-----Original Message-----
From: Shomeir
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:20 AM
To: House of Israel Newsgroup
Subject: Religion and the Northern Kingdom

Shalom friends,

After the death of Solomon, Israel was spit into two kingdoms; the House of Judah in the south, and the House of Israel in the north. The main prophet to the northern kingdom was Elijah. By examining Elijah’s work we can learn something about the future redemption of the House of Israel.

Malachi 3:23 (4:5 in the Christian Bible): Look! I will send the Prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the LORD.

Elijah confronted the people of Israel at Mount Carmel and challenged them take a stand for truth.

1 Kings 18:21: Elijah approached the all people and said, “How long will you be stuck between two opinions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; and if Ba’al, follow him!” But the people did not say a word.

The House of Israel had a syncretized religion. They had combined pagan customs with the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The prophets of Ba’al, whom Elijah confronted on Mt. Carmel, were not gentiles! They were Israelites who had strayed from the worship prescribed in the Torah. According to Yair Davidi, their religious practices were prophetic of the practices which would exist among the House of Israel in the last days. Davidi says that one of the religious symbols of the northern kingdom was the Greek “tau” (the cross). In pre-Babylonian Hebrew (paleo-Hebrew) the “tav” was also a cross like the Greek “tau.” The “tav” had two symbolic meanings. It meant “sign” and “covenant.” Whereas the Sabbath was given as a “sign” of the covenant between God and Israel, the “tav” (or cross) was placed on the northern kingdom as a substitute sign. Israel’s religion, however, was a mixture of truth and error. Today we find that the “tav” is the main symbol for Christianity which is also a mixture of truth and error. As a Christian begins to study the Hebrew roots of Christianity, he/she begins to see how far off the path Christianity has strayed.

When Elijah comes, his message will be the same message that he gave on Mt. Carmel. “How long will you be stuck between two opinions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; and if Ba’al, follow him!”

Following God and living by His every word is not easy for someone who has grown up in a traditional Christian environment. It requires a paradigm shift – turning one’s world upside-down. How many of your pre-conceived ideas and assumptions are you willing to let go of? Have you gone through the ten lessons at: http://www.originsofourfaith.com/alephstart.html? These lessons will challenge your assumptions and bring you closer to understanding the plan of God and the redemption of Israel.

Kol tov,
Shomeir