Steven M. Collins’ Pretzel Factory #2
With this second paper we continue our critical review of Steven M. Collins’ twisted view/s that the “JEWS ARE JUDAH”, in his position paper on Internet web site http://www.israelite.info/Christian_Authors/ Jews-are-Judahreasons.htm. Steven M. Collins’ mailing address is: P.O. Box 88735, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-1005. Collins is the author of a book entitled The Lost Tribes of Israel ... Found, which I would give only a mediocre rating. By the way, if you haven’t read paper #1, you may not entirely comprehend this one.
When I say “Collins’ twisted view/s”, it is an understatement. In the diatribe of his thesis he claims that all of today’s “Jews” are of the Tribe of Judah. Had he ever really studied his Bible, he would have discovered there are some impostors claiming to be of the Tribe of Judah, but are liars, Revelation 2:9; 3:9:
“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews [sic. Judah], and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan ... Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews [sic. Judah], and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
Collins doesn’t even give a hint who these lying “Jews” might be! Then Collins goes on to present his twisted views under the heading “Four Reasons The Jews Are ‘Judah’.” In his “Reason #1”, he cites Zephaniah 2:1-7 and takes it entirely out of context by citing some short range prophecies by Zephaniah which have already come to pass, and attempting to apply them to our present time period. Not only that, but Collins claims that Zephaniah 2:1-7 is parallel to Zechariah chapter 14, which it is not! Scripture is very clear; the nation of Judaea and Jerusalem will never be revived, and the present-day Jews do not represent any such rebuilding of that nation! There is no greater lie than to proclaim the so-called “Jews” settling in and around Jerusalem today is a fulfillment of divine prophecy, as it is quite the opposite. That broken bottle nation will never become whole again!
END OF THE “RESIDUE” NATION OF JUDAH
The term “residue” is used at Jeremiah 24:8 and should be used accordingly. In the very next chapter of Jeremiah, or the chapter right after the potter and the clay, we have another tremendous prophecy. Chapters 18 & 19 alone should convince people that today’s “Jews” cannot possibly be the Israel people of the Bible. Now going to Jeremiah 19:1:
“Thus saith Yahweh, Go and get a potter’s earthen bottle and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests.”
This time, Yahweh is telling Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house and get a clay bottle which has been baked hard and brittle. Then Jeremiah is instructed to take of the elder people and priests (civil leaders and religious leaders) as witnesses, as He wants both church and state to see this illustration and understand its message. ‘Now Jeremiah, go get a bottle; not one that is soft and workable and in the process of being made, but a finished bottle.’ Then verse 2 says:
“And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom [city dump], which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee.”
This is what Jeremiah was to say, verses 3-4a: “And say, Hear ye the word of Yahweh, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, the Elohim of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. Because they have forsaken me ...”
In chapter 18, it was “O House of Israel”, and in this chapter it is “O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Remember here, we have both the leaders of church and state to go to the city dump outside the city gate where Jeremiah spoke the words we just read. Now follow along as we read verse 10:
“Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee.”
Do you note the contrast and see the difference between chapters 18 and 19? In chapter 18 Israel was made into another vessel, whereas in chapter 19 it is proclaimed, verse 11 in part:
“... Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter’s vessel that cannot be made whole again ...”
Here again, this is prophecy and it wasn’t completely fulfilled until 70 A.D. Yet in spite of this very clear proclamation, the modern-day priests of Jewdeo-churchianity claim the “Jews” returning to Palestine is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. That “residue nation” is like Humpty-Dumpty that had a great fall, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty-Dumpty back together again! It’s never going to happen! Like musical chairs called “going to Jerusalem”, it’ll always lack one chair than needed, and end in confusion! It’ll never fit the bill! Although that “residue” nation was condemned to extinction, still there were a very few “good figs” remaining until its end.
Now all these false prophets like Steven M. Collins can shout and dance a jig and write all kinds of propaganda all they want to about today’s “Jews” fulfilling Biblical prophecy, and it’s never going to happen. That nation of Judaea will never be restored! That doesn’t mean that Judah would be no more. Most of Judah were long gone by that time, taken by the Assyrians! That broken-bottle nation will never be put back together again no matter how strenuous an effort is made. Yahweh would be a liar if it happens. These people trying to achieve that end are related to Cain, and Cain is cursed always to be a vagabond! So when we read any portion of Zechariah, we need to take cognizance of the “broken-bottle” nation destined never to be made whole again! But let’s see what Steven M. Collins has to say:
“The Jewish state was named after the historic land of Israel, even though the people establishing the nation were from the house of Judah, not the house of Israel (the descendants of the ten tribes of Israel). A prophecy in Ezekiel 37:15-28 confirms that ‘Judah’ and ‘Israel’ will remain separate entities on the earth until they are reunited under a resurrected King David after the return of Christ.”
