"Nations, listen to Me and proclaim My words on the far-off shores. I scattered My people, but I will gather them and guard them as a shepherd guards his flock…. I, the LORD, have spoken."— Jeremiah 31:10, 14
What happened to the "Lost Ten Tribes" of Israel? Could the answer unlock the meaning of end-time Bible prophecy?
What, or WHO, was really behind the rise of Britain and America to the very pinnacle of national wealth and power? Many world leaders have stood in awe of the economic and military power which the Anglo-Americans have wielded during the 19th and 20th centuries.
"I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the Earth who had a special love of faith and freedom."— President Ronald Reagan, 1982
President Harry S. Truman once said, "I do not think that anyone can study the history of this nation of ours without becoming convinced that divine providence has played a part in it. I have the feeling that God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose!"
The Puritan founders literally "discovered America in the Bible." They believed that, like Israel of old, they had been singled out by God to be an example for the nations.
Understanding God's dual promises of national greatness and spiritual salvation
God chose a man named Abram (later renamed Abraham) to form a new nation through which He would preserve true religion and carry out certain aspects of His divine plan.
"Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation…. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
— Genesis 12:1-3"I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you."
Genesis 17:6"Your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies" — vital sea and land passages controlling trade and military movement.
Genesis 22:17"I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore."
Genesis 22:17When Abraham proved his total obedience to God, the Lord rewarded him by making the conditional promises unconditional: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD…" (Genesis 22:16). God had now bound Himself — it would happen no matter what!
Understanding the division of promises between Joseph and Judah
Through Ephraim & Manasseh
Becoming many nations with vast wealth
Best agricultural lands and resources
Dominance over enemies
"The birthright was Joseph's" — 1 Chronicles 5:2
The Jewish People
The kingly line of David
Jesus Christ came through Judah
"Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22)
"The scepter shall not depart from Judah" — Genesis 49:10
Jews are only ONE tribe of Israel. There are 11 other tribes besides them. When the Bible speaks of "Israel" in prophecy — especially the birthright blessings — it primarily refers to the descendants of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), NOT the Jews. This is an extremely important key to understanding end-time prophecy!
The pivotal blessing that divided the birthright between two brothers
Joseph, now ruler of Egypt, had two sons: Manasseh (the firstborn) and Ephraim (the younger). Jacob adopted them as his own to pass on the birthright.
Joseph positioned Manasseh toward Jacob's right hand (the greater position) and Ephraim toward his left hand (the lesser position).
Jacob intentionally crossed his arms, placing his right hand on Ephraim's head and his left on Manasseh's — reversing the expected order "knowingly."
"He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
The Great Single Nation
"He shall become a people [nation], and he also shall be great"
The United States of America
The Company of Nations
"His descendants shall become a multitude [group] of nations"
Great Britain & Commonwealth
What happened to the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?
After King Solomon's death, Israel divided into two separate kingdoms due to heavy taxation and oppression:
Ten tribes under Jeroboam, capital: Samaria
Judah & Benjamin under Rehoboam, capital: Jerusalem
The first biblical mention of "Jews" (2 Kings 16:6) shows them at war AGAINST Israel! This proves Jews and Israelites are not synonymous terms.
Tiglath-Pileser III deported Israelites from Galilee, the Plain of Sharon, and all territories east of the Jordan.
The Assyrians besieged Samaria for three years, then carried the remaining Israelites to Assyria. The Northern Kingdom ceased to exist.
Only the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the Temple.
Writing in 98 AD: "The ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers."
The Ten Tribes never returned to the Holy Land. They migrated elsewhere and became known as the "Lost Tribes."
Scripture provides geographic clues pointing to the lost tribes' location
"Go and proclaim these words toward the north" — Jeremiah 3:12
"His sons shall come trembling from the west" — Hosea 11:10
"Declare it in the isles afar off" — Jeremiah 31:10
"The place is too small for me" — Isaiah 49:20
If we extend a line due northwest of Jerusalem, it crosses the European continent, comes to the sea, and then reaches "the isles afar off"...
The British Isles!
