British Israelism Exposed

British Israelism has waned enormously over this past hundred years. It was once an extremely popular doctrine within the British Isles with countless devotees, whereas today it is sparse. The popularity of the doctrine is frankly in free-fall.British-Israelism (Anglo-Israelism) is defined on the www.ondoctrine.com as “the belief and teaching of a number of religious groups, that the 10 “lost” tribes of Israel are actually the Anglo-Saxon race and are specifically the people of Great Britain. By definition, then, the Anglo-Saxon (or white) people are the true Israelites, being the descendants of Abraham and are the only chosen people of God and heirs to the covenant of God. The people who are living in Israel today, calling themselves Jews, are actually impostors who mistakenly identify themselves with the Israelites, but are, in fact, descendants of Judah and are not the chosen people of God and are not part of the covenant of God.”

As we examine British Israelism teaching, we are required of God to test it by the Scriptures. The fact is, every doctrine must be tested by that sacred Book to see if it is biblical or not.

A basic knowledge of Scripture will confirm, British Israelism is exposed by the Word of God. Scripture shows that God’s people today are the true Israel – namely all those that have been born again. Salvation is by grace,not be race.

When Christ – the Messiah – came unto the physical nation of Israel at His first advent, John 1:11 records, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” In fact, not only did they reject Him, but they nailed Him to a tree. In His earthly ministry, and knowing what was coming, Christ asked the religious Jewish leaders, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21 42-44).

This discourse showed these religious Jews that because of Israel’s wanton rejection of Him, He would bring the Gentile nations to Himself. No longer would these nations be drowned in darkness or be utterly deceived by the devil. Rather, they would be the special focus of His mercy.

Recommended reading:

The person outlined in this passage as “the Stone is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. In this reading, Christ contrasts between His dealings with those of this chosen nation and those of the wicked. It is Christ alone who breaks the stubborn will of man and brings him into perfect union with an offended God.

Evidently, this chosen nation is not a physical earthly nation but a spiritual heavenly nation. This is clearly seen in the Lord’s wording – it would be a nation that brings forth the spiritual fruits of the Kingdom of God. Undoubtedly, Christ is talking about the Church. British Israelism is therefore wrong to relate spiritual truths to a physical temporal earthly nation.

So what are these fruits?

Romans 14:17-18 explicitly says, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but (1) righteousness, and (2) peace, and (3) joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ (a) is acceptable to God, and (b) approved of men.”

Such attributes belong solely to the Church of Jesus Christ, therefore, no one has the authority to apply this passage to a physical earthly nation; such is a blatant misinterpretation of the text and an undermining of truth. Those who belong to this nation are thus among the many who have fell upon the Stone – Christ Jesus – and have been broken in true repentance. This is in stark contrast to the Christ rejecter to whom the Stone will fall upon and “grind him to powder.” This includes Jews, British citizens, Arabs and Nigerians. It embodies the blood-bought Church of Christ where ever it is found.

Peter says, of this chosen nation – the Church, in 1 Peter 2:9, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”

We again see that this nation is no ordinary earthly domain, but a peculiar “holy nation.” The word holy or [i]hagion[/i] which is employed here is used constantly throughout the New Testament and is exclusively applied to God, the things of God, God’s people and His divine kingdom. This chosen holy nation can only be spiritually entered.

This nation is identified by three other specific spiritual titles:

1) “a chosen generation”
2) “a royal priesthood.”
3) “a peculiar people”

No sensible Bible student could attribute these unique spiritual descriptions, which explicitly and exclusively relate to the Church, to a visible carnal nation. Rather they pertain to the Divine structure that transcends every physical landmass and which has its capital city in the heavenly domain. This reading refers in notable detail to the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church being here described as a nation, “an holy nation,” which is under intimate Divine control. This nation cannot be observed with the natural eye but rather can only be seen through the spiritual eye.

This nation uniquely manifests “forth the praises of him (Christ) who hath called [them] out of darkness into his marvellous light.” It is the NT Church alone who has been called “out of darkness into his (Christ’s) marvellous light.” This cannot (or does not) refer to a physical earthly nation. Colossians 1:12-13 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

The Scriptures here show how the child of God has been removed from the world of darkness and placed into the jurisdiction of Christ’s marvellous light. No physical earthly nation can exclusively boast of this glorious Divine honour. This chosen people is the universal Church of God – a peculiar spiritual nation.

Paul refers to Deuteronomy 32:21, in Romans 10:19-21, saying, “Moses saith, I will provoke you (natural Israel) to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation (the NT Church) I will anger you.”

He continues, supporting his line of reasoning by referring to Isaiah 65:1, “Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

This foolish people that have graciously found God without first seeking Him is His blood-bought Church throughout time. Those of all kindred’s, tongues and tribes, who have come to God through Christ in true repentance. That elect people are not a physical earthly nation but a spiritual invisible Kingdom. Jesus said of that Church, in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Recommended reading:

The Loyal Orders and British Israelism

Orange Order’s British Israelism teaching
British Israelism – the underlying theology of the Loyal Orders
The British Israelism thinking behind the Orange Order
The Royal Black Institution and British Israelism
British Israelism Exposed
British Israelism Refuted

Zion’s Christian Soldiers? by Stephen Sizer and John Stott: