Were the Ten Tribes

of Israel Really Lost?

Ezekiel 37:15-28

The Opinion of ManyHurlbut’s Story of the Bible:

“As in their own land, the children of Israel had forsaken the Lord and had worshiped idols, so after they were taken to these distant lands, they sought the gods of the people of those lands and ceased to be Israelites; and after a time they lost all knowledge of their own God, who had given them his words and sent them his prophets. So there came an end to the Ten Tribes of Israel, for they never again came back to their own land, and were lost among the peoples of the far east.”

10 Northern Tri

bes

Into Assyria

722BC

Amos 9.14-15

Establishment of current nation of Israel is supposed to encourage the fulfillment of these “unfulfilled” prophecies

Judah & Israel Return to Canaan

• Judah did NOT return alone– 1 Chronicles 9:1-3 roll includes some

from Ephraim and Manasseh– Ezra 8.24-25 twelve priests carried

tribute from ALL Israel– Ezra 8.35 12 bulls offered for ALL Israel– Dealing with foreign wives problem

• Ezra 10.9-10 Benjamin guilty• Ezra 10.18-19 Levites included• Ezra 10.25 included those of Israel

Jerem

iah

3.18

Objections to Jeremiah 3.18• Referring to time of Christ???– Even so, both halves return–Many OT prophecies have a double

fulfillment – Example Psalm 22 and David– Ezekiel 34.11-13 - Speaking of

immediate physical return and more distant spiritual event• God will gather His people from captivity• Ezekiel 34.23 prophecy of Jesus, the Shepherd

More Evidence from Old Testament

• Ezekiel 37.15-21 – refers to God joining the divided nation into one people– Yet Ezekiel 37.22-24 obviously refers to

the kingdom of Christ• Also consider Ezekiel 39.21-23 God

proves His power not only by sending Israel into exile, BUT ALSO RETURNING them to their land.– If not returned, nothing proven!

Evidence from the New Testament

• Luke 2.36-37 – Anna the prophetess from tribe of Asher

• Luke 22.30 Jesus spoke of apostles judging 12 tribes of Israel – symbolic, but all twelve tribes still known

• Acts 26.7 – Paul said the Twelve Tribes were serving God night and day

Ten Tribes NOT Lost• We are not waiting for God to return

them• They didn’t wander off to the “New

World”• God kept His word and restored them

to their land• God ALWAYS keeps His promises – 2

Peter 3.3-14