British Israelism
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British Israelism' (sometimes called Anglo-Israelism) is a Christian Theology essentially based on the premise, that most ancient British people, Europeans and/or their royal families were direct lineal descendants of some of the Lost Tribes of Israel and in many cases also of the Tribe of Judah.
Due to the Restorationist tendencies of the adherents, there has rarely been a central head, recognized leadership, or organizational structure to the movement. This has led to a diverse set of professions and beliefs ancillary to the genealogical claims. Just as in many Christian Restorationist sects such as in the Church of Christ, and in older religions such as Judaism the ancillary doctrines held by some can often be contradictory to those held by others. In a similar fashion to Judaism and to a lesser degree Islam the central theme revolves around the genetic connection of the believers with Biblical characters such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Most strands of British Israelism agree that large numbers of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel were deported by Sargon, king of Assyria, on the fall of Samaria in 721 BC,[1] eventually migrating to Northern Europe, the British Isles, and with European colonization eventually North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere around the globe.
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[edit] Legend and Folklore
Many early legends abound in ancient British folklore suggesting a link to the Holy Land. These include but are not limited to:
- The story that Joseph of Arimathea (uncle of Jesus) traveled to Cornwall sometime after Christ's crucifixion and established an early Christian community,[2]
- Suggestions that the Stone of Scone might be Jacob's Pillar or Jacob's Pillow,
- Legends that the Israelite prophet Jeremiah may have been the "Olam Fadlah" of Celtic lore,
- The legend that Tamar Tea Tephi the ancient matriarch of the Royal House may have been the daughter of Zedekiah king of Judah and that her sister Scota may have been the matriarch of the "Scots",[3]
- The coming of Brutus of Troy (Britis) to Great Britain after the burning of Troy and his genealogy leading to the Israelite tribe of Benjamin,
- The claim by Henry VIII to be descended from King Arthur,[4] who legend has it was the eighth generation from Joseph of Aramathea.[5]
Each of these legends have been incorporated into the British Israel belief. Regardless of the accuracy of the details of these legends, each of them are evidence of a belief by British people and those descended from them for hundreds and even thousands of years in a tangible genetic connection between the people of Britain and the people of the Holy land.
[edit] The Saka
The key componant of British Israelism is their representation of the migrations of the Lost Tribes of Israel. They often suggest that the Behistun Inscription has provided an invaluable missing link. George Rawlinson, Sir Henry Rawlinson's younger brother, connected the Saka/Gimiri of the Behistun Inscription with deported Israelites:
| “ | We have reasonable grounds for regarding the Gimirri, or Cimmerians, who first appeared on the confines of Assyria and Media in the seventh century B.C., and the Sacae of the Behistun Rock, nearly two centuries later, as identical with the Beth-Khumree of Samaria, or the Ten Tribes of the House of Israel.[6] | ” |
The inscription connects the people known in Old Persian and Elamite as Saka, Sacae or Scythian with the people known in Babylonian as Gimirri or Cimmerian. This is important because the Assyrian's referred to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in their records as the "House of Khumri", named after Israel's King Omri of the 8th century BCE. Phonetically "Khumri", "Omri", and "Gimiri" are similar.[7]
| “ | It should be made clear from the start that the terms 'Cimmerian' and 'Scythian' were interchangeable: in Akkadian the name Iskuzai (Asguzai) occurs only exceptionally. Gimirrai (Gamir) was the normal designation for 'Cimmerians' as well as 'Scythians' in Akkadian.[8] | ” |
In the photo of the Black Obelisk to the right, compare King Jehu's pointed Saka style headdress, which is similar to the captive Saka king seen to the far right on the Behistun Inscription. King Jehu of Israel was a successor to King Omri of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
[edit] General Overview
Adherents of British Israelism assert that the Saka-Scythians migrated north and west after the Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered the city of Babylon. History suggests that these Scythians were forced further north and west by migrating / invading Sarmatians. The Sarmatians were also called “Scythians” by the Greeks. To differentiate between the two, Herodotus suggests that the former “Scythians” were called "Germain Scythians" (meaning "True Scythian"), while the Sarmatians were still merely called “Scythians”. This theory suggests the term "Germain Scythian" is synonymous with "Germanii". or in modern times "Germany" or "German".
The ancient scholars Bede and Tacticus both agree[9] that before the time of Christ German and Teutonic tribes began to migrate to the British Isles forcing the early Britons to the western portion of Britain. The earliest settlers were the Angles and Jutes, followed by the "Great Saxon Invasion" (between 450 and 600 AD), and culminating with the "Danish Conquest" (787-1070 AD). This Germanic element came to Britain from the same region in which the Scythians had settled in Northern Europe, and brought with them laws, and customs remarkably similar to the ancient Israelites.[10] Some of these customs, laws and traditions were codified by Alfred the Great in his famous "Dooms" (see Doom Book ), which were a nearly direct quote from Exodus chapters 20 through 23. According to William Blackstone in his famous "Commentaries on the Laws of England", the Dooms and these ancient customs became the cornerstone of British Common Law.[11]
Some researchers suggest that the burial customs of the Scythians and Vikings also show similarities to ancient Israelites, for which some have argued a common origin in support of British Israelism. {citation needed}
Many researchers have argued that both Celts and the Germans came from an area south-east of the Black Sea, and migrated westward to the coast of Europe, comparing the name of the Welsh for themselves, Cymry, with the name of the Cimmerians. The names Iberia for Spain, and Hibernia for Ireland are sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Habiru (Hebrews) traveled to and settled those areas.
