (a heifer) to cleanse and sanctify himself. And then he is to kill the goat and sprinkle the blood of the goat on the mercy seat. But then he is instructed to “mix the blood of the bullock with the blood of the goat” (Leviticus 16:19) and then he is commanded to sprinkle the altar “seven times” for the entire House of Yisra’el! Could it be that these “seven times” that the priest sprinkles the blood is for the “seven continents of the world” as well as the “seven covenants” and the “seven colors of the rainbow”? Did I already mention that our Messiah has sprinkled many nations with his blood?
14 As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
In the last days when Messiah returns, he will make “both Houses of Yisra’el” one house again on Yom Kippur when returns! The mixing of the blood of the bullock (heifer) and the blood of the goat symbolizes that both families (Judah & Ephrayim) will then become one family, one bride, one stick in the hand of YaHuWaH! You see Leah is the mother of Judah and she had ten sons (including the ones she had by her concubines). Rachel is the mother of Joseph and she had two sons. The Two Southern Tribes of Judah in the last days however are symbolized by Rachel (the goat and the lamb) and the Ten Northern Tribes of Ephrayim are symbolized by Leah (the heifer, the bullock, the cow). Why is this? It is because in the last days, the families “switch places” and we see that the first born is becoming like the last born and the last is becoming like the first! This is why Ya’aqob (Jacob-Yisra’el) “switched” his hands over when giving the blessing to the youngest son Ephrayim and Yahuwceph (Joseph) was displeased at his father for this. Why did Ya’aqob switch his hands over and give the blessing of the older to the younger? He was illustrating a “kingdom principle” that in order for there to be restoration in the house, there has to be an “equalization” that takes place. That means that the one who was humbled becomes exalted and the one who was exalted is now being humbled!
Rachel’s name in Hebrew means “lamb” and Leah’s name in Hebrew means “weary” but it also means “cow.” In the last days, the two families (Leah’s & Rachel’s sons) or Ephrayim & Judah end up switching places!
Ma’aseh Shlichiym (Acts) 3:21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which Elohiym has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Joseph symbolizes “Double Portion Restoration!” Joseph was the first to receive a “double portion” of all that his father Jacob had (Genesis 48:22). At Messiah’s first coming, he typified Joseph in his “humble servant” state. But at his second coming, Yahuwshuwa will also typify Joseph as the “double portion” inheritor when he is exalted as the king of the earth! He will inherit both Houses of Yisra’el when he brings both houses together again. Now let’s continue to examine the prophetic typology we see in Joseph & Judah from this parable of the prodigal son:
Luqas (Luke) 15:
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh (near) to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Your brother is come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve you, neither transgressed I at any time your commandment: and yet you never gave me a kid (goat), that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this your son was come, which has devoured your living with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf.
*Explanation: We see here the older son (symbolic of Judah) proud of his own efforts and obedience and he is begrudging his younger brother of receiving a second inheritance. It seems unfair that the younger brother first received his inheritance (salvation) and then he squandered it on wild and lawless living.
This reminds us of the Christian Church today who have received an inheritance (salvation by grace through faith) but many of them think that grace is a license to go on sinning and that they are no longer under obligation to obey the Mosaic Law (Towrah). This is exactly the picture of the prodigal son! Now, in these last days, the prodigal son is coming back home with a humble heart with repentance before his father, and he is willing to be just a “servant” in his father’s house (a hired hand).
But instead what does his father do? He gives him another inheritance! Jacob also gave to Joseph “one portion above his brethren” (Genesis 48:22) and now the prodigal son (typified in Joseph) is also receiving another portion when he is restored to his father! This did not seem fair to the older brother. He did not think that his brother should get another portion after wasting the first portion!
