Many prophetic voices have arisen in recent times seeking to explain the momentous signs and events unfolding before us in these days. While the time of YHVH’s judgment on the nations is approaching, it appears that something else is approaching as well: the restoration of the entire nation of Israel, just as the prophets and apostles have foretold. Consider, for example, this passage from Jeremiah:
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when they will no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will live on their own soil.” (Jeremiah 23:5-8 NASB)
Jeremiah speaks of a Greater Exodus as both Houses of Israel return to the Promised Land under Messiah’s leadership. The process of restoring our Jewish brethren of the House of Judah has been in progress for over 150 years, and today over half of the world’s recognized Jewish population now lives in the Land. In recent years a growing awareness of the Jewishness of Yeshua of Nazareth has sparked a move to examine the Messianic claims of Yeshua and to open dialogue with Christian, Messianic Jewish, and Hebrew Roots believers. We watch with anticipation and hope that this will bring the spiritual renewal of our brethren as they look for Messiah and the full restoration of the nation.
As Judah awakens, so also does the other half of the nation, known in Scripture as the House of Israel, Joseph, and Ephraim. The Torah Awakening of recent years among Christians has matured into an awakening to our identity as Israelites. This identity is firmly grounded in the covenantal promises of YHVH to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the work of Messiah Yeshua in opening the way for the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel return (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 26:1-5, 28:13-15; Matthew 15:24). Moreover, we know that the returning seed of Israel will bring multitudes with them from among the nations who will become full members of the nation (Isaiah 56:1-7; Ezekiel 37:1-28; Romans 11:11-32; Ephesians 2:11-22).
Understanding of these promises and of our current times prompted over 130 delegates from 12 nations to gather in Ariel, Israel, for the First B’ney Yosef (Sons of Joseph) National Congress (http://etzbneyosef.com/projects.html) in May 2015. The Congress served as the launching point for a concerted effort to follow YHVH’s lead in assembling the dry bones of our nation so that He may breathe life into us after 2,700 years of exile.