The Church of God International is currently offering a segment entitled "What Is the Birthright Promise? (Part 2)" on its website that is consistent with Herbert Armstrong's understanding/teaching of Anglo-Israelism. But do they have the right understanding of the "Birthright Promise" and its implications for us today? Was Mr. Armstrong's teaching about that "Birthright Promise" correct?
In his The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Armstrong wrote that "there were two phases to the promises God made to Abraham-the one purely material and national; the other spiritual and individual. The spiritual promise of the Messiah, and of salvation through Him, is well known by the most superficial Bible students. They know that God gave the spiritual promise to Abraham of Christ to be born as Abraham's descendant-and that salvation comes to us through Christ....What is essential to the theme of this book is the fact that God also made another entirely different, most amazing national and material promise to Abraham which has been almost entirely overlooked." He continued by drawing his readers' attention to Genesis 12:1-3 and commenting on the passage: "Notice the twofold promise: 1) 'I will make of thee A GREAT NATION' - the national, material promise that his flesh-born children should become a great nation-a promise of RACE; 2) '. . . and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed' - the spiritual promise of GRACE. This same promise is repeated in Genesis 22:18: 'And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.' This particular 'one seed' refers to Christ, as plainly affirmed in Galatians 3:8, 16."
In similar fashion, CGI describes the above mentioned program in these terms: "Unquestionably, most traditional Christians recognize the promise of a Savior; and that Messiah would come from the loins of Abraham, specifically from his great-grandchild Judah (remember, Christ was Jewish). But unfortunately, many miss the part of that same promise, which pertains to becoming a great and wealthy nation with bounty overflowing its boundaries and ultimately controlling the gateways to the lands of their enemies."
Hence, we see that the separation of these promises made to Abraham into two component parts is foundational to the teachings of Armstrong and his spiritual descendants with regard to Anglo-Israelism. This point is underscored by them when the promises are repeated to both Abraham's heir Isaac and Isaac's heir Jacob (later Israel). Moreover, the dual nature of this promise is crucial to their interpretation of the events recorded in the the 48th and 49th chapters of the book of Genesis (where Israel adopts and blesses Joseph's sons, and the promise of the birthright is reckoned through them - and the promise of the scepter is reckoned through Judah).
Having established the parameters of what these Armstrongists teach about Anglo-Israelism relative to the Bible, it is essential that we take a closer look at what that book actually has to say about the "Birthright Promises." First, we should make a point that Mr. Armstrong himself liked to make about other topics - the phrase "Birthright Promise(s)" does NOT occur anywhere in the Bible! Nevertheless, the term "birthright" occurs throughout the King James Version of the Scriptures.
The Hebrew word translated into English as "birthright" is "bekowrah," and it literally refers to the firstborn, and/or his rights of inheritance under the principle of primogeniture. This point is critical to a proper understanding of the term, and what is being discussed in those passages where it is being used. In the way of background, we should note that it was the practice of the Hebrews (and many other paternalistic societies and cultures) to give the lion's share (majority) of the deceased father's estate to his eldest son. This meaning is made clear in the Biblical story about the rivalry between Esau and Jacob over Esau's "birthright" as the eldest son. Moreover, the principle is further underscored by the explanation we find in the book of I Chronicles about those events that transpired in the 48th and 49th chapters of Genesis. We read there: "The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son. The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph." (I Chronicles 5:1-2, NLT) In other words, contrary to the normal inheritance of their father's estate (according to the principle of primogeniture), the firstborn son in this instance was excluded in favor of one of his younger brothers (Joseph).
Remember, from the Armstrongist perspective, it is critical that a distinction be made in the promises made to Abraham, and this distinction is largely accomplished via the physical division of Israel's estate among his sons. Scripture, however, only makes this distinction in relation to the physical inheritance of Israel's estate - NO such distinction is made relative to the original promises (plural) made to Abraham, whom we are clearly told find