[edit] Theology Involves Claim of Racial Lineage
As with Judaism, British Israelism asserts theologically-related claims of a genetic link to the early Israelites. As such, it is based on a genealogical construct. This belief is typically confined to the geo-political status or the prophetical identity of the nation, not to the individual's superiority or salvation status with God.
Due to the disorganized structure of the movement, other elements of belief and key docrines may be embraced by individual adherents, but the core belief of British Israelism is that the Anglo-Saxon peoples of Britain and Northern Europe have a direct genetic connection to the Ancient Israelites mentioned in the Bible.
[edit] Growth and Spread of Belief
Although British-Israelists will cite various ancient manuscripts to show an ancient origin for British Israelism, the belief appears to have gained momentum since the English Revolution and especially during the "Restorationist" movement (late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries). John Sadler published The Rights of the Kingdom in 1649. However it was in the late 1700s during a religious climate of Millenarianism that it became a distinct ideology thanks to the preaching and writings of two men, Richard Brothers and John Wilson. Other books from this period detailing this theory were Ezra Stiles' The United States elevated to Glory and Honor, published in 1783 and Richard Brothers' A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times, published in 1794. Also cited as an original work is Rev. John Wilson's Our Israelitish Origins which was originally published during the 1840s. Brothers was certainly the first of the two to begin to expound his version of British-Israelism, but many have suggested he lacked credibility due to his alleged mental illness and extreme tendencies. Wilson, on the other hand, developed the idea using Scripture and history combined with logic and reason.
Wilson’s ideas were to be refined and new ideas developed, well into the second half of the nineteenth century. Wilson had already begun to spread his message by public lecture, but no formal organizations or movement was formed under his leadership. British Israelism was seen as amusing to some, fascinating to others, but it did not seem to develop any sort of organizational structure until the late half of the nineteenth century at the hands of, Edward Hine and Edward Wheeler Bird.
In 1919 the British-Israel-World Federation was founded in London near Buckingham Palace. During this time many prominent British citizens patronized this organization. Perhaps one of the most notable of these members being the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the time William Massey. This organization continues to this day with its main headquarters located in Bishop Auckland in Co. Durham.
[edit] Modern Adherents
The late Professor Roger Rusk (1906 - 1994), brother of former US Secretary of State Dean Rusk, was a prominent teacher of British Israelism. He spent 13 years as a public school teacher, and 28 years as a professor at the University of Tennessee, where he held the position as Emeritus Professor of Physics. He was also a member of American Physical Society and the Tennessee Academy of Science.
Pastor Arnold Murray, of the Shepherd’s Chapel, a registered non-profit organization in the State of Arkansas also embraces, among other things, the British Israel belief. His teaching is broadcast regularly via satellite.
Pentecostal Pastor, Alan Campbell, is the pastor of the Cregagh Covenant People’s Fellowship in Belfast Northern Ireland and co-director of Open Bible Ministries with Glyn Jones and a prominent scholar and lecturer in the British Israel movement.
Some groups that follow the original teaching of Worldwide Church of God founder, Herbert W. Armstrong, are adherents to this doctrine, though Armstrong, curiously enough, never references the works of other advocates of this theory. In his book, The United States and Britain in Prophecy he maintained (1980 page 4) that this theory is a master key to understanding Biblical end-time prophecy. It appears that he did take much of the content for this book from J.H. Allen's book "Joseph's Sceptre and Judah's Birthright". The current Worldwide Church of God has abandoned this doctrine and has offered an explanation of the doctrine's historical origins within its fellowship.
In Britain, the theology of British Israelism has been taught by a few small Pentecostal churches including the (now-defunct) Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship, an early offshoot of the Elim Pentecostal Church (who, however, do not hold to this doctrine). Similarly, in Australia, the Christian Revival Crusade, founded by Leo Harris once but no longer teaches this theology (however, its prominent offshoot the Revival Centres International and its own various offshoots continue to teach the doctrine).
Some have suggested that the references made in the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath to the ancient nation of Israel infers that the authors of the Declaration beleived in a racial connection between the Scots and the ancient Israelites.
