TWELVE TRIBES OF CHRISTIANITY
At 1Corinthians 2:16 we read: "For 'who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct Him?' But we do have the mind of Christ." How amazing is God's incredible wisdom! Consider how various branches of Christianity were likely foreshadowed by sons of Jacob and their respective tribes of Israel.
Twelve Tribes of Christianity
“O THE DEPTH.” The Bible book of Romans, in chapter 11 verse 33 makes this exclamation: “33 O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and beyond tracing out his ways are!” We become more and more convinced of this truth the more we look into God’s inspired word and examine especially it’s wisdom and it’s prophecy—examples of history written in advance. This is no less astounding than in the way God’s word foretells the revival or reestablishment of the loving, self-sacrificing and humbly true spirit of Christianity, which had been largely lost in the so-called "universal church" by centuries of confusion over the meaning and application of the teachings of God and Christ as found in God’s word the Holy Bible. You may recall Jesus taught the crowds of common people—not merely the learned Jewish religious leaders, as if the truth could only be properly understood by them. And the Christian word of God was, in the first century, written not in the Classical Greek of learned philosophers and such, but in Koine Greek, the tongue of the masses. Thus, for the church to forbid the translation of the Bible into the common languages of man many centuries later, was in direct opposition to the loving will of our Great Educators, Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. (John 6:45). The church was in dire need of reform, for other reasons as well.
IT WASN’T TIME YET. Another major reason is that the church was caught up in the idea that it was time for God’s kingdom to be ruling the world, when Jesus told his followers that they were to be “no part of the world,” following the principle of Christian neutrality. The church was seeking power and control, when both Paul and James had also warned against it. At 1Corinthians 4:8 Paul writes “8 Are you already satisfied? Are you already rich? Have you begun ruling as kings without us? I really wish that you had begun ruling as kings, so that we also might rule with you as kings.” God has a timetable, and it was not time for God’s Kingdom and Jesus to begin ruling with his anointed co-rulers. In fact, James declared those in his day as committing serious sin for attempting to befriend “the world”—a reference to the ungodly world system still largely influenced by God’s chief enemy, Satan, which Satan even offered to Jesus in exchange for one act of worship (Matth 4:8-11). The church, for many centuries to follow, became so caught up in trying to appease the world, that it lost sight of the warning of James, at James 4:4, “4 Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God.” Thus true Christians were to be very careful that they would in no way compromise their Christian integrity, violating divine standards, if they might choose to skillfully work “before kings.” (Prove 22:29). By the 16th century, the fraudulent "universal" or "Catholic" church had become so corrupt that sincere educated students of God’s word were becoming appalled at the violations of Bible teachings being practiced and promoted by church leaders and dignitaries. Martin Luther was one such student. The call was about to go forth to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” in a secondary fulfillment, this time regarding the reestablishment of God’s spiritual ruling city, New Jerusalem, along with Christ comprising "the Kingdom of the heavens." (Revel 21:1-5; Matth 5:3).
MARTIN LUTHER. Born in Eisleben, Germany, in November 1483, with a father working in copper mines, he received enough savings from his father to secure a good education. In 1501, he became a student at the University of Erfurt. After entering a monastery, he later obtained a doctorate in theology at the University of Wittenberg. Despite church teachings, Luther learned that God’s favor cannot be earned, but it was granted by undeserved kindness to those practicing genuine faith. This helped him battle persistent feelings of unworthiness. He evidently examined the Bible thoroughly to be convinced that this understanding was correct. Luther gradually became indignant at the church’s scriptural offenses, such as the monetary sale of “indulgences,” permissions to shorten the term of purging punishment sinners were believed to have to undergo upon their death. This was essentially selling the “forgiveness of sins.” It was in the autumn of 1517 that Luther wrote his famous 95 theses, exposing the church’s doctrinal, financial, and religious abuses. He was, however, not seeking rebellion, but rather reform. The new art of printing made possible the reproduction and wide circulation of such things, stirring protest. In 1520, Luther received a bull of excommunication from the pope of Rome, to dismiss him from the Catholic Church. Revealing his self-sacrificing zeal for God, truth, and neighbor, that same year he released for wide publication his great reform treatises, the Address to the German Nobility, The Babylonic Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of a Christian Man. Thus, indeed, in harmony with divine prophecy, the word went forth to restore and rebuild the divine place of worship, true Christianity. Luther came to exercise great power and influence, and this led him to act contrary to God’s word at times. When Jews, for instance, generally refused to accept the message of Christianity as Luther saw it, he became violently opposed to them, condemning them, even urging their vehement persecution. His pride may have got the best of him for a time, to the point of “playing God.” Also, some of the divine Scriptural truths that Luther earlier uncovered he recanted by the Augsburg Confession, in a vain attempt at reform of the Catholic Church. He thereby compromised somewhat in his formerly bold stand for Bible truth. Still, Luther for a time was largely a stalwart supporter of divine truth, helping to reestablish Christian integrity among many.
