In recent years the Messianic movement has taken root, and many former Gentiles are finding their place in the Kingdom of Israel. They are no longer aliens or strangers to the covenants and promises of God but have been brought into the commonwealth of Israel by the redemption of Messiah Yeshua.  As these former Gentiles, because of their love for Messiah, embrace Torah, the feasts of Israel, and Shabbat, they are continually hindered by false accusations from religious groups and organizations.  It is expected from those of the “church”, who still continue in Romanism by keeping the holidays of Christmas, Easter, and Sunday Sabbath, but it is especially painful to be persecuted by others who honor the Sabbath and keep the Biblical holidays.

It is the desire of the non-Jews, who are discovering the goodness of Torah, to find unity with their brothers and sisters in the Messianic Jewish movement, to be ONE people. Unhappily, the Messianic Jewish movement, in large part, does not understand the phenomenal impact these former Gentiles are making today. Lives are being radically transformed as Believers in Messiah Yeshua are honoring the Torah. Marriages and families are being restored by reconnecting with the loving Instruction of God. The Word is written on their hearts, and they desire to live lives pleasing to the Holy One of Israel. This is an unprecedented movement. To repeat, this is an UNPRECEDENTED movement! Never before have “Gentiles” desired to keep Torah alongside their Jewish brethren. This is not the same as what happened in the 4th century. In the past “Gentiles” came in and turned the “church” away from the Torah. Never before have “Gentiles” desired to live as Israel and keep the commandments of God. It is a move of the Holy Spirit and will continue as part of the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets.  This restoration has to be fulfilled before Messiah Yeshua returns to rule and reign on the earth.

 Most of these former Gentiles Believers, who have now embraced Torah as their lifestyle, are finding opposition from the very ones they desire acceptance from. The Messianic Jewish congregations and organizations still hold them at arm’s length. While Messianic non-Jews give up Sunday Sabbath, Christmas, and Easter to keep the Feasts of the LORD, they experience rejection by friends and family that do not understand the conviction in their hearts. To add insult to injury, the Messianic Jewish community has told them that must keep traditions that are separate and apart from the Jews.  They are told that Sabbath is only for the Jews. They are excluded, or at least made to feel inferior, in Messianic Jewish congregations. Is this pleasing to Messiah?  Did He not purchase the non-Jew by the same blood that purchased the Jew with?  Were not both the Jew and the non-Jew broken off for unbelief?  Are we not both grafted in to the same olive tree through faith in Messiah Yeshua? Did He not pray for His people to be ONE?

 A big reason for those in Messianic Judaism not understanding of the restoration of all Israel to the Covenants of Promise, Torah and Yeshua, is that they believe the reunion of the whole House of Israel already occurred. For them, it is a historic occurrence, not a prophetic one. The key to clearing up this misunderstanding is with Anna the Prophetess. The New Testament states that Anna, who lived at the time of Yeshua, was from Asher. Since Asher was one of the ten northern tribes of the Kingdom of Israel, they claim this proves the reunion of the two houses of Judah and Israel has already occurred, and therefore, anyone who disagrees with this “fact” is considered a “heretic” by those of the Messianic Jewish movement.

 Interestingly, Orthodox Judaism does not reject the idea of a return of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Since the prophetic book of Ezekiel, chapter 45, contains an account of land allocation to all twelve tribes, and there are only twelve gates for the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12) there must be something lacking our understanding of history and the prophetic future to come.

 Let us take a Biblical and historical look how Anna could be from Asher, and what impact does this knowledge have on the restoration of the Two Houses of Israel understanding?  The goal of restoration is always to make the two into ONE. The prayer of Messiah Yeshua on the eve of His suffering was, “Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are.”  John 17:11

 First, we will look at the remnant of the northern Kingdom of Israel that escaped Assyrian captivity and their relationship with the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  In the beginning of his reign, Judah’s King Hezekiah cleansed the Kingdom of Judah of idolatry and restored the worship of Yahweh. Hezekiah was king during the Assyrian invasion of the northern Kingdom of Israel.  He offered this rescue and escape to the northern Tribes, to return to the Torah of the LORD, by coming to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover in the second month. Please note, this is not the “accurate” season of the celebration of Passover in the month of Aviv, but the second opportunity to get it right in the month of Iyar. God gives these northern Kingdom rebels a second chance, an opportunity to return and reverence His set apart time, and His set apart place. The king of the Jews (Hezekiah) opens up the door for restoration for those who have been scattered from the Covenant.

 In 2 Chronicles 30:1-6 we read:  “And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the LORD  God of Israel…So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, “Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.”

 For those of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who were willing to return to the worship of Yahweh for the feast of Passover, there was a promise – the LORD would return to them. Not only His presence but the presence of their children, who had been carried away captive. To this remnant of the Northern Kingdom that had escaped the Assyrians, they were encouraged by righteous King Hezekiah to return to the LORD and to celebrate together the feast with Judah. His invitation included a message of hope to these tribes, that in a future day, the Holy One would have compassion on their dispersed brethren and would return them to the Land of Israel.

 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into His sanctuary, which Hehath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion [Hebrew – racham] before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless, divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem (2 Chron. 30: 7-11).

 Despite the mocking and scorning by their fellow Israelites, some people chose to accept Hezekiah’s invitation. They came even though they were not sanctified for the Passover, but Yahweh was merciful to them and accepted them. “For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one that prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness” (2 Chron. 30:18-23).

 These returning remnant people of the northern Kingdom of Israel had such a good time celebrating Passover in Jerusalem along with the southern Kingdom of Judah, that they celebrated an additional seven days. “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26).  This is the first time that a portion of the House of Israel kept the Passover with the House of Judah since the days of Solomon. No wonder they were full of joy!  This spiritual revival swept the land of Judah and Israel so much that they all went out and broke down the heathen places of worship within the Land. “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities” (2 Chron. 31:1). The unified time of worship for both houses of Israel was invigorating and they were on fire with zeal for the LORD. They were in ONE accord, in ONE place. This is the restoration of all things.

 Of the remnant of the tribes who escaped from Assyria and returned for Hezekiah’s Passover only five tribes returned. They represented Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, Manasseh, & Ephraim. These five tribes do not constitute a re-gathering of the Ten Lost Tribes use only five tribes returned. There is no mention of a return to the Land, or the worship of Yahweh, from those of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, Simeon, Naphtali, or Dan. This is the prophetic day we still long for, when the whole House of Israel will be gathered together, dwelling in the Land, by Messiah Yeshua to celebrate the feasts of the LORD in Jerusalem. May it be so in our day.

 The Prophetess Anna still speaks to all, who will have ears to hear, of the redemption soon coming to all of Israel. May we hear the voice of Ruhamah, the voice calling us to repent, return, and restore the Kingdom to Israel.  Only in Messiah Yeshua, when the two are made ONE will this be accomplished.