Who are the Israelites? (...con't.)

Jacob’s return home was not to be a big welcoming party. Instead it was
a frightening experience, for he knew that Esau was out to get him and that
his life was at stake. He encountered an angel of God, wrestled all night
with him, and lost. The angel knocked Jacob’s hip socket out of place and
he limped for the rest of his life. It was this day that Jacob was given a new
name. Henceforth, he was named Israel.

It is from this juncture where the reader must understand that Israel is to always refer to Jacob. Thus every time you encounter the word Israel it is not to be mistaken as the
modern day Israel that we know today.

The term “Children of Israel” is to refer to, and include, all of Jacob’s children… Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Naphtali, Asher, Gad, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun, and Issachar. They are the tribes of Jacob or sometimes…the tribes of Israel. It was these twelve tribes that constitute the nation Israel. Remember…this Israel is not to be confused with modern day Israel.

Modern day Israel is a Jewish nation. The word “Jew” was derived from the word “Judah” [Jew dah]. Therefore, Jews were from the tribe of Judah (the Southern Kingdom of Israel) while the ten Northern Kingdoms were referred to as “The House of Israel.” The Southern Kingdom was comprised of the Levites, the Benjamites, and of course, Judah. It is important to understand the distinctions. Remember…all Jews are Israelites but not all Israelites are Jews.

The "House of Israel" ARE England and the United States. The House of Judah IS Isreal today.

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