Shalom All:
I recently received the following letter and now feel led to post it and my response to it. Forgive me the length of this post, but the subject matter is troubling.

The title of the letter I received was "Warning: Deception."

Dear Batya,
Let me tell you of a special time in my journey.

About 10 years ago Ephesians 3:6 through 10 really spoke to me.

I had always thought there was the Jew and separately the Christian gentile church. [Not replacement theology that the church had replaced Israel- I just thought they were separate]

The Ephesians reading show this has been a mystery kept hidden until that time and its taken me another 2000 years to unravel it: namely that the 'body' [the church with Yeshua as head] was the Jew and gentile reconciled through Yeshua.

Since that time I have sought to know Israelis, to understand the Jewish culture of today, to bless them, to honour them as the olive tree and we the graft , to understand the feasts etc. To show my love of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so they would become jealous and stirred.

But I will always be a gentile and that is my role.

The scriptures are very clear to me and YHVH's role for the chosen nation was (and still is) for them to reveal who YHVH is to the nations.

In all the books and articles that many have supplied including your online teachings, none can convince me other than that you are in error and have to distort the scriptures to concur with your theory.

God is not an elitist God.

He does not want anyone to perish.

In the Love of Yeshua may I plead with you to reconsider your stance (hypothesis-theory).

Shalom,
Wilton

I titled my response to this gentleman as:

Warning Deception - As Taught By Some in Messianic Judaism

Dear Wilton,
I will open with your close: "In the Love of Yeshua may I plead with you to reconsider your stance (hypothesis-theory)."

Whether you realize it or not, you appear to belong to a group who will probably be held guilty of turning many away from the Messiah.

Please allow me to explain myself, and to answer your letter.

First, I feel you came to me in peace, and in turn, I come to you in peace.

Please know that I can accept your belief that you are a former Gentile, meaning someone who is completely unrelated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that, as a follower of the Messiah of Israel, you are now part of Israel's commonwealth, as per Ephesians 2:11-22.

The problem is that you do not seem to have room in your heart to accept that some of us, and I count myself as one, believe we are biological heirs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We cannot prove it and do not try to do so, but even as we cannot prove we are born anew of the Spirit, so we believe we are actual heirs as well as heirs in the spirit.

Even Dan Juster [former President, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations] agreed with me in writing that I have, from Scripture, "proven there are Ephraimites in the Church." Beyond their unknown number, surely there are many descendants of former Jewish converts to be found in the Church. In addition, the whole Early Church was Jewish, so what about their children? Where are they today? Could you even be one of them?

Messianic Judaism teaches that the Early Believers were in essence cut off from being part of the people of Israel because they "did not maintain a Jewish identity." But they could not do that and follow the Messiah. They were thrown out of the synagogues for faith in Him. Every day a curse was pronounced in the synagogues over them and their children.

It makes no sense to say these people were no longer of Israel, because Israel was commanded to listen to the "One likened unto Moses," who is Yeshua (Deu 18:18-19). Therefore, to say the Jews who followed the Messiah of Israel were cut off from being Israel, but those who denied Him continued to be of Israel, flies in the face of Scripture. Paul said those who did not believe in the Root of the Olive Tree, Yeshua (Rev 22:16), were "broken off for unbelief" (Rom 11:20).

The fact is, on a biological level, Israelites are forever Israelites, because there is nothing that you can believe or not believe that will change the facts of who your grandfathers are. Both the first century Israelites who followed the Messiah and those who did not continued to be biological heirs of their forefathers.

Beyond this simple point, what is wrong with accepting that Scripture indicates that there are an unknown number of physical Israelites in the Church? After all, Abraham was promised literal myriads of heirs from his own loins. Moreover, the promise that he would have descendants that numbered like the stars was passed on to his children, specifically via Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and then Ephraim (Gen 15:4-5; 17:4; 26:4; 24:60; 28:3,14; 48:4,16,19.).

I agree with you that "the 'body' [the church with Yeshua as head] was the Jew and gentile reconciled through Yeshua." However, my question is: what is the actual lineage of these Gentiles? Could they number among the myriads of heirs promised to the patriarchs? Could they be those who were to be scattered among every nation, with the promise that their heirs would be re-gathered and become sons of the Living God (Hos 1:10: Rom 9:26)?

