BLOG

Judah and Joseph: Part 3

Jesus is the rightful Heir of the scepter that was given to Judah as well as the birthright that was given to Joseph (1 Chron. 5:;1, 2). His arrival on the scene 2,000 years ago might have united the two in one Head, had not the Kingdom been divided after Solomon's death. But the Kingdom did divide, and so the scepter resided in Judah, while the birthright remained with the sons of Joseph in Israel.

This made it necessary that Jesus would have to come TWICE; first of the lineage of the kings of Judah to inherit the scepter; and secondly of Joseph to inherit the birthright.

In both cases His right was challenged. In His first appearance, the religious/political leaders recognized that He was the Messiah, but said among themselves (Matt. 21:38): "This is the Heir; come, let us kill him, and seize on his inheritance."

They disagreed with Him and were especially angered because He did not fit their profile of a great general who would set them free from Roman domination. He could certainly do miracles, but showed no inclination to use His power against the Romans. Instead, He was a Prince of Peace, and He submitted to the yoke of Rome (the 4th kingdom of Daniel 2 and 7), knowing that the time of release was not yet upon Him.

Secondly, the religious leaders were alarmed, because they knew that if they allowed the people to proclaim Him as Messiah, they themselves would lose their cushy jobs. His disciples would form His cabinet, and they would lose power. And so they fooled most of the people into rejecting Him.

The drama of the New Testament was all prophesied in the story of King David a thousand years earlier in the story of Absalom's revolt. The story is told in 2 Sam. 15-18. Absalom's conspiracy was formed in the city of Hebron, formerly called Kiryath Arba (Josh. 14:15). He had the help of David's counsellor and friend, Ahithophel (2 Sam. 15:12), who was also Bathsheba's grandfather.

Ahithophel betrayed David, who wrote about this betrayal many times in the Psalms, particularly Psalm 41:9,

"Yea, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."

This is quoted in John 13:18 and applied to Judas, Jesus' friend who betrayed Him. Judas was called "Iscariot," the Greek form of the Hebrew, Ish-Kerioth, "man of Keryath-arba," or Hebron. Hebron means "friendship," and Jesus called Judas "friend" in Matt. 26:50.

Thus, the stage was set for the drama of Absalom's revolution to be played out in the New Testament. Jesus played the role of David. Judas played the role of Ahithophel. The religious leaders played the role of Absalom. And the people played the role of opposing armies, depending on who they followed.

When Absalom revolted, David did not fight back, but allowed him to take the throne. Jesus did the same, even when Peter wanted to fight (Matt. 26:51). David left Jerusalem, walking barefoot and weeping to the top [Heb. rosh, "head or skull"] of the Mount of Olives, where he made a sacrifice (2 Sam. 15:30-32). Jesus did the same, giving Himself as a Sacrifice on Golgotha, "the place of the skull."

Ahithophel eventually hanged himself (2 Sam. 17:23), as did Judas (Matt. 27:5).

Absalom was allowed to rule Jerusalem for a time, but David staged a "second coming," and Absalom, caught up in his own pride (hair), was killed (2 Sam. 18:14). This speaks of the second coming of Christ, when those who usurped the Messiah's scepter will be destroyed.

In the story of Absalom's revolt, there is no indication of repentance on his part. If he had repented, David would have gladly forgiven him. Even so, at the present time, as we come near to the time of the Messiah's second coming, there is no indication that the Zionists are ready to return the scepter to Him. There is no doubt in my mind that the story of Absalom prophesies the destruction of the Israeli forces at some point in time. That time may be fast approaching.

In the past century, the biblical struggle has not been over the scepter, but over the birthright of Joseph. That usurpation occurred in 1948 when the new Zionist nation took upon itself the birthright name, Israel, which had been given to the sons of Joseph. The Jews had no right to take that name, although, as I have said, God allowed this to happen to appease Esau-Edom, whose descendants are among them.

Since 1948 both the scepter and the birthright have been usurped from the rightful Heir and His sons--the Sons of God. I do not know when this situation will be reversed, but it is clear to me that the Zionists will not give up either the scepter or the birthright without a fight to the death. They cannot win, nor can we lose this battle, as long as we know the laws of spiritual warfare, realizing that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4).

This New Gideon's Army is not called to do any military action in the flesh, nor to harbor any ill will, or grudges. We are to have David's attitude toward Absalom and mourn over him (2 Sam. 18:33). And yet at the same time, we must know that we are part of an army that opposes those who have usurped the throne of the world and the birthright of Jesus Christ. The usurpers have caused a great deal of injustice, murder, and theft. They have blamed their troubles on those who have refused to submit to the theft of their land and the murder of their children.

The only ones who really agree with the Israeli government are those who believe that the Jews are Israel. The entire Middle East problem really boils down to that single religious belief. Since non-Christians have little motivation to consider the Jews to be Israelites (other than Jews themselves), it is only because of America's strong Christian voting population that the usurpers have been able to keep the scepter and the birthright for so long. Hence it is said, "America is the only true friend Israel has."

But the friendship is based upon a lie. Lies are always exposed in the end. Absalom will be overthrown. The modern Judases will again hang themselves by their own ropes (lies). And then will Jesus' parable in Luke 19 be fulfilled, not because I said it, nor because I want it, but simply because it is written.

¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman [Jesus] went into a far country [ascended to heaven] to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return.

¹⁴ But His citizens [Jews] hated Him, and sent a message [prayer] after Him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

The parable includes the various rewards given to the believers, His supporters in this conflict. Then at the end of the parable, Jesus concludes,

²⁷ But those My enemies, which did not want me to reign over them, bring here [Palestine] and slay them before me.

Jesus was prophesying the Jewish return to Palestine in the 1900's and the reason. It was not to bless them, but to destroy them--at least a certain portion of world Jewry. Fortunately, not all Jews have been called to immigrate to Palestine to fulfill this prophecy. God is indeed merciful, even to them.