The prodigal son was given a “robe” which is symbolic of the blood atonement or covering but also of provision. It symbolizes the white wedding garment of righteousness. But he is also given a “ring” which is symbolic of the authority of the father’s name (a signet or signature ring). He also received shoes on his feet (his feet shod with the gospel of peace). So you see the younger son who was “the last” or “the least” ended up becoming as “the first born” when he repented and received blood atonement! He was “born-again” (resurrected from the dead) and then he received “a double portion inheritance!” It is for this reason that YaHuWaH called Ephrayim “my first born” in Jeremiah 31:9. Now we have the father telling the older brother (symbolic of Judah) that he should rejoice that his younger brother Ephrayim is coming back to Towrah obedience! But lo and behold, what do we see happening in these last days? Many Jews are getting angry at the fact that so many Christians are coming out of their pagan ways to embrace Towrah. They say things like “these Gentiles are trying to act like one of us, but they don’t deserve salvation….they are nothing more than heathens unworthy of the Father’s favor…” Let’s see the parallel in this parable:
Luqas (Luke) 15:
31 And he said unto him, Son, you are ever with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 It was meet (necessary) that we should make merry, and be glad: for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Now we see a picture of the Heavenly Father telling the House of Judah “son you are ever with me, and all that I have is yours.” This is symbolic of the first born sons who came into the kingdom ahead of the younger sons. We see often times that those who have been walking in the faith of Messiah for many years begin to grow dependent upon their own righteousness and they forget that at one time they too were like the younger son who was newly repentant and excited about his new found faith. Those of us who are more mature in the faith find it easy to make fun of the “newbies” thinking ourselves to be better than they are. But you see the Father delights in the “newbies” and he wants us to rejoice over them with him!
On so a corporate level, the Ten divorced or scattered Northern Tribes of Yisra’el represent Ephrayim (the younger son in the story of the prodigal). And this group typified in Ephrayim-Joseph will follow YaHuW’dah (Judah) as prophesied in Zechariah 8:23.
Zekaryahuw (Zechariah) 8:23 Thus says YHWH of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt (kanaph, tzit-zit) of him that is a Yahuwdiy (Jew), saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that Elohiym is with you.
Malakiy (Malachi) 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”
On the four corners of these prayer shawls we are commanded to place on them “fringes” to remind us that we are to obey the commandments (Deuteronomy 22:12, Numbers 15:38). These “fringes” are called “tziytzith” in Hebrew. The Hebrew word for “wings” here in Malachi 4:2 is once again # 3671 which is “kanaph” and this is the same word used in Zechariah 8:23 for skirt!
Now this “one Jew” is Yahuwshuwa himself who is from the tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah). But this prophecy also represents all of those who are “in Yahuwshuwa” who follow the Lamb wherever he goes and they are keeping his commandments. All of those who have already been following this “one Jew” for many years are now called Yahuwdiy (Jews). The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) illustrated that those who obey the Towrah are considered Jews. Here in Romans 2, Sha’uwl is rebuking the older brother Judah:
Romiym (Romans) 2:
23 You that make your boast of the Towrah (law), through breaking the law dishonour You Elohiym?
24 For the name of Elohiym is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25 For circumcision verily profits, if You keep the Towrah (law): but if You be a breaker of the Towrah (law), your circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the Towrah (law), shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the Towrah (law), judge you, who by the letter and circumcision does transgress the Towrah (law)?
28 For he is not a Yahuwdiy (Jew), which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Yahuwdiy (Jew), which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohiym.
What we see here is an “attitude” of superiority displayed by the Jews in Paul’s day who thought that they were more righteous in their obedience to the Mosaic Law (Towrah). He was telling them that even though they prided themselves in their obedience, they were not as obedient inwardly as they pretended to be outwardly! Paul was telling these Jews in his day that even if the Gentiles begin to obey the Mosaic Law (Towrah) their uncircumcision would be looked upon by the Father in Heaven as circumcision!
So you see Sha’uwl (Paul) was equating being a Yahuwdiy (a Jew) to one who obeys Towrah! He told these Jews of his day that in the end the Heavenly Father YaHuWaH will count the obedient ones as Yahuwdiy (Jews)! What does this word “Jew” really mean? In the Hebrew Strong’s Concordance we see the meaning:
#3064. Yhuwdiy yeh-hoo-dee’ patronymically from 3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah(Judah):--Jew.
#3063. Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw’ from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first,and of its territory:--Judah.
#3061. Yhuwd yeh-hood’ (Aramaic) contracted from a form corresponding to 3063; properly, Judah, hence, Judaea:--Jewry, Judah, Judea.
Here we see that the name for the tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) comes from the same letters in our Creator’s name YaHuWaH but with one extra letter added which is the “dalet” or the 4th letter in the Hebrew Alphabet which means “the door.” Our Messiah is “the door” that the sheep go through in order to come to the Father (John 10:7).