“REASON 2: THE JEWS ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN PEOPLE”
“Some material sent to me argues that ‘the Jews can't be an Israelite tribe because they did not become Christians like the rest of the tribes.’ In fact, there is a biblical prophecy which foretells that ‘Judah’ will not ‘become Christian’ until Jesus Christ returns as the ‘Conquering Messiah’ (this terminology reflects the Christian viewpoint of Messianic prophecies).
“Zechariah 12 is a prophecy devoted to the reaction of the house of Judah (and Levi, a large percentage of whom remained with Judah) when the Messiah returns and saves them from imminent destruction. Many times the phrase ‘in that day’ is repeated in this chapter, a phrase indicating the general time of the latter days and/or the day of the Lord. Verse two prophesies that God ‘will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege against Judah and Jerusalem.’ This parallels Zechariah 14 which speaks of a time when ‘all nations are gathered against Jerusalem.’ Notice that many nations are besieging ‘Judah and Jerusalem.’ The Bible presents ‘Judah and Jerusalem’ as so closely linked with each other in the latter days that they are mentioned together. This has happened as the Israelis have made Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish state, and Jerusalem has become a ‘cup of trembling’ (a major flashpoint) in world politics. Verse six prophesies that God will make: ‘...the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood ... and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.”
“God prophesies that ‘Judah’ would be a militarily victorious nation in the Mideast (the geographic setting of this entire chapter is the region around Jerusalem) during the latter days. This prophecy also indicates that Judah will ‘devour’ the people who border them (‘devour’ indicates not just conquering people but an absorbing of their territory as well). This has been dramatically fulfilled by the Israelis in the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973; the Israelis conquered (‘devoured’) territory all around them, taking control of the Egyptian Sinai, Syria’s Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and Jordan’s West Bank. Some of this territory has been bartered away as part of the ‘Mideast Peace Process,’ but the prophecy was fulfilled nonetheless.”
“This prophecy also indicates a time will come when God will intervene personally to ‘save Judah’ and ‘defend Jerusalem’ (verses seven and eight). Zechariah 14 prophesies that Judah and Jerusalem will be invaded just prior to the Lord’s return, and the phrase ‘mount of olives’ in Zechariah 14:4 confirms the setting is the geographical city of Jerusalem in the modern Jewish nation. This chapter parallels Acts 1:9-12 which states Jesus Christ ascended to heaven from the ‘mount called Olivet’ (the mount of olives), and as He ascended to heaven an angel announced that He would return ‘in like manner.’ Revelation 16:12-16 shows an invading army headed by ‘the kings of the east’ will march westward toward Jerusalem across the Euphrates River toward the valley of Meggido (i.e. ‘Armageddon’) in the Israeli nation. [1] Zechariah 12:9 prophesies the Messiah will ‘destroy’ the nations that come against Jerusalem, and verses 10-14 reveal some surprising information. Judah, the house of David, ‘the inhabitants of Jerusalem,’ and the Levites (all these groups are part of the house of Judah) are astounded and dismayed at the identity of their Messiah!”
“The God of the Bible who inspired this prophecy declares that ‘Judah’ (the Jews) will ‘look upon me whom they have pierced,’ and will ‘mourn’ for him as for an ‘only son’ as God gives them ‘the spirit of grace and supplication.’ This prophecy indicates that ‘Judah’ and ‘Levi’ will not accept or recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah until he rescues them from an invading army at the culmination of this age. Judah never accepted Jesus Christ when he came as the ‘suffering Messiah,’ but they will accept him when he returns as the ‘conquering Messiah’.”
“This prophecy further answers the question of who is modern Judah. Did the Jewish leadership of Judea (the Sanhedrin) cause Jesus Christ (Yeshua the ‘Anointed One’) to be ‘pierced’ by the Romans when He was crucified? Yes. His hands and his side were ‘pierced’ in the crucifixion process (John 19:34, 20:25). Do modern Jews now live in the area of Jerusalem, and are they non-Christian? Yes. Does Zechariah 12’s prophecy support the view that modern, non-Christian Jews living in the Jerusalem region are the descendants of ‘Judah’ and ‘Levi?’ Yes. Therefore, does God’s Word indicate that today’s Jews are the modern ‘house of Judah?’ Yes!”
