Replies

As you are surely aware, Our Lord in his instructions of Matthew 10:5 also include additional instructions in verse six. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. If you have been following along you will note that both Uncle Chip and I have given everyone proof that there were literally millions of Israelites still living in Babylon during the first century. These were the remnants of the two captivities mentioned in the books of Kings and Chronicles. And, of course we know that the previous verse had already admonished "The Twelve" to stay out of Gentile territory......and going to the "Tribes of Israel" would have certainly been part of their instructions.

I don't think that you have given everyone proof. You have given everyone an indication, a good indication, but not a proof.

Just as you did last time, you cobble together indications and probabilities and then put the result forward as a certainty. It's dicey to ague from "maybe" and "probably" to "certainly".

It's an interesting case. I think you are overstating it. And as I said the last time, you have not persuaded me that the instruction to go to the lost sheep of Israel reaches beyond the resurrection.

It's an interesting case. I think you are overstating it. And as I said the last time, you have not persuaded me that the instruction to go to the lost sheep of Israel reaches beyond the resurrection.

First, thank you for your good wishes to me the other day.

Here's what we know from scripture. Jesus instructs the Twelve not to go to the Gentiles: [Matthew 10:5] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. He does tell them, however ...where to go: [Matthew 10:6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He himself indicates that He has been sent to them also: [Matthew 15:24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And He reconfirms this directive in [John 21:15-17] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Now we already know from [Matthew 10:6] that these Lost Sheep are the House of Israel. We also know that Paul was chosen as the Evangelizer to the Gentiles: [Acts 9:15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. Paul is also given authority to speak to Kings....and the children of Israel. This would include the Jews....and the other eleven tribes of Israel. Peter, on the other hand, as we have read from previous scripture is told that he can only Evangelize the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel"....the circumcised...and this would include the Jews as well as the eleven other tribes.[Galatians 2:7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

Scripture also shows that that was exactly to whom Peter committed his effort....the Lost Sheep: [1 Peter 1-2] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

If you notice, these areas were on the shores of the Black Sea....away from Roman influence, and these folks were obviously of the dispersion (Strangers scattered) and they had the foreknowledge of God. These folks were not Gentiles as many have believed...they were Israelites and that is exactly who Peter had been instructed to evangelize....and he is doing it from Babylon....not Rome![1 Peter 5:13] This area had been part of the old Assyrian Empire and these Israelites still resided there. You can read much about their history in the Book of II Kings. [II Kings 17:6] This dispersion of Israel happened 125 years earlier than the dispersion of the Jews (Judah)to Babylon....who did return. The northern kingdom (Israel) never returned.

Paul was actually told to stay away from here because that responsibility had been given to the "Twelve": [Acts 16 :6-7] Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

I don't think that you have given everyone proof. You have given everyone an indication, a good indication, but not a proof.

I believe that what I have just written gives everyone Biblical proof of my position. I'm of course not even including statements made by Josephus....a respected historian...as to the whereabouts of the remainder of Israel.