Two Messiahs or One?

    
Judaism has historically taught the concept of two messiahs. They teach of a Messiah ben Joseph that comes to gather the Lost 10 tribes and prepare them for their return to God’s Kingdom to be reunited with their brother Judah.  They also teach that this is followed by a Messiah ben David that comes to finally establish and rule over the restored God’s Kingdom.  The Jews view them as separate individuals.

In contrast, teachers in the Hebraic Restoration movement teach that the role of both messiahs will be accomplished by the same individual.  Jesus (Y'Shuah) was Messiah ben Joseph, who came 2,000 years ago to spread the Gospel message to gather the Lost 10 Tribes back to God and His Word.  He said himself in Matthew 15:24 that “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” which was universally understood in his day to be a reference to the Lost 10 Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Restoration teaches believe he will come the 2nd time as Messiah ben David who will be the Ruler King of the Restored 12-Tribe Kingdom of God.

According to modern Hebraic Restoration Interpretation, the 10 Tribes were 'divorced' and rejected from the Covenant by God,  Messiah ben Joseph's main task was be to reconcile them back into Covenant with God and with Judah, to finally establish the Re-United 12-Tribed Kingdom of Israel over which Messiah ben David will reign at his Coming.  Judah, however, has never been rejected and therefore does not need the Covenantal reconciliation without which 10-Israel would be doomed for eternity. The apostle Paul acted contrary to his Divine Mandate to go to "the lost sheep of the House of Israel" (Matthew 10:6), by insisting to “go to the Jew first”.

The problem is when Jews accept the 'Christian' Messiah, they turn to some or other form of pagan influenced Christianity, because they are dependent on Christian anti-Torah and/or anti-Rabbinic literature.  The parable of the “Prodigal Son” in Luke Chapter 13 illustrates this picture perfectly.  The Prodigal Son had taken his religious inheritance and wasted it by following after the pleasures of the world.  He was on the path to destruction when he realized that even the servants in his father’s house were living better than he was.  At the time of this realization, he was living with pigs and feeding them which is as far from Jewish life as you could get.  He desired to return home and serve his father and brother.  The Prodigal Son represents the Lost 10 Tribes who followed after idols and left their Father.  Judah was the faithful son that stayed home with the Father.  The message of the Christian Messiah was sent to world so that the lost sheep would hear their shepherd’s voice (John 10:16 and John 10:27) and return home to the fold to become one flock with one shepherd.  Consequently, there is no reason for Jews to relinquish their Jewish Faith, as it is the Prodigal Son who has to return to his heritage which had been retained by the faithful remaining son, while the Prodigal Son sank to the pits of paganism (depicted by living with the pigs).

Christians are often puzzled by the fact that the Gospel message doesn’t resonate with Judah.  They fail to get the message in the Christian New Testament where the Christian messiah himself said that he came for only the lost sheep of the House of Israel, not the sheep of the House of Judah who were safe at home with the Father.

Are you one of the lost sheep of the House of Israel?  Have you heard his voice?  The voice is the Turtle Dove calling us home to join our brother Judah.  When the messiah comes he will join us together as one flock and answer the age old question of whether or not this is his first or second coming?  It is that answer that will unify the flock regardless of what the answer is.  In the meantime, the House of Israel and House of Judah should work towards reconciliation.  If we truly desire God’s kingdom here on earth, we will take the first steps and then God will complete the great work according to His plan!