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"Two-House" or "Ephraimites" is a relatively new form of replacement theology that was dreamed up by Batya Wooten approximately 30 years ago. Two House is a disputed theological movement involving the re-unification of the "Ten Lost Tribes" of the ancient Kingdom of Israel with the two southern most tribes of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, known today as the "Jews". It is supposed that this significant re-unification of both "Houses" will happen at the hand of the Messiah of Israel.
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Isaiah 28: 1 Woe to the haughty crown of Efrayim's drunks, to the fading flower of its proud splendor, located at the head of the rich valley belonging to people overcome by wine! 2 Adonai has someone strong and powerful. He comes like a hailstorm, a destructive tempest, like a flood of water, rushing, overwhelming; with his hand he hurls them to the ground. 3 The haughty crown of Efrayim's drunks is trampled underfoot; 4 and the fading flower of its proud splendor, located at the head of the rich valley, is like the first ripe fig of summer whoever sees it picks and eats it. 5 On that day, ADONAI-Tzva'ot will be a glorious crown, a brilliant diadem for the remnant of his people. 6 He will also be a spirit of justice for whoever sits as a judge, and a source of strength for those repelling enemy attacks at the gate. 7 But there are others reeling from wine, staggering about because of strong liquor; cohen and prophet reel from strong liquor, they are confused by wine. Led astray by strong liquor, they err in their visions and stumble when judging. 8 All tables are covered with vomit and feces, not a single place is clean.
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The above is but one of the many scriptures which shows that Ephraim was NOT among YHWH's favorites. Ephraim was driven so low that they at one point even tried to falsify their own identity - yet many insist Ephraim was one of the Twelve Tribes and that they will play an important part in the end times:
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Judges 12: 1 The men of Efrayim assembled, crossed into Tzafon and said to Yiftach, "Why didn't you call us to go with you when you went over to fight the people of 'Amon? We're ready to burn down your house with you in it!" 2 Yiftach answered, "When my people and I were in a serious dispute with the people of 'Amon, I called you; and you didn't rescue me from their power. 3 When I saw that you weren't rescuing me, I put my life in my own hands and went over to attack the people of 'Amon; and ADONAI gave them over into my power. So why have you come up today to fight me?" 4 Then Yiftach gathered together all the men of Gil'ad and fought with Efrayim, and the men of Gil'ad defeated Efrayim; because they were saying, "You Gil'ad men who live in Efrayim and M'nasheh have deserted Efrayim!" 5 The men of Gil'ad cut off Efrayim from the crossings over the Yarden, and whenever anyone from Efrayim tried to escape and said, "Let me go across," the men of Gil'ad would ask him, "Are you from Efrayim?" and if he said, "No," 6 they would tell him to say "Shibbolet." If he said, "Sibbolet," because he could not make his mouth pronounce it right, they took hold of him and killed him on the spot at the Yarden crossing; at that time 42,000 men of Efrayim died.
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Among the proponents of the "two-house" deception besides the Wootens are "rabbis" who are often off the mark on many other fronts, such as Moshe Koniuchowsky and Simon Altaf (the same guys who are teaching that God condones polygyny). Koniuchowsky, in his book, "Sex and the Believer" suggests that men should be encouraged to have multiple wives and, if the wives are in need of a man in the meantime, they are allowed to find themselves "male concubines". Koniuchowsky also used to teach that Isaac was actually sacrificed, and he is a proponent of the "lunar Sabbath"....'Nuff said!
The bottom line of the "Two-House movement" is:
(1) Realistically, the Bible tells us there were 12 tribes, not ten.
(2) Ephraim, the son of Joseph's pagan Egyptian wife, was a rebellious "bad guy" full of idolatry; not a tribe that was destined to be a great people.
(3) "Two-House" has successfully divided the Messianic "movement."
One of the best and most thorough teachings against the "two-house" theology is Ephaimites: A Case of Stolen Identity by Baruch ben Daniel. While you're on Baruch's site, please feel free to peruse the plethora of Biblically correct articles - and don't forget to return to The Refiner's Fire when you're done!
Below is an excerpt from Baruch's article:
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The "Ephraimite" movement has taken root out of prejudice and jealousy, it is not only divisive but it is taking a Name and Identity from others which is not rightfully to be taken. If one identifies himself as a Christian, Messianic, Netzarim, Believer, a Jew, Follower, Disciple, Talmid, a Spiritual Israelite, or someone with a Jewish Heart, Heart of a Jew, or Hebrew heart, they do so by their Faith. Anyone can choose to be a Jew, a Christian, a Netzari, a Believer etc, but to call oneself "Ephraim" without evidence to prove it, is by material point of law, theft.
Those who claim to be "Ephraimites" are also claiming to be a portion above their brethren, although a very small percentage of people having a love for Yeshua, Torah, Israel, the Jewish People, Hebrew, Aramaic etc claim to have any blood connection to Israel. "Ephraimitism" is an unsanctified division within the Body of Mashiyach and causing divisions within friends, families, and congregations. Most individuals are interested to grow their Faith in Yeshua and Torah, instead of being sold "Ephraimite" theories and "Lost Tribe" propaganda at Holy Convocations. It is wrong to hold meetings in the name of "Two Houses" and spend the majority of efforts and discussion around this motif, there are much more vital and important matters at hand. Prophetic passages in the Tanakh and Ketuvim Netzarim direct us to grow in HaMashiyach and go out and make Talmidim, thus creating the bond of Unity, we are not to focus on political and genealogical theorem.
...The fact of the matter is that Ephraim was very disobedient to YHWH and as a Tribe they never had such great military exploits as other Tribes, neither did they become the largest in number, far from it. Scriptures indicate that Ephraim let Canaanites dwell in their territories, the Canaanite idolatry rapidly brought Ephraim down physically and spiritually. To teach that Ephraim, irregardless of their crass rebellion to YHWH became or will become a great people, is antithetical to Scripture.
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