Yahuwshuwa Messiah is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) and he came to us in the 4th Millennium. He also died on the 4th day of the week (Wednesday), and Judah was the 4th son born to Leah & Jacob! The 4th letter is the door! Now we know why Yahuwshuwa said this to the Samaritan woman:
Yahuwshuwa Messiah is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) and he came to us in the 4th Millennium. He also died on the 4th day of the week (Wednesday), and Judah was the 4th son born to Leah & Jacob! The 4th letter is the door! Now we know why Yahuwshuwa said this to the Samaritan woman:
Yahuwchanon (John) 4:22You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Yahuwdiy (Jews).
What did he mean? Was he talking about man-made religion? Was he talking about Judaism? No! He was talking about a tribe of people who “follow the lamb where ever he goes!” (Revelation 14:4). You see all those who follow the Lamb who is also the Lion of the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) will enter through the door to the Father and they have their Father’s name in their foreheads which is YaHuWaH!
You see, in this story of the prodigal son, we see two types of people. On an individual basis, there are those who think that they are Yahuwdiy (Jews) from the House of Yahuwdah (Judah), but they are following a man-made religion and traditions. They are not following the Messiah Yahuwshuwa. There are those who call themselves “Jews” (simply because they follow Judaism) but if they continue to reject the Messiah’s blood atonement, in the end, they will end up taking the “Mark of the Beast” and they will not be counted as “Jews.” In Ezekiel 5:2 the prophecy states that “one third” of the inhabitants of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) will be saved but the other “two thirds” will perish.
In Revelation 2:9 & Revelation 3:9 our Messiah described those who would call themselves “Jews” but they are not, but they are of the “Synagogue of Satan.” They may be keeping Towrah outwardly or externally but if they do not have their hearts circumcised by the Holy Spirit and they are not cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, then they have rejected the “Living Towrah” which is Messiah himself. In 1st Kings 12, the Ten Northern Tribes of Yisra’el became known as “Gentiles” when they forsook the covenant and they began to worship other deities with pagan holidays under King Jeroboam. But many of them returned back to the covenant when they accepted the blood of Messiah as atonement for their sins and they are cleansed now from their idolatry. But you see those within Christianity who are still keeping pagan holidays and they are not keeping the Sabbaths and Feasts (a sign of the covenant) are still not obeying Towrah even though they profess to accept the blood of the Lamb for their sins.
If these Christians continue in paganism, they are inadvertently “trampling underfoot the grace of Elohiym” and they are crucifying to themselves the “Son of Elohiym” afresh (Hebrews 10:26-30). Both Houses of Yisra’el are rejecting the Blood of the Lamb in some form. The House of Ephrayim (symbolic of Christianity) is doing it inadvertently when they reject the written Towrah for they return back to the very sins that they were supposedly cleansed from. But the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) is rejecting the blood of the Lamb by their rejection of Messiah himself (the Living Towrah). Within both camps (Ephrayim & Judah) there is a partial rejection of the Messiah. Either they are rejecting his written Towrah or they are rejecting his “person” (his Spirit).
Yahuwshuwa himself commanded us to worship the Father “in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:24). The House of Yahuwdah (Judah) claim to follow the Towrah (the book of Truth) but often times they obey the traditions of men (Talmud) more than they do the Towrah.
Christianity claims to follow the “person” of Messiah himself (his Holy Spirit), but they reject his instructions (his Towrah). And so you have those who reject the Towrah (the book of Truth) and those who reject the Holy Spirit (the Messiah himself). But we need both the Holy Spirit & the Living Towrah!
Christianity claims to follow the “person” of Messiah himself (his Holy Spirit), but they reject his instructions (his Towrah). And so you have those who reject the Towrah (the book of Truth) and those who reject the Holy Spirit (the Messiah himself). But we need both the Holy Spirit & the Living Towrah!
