Who Are the Lost Tribes of Israel?

One of the most frequently debated questions in both world and biblical history is “Who are the lost tribes of the Nation of Israel?” Many myths and theories have been told of the whereabouts of the Israelite descendants while several nations bogusly lay claim on being the descendants of God’s chosen and holy people. Some Ethiopians, East Indians, Arabs and Caucasians (White Jews/Jewish) are a few of the nations that falsely claim the Israelite lineage. However, the Bible provides detailed descriptions of who the authentic Children of Israel are and where they will be found in the last days at the second coming of Christ. (Please note that this is an extensive topic and only key points will be addressed in this article.)

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim and Manasseh (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh share the inheritance of Joseph), Benjamin and Dan are the Children of Israel the beloved nation of God (Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Chronicles 17:21-22). Due to a lack of understanding of biblical prophecy, many mistakenly believe that the Israelites have disappeared from the earth or claim that a “spiritual” Israel now exists. These misconceptions lead to the false belief that anyone who turns to God becomes a spiritual Israelite or Jew. However, the Bible does not support this false teaching. Let's examine this further.

Jeremiah 31:35-36 35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

This prophecy states that the descendants (seed) of Israel would no longer exist ONLY if the ordinances that GOD created can be removed. Since the sun, the moon and the oceans remain in place, it confirms that the true Israelites still exist physically today.

To identify the Children of Israel, we must first use deductive reasoning to determine the geographical location where they are prophesied to be in the later days.

Revelation 18:1-3 1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

America is the world’s leading importer and purchaser of goods allowing the nations to become rich as prophesied.

According to biblical prophecy, the “City of Babylon” mentioned in this verse refers not to the ancient Babylon but to modern America and its many wicked practices. As the most powerful country in the world and a leading force in global imports, America influences nations worldwide, drawing them into its wicked practices and ideologies. This influence often leads to the adoption of its immoral values and ethical decline.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The Children of Israel are the Lord’s people (Exodus 3:10). Revelation 18:4 instructs them not to partake in the sins of America: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.” To “come out of her” means to mentally distance oneself from and avoid America’s corrupt ideas and practices. This scripture also suggests that many of the Children of Israel will be living in America at its peak of power and wickedness, just before Christ’s second coming.

Micah 4:10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

While the Children of Israel have been oppressed and afflicted, the Most High promises to deliver them from their enemies. But from where? From Babylon. Although Israel was once captured and oppressed by the ancient Babylonians, that city had long fallen by the time John received the vision in Revelation Chapter 18. The prophet Micah also saw a similar vision concerning Israel. This indicates a new or modern place that resembles the ancient City of Babylon. It’s worth noting that many American traditions, holidays and religious practices have roots in ancient Babylonian customs such as Christmas (Jeremiah 10:1-4) and the worship of female deities like Astarte from which Easter is derived (Jeremiah 7:18).

Revelation 11:7-8 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Through global statistics it is proven that the Americas (just as Sodom and Egypt) have the highest acceptance of immoral activity.

John also had a vision of what would happen to the Israelites after the time of Christ. In this vision, Esau (the so-called White man) is portrayed as the beast emerging from the bottomless pit (Europe) to enslave and oppress the Israelites. John describes this place as being like “spiritual” Egypt and Sodom, two places known for acts of wicked immorality. The Israelites did not return to ancient Egypt as slaves after the exodus during Moses’ time. Instead, the prophecy points to a place that would spiritually resemble ancient Egypt and Sodom. The history of these cities help explain why America is seen as this “spiritual” Sodom and Egypt (see Exodus Chapters 1-12 and Genesis Chapters 18-19). Egypt was known for its idolatry, including the worship of the sun god Ra, which is linked to Christian Sunday worship. This idolatry also led to the use of magic, witchcraft and astrology, practices that were prevalent in Sodom as well. Sodom is known for its immoral practices of homosexuality and fornication. America is the leading nation today which passes laws to allow and protect such wicked activity.

The Children of Israel are prophesied to be in America in the last days. To further establish and prove this point we will examine how the Israelites will get to America also known as spiritual Egypt.

Deuteronomy 28:68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Moses prophesied that the Children of Israel would be taken to spiritual Egypt (aka America) in “ships” (cargo slave ships) for disobeying the Most High’s laws (Read Deuteronomy 28:15). They would then be sold to “their enemies” for slave men and slave women and no man will be able to “buy” them, meaning to save or rescue them.

Lamentations 4:17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

While serving in bondage/slavery, the Children of Israel will seek help, but there will be no one to rescue them. The Bible gives several important clues regarding the Israelites that will help to determine who they are today:

The Israelites still exist in the flesh.
The Israelites will be taken to spiritual Egypt (America) in ships.
They will be brought into bondage and made slaves while in America.
The Israelites will be absorbed into the wickedness that America endorses.