POCKETS OF CHRISTIANITY. Thus, followers of Luther became largely the first pocket of Christianity, during what became known as the Protestant Reformation, with a loving zeal for God and Christ that was comprised of some willing to risk excommunication or death to stand up for Bible truth, the movement becoming known as Lutheran. Supporting many of Luther’s discoveries were other outstanding men such as John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli. While Calvin's teachings largely founded the Presbyterian Church, Zwingli has been thought to be the only major 16th century reformer who did not establish one, but evidence may prove otherwise. Many decades later, beginning about 1609, English separatist John Smyth upheld and promoted the scriptural teaching on baptism as complete immersion, not performed upon infants. Yet, a group preceded his, arising in Zurich, Switzerland where Zwingli was active, and evidence shows that Zwingli actually may have done more to found this pocket of Christianity eventually becoming known as Baptists, which grew rapidly over the next several centuries. Later, we'll examine this development in greater detail. John Wesley, and his younger brother Charles, also stood up for Bible truth, in the 1700’s, teaching salvation by faith to many, along with important concepts such as the primacy of scripture. Their movement became known as Methodism, which made great progress following their deaths.
TWELVE TRIBES. What is the significance of such developments? Jesus made known to his closest followers, the faithful apostles, on the night before his death, that they would “sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:30). Yet, they were to teach those of Israel and even other nations the practice of Christianity. How were they to understand Jesus’ words? Paul hints at this, saying at Galatians 6:16, referring to walking as Christians, “16 As for all those who walk orderly by this rule of conduct, peace and mercy be upon them, yes, upon the Israel of God.” So the Israel of God would logically be those who would have FAITH like Abraham, the progenitor of both fleshly Israel and SPIRITUAL, or GODLY ISRAEL, those trusting not only in Jehovah God but also His son, Jesus, following his teachings and self-sacrificing example (1Peter 2:21). Thus, godly Israel would be comprised of TRUE CHRISTIANS, and prophecies regarding Israel found in the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, would largely now have fulfillment upon Christian servants of the true God. As Jesus said, at John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So especially from the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection, as he fulfilled, or completely kept, the Mosaic Law, it being 'put aside' only during Jesus' death, afterward for all to benefit from Christian teachings, and follow Christ in order to please God fully, being taught to “observe all the things” Christ commanded (Matth 28:18-20).
CHRISTIANITY FORESHADOWED. So could it be, in God’s magnificent wisdom, that the sons of Jacob, or Israel, had a part in foreshadowing the development of twelve tribes of Christianity? Consider the firstborn, Reuben, as compared to Martin Luther, known as the progenitor of the Protestant Reformation. Could he have proudly taken credit for this, when it was really Jehovah God himself causing His word to be fulfilled? Recall that he seemed to “play God” for a time with regard to fleshly Jews, and he also compromised some of the divine truths he formerly uncovered and eagerly shared. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, once actually laid down with his own father’s concubine. Notice the deathbed prophecy of Jacob, regarding his son Reuben: “3 “Reuʹben, you are my firstborn, my vigor and the beginning of my procreative power, the excellence of dignity and the excellence of strength. 4 With recklessness like turbulent waters, you will not excel, because you have gone up to your father’s bed. At that time you defiled my bed. He actually went on to it!” (Genes 49:3,4). The excellence of dignity and strength. Luther seems to have matched that description, and Lutherans to this day have retained much of the pomp of the former church. Compromising his faith was serious sin, however, and cost him. Lutherans however, are still a legitimate tribe of Christianity, as Reuben, the firstborn of Leah, retained his name as one of the tribes of Israel, although as firstborn he would have been entitled to a double-portion. His sin against his father cost him this privilege, while Joseph, the firstborn of Rachel, received this and therefore his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, both became tribal heads.
REMARKABLE. Perhaps this example of Reuben as it relates to Martin Luther helps us to see that God’s wisdom, foresight, and power to fulfill His word are remarkable, worthy of exceptional praise (Psalm 40:5). How interesting it will be to see how other tribes of Christianity not only sprang up, but did so in fulfillment of other facts and events as foreshadowed by the sons of Jacob and their respective tribes. May our faith in God continue to grow as we examine His prophetic word and seek to live in harmony with the “one faith” of true Christianity! (2Peter 1:19; John 4:34; Ephes 4:5).