Dual Covenant Theology
There is currently a false teaching going on today propagated by what is called “The Noahide Laws” within Judaism. The Vatican and other televangelists like John Hagee have also embraced this false doctrine. This theology states that “Jews do not need Jesus to be saved.” They claim that the Jews are already saved by keeping the Towrah and hence they do not need blood atonement. They also claim that Christians do need blood atonement for their sins and so because “they believe in Jesus” they do not need to obey the Mosaic Law (Towrah), for they can be saved by the blood of the lamb without obedience to Towrah. Those who promote “Dual Covenant Theology” claim that only the Ten Northern Tribes (returning Gentiles) need blood atonement seen in the story of the prodigal son. But the reality is, after the Roman Siege in 70 A.D. the House of Judah also became estranged and divorced (sent away) to the nations as well!
The prophet Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) was shown in chapter 24 that the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) would be carried away captive by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. But even after a remnant from the House of Judah returned back to the land of Jerusalem, many of them were taken captive by “Mystery Babylon Religion” (Rome)into Europe in 70 A.D., where the Roman Catholic Church influenced them once again into Babylonian ways. Listen to what the House of Judah said concerning Messiah:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 27:25-29“…..Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children…. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Yahuwdiy (Jews)!”
So you see the House of Judah (symbolized by the older son) also received his blood upon them which is a prophetic picture of the future when they will finally “look upon the one whom they pierced” (Zechariah 12:10).
Even though corporately speaking, it was Ephrayim (the ten lost tribes) who left the covenant (the Sabbaths and feasts), the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) must also follow the same pattern of admitting that they are like the prodigal son because they too have fallen just like Ephrayim. In the story of the prodigal son, the older son can typify both the House of Ephrayim on one level but it can also typify the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) on another level.
You see the Two Houses of Yisra’el have switched places over time. First it was Judah who was born to the older sister Leah (who also married Jacob first). But then, even though Joseph was born last to the younger sister who was married last (Rachel), Joseph received from his father Jacob “first born” status through his youngest son Ephrayim. And Joseph also received “an extra portion above his brothers” (the double portion).
But later on in history, in Jeremiah 3:8 and in 1st Kings 12, Ephrayim was sent away to the nations for his harlotry with idols. In Hosea 4:17 we read:
“Ephrayim is joined to idols: let him alone.”
When Messiah came the first time during his earthly ministry, he came for “the lost sheep of the House of Yisra’el,” (Matthew 15:24). In other words, he came for the Ten Northern Tribes of Ephrayim who were estranged from the covenant. At that time Judah, (the older brother) was still in covenant and YaHuWaH had not divorced them yet. The rebuke that Messiah had for the House of Judah is that they were supposed to be helping the lost sheep come back to the covenant but they were like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. They did not feel that the Heavenly Father should allow the other ten tribes to come back home since they had squandered their inheritance.
In Romans 7 & Colossians 2 The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) made a distinction between “the Law of Divorce” seen in Deuteronomy 24 (which the ten divorced tribes of Yisra’el were under) versus “the Law of the Spirit of Life” which is the Mosaic Law now transferred from stone tablets into “fleshy tables of the heart” (2nd Corinthians 3:3). The New Covenant is actually a “renewed marriage contract” (with the same Mosaic Law in it) only now it is sealed in Messiah’s blood and ratified by the deposit of the Holy Spirit!
After Messiah died on the tree outside of the camp as the Red Heifer (Numbers 19), he gave Ephrayim freedom from the Law of Divorce which kept him away and out of covenant!
You see according to Deuteronomy 24, once a man divorced his wife, and wrote her a certificate of divorce, she was free to remarry. But she could never go back to her first husband. Ten out of Twelve Tribes of Yisra’el were divorced with a handwriting of ordinances (the Law of Divorce) seen in Jeremiah 3:8. Then they went to the nations and remarried their Baalim (Ba’als and false deities). And then because of that handwriting contained in ordinances, the Jewish Rabbis invented man-made ordinances (which was against us) that would keep the divorced tribes (Gentiles) out of the Temple called “the middle wall of partition.” (Ephesians 2:14)
If any Gentile went beyond that wall they would be stoned to death! The Gentiles were then prevented from hearing the Law & Prophets preached and they could not receive blood atonement for their sins thereby allowing them to come back into covenant!
Yahuwshuwa Messiah came to set Ephrayim free from the Law of Divorce and the “doctrines and commandments of men” which were the Rabbinic Laws that kept them separated from Judah (the Jews). These man-made ordinances (dogma) prevented the Gentiles from coming to the temple where they could hear the Towrah, repent and be saved. But you see in Romans 7, the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) explained that once a woman’s husband was dead, she was free from “the law of her husband” (in other words the law in Deuteronomy 24 that said she could never return to him).