Probably so. But does this mean there are no unrelated Gentiles to be found among these regathered Israelites? No! Sarah and Eliezer were not descendants of Abraham and yet surely are heirs in the Eternal Kingdom.

Moreover, a mixed multitude came out of Egypt with the children of Israel, and they became one with her. There was no "Gentile Encampment" in the Wilderness. They instead became part of the tribes. Even today the God of Israel is still saying, "Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to YHVH say, "YHVH will surely separate me from His people"(Isa 56:3).

You seem to think that because we believe Israel is most likely comprised of a majority of Israelites, we exclude some. But if our very premise is that genealogy is an unknown factor, how can it be construed that we would exclude anyone? If we believe we cannot know for certain who is or is not of Israel, how on earth can we be guilty of exclusion? Moreover, we believe unrelated Gentiles who are "brought nigh," such as yourself, become part of Israel's commonwealth. So again, how can we be accused of excluding anyone?

This makes no sense, and it is hard to believe how many in Messianic Judaism are being fed this malicious lie. But let me warn you: Beware the one who began spreading this untruth, because he has been warned time and again that it is not true, yet will not cease and desist maligning us (We Declare These Truths To Be Self-Evident). Surely the Holy One of Israel will hold him accountable for his sin if he does not come to a place of repentance.

The Olive Tree:

When Israel was first called an olive tree, Jeremiah was speaking to "the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (vs 11:10,16). There were "two branches" in that tree, and when those of the Northern Kingdom of Israel became degenerate and wild, they were scattered among every nation - with the promise that they would one day be returned to the very place from which they were scattered(Jer 2:18,21, Hos 1-2; 8:8; Amos 9:9).

I agree with you that YHVH's role for the chosen nation was (and still is) for them to reveal who YHVH is to the nations. Even so, Peter long-ago addressed the aliens who were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, and who obeyed Jesus Christ, and were sprinkled with His blood. Peter said to these Believers (and to us), "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet 1:2;2:9).

Those who followed the Messiah have been working to reveal Him to be the Christed One for almost 2000 years. While Christianity has surely made mistakes in her declarations, nonetheless, it was not the Jewish people whom the Almighty used to make that declaration. Therefore, if the Messianic Jews of our day could come to a place where they could learn of Him, and begin to contribute to the cause, teaching that His Name is Yeshua, and that He kept the Feasts and the Law, it is only because for centuries, Christianity had been declaring His praises in every nation, and even keeping alive Israel's Olive Tree, if you will.

To teach this truth is not "Replacement Theology." For our God is not through with the Jew, but, to teach that He is essentially "through with the Gentile," that is "Replacement Theology." Both houses stand guilty and need to repent of this sin. Yet, we recognize that, in spite of the fact that they have stumbled over the Sanctuary, the Messiah, YHVH has used "both the houses of Israel"(Isa 8:14; John 2:19-22; Rom 11:25).

Who is in Error?

You tell me that we are in error, and distort the Scriptures. Then you declare that "God is not an elitist God." Yet, you and many in Messianic Judaism preach a false gospel of elitism. You errantly teach that the Jewish people alone are the "chosen" people and neglect the truth that the Born-again Believers are just as chosen. You seem to completely dismiss the work the Father did through them (such as tell the world of His New Covenant), and that makes you and your associates guilty of the very things of which you falsely accuse us.

The unbalanced doctrine you associate yourself with is invariably based on some abstract idea of biology, and you condemn people like me who expose the faults in your conclusions. More importantly, because of this lop-sided teaching, because much of Messianic Judaism has grown into a "Jewish is Better" Religion, many are defecting from Messiah and converting to Judaism.

We have been warning of this problem for years and even reproduced an article by a Jewish Magazine that speaks of them having more than 200,000 Christian converts, thanks to Messianic Judaism. See "The Other Side of Evangelism" by Ronda Robinson.

I agree that our God does not wish that any should perish, even though many will choose a path of destruction for themselves. And, because I do not wish to see any more of this spiritual hemorrhaging in the Messianic movement, and for the love of Messiah Yeshua, I cannot reconsider my stance. I do not need to reconsider it, because the Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is full of the truth about the last-days restoration of Ephraim and Judah.