CAN YOU NOW SEE HOW FOOLISH COLLINS’ REMARKS ARE IN THE LIGHT THAT THE BROKEN-BOTTLE NATION JUDAEA IS NEVER TO RISE AGAIN?! ALL HIS SUPPOSITIONS ARE ENTIRELY MEANINGLESS! MAYBE COLLINS BETTER OPEN A GLUE FACTORY ALONG WITH HIS PRETZEL FACTORY!
Now that we are aware that old Jerusalem, along with the Temple will never be restored, when we read the Book of Zechariah it is necessary to realize, when it is speaking of future events, we must take much of Zechariah symbolically rather than literally. One passage at Zechariah 13:3-5 is a case in point:
“And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of Yahweh: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.”
This is something that is happening all around the world in all Israel lands. We don’t have to go to Jerusalem to find that. Maybe Collins should get into the ranching business! Zechariah is somewhat difficult to get a handle on. A verse in point is at Zechariah 12:8: “In that day shall Yahweh defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Yahweh before them.”
Certainly there are no, what we would consider, “Jews” today who are members of the royal House of David. Not unless we would consider Charles, Prince of Wales, and he is only a half-breed mamzer not fit to take David’s throne. At one time most every country of Europe had a king of the line of David ruling over them. Then as each of the tribes had completed their seven times punishment period, other types of government took their place until about all we have left is the Queen of England. No royal line was left in Jerusalem after Hezekiah was taken prisoner to Babylon, and two surviving daughters taken to Spain and Britain by Jeremiah. Now where in the world is Collins going to get some members of the House of David and place them in Jerusalem in the end days? When Zechariah speaks of Jerusalem pertaining to our time period, it is going to have to be some other geographical area representing Jerusalem, maybe like America or Britain. Otherwise, if old Jerusalem is meant, we’re going to have to transport a lot of our population, who can trace their lineage to the House of David, and move them back to Palestine. Obviously, Zechariah is speaking in metaphor in many cases, as there is not a single “Jew” today who fits this criteria!
If the next two verses at Zechariah 12:9-10 are true, it causes further implications: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
If what we are reading here is correct, then at least one or more of the Roman soldiers who helped in the Crucifixion of Christ (whom Christ forgave), at the behest of the impostors claiming to be of Judah (Jews), must have been from the House of David. We find mention of that at Zechariah 13:6: “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” Surely the “Jews” were no friend of Christ! We must remember it was the Canaanite-Edomite-Jews who were responsible for the Crucifixion, but the poor Roman soldiers had to carry it out. When the German people within the House of David finally find that out, I’m sure there will be a great period of grief and mourning on their part (Zechariah 12:10-12). Surely Christ would never have considered the obscure sorts of Jews “the house of My friends!”
One must always remember that the prophet, seeing events in the future, had to relate those events in terms of conditions existing at his own time. Therefore, in his own time, the prophet understands that the people he is prophesying about, live in the land of Judah, and in and about Jerusalem. Though those same people are later spread over the entire world, and no longer living there, the prophet pictures them in his mind as Judah and Jerusalem. So when we see these terms in our Bibles, we must take that into account, especially here in the book of Zechariah. Not only that, but Zechariah is randomly prophesying of various future time-periods.
For instance, at Zechariah 14:18 he says: “And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith Yahweh will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
Most people reading this verse immediately assume somehow that the race-mixed Egyptians are commanded to attend and worship at an Israelite feast day at Jerusalem. Considering that Zechariah is prophesying about 487 B.C., it is likely pointing to the Judahites who later had their residence in Egypt about 200-130 B.C. where they built a temple at Leontopolis modeled after the one at Jerusalem. In other words, Zechariah, by Yahweh’s Spirit, is informing the Judahites at Leontopolis that when it comes time for Tabernacles, “you attend at the Temple at Jerusalem.”
Then at verses 17-18 it continues: “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith Yahweh will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
It should be noted that Egypt didn’t depend on rain to grow their crops, but rather the flooding of the river Nile. The rain it is speaking of here is the heavenly rain from Yahweh that refreshes the spirit of Adam-man. The term “heathen” here is used metaphorically to describe the Israelite man who neglected to attend at Jerusalem. It did not change him genetically to a heathen! We surely wouldn’t believe that Yahweh would command that the mulatto nation of Egypt should attend a Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem!
Thus, Steven M. Collins strikes out again on his 2nd of 4 reasons that today’s “JEWS ARE JUDAH.”
Clifton A. Emahiser’s Teaching Ministries