Due to the expansive nature of the British Empire, believers in British Israelism can be found in all four corners of the globe, but most especially in the Commonwealth nations including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Belize. Also nations with large populations of British and Northern European descendants such as the United States, South Africa, Ireland, and Argentina also contain groups of believers in British Israelism. Although no comprehensive data base exists, it is reasonable to conclude that today there are more who embrace this belief outside of Britain, than within it.
[edit] Critics of this theory
Critics of this theory state that the Assyrian chronicles of the time claim that only a small number of Israelites were deported.[citation needed]
Many critics question the authenticiy of the ancient sources cited by those espousing British Israelism.[citation needed]
Critics suggest any similarities between British and European Culture and that of the Israelites are only coincidence.[citation needed]
Some critics have questioned the the alleged references to ancient Israel in the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath. They suggest the Declaration does not explicitly claim descent from the "people of Israel". Critics insist the reference is likely making a comparison between, on the one hand, the Scots making an exodus across a sea from the barbarism of Spain, and entering their own "promised land" of Scotland; and on the other hand, the Biblical exodus of the Israelites from Egypt across a sea into the promised land of Israel. These critics assert such a comparison could be based equally well on the Scots' seeing themselves as a Christian nation and therefore chosen of God, as on the supposition that Scots actually believed they were literally descended from the Israelites.
[edit] Key writings and people
Early books connecting British Israelism to North America include:
- J. H. Allen, Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, fifteenth edition (Haverhill, Mass.: Destiny Publishers, [1902] 1917)
- W. G. Mackendrick (The Roadbuilder), The Destiny of Britain and America, new edition, revised (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1922).
Other books connecting British Israelism to North America include:
- H. W. Armstrong, The United States and Britain in Prophecy, 1954, 1967. 2005 edition (Edmund, OK: Philadelphia Church of God, 2005)
Key people include:
- Richard Brothers (1757–1824) was well known as both an early believer and teacher of this theory concerning the Lost Ten Tribes.
- William H. Poole was a minister known for his 1889 book titled Anglo-Israel or the Saxon Race?: Proved to be the Lost Tribes of Israel.
- J. H. Allen authored Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright which many have claimed formed the basis of a later foundation for the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong on this same subject.
- William Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925.
[edit] References
- ^ II Kings chap. 17 & 18
- ^ Traditions of Glastonbury by E. Raymond Capt Artisan Publishers
- ^ Elizabeth II on the Throne of David and Solomon By Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-30-2005-72356.asp
- ^ [1]
- ^ Traditions of Glastonbury by E. Raymond Capt Artisan Publishers
- ^ George Rawlinson, note in his translation of History of Herodotus, Book VII, p. 378
- ^ E. Raymond Capt, Missing Links Discovered in Assyrian Tablets Artisan Pub, 1985 ISBN 0-934666-15-6
- ^ Maurits Nanning Van Loon. "Urartian Art. Its Distinctive Traits in the Light of New Excavations", Istanbul, 1966. p. 16
- ^ Englsih Constitutional History from the Teutonic Conquest to The Present Time by Thomas Pitt Taswell-Langmead B.C.L., OXON., Stanhope prizeman in the University, 1866; Vinerian scholar in the University, 1867; and late professor of Constitutional Law and History, University College, London. Third Edition revised throughout, with notes and appendices, by C. H. E. Carmichael, M.A., OXON., Taylorian Scholar in the University, 1862; corresponding member of the Society of Comparative Legislation, Paris. Published by London: Stevens and Haynes, Bell Yard, Temple Bar. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Co., The Riverside Press, Cambridge. MDCCCLXXXVI Chapter 1,
- ^ La constitution de la Marche parait dans Tacite see also Tac. Germ. c. vii. Compare Tacticus's description of the Saxon "Mark" system with the ownership and societal definitions contained in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Deut.
- ^ Commentaries on the Laws of England by Willian Blackstone First Edition 1765 - 1769 Vol 1 section 3
[edit] See also
- British-Israel-World Federation
- Lost Ten Tribes
- Christian Identity
- Judaism and Christianity
- Supersessionism
- Christian Zionism
- Judeo-Christian
- Christianity and Biblical prophecy
- Christianity and anti-Semitism
- Jewish Christians
- Messianic Judaism
- Unification Church and anti-Semitism
- Roger Rusk
- Alan Campbell (pastor)
- Arnold Murray (pastor)
- "And did those feet in ancient time"
- Declaration of Arbroath
- Descent from antiquity
- Stone of Scone
[edit] Compare with
[edit] External links
- Anglo-Israelism and British Israelism by B.A. Robinson, at Religious Tolerance.org
- British-Israelism/Anglo-Israelism by Brian T. Ullman, at Religious Movements
- British Israel - Fact or Fiction? by Alan Campbell, B.A.
- Imperial British-Israelism: Justification for an Empire. (1987) by Gregory S. Neal
- British Israelism by Gary A. Hand
- Elizabeth II on the Throne of David and Solomon
- Brit Am by Yair Davidiy
- The Ten Lost Tribes (Chart)
- The origin of British Israelism