Yahuwshuwa Messiah therefore died in order to free the divorced tribes of Yisra’el from their divorce! They were NOT made free from the Mosaic Law! You see the Mosaic Law (Towrah) is their written marriage contract! Why would he set them free from their marriage covenant with him?
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Ruwth (Ruth) 1:16And Ruwth (Ruth) said, Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your Elohiym my Elohiym:
In the Towrah, the Yisra’elites were commanded not to marry from the Moabites, And yet Ruth “converted” and she joined the House of Judah! She did not join a religion called “Judaism” nor did she have any “Jewish” blood in her veins, and yet she went back to the land of “Judah” with Naomi which means that she “sojourned” with a Yahuwdiy (Jew)! She became a Jew when she traveled, sojourned with a Jew! It was only after Ruth converted or “crossed over” that she was able to marry Boaz from the tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah)! Boaz is a prophetic “type” of Messiah and Ruth is a “prophetic type” of the Gentiles who convert in the last days! In Revelation 14:4 there is a group of people called “The 144 Thousand” who are the bride and they “follow the lamb wherever he goes.” This bride follows the Messiah from the Tribe of Judah! She joins his tribe just like Ruth!
What happened to Ruth is also the same thing that is now happening on a much larger scale as we see that “ten men from the Gentile nations are grabbing the corners of the garment” or the “tziytzith” of a Yahuwdiy (Jew) as seen in Zechariah 8:23. This is a prophetic picture of the younger son typified in “Ten Tribe Ephrayim” grabbing onto the commandments of the older son from Yahuwdah (Judah)!
Often times in prophecy we can see multiple layers and fulfillments. In Matthew 13:25-30 our Messiah told a parable about “wheat & tares” symbolizing those have been converted into Yahuwdiy (Jews) ready to marry the bridegroom and those who are not converted. The tares look very much like the wheat and it is very difficult to tell them apart. We can see that there are those who thought they were wheat (true Jews)butthey have to come to terms with the fact that they are tares before they can be “reborn” and transformed into wheat.
The house of Yahuwdah (Judah) is embodied in Yahuwshuwa himself, not in a religion called Judaism. I am not saying that those within Rabbinic Judaism are not truly Jews. That is for the Heavenly Father to decide. I do not know who has the DNA of the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) but the Father in Heaven does, so it is not my place to make a determination as to who are the true Jews and who are not. But if those who say that they are Jews, never embrace the blood covenant of the Messiah Yahuwshuwa, they won’t come into their inheritance.
It is only by his blood that the House of Ephrayim will become one with the house of Yahuwdah (Judah)! There is no other way! He said “I am the way, the truth and the life, NO MAN (even Jews) can come to Father, but by me” Yahuwchanon (John) 14:6.
His blood is what accounts us all as “righteous” in the end. Only through Yahuwshuwa’s blood are we going to be counted as “Yahuwdah” (Judah).
His blood is what accounts us all as “righteous” in the end. Only through Yahuwshuwa’s blood are we going to be counted as “Yahuwdah” (Judah).
Why does the bride have to join the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) in order to marry the Messiah? As I illustrated earlier, the name YaHuWDaH (Judah) is the very same name as our Heavenly Father YaHuWaH with one extra letter added to it called “the dalet” which means “the door.” The dalet is the equivalent of the English letter “D” and it is the 4th letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. Yahuwshuwa said that he is “the door” that the sheep must enter in through in order to come to the Father. Hence, to have the name of the tribe of Yahuwdah means that you have the Father’s name plus the Messiah’s name (the door) or the dalet! In order to have the Father’s name written in your forehead, you must first acknowledge the son:
1st Yahuwchanon (John) 2:23Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Tziyown (Zion), and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads….These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins….These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Elohiym and to the Lamb.
*Note:This group of 144 thousand are said to have “his Father’s name.”Beloved, “he” is none other than Ephrayim! He is the one who is the multitude of nations in the last days called “the one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). But he is not being called Ephrayim any longer! He has a new name now because he has become “one stick” with the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) according to Ezekiel 37:16. And now he has the name of YaHuWaH which is his Father’s name, but he also has the name of the Son (the door, the dalet) and so he is now part of the tribe of YaHuWDaH!
