Are the present day Israeli the biblical Israelites?

Answer 1

Biblical Israelites consisted both of the descendants of the 12 Tribes of Israel and those converted of the "Erav Rav" - the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt. In Abraham's generation his entire household converted including his servants. So Biblical Israel has always been made up of more than just the 12 Tribes, there have always been converts included.

After King Solomon Israel divided, and the Kingdom of Judah (the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) was established to the south. The northern Kingdom of Israel was later dispersed by Assyria and, as Rabbi Akiva claim "they will never return". But the majority of rabbis disagree with Akiva on this point and believe that their descendants will return, just prior to, or along with Moshiach arriving.

The descendants of the Kingdom of Judah are those who established the modern state of Israel. There was some discussion of calling the new nation "Judah" instead, but they wanted the more inclusive name. The use of Israel implies that the descendants of Israel are all expected to return.

Answer 2

Yes they are. Don't get into the "12 tribes" and which tribe did what, unless you really need all of those specifics.

The nation of Israel consists of the descendants of the Biblical Israelis. The prophecy in the Bible told the story we now know as pretty modern history. The Israelis would be dispersed and spread throughout the world, until they would re-establish their nation, which is modern day Israel, which is the same land they owned in the oldest recorded histories we have. This "re-establishment" happened in the 1940s, so it wasn't that long ago on a historical scale.

So according to the Bible, history, and prophecy, the Israelis are the same Israelites. They are exactly where they are suppose to be. And they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, which is defend their nation.

I have to add here that no Christian or group of Christians is a "spiritual Israel". Israelis are the chosen people of GOD. Everyone else is a gentile(not an Israeli). I cannot stress this enough. I don't know any Christians who believe they are a "spiritual Israel", but apparently they're out there.

Stick to the Israelis, and your original question. Some of these answers are getting off track. I hope you sort it out.

Answer 3

Some are, some aren't. According to genetic testing, some Jews share genetic markers with biblical Israelites (through deduction). But as some Israelis aren't Jewish or are descended from converts, not all have that connection. Current Israelis are affiliated with a modern political state and the biblical "Israelites" were named that after a family member (the Children of Israel/Jacob).

Answer 4

It actually does not matter as long as they are human beings.Whether the present day Israelites are Biblical or not will have no effect on the future course of the race.

Answer 5

Yes, but all those who accept Jesus Christ now are seen as the spiritual Israel. Rememeber also that the Israelistes who became the Jews rejected Christ.

Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 4:14-16; 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.)

Answer 6

not very likely that a pure blood Israelite can still be found.
After the diaspora the jews spread everywhere across the known world, where they of course mixed with local europeans.
The Irony will have it that to find a person with as pure Israeli roots as possible one would probably have to search among
the neighbouring Arab people

Answer 7

No, the biblical Israelites lived thousands of years ago and are all very dead by now.

Answer 8

"Revelation 7:
1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000."

"Revelation 14:
3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless."

144,000 male Jewish virgins. This tells me that God keeps His promise to Israel. He was angry at them, but He's a forgiving God, and He promised them they would always be His people. I don't understand why so many christians try to assume that christiainity is now Israel. That's nonsense. Just because we believe does not make us Israel. It's a bloodline, and we all make a big deal about Jesus coming from the bloodline of David, yet we conveniently ignore the bloodline when discussing Israel and try to make ourselves the chosen. It doesn't work like that.

PS: That's exactly what I mean, no where in the bible does it say christians are the "spiritual Israel", that's a christian concoction made up by christians in order to try to make ourselves the "chosen people". Christians are not left out, but we are not Israel no matter how much we try to convince ourselves we are.

Answer 9

They are the distant children of the more ancient Israelites.

Answer 10

Only the house of Judah. Not all the 12 tribes.