Given these clues, it becomes clear that the prophecies of slavery and oppression in America align perfectly with the experiences of Negros (Blacks or African Americans), Latinos or Hispanics and Native American Indians. America includes North, South and Central America, as well as the neighboring Caribbean Islands such as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The continent is home to many nations such as Caucasians (Whites), Arabs, Eastern Indians, Japanese, Chinese and various African tribes (e.g., Ethiopian, Nigerian, Libyan, etc.). However, these groups have not experienced the same level of slavery and oppression on American soil. In contrast, Negros, Latino or Hispanic groups (Aztec, Mayan, Inca, Taino, Boricua, Cubans, etc.), Native American Indian tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, etc.), as well as Haitians and other Caribbean and West Indian people, have faced significant oppression. These groups have been mentally, socially, economically and spiritually conquered and defeated, in line with the prophecies of the scriptures.

Cortez and his army of Conquistadors conquers the remaining forces of the Aztecs in Mexico.

English colonists defeat the Pequot Tribe for territory in Connecticut in 1638.

Deuteronomy 28:49-50 49 The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 50 A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

The Bible again prophesied that a nation located on the other side of the earth would travel to the furthest end and subdue the Israelites. This prophecy was fulfilled when the White race travelled from Europe all the way to the Americas and conquered the pre-existing Indian and Latino civilizations. These pre-existing civilizations came by way of ship from Israel after the Assyrian captivity in the 6th century BC. The French and Spanish Conquistadores (conquerors) enslaved or murdered millions of those inhabitants whom did not speak Spanish or French prior to their arrival. This is why the Latino tribes now speak Spanish instead of the languages of their cultures. In addition to being stripped of their native languages, they would be murdered at ANY age (including the unborn fetus) and brought into subjection.

Historical records reveal that the death toll has risen into the hundreds of millions. No other people, whether in the Northern Hemisphere or anywhere else in the world, have faced such heinous crimes.

Deuteronomy 28:32 Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand.

It is a fact that during slavery the children of the oppressed was taken from them and sent to other places or states where slaves were kept. This is how the Children of Israel were stripped from their true identity. The children would be violently taken away from their families and taught other languages and religions causing the children to forget their ancestry and made to embrace the names of their oppressors.

Isaiah 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:

The names placed upon those oppressed in America are Negro, Black, African American, Mexican, Hispanic, Latino, Indian, Haitian, Puerto Rican and the list goes on. These “new” names further prove and fulfill many prophecies regarding the circumstances the Children of Israel would face in the last days. Again, no other nation or race of people in the Americas can attest to these prophecies.

Deuteronomy 28:54 So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

The men of Israel that were once strong and helped each other will begin to behave wickedly towards their brothers and leave off raising their children. It is without a doubt that this prophecy again points to the Negros, Latinos and Native American Indians who seek to destroy one another through gang and drug violence. It is no coincidence that Negro, Latino and Native American Indian homes are ranked highest having single-parent homes where the father is typically missing whether due to death, imprisonment or simply due to a lack of responsibility.

Deuteronomy 28:65-66 65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

Wherever the Children of Israel are held captive and oppressed, they will not find any peace or ease pain. They will be made to work for little to no pay and live in a state of complete fear. Death, sickness, imprisonment, police brutality, unemployment and poverty are commonplace among the Negro, Latino and Native American Indian communities just as prophesied in the scriptures. Keep in mind that the Israelites will be made to forget their history, name and legacy.

Psalms 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

When we examine the other nations living in America, the nations of people other than the Negros, Latinos and Native American Indians, it is a fact that their native language, identity, race and culture is still intact. Furthermore, their OWN country still exists as it always has and they can return to it at their own will. This CANNOT be said for the Negros, Latinos and Native American Indians. They bear their oppressor’s last names, they speak their oppressor’s languages and live in their oppressor’s lands or the lands they once possessed but were taken by their oppressors. All of these horrific events came upon the Children of Israel because of their disobedience to God’s laws. When in bondage, these curses will also be a sign to help identify the TRUE Israelites. Only by adhering to the laws of God will Israel be delivered from these horrific conditions.

Deuteronomy 28:45-46 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: 46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

Alongside biblical prophecy, there are many references that scholars have written which uncover the fact that the Negros, Latinos and Native American Indians are the lost tribes of Israel.

In the book Indians or Jews by Lynn Glaser and Manasseh Ben Israel, the authors quote Edward King, Viscount of Kingsborough, an Irish antiquarian best known for his work Antiquities of Mexico, stating: “Like so many others, King becomes passionately convinced that the Mexican Indians were in reality descendants of the lost ten tribes….”

Glaser and Ben Israel also reference History of the American Indians by James Adair, where Adair discusses King’s work, noting that “pages sixteen to two hundred thirty one list twenty three arguments ‘In Proof that the American Indians Being Descended from the Jews….’”