In Ezekiel 47:22 any “stranger” who had been estranged from the covenant could “sojourn” with an Yisra’elite tribe and he would then become as “one born among” that tribe. This means that any Gentile who comes back into covenant and he “sojourns” or “abides with” the Messiah from the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) becomes a Yahuwdiy (Jew)!
The House of Ephrayim represents more than just the physical descendants of Yahuwceph (Joseph). Ephrayim is a metaphor of every human being who admits his fallen state and comes back to the Father repenting and when he does, he receives blood atonement.
Like the prodigal son who received the fatted calf when he came back home, this is the same condition of every person who admits he is a sinner.
Every human being must admit their sinful nature before they can achieve the status of “first born.” This must happen in the life of every person whether they are a “Jew” (Yahuwdiy) or a Gentile. We must first “descend” (be humbled) just as Yahuwshuwa descended (before ascending back to the Father). The Hebrew word for Jordan River is “Yarden” and it means “descender.” When our Messiah was immersed (baptized) in the Yarden (Jordan) he “descended” as a symbol of death to the old man (Romans 6:4). But when he came up out of the water, that is a symbol of his resurrection and “ascension” back to the Father in Heaven.
Every human being must admit their sinful nature before they can achieve the status of “first born.” This must happen in the life of every person whether they are a “Jew” (Yahuwdiy) or a Gentile. We must first “descend” (be humbled) just as Yahuwshuwa descended (before ascending back to the Father). The Hebrew word for Jordan River is “Yarden” and it means “descender.” When our Messiah was immersed (baptized) in the Yarden (Jordan) he “descended” as a symbol of death to the old man (Romans 6:4). But when he came up out of the water, that is a symbol of his resurrection and “ascension” back to the Father in Heaven.
Ya’aqob (Jacob)’s name means “supplanter” and he also descended into deception when he supplanted his brother Esau’s inheritance. But when he repented for deceiving his Father Yitzchaq (Isaac), then he was “transformed” into one who “prevails” and he became Yisra’el.
Once we are humbled and broken over our fallen nature, we can come back up to the first born status as Ephrayim did!
In the end, Ephrayim (on a corporate level) will join the stick of Yahuwdah (Judah) and they shall become ONE in Messiah, ONE HOUSE under Yahuwdah (Judah), embodied in Yahuwshuwa himself.
There is no difference in the Father’s eyes with regard to the sinful heart of man.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
YaHuWaH desires to see both houses of Yisra’el (Jew & Gentile) come together as ONE NEW MAN (Ephesians 2:12-15). Yahuwshuwa has abolished in his flesh the “enmity” of the sinful human nature which keeps Yahuwdah (Judah) & Ephrayim divided to this day.
The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) declared in Galatians 3:28 “there is neither Yahuwdiy (Jew) nor Gentile (Greek) for we are ONE in Yahuwshuwa Messiah.”
Ephrayim represents every human being (Jew or Gentile) who has departed from Towrah (the Father’s instructions) and he must repent and come back into his identity with the Father again. But Yahuwdah (Judah) represents every human being (Jew or Gentile) who becomes “born-again,” and he recognizes his inheritance, but then he begins to depend on his own human efforts instead of the blood atonement of Messiah. And because of his dependence on his own human efforts, he forgets that the source of his salvation comes from the Father and not by his own merit. When this happens, Judah represents every human being who must be humbled and realize that at any moment he too is able to fall just like Ephrayim.
This principle is seen over and over again in scripture, because pride goes before a fall. When we think we are better than others because of our own self-righteousness, then we are shown to be just as “fallen” as the prodigal son.
There is no difference in the Father’s eyes with regard to the sinful heart of man.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
YaHuWaH desires to see both houses of Yisra’el (Jew & Gentile) come together as ONE NEW MAN (Ephesians 2:12-15). Yahuwshuwa has abolished in his flesh the “enmity” of the sinful human nature which keeps Yahuwdah (Judah) & Ephrayim divided to this day.
The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) declared in Galatians 3:28 “there is neither Yahuwdiy (Jew) nor Gentile (Greek) for we are ONE in Yahuwshuwa Messiah.”
