THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

120 The Hope of Israel: What Is It?
should be shown him, and to declare all he should see
to the house of Israel (40:3, 4; 44:5).
Again, as regards the ministers of the sanctuary, it
is strictly commanded that the priests are to be Levites
of the sons of Zadok (45:15) ;
which proves that the
whole system was for an era when the priesthood of
Aaron was not as yet abolished.
Furthermore, special instructions are given in this
vision regarding "the prince." Now it was only after
the return from Babylon that Israel was subject to a
"prince," as Zerubbabel in the days of Ezra, and the
Asmonssan princes at a later day.
Finally, this vision contains instructions for the reallotment
of the land, corresponding to the instructions
given Moses and Joshua at the first occupation thereof.
This provision embraces the whole twelve tribes of
Israel. For it should be noted that in the land of their
captivity Israel and Judah were commingled ;
and from
that time onward the distinction between the ten tribes
and the two no longer exists. Thus Ezekiel was sent to
and
"the children of Israel," to "the house of Israel,"
as in several passages to "all the house of Israel" (11:
15; 20:40 &c.). Likewise Daniel confessed for "all
Israel" and prayed for his "people Israel" (9:11, 20) ;
and those who returned with Ezra were "all Israel"
(Ezra 2:70; 8:25; 9:1 etc.). And this continued to
New Testament times, when Peter makes his proclamation
at Pentecost to "all the house of Israel" (Ac. 2:
36) ;
Paul speaks to Herod Agrippa of "our twelve
tribes" (Ac. 26:7) ;
and James writes to "the twelve
tribes scattered abroad" (Jam. 1:1). This effectually
disposes of all speculations regarding "the lost ten
tribes," and particularly of the delusion of Anglo-
Israelism.