Also, in a book called Lost Tribes and Promised Lands by Ronald Sanders, the author discusses literature published by an explorer named Antonio de Montezinos who verified that he had located one of the tribes of Israel living in a province of Quito, Ecuador during his travels to that area. He also found out that some of the other tribes of Israel also lived in various areas in and around South America. Sanders also states: “A brief conversation then ensued in their common ancestral tongue, according to Montezinos, whose fluency in it is almost perplexing to the reader of his narrative as is that of his three mysterious new companions. They told him that they themselves were of the Tribe of Reuben, and that the tribe of Joseph lived on an island nearby….”

Many scholars have labored diligently to gather information to resolve the mystery of “where are the tribes of Israel?” The answers have been in the Bible for many years. In the Apocryphal book of 2 Esdras (the books known as the Apocrypha were part of the original Hebrew and Greek writings used to translate the English Bible to the King James 1611 translation) the prophet Esdras writes of the historical event which explains how the 10 tribes or “Northern Kingdom” tribes of Israel came to the Americas.

2 Esdras 13:40-45 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. 44 For the Most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.

The Bible clearly explains that after the Northern Kingdom tribes were carried captive by the Assyrians in the 7th century BC, when they were released from bondage, they found “strange” nations inhabiting their homeland Samaria (Read 2 Kings, Chapter 17). So, they chose instead to go to a FAR COUNTRY where NEVER MANKIND DWELT. This place was known as Arsareth. Many ancient and modern day scholars will agree that Arsareth refers to the land mass known today as America. The same scholars will also agree that prior to the American Indians and Meso-American civilizations (Aztec, Maya, Inca, etc.) no race of people had ever lived in America. It was this knowledge and history that gave Christopher Columbus the idea to travel to the Americas. Upon his arrival, Columbus discovered that the land he has been accredited to having discovered was already inhabited by great and advanced Indian civilizations who we know now are the descendants of the Tribes of Israel.

Seeing that only ten tribes came to the Americas in the 6th century BC, further research proves that the three remaining tribes Judah, Benjamin and Levi were still residing in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. But Christ also prophesied that these tribes would eventually be taken captive as well.

Luke 21:20-22 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

The armies that Christ warned Israel about were the Roman armies that would invade Jerusalem in 70AD. Fearful of this invasion, many Jews/Israelites would flee Israel into other areas of the world primarily fleeing into the western coast of Africa where the Jews resided for nearly 1,500 years. Since the Israelites were people of color (read Job 30:30; Revelation 1:13-15; Song of Solomon 1:5-6; Lamentations 5:10), it was easy for the Jews/Israelites to blend in and hide from Roman persecution. Scholars have also documented this aspect of history. In the book From Babylon to Timbuktu by Rudolph R. Windsor on Page 84 it states: “In the year 65 b.c. the Roman armies under General Pompey captured Jerusalem. In 70 A.D. General Vespasian and his son, Titus put an end to the Jewish state, with great slaughter. During the period of the military governors of Palestine, many outrages and atrocities were committed against the residue of the people. During the period from Pompey to Julius, it has been estimated that over 1,000,000 Jews fled into Africa, fleeing from Roman persecution and slavery. The slave markets were full of black Jewish slaves.”

It is fundamental Black history to know that in the 16th century, the British traveled to the western coast of Africa to capture these Black Jews and transport them on ships as slaves to work and help colonize the Americas (Deuteronomy 28:68). These “Black” people were not of African descent, but as prophecy and history shows, they were the descendants of the Israelites. As mentioned earlier, the Bible prophesied that the Children of Israel would go to “Babylon” (America) as slaves to be oppressed by those that conquered them. Biblical and historical evidence proves that the oppressed races in America are in fact the descendants of God’s chosen people the Israelites. The Bible also teaches that the Children of Israel will again remember their true culture and history while in America.

Baruch 2:30 (Apocrypha) For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiffnecked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.

Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

When the Children of Israel arrived in the Americas and were subdued by their oppressors, they were told they were not Israelites or God’s chosen people. Instead, they were labeled with derogatory terms or “bywords” (Deuteronomy 28:37): savages, wild, niggers, wetbacks, uncivilized and less than human. These bywords were meant to destroy their self-esteem and pride. However, the Most High has sent his spirit to awaken his people causing them to now inquire and research the truth of who they truly are. Now the “so-called” Negros, Latinos and Native American Indians are waking up to the fact that they are the TRUE Children of Israel, the authentic descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the history taught about them by mainstream education is false. They have now begun recognizing that their history is found within the pages of the Bible and they must repent in order to be fully delivered from the hand of their captors.

Deuteronomy 30:1-3: 1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, 2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.

It is important to understand that the Israelites have been scattered across many countries due to slavery and oppression (Zechariah 7:14). Despite this, the scriptures remain true and accurate, revealing that a vast majority of Israelites dwell in America.