Ephrayim represents every human being (Jew or Gentile) who has departed from Towrah (the Father’s instructions) and he must repent and come back into his identity with the Father again. But Yahuwdah (Judah) represents every human being (Jew or Gentile) who becomes “born-again,” and he recognizes his inheritance, but then he begins to depend on his own human efforts instead of the blood atonement of Messiah. And because of his dependence on his own human efforts, he forgets that the source of his salvation comes from the Father and not by his own merit. When this happens, Judah represents every human being who must be humbled and realize that at any moment he too is able to fall just like Ephrayim.
This principle is seen over and over again in scripture, because pride goes before a fall. When we think we are better than others because of our own self-righteousness, then we are shown to be just as “fallen” as the prodigal son.
Luqas (Luke) 18:
9 And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohiym, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote (beat) upon his breast, saying, Elohiym be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
In the illustration above, the Pharisee trusted in his own righteousness by Towrah obedience. But the Publican admitted his fallen state and his prayer was accepted. This is the principle seen with Ephrayim & Yahuwdah (Judah). Ephrayim is like the Publican (tax collector) who received mercy when he repented. But Yahuwdah (Judah) represents the Pharisee who trusted in his own righteousness and he soon forgets that he too was born with a sinful nature.
Every human being must see his fallen state before he can come back up to the status of the “firstborn.”
The first becomes the last and the last becomes the first.
Marqos (Mark) 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Marqos (Mark) 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
And it is this very principle that causes Ephrayim to receive the status of “firstborn.” Ephrayim did nothing to earn his first-born status. He was helpless to receive this title. The Father simply “chose” Ephrayim because he has mercy on whom he will have mercy (Romans 9:15-18).
Over and over again we see this principle of the first becoming the last, and the last becoming the first. This is a “kingdom” principle. The first born son often becomes the last, and the last son becomes the first. We see it with King Dawiyd (David) who was the youngest and he was chosen as King. We see it with Yahuwceph (Joseph) who was the youngest and outcast who later became a King as well. We see it also with Ya’aqob (Jacob) & Esau, Manasseh & Ephrayim etc.
Regardless of whether you were born with Yisra’elite DNA, or if you were born as a Gentile, every human being must become as the “least” before he can come back up to status of the “firstborn.” In other words, we must be born-again!
Over and over again we see this principle of the first becoming the last, and the last becoming the first. This is a “kingdom” principle. The first born son often becomes the last, and the last son becomes the first. We see it with King Dawiyd (David) who was the youngest and he was chosen as King. We see it with Yahuwceph (Joseph) who was the youngest and outcast who later became a King as well. We see it also with Ya’aqob (Jacob) & Esau, Manasseh & Ephrayim etc.
Regardless of whether you were born with Yisra’elite DNA, or if you were born as a Gentile, every human being must become as the “least” before he can come back up to status of the “firstborn.” In other words, we must be born-again!
3 Yahuwshuwa answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohiym.
4 Nicodemus says unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Yahuwshuwa answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohiym.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.
A seed must first fall to the ground and die before it can begin to produce fruit. A caterpillar must go into the cocoon and “die to the old nature” before he can be “born-anew” as a butterfly!
In the story of the prodigal son, on a corporate level, the older brother is Yahuwdah (Judah) and the younger brother is Ephrayim at the time of Messiah’s first coming. But in these last days, the tables are turning!
Back when Messiah was here, the House of Judah was behaving as if they were superior like the older brother. They were not willing to welcome back the lost sinners symbolized by the younger brother. But today I see born-again Christians acting superior because they think that they are better than Judah now that they have obtained salvation.
Many Christians are now behaving like the older brother because they have received the “born-again” experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit while many Jews have not accepted the blood atonement of Messiah yet, so now the House of Judah are more like the younger lost brother.
On an individual level, in the kingdom of heaven, we have to die if we want to gain eternal life. We have to go low if we want to come up higher. We have to humble ourselves before we are exalted. We have to become the least before we can become great in the kingdom. We have to admit our fallen state before we can repent and become a “new creature.”
In the end, we see that there truly is no difference in the Father’s eyes between Yahuwdiy (Jews) and Ephrayim (former Gentiles). Both houses of Yisra’el have been estranged from the Father because of the sinful fallen nature. But both houses must accept the status of the “least” before they can come back up to the status of the firstborn!