gbausc Wrote:Shlama Akhi Rob,
I believe in the eventual gathering of all Gentiles and all Jews to The Messiah.
Is that essentially what you mean by the restoration of all things and the two houses of Israel ?
Blessings in Him,
Dave
Hi Dave, I think you were addressing your question to me and not to Rob.
I believe that the Scriptures teach that once you come to faith in Messiah, you are no longer considered a "gentile." My understanding in the New Covenant Scriptures of this concept is from Ephesians 2: 11-12 and that section of Scripture. In this passage, those coming to faith from the nations become part of the commonwealth or polity of Israel. People are no longer aliens when they come to Messiah.
Another familiar example of this is Ruth, who was born a Moabitess, becomes part of Israel when she makes her confession of faith.
But to specifically point to your question, the Prophets (particularly Amos and Hoshea) tell us that the northern kingdom would be scattered to the nations, forget the Torah (it becomes a "strange thing" to them, Hoshea 8: 12), and become as "gentiles" (Hoshea 8: <!-- s8) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" /><!-- s8) -->. This is exactly what the Patriarch Ya'akov prophecied in Genesis 48:19, which states: "
But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." The Hebrew for fullness or multitude of nations is
melo ha goyim . Now check Romans 11: 25. The phrase
MuOLo;oA D'EaM_MeA means the same thing. The verse which follows tells us that then all Israel will live or be saved.
Certainly a key part of bringing the gospel of Messiah to the nations is to regather the northern tribes of Israel back to their Maker in answer to the prophecies that say that Israel/Joseph/Ephraim (the northern kingdom) would be gathered together with Judah (as in Ezekiel 37). It seems to me that this event is completed upon the coming to fullness of the future Covenant of Peace (Isaiah 54: 10, Ezekiel 34: 25 and 37: 26).
Blessings and Peace,
Wayne