UNIQUE TRIBE OF LEVI. Therefore, if the tribe of Reuben foreshadowed Lutheran Christians, and other tribes foreshadowed Baptists, Methodists, etc., what can we say about the unique tribe of Levi, which did not have an earthly land allotment like all the other tribes? These were responsible for tabernacle or temple service, the Levitical priesthood of the family line of Aaron, even largely with teaching all Israel God’s law! (2Chron 23:18; Nehem 8:7). Could this not be compared to anointed Christians, with the heavenly hope of being “priests of God and of the Christ, and [ruling] as kings with him for the 1,000 years?” (Revel 20:6). Not all Christians of the first century had this hope, despite common belief otherwise. For instance, the apostle Paul said “whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord.” Some churches today are mistakenly encouraging all to do so, in a practice usually called "communion." There were many associated with the early Christians who were not selected by God or Christ to be among the exceptionally faithful ones to receive authority as kings and priests, but would rather share the also-precious hope of living under Kingdom rule on a cleansed Paradise earth. This is the hope of the vast majority of Christians on earth today. Those to rule in heaven are a limited number, as clarified in Revelation, a group Jesus called “a little flock.” (Luke 12:32; John 10:16; Revel 14:1-4).
ANOTHER POCKET. Therefore, has there been another pocket of Christianity, a group of zealous Christians that would prove to become a holding pot for many such anointed followers of Christ in the past century or so? Many can testify to the exceptional zeal, devotion, and loyalty to God and Christ, evidenced by their regular Christian ministry regarding the “good news of [God’s] kingdom.” (Matth 24:14). This group has taken seriously the charge of all Christians to “preach the word. Be at it urgently in favorable times and difficult times.” (2Timo 4:2). This group therefore faithfully endured much persecution at times, while also enjoying times of relative peace. Zealous for Bible truth, they have been taught to study God’s word diligently, and live by it’s teachings.
SONS OF LEVI CLEANSED. This group was foretold in Malachi to be whitened, refined, cleansed by God and Christ, to prove worthy of a zealous ministry of God’s word. Malachi 3:1-4 foretells something concerning God’s son and regarding specifically one of the tribes of Christianity—the “sons of Levi.” Recall that the Levites were somewhat responsible for teaching God’s laws to all the tribes of Israel, contributing to their unity in true worship. Thus in Malachi, the “sons of Levi” are foretold to be cleansed for their zealous preaching and teaching activity as true Christians. This prophecy was initially fulfilled in the zealous ministry of first century anointed ones, but also in God’s abundant wisdom has seen a second fulfillment among the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel in our day. Malachi’s prophecy reads this way:
“1 Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will clear up a way before me. And suddenly the true Lord, whom you are seeking, will come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant will come, in whom you take delight. Look! He will certainly come,” says Jehovah of armies.2 “But who will endure the day of his coming, and who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like the fire of a refiner and like the lye of laundrymen.3 And he will sit as a refiner and cleanser of silver and will cleanse the sons of Leʹvi; and he will clarify them like gold and like silver, and they will certainly become to Jehovah people presenting a gift offering in righteousness.4 And the gift offering of Judah and of Jerusalem will actually be pleasing to Jehovah, as in the days of long ago and as in the years of antiquity.” (Malachi 3:1-4).
MISUNDERSTANDINGS. The group, whitened and refined, which became a collecting pot for many Christians anointed with the heavenly hope in the late 19th and 20th centuries started as the International Bible Students Association, and later adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. This group of Christ’s followers would prove to pass severe tests of Christian integrity in the succeeding decades, and receive many blessings of divine favor. Still, one problem with their ministry was a lack of recognition regarding the remaining eleven tribes of Christianity. It appears that misunderstandings by both this group and the other eleven spiritual “brothers” may have hindered the spiritual family bond, as confusion over this matter led to teachings that may not have helped to heal this relationship.
“FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE” When Joseph, for instance, was sold into slavery by his own brothers, it took many years for their relationship to be restored, while Joseph did not harbor resentment over what they had done. In 1918, leading members of this group were unjustly imprisoned with long sentences, largely by religious influences that may have included their own spiritual “brothers.” But they were eventually released and fully exonerated. Joseph told his brothers, who came to Egypt during famine: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.5 But now do not be upset and do not reproach one another because you sold me here; because God has sent me ahead of you for the preservation of life.” Misunderstandings may also have been born of a zealous hold on divine truth which many other tribes of Christianity didn’t fully grasp, regarding such important Bible teachings concerning the soul and spirit, God’s fair and just punishment of incorrigible evildoers, and the singularity of God’s divine being. The false teachings adopted long ago by Catholicism should no longer have such a grip on Protestant Christianity. In spite of this, this group still has carried their Christian ministry of the message of God's Kingdom impartially to persons in hundreds of languages and in over 230 lands earth-wide. May all lovers of God and Christian truth look to Jehovah to support any efforts to promote the “one faith” of true Christianity among all twelve tribes, to eventually encompass hopefully billions of precious lives earth-wide! (Ephes 4:5; 1Cori 1:10; 2Peter 3:9). As God’s word states at 2Peter 3:9, that God is patient “because he…desires all to attain to repentance,” gaining a genuine hope of eternal life and happiness. Let's now consider in more detail some of the connections between other sons of Jacob and various pockets of Christianity springing up during the Protestant Reformation.
ANABAPTIST ORIGINS. As mentioned previously, H. Zwingli may have done more to found the Baptist following than other later promoters. Zwingli's work was extensive, causing much reform centered in Zurich, Switzerland. The teaching on baptism, for which Baptists are most recognized for, was actually promoted by an earlier group known as the Anabaptists, some of whom were imprisoned or even died for their bold stand against the strongly held dogma of infant baptism. According to one well-known source(1), the Anabaptists, "following the Swiss Reformer Huldrych Zwingli, ...held that infants were not punishable for sin until an awareness of good and evil emerged within them, and that then they could exercise their own free will, repent, and accept Baptism." Zwingli, however, disagreed with abandoning infant baptism altogether. Still, this group accepted much of Zwingli's protestant teachings, and his influence upon them is apparent.
DESPITE DISAGREEMENT. Zwingli's work, particularly by 1523, had great influence upon most of the priests in Zurich, Switzerland, and reform was adopted. While Zwingli's writings and presence were doing much to promote significant reforms, the Anabaptists, however, held radical views for the time, opposing infant baptism and growing dissatisfied with Zwingli's "reluctance to proceed swiftly with a complete reform of the church."(1) While attempting reconciliation between the council that Zwingli helped to establish and the Anabaptist movement in 1525, these meetings were considered "abortive" or unsuccessful, as the council's authority was flouted.(2) On these issues, among those present, there were strong views all the way around, with little room for compromise. Certainly Zwingli hoped for more reasonableness from the Anabaptist promoters. The first rebaptisms took place in February, along with much opposing propaganda. Those refusing to baptize infants were imprisoned and fined, and by the next year a mandate was ordered that no one shall rebaptize another under penalty of death. Zwingli's support of this mandate may be debatable. However, it seems he may have been responsible for the wording of the decree, which only condemned further rebaptisms, enabling those choosing so to remain, and others to flee with their lives rather than die at the hands of fierce opposers. Zwingli's influence on the Anabaptists has been largely discounted on the basis of this disagreement, however, the effect of His teachings upon this group, and the Baptists arising from them after their beliefs became more agreeable nearly a century later, can hardly be denied.
JUDAH PRAISED. It is stated regarding Zwingli that "like Martin Luther, he accepted the supreme authority of the Scriptures, but he applied it more vigorously and comprehensively to all doctrines and practices."(2) In just this way, it may be that Jacob's deathbed prophecy came true, when comparing his firstborn Reuben with Judah. Regarding Reuben, foreshadowing Luther, Jacob stated: "With recklessness like turbulent waters you will not excel, because you have gone up to your father's bed." (Genes 49:4). Zwingli seems to have excelled the work of Luther. It is stated, regarding Zwingli, that behind his writings "lay an open, warm, and friendly disposition, and they embody a boldly striking attempt to rethink all Christian doctrine in consistently biblical terms." This appears to coincide with the prophecy regarding Judah: "As for you, Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. The sons of your father will bow down before you. Judah is a lion cub..." (Genes 49:8-9a). Judah was successful, for instance, in saving Joseph from his own jealous brothers who wanted to kill him. (Genes 37:26-27). And the tribe of Judah became the location of Jerusalem, the place of God's temple, although the Levites were responsible for the priesthood. Also, the royal line of King David was from the family line of Judah. An examination of Zwingli's successes at reform largely appears to underscore this assessment, and accordingly Baptists make up a large share of the Protestant denominations in the U.S. and abroad. Let's next consider another "tribe" of Christianity and a corresponding son of Jacob.
(1) The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol. 1, 1986 edition, p. 363 "Anabaptist"
(2) The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol. 12, 1986 edition, p. 946-7 "Zwingli, Huldrych"