And from there, the colonization of nations around the world
"The Ten Tribes are certainly in existence. All that has to be done is to discover which people represent them!"— The Jewish Chronicle, May 2, 1897
The remarkable fulfillment of ancient promises in modern history
The Greatest Empire in History
13.9M
Square Miles (1933)
493M
Population (1/4 of Earth)
Over 5 times the size of the Roman Empire! "The sun never sets on the British Empire" — a company of nations spanning the globe, fulfilling Jacob's prophecy that Ephraim would become "a multitude of nations."
The Great Single Nation
Louisiana Purchase (1803): 500+ million acres for just $15 million
Alaska Purchase (1867): Vast mineral wealth for only $7.2 million
Post-WWII: World's greatest superpower with unmatched prosperity
"Never in history had any nation acquired so much land so cheaply!"
British Commonwealth nations
"Branches run over the wall"
Gibraltar, Suez, Panama, etc.
"Breadbasket of the World"
"Like a lion among beasts"
Foreign aid, Bible distribution
The sobering warnings for our nations' future
"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven... But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined... that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own."— President Abraham Lincoln, 1863
"I will break the pride of your power"
Leviticus 26:19"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities"
Amos 3:2God believes in accountability. Because our nations have been given so much, more is expected of us. Our continued disobedience will bring severe consequences.
A time of unprecedented suffering prophesied for our nations
"Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble"
Jeremiah 30:7"There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation"
Daniel 12:1"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world"
Matthew 24:21Will die from pestilence and famine
Ezekiel 5:12Will fall by warfare
Ezekiel 5:12Will be scattered into captivity
Ezekiel 5:12Of those taken captive, only a remnant — perhaps one-tenth — will survive. This parallels the horrors experienced by Jews in World War II, but on an even greater scale.
Prophecy reveals that a German-led European superpower (the "Beast" of Revelation) will conquer the Anglo-American nations. This echoes the ancient Assyrian captivity — as the modern Assyrians are identified as the German-speaking peoples of Central Europe.
"Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger... I will send him against an ungodly nation"
Isaiah 10:5-6A Revived "Holy Roman Empire"
Ten-nation European power bloc
God's ultimate plan for Israel's redemption and restoration
After experiencing terrible tribulation, our people will finally come to their senses and cry out to God:
"Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up."
Hosea 6:1God will gather the remnant of Israel from all nations and bring them back to the Promised Land:
"The LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people... from the four corners of the earth"
Isaiah 11:11-12When the Jews and other Europeans finally learn their true identities, they will recognize the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples as their long-lost brother Joseph. With great tears of joy, they will again shout: "Joseph is alive!"
"I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim... and I will join them with... the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand"
Ezekiel 37:19God will make a perpetual covenant with both Israel and Judah, writing His law in their hearts. With His Spirit in them, Israel will finally succeed where they previously failed — becoming the model nation God always intended.
"I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people... I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Jeremiah 31:33-34Understanding that God is not racist and loves all nations
Israel was chosen not because of any racial superiority, but to fulfill a unique role as an example to all nations. God loves ALL humanity equally.
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him"
Acts 10:34-35Gentiles who accept God are spiritually "grafted" into Israel, becoming partakers of all the promises made to Abraham.
"If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"
Galatians 3:29No true Christian should believe in racism, "white supremacy," or anti-Semitism in any form.
This study does not support various erroneous views associated with traditional "Anglo-Israelism."
"Chosen" means chosen for service and responsibility — never for favoritism.
The Jewish people are true descendants of the tribe of Judah — our kinsmen and brothers.
You have stumbled across an important truth concerning what happened to the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Will you ignore it?
Though our nations as a whole may not repent until they are humbled by coming events, Jesus Christ promises to provide a shelter from the coming storm for individuals who believe and live by the Word of God — whether Israelite or Gentile!
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man"
— Luke 21:36Seek understanding of prophecy and God's plan
Turn from sin and seek God's forgiveness
Be spiritually ready for what is coming
Quick navigation through this study
The Identity Question
The Dual Promises
Joseph & Judah
Ephraim & Manasseh
Where Did They Go?
Britain & America
What's Coming
The Good News
God's Universal Love
Based on the book by
Mike Exton
www.TheBibleComesAlive.com