I close with a quote from my new book, Redeemed Israel, Reunited and Retored (footnotes will not come through):

A Cleansed, Whole Israel

We are told that in that day, "The sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be YHVH their God that they seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to YHVH in an everlasting covenant." "At that time...search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found" (Jeremiah 50:4-5,20).

Forgetting the Ark and the Exodus

Those once called "faithless Israel and treacherous Judah" will yet return to Zion. For YHVH has sworn:

I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. And... when you are multiplied in the Land...they shall say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of YHVH.' It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they miss it, nor shall it be made again. At that time they shall call Jerusalem, the Throne of YHVH...[and] will not walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north (Jeremiah 3:14-18).

Days are coming...when it will no longer be said, 'As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but, 'As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and all the countries where He had banished them.' For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers (Jeremiah 16:11-16).

The Holy One will yet save the house of Judah and the house of Israel from the east and the west. He will return to Zion and thereafter Judah and Ephraim will call Zion "The City of Truth" (Zechariah 8:3,7,13).

A Pure Israel

Finally, we look to Ezekiel's description of reunited Israel:

Take one stick for Judah, then take another stick for Ephraim," for thus says YHVH Elohim of Israel, "I will make them one stick in My hand. And, I will make them one nation in the land. One king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions...I will be their God and they shall be My people...and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in my ordinances...And they shall live on the land I gave to Jacob...forever...and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forever (Ezekiel 37:22-26).

Not Yet Reunited

Judah and Ephraim have not yet been reunited:

• After Judah's partial return from Babylon, they left the Land again.
• Once YHVH reunites the two houses, they will live on the Land forever. They will no longer give away portions of the Promised Land for peace.
• Scripture describes a reunited Israel that does not even remember the Ark. Instead, they remember their Deliverer in terms of a glorious Exodus yet to come. Until we see a people who exhibit those characteristics, Israel's reunion is not yet fully manifested.
• Ephraim and Judah have yet to experience the complete destruction of their enemies, the Philistines and Babylon.
• Once YHVH reunites Israel, they do not defile them-selves with any of their transgressions, that means, no iniquity in Israel, no sin in Judah:

  "This will be the full price of the pardoning of [Jacob's] sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; when Asherim and incense altars will not stand" (Isaiah 27:9). Neither Christianity nor Judaism presently qualifies as Ezekiel's fully reunited house.

• When YHVH reunites all Israel, they will have one King. Since He is the last King the world will have, He is none other than the King of Kings and LORD of Lords. He is Yeshua, the Shepherd King of Israel.

Never since their scattering have Judah and Ephraim fulfilled these Scriptures. Since their dispersion, the two houses have not been one nation in the land with control over all their inheritance. Nor have they had a Davidic king over them. Nor have they become a people who do not defile themselves with any of their sins and transgressions. Fulfillment of these prophecies demands that no iniquity, no manifested sin, be found either house. These verses speak of a united, pure, righteous, and holy Israel.

They speak of a future time when Yeshua will reign as King over the City of Truth. Until that happens, the Father is still dealing with both Judah and Ephraim.

Wilton, you appealed to me in the love of Yeshua, and in that same love I now ask you to forgive me if any of my words seem harsh. Please understand that I am concerned for the many who are denying the veracity of the New Covenant, and even the Messiah. And frankly, I feel the blame for much of it will ultimately be laid at the feet of the false teachings of Messianic Judaism. However, because we both seek peace, I ask that there might be peace between us, and that you would please join me in the following prayer:

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we want to follow You and You alone. We do not want to be deceived by any man and therefore ask that You have Your way in this communication between us. If any words on these pages are of You, may they take deep root and bear much fruit in our lives. On the other hand, if any words on these pages are not of You, but are the vain words of man, we ask that we might be able to see them through Your eyes. We each pray now for the other and commend the other into Your hands.

In the mighty Name of Messiah Yeshua, we pray.

Amen and Amen.

Shalom b'Yeshua,
Batya (and Angus) Wootten