One New Man Cliché
by Ephraim Frank
Just as we have been hearing of and seeing the increase of earthquakes and other natural phenomena, so is there a shaking taking place within the move of the prophetic fulfillment of YHVH’s destiny for the two houses/nations of Israel – Judah and Ephraim. According to Ezekiel 37, these two houses of Israel will become one in the hand of YHVH. One of the apparently hindering obstacles to the fulfillment of this move is seen in a ‘well-meaning’ interpretation of the passage in Ephesians 2:15 that refers to the “One New Man.” As I have written in the past, amazingly this “one new man” person seems to have two faces, or maybe even two heads: one Gentile and one Jewish, and never the twain shall meet. Thus, even though this cliché of “we are one new man” is supposed to bring unity to the body of Messiah, it is actually compromising the truth of what the Spirit is doing in joining the two houses of Israel. Our adversary knows that if Yeshua, who ascended into the heavens in order to accomplish this restoration of the house of Jacob (the house of YHVH), succeeds in uniting YHVH’s firstborn nation, his reign on this planet will end.
Thus the “one new man” cliché could bolster an ecumenical move of the Babylonian church to prevent the remnant from returning, just as the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece did back in the days of Daniel. The other night, at a very anointed praise gathering with two musicians who have submitted their professional talents to the Spirit, uniting them in a healing ministry, one of them commented about being a ‘Gentile’ who is ministering together with their Jewish partner as “one new man”. In truth, their ministry was very effective, with testimonies to follow, but the identities were still fixed as: “Gentile” and “Jew.” This persistence which is maintaining the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is dangerous and destructive.
Notice what it says in Ephesians 2:11-14, in the verses that precede the “one new man” statement: “11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — 12 that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.” Thus, if one is still a “Gentile,” one is defined as being without Messiah, alien from the commonwealth of Israel, stranger from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world. However, take note of what Paul says about the “now,” meaning the era that follows the death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah: “But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off [and how many times in the scriptures has Israel, or parts thereof been so termed?] have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation” …”For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of Elohim” (Ephesians 2:13-14; 18-19).
Those opposing this end time move of the Spirit of Elijah by refusing to acknowledge the biblical-prophetic history of the word of Elohim regarding the whole house of Israel, are causing, even if indirectly, many who are receiving their identity as Ephraim/Israel to stumble or be discouraged as to what the Spirit is revealing to them. This negative attitude, based on the “One New Man” concept has even caused some Ephramites to convert to Judaism in order to receive acceptance. At the same time, for whatever reason or reasons, others in the Ephraimite ‘camp’ are now also compromising this teaching.
In the past I have warned that YHVH will send the “curse” of the hunters (the spirit of Islam) into the so-called Judeo-Christian nations. As we all know, this is happening ‘big time.’ If He is judging those who are largely ignorant of this message so severely, do you think that those have known this for many years and are now watering down YHVH’s truth are going to be let go scot free? However, I do know that YHVH will have a faithful remnant that will make it through the deceptions of these latter days and will stay on the narrow path no matter how costly it may be.
Lastly, this message does not set out to counter the validity of the “one new man” scripture, but rather attempts to put it in context. As we all know, once we veer, even slightly, off the “straight and narrow” before long we end up afar off and are on a different path altogether.
Yeshua warned us to be careful of the “leaven of the Pharisees.” Let us remember that although Yeshua was/is the bread of life who was born in the House of Bread (Bet Lechem – Bethlehem), on His way to the crucifixion stake He came forth from the House of Affliction (Bet Onya – Bethany), as He became the “bread of affliction,” the “matza” (lechem oni, to quote Deut 16:3). I trust that you were blessed in partaking of the “afikoman” – the broken middle matza which signifies “that which comes after”. This afikomen, then, is much more that a mere dessert after the meal – indicating that He who rose “after” death and burial will come “after” the fulfillment of “all the things that were spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets of old,” and that includes Ezekiel 37 and many more references to the restoration of Ephraim and Judah – the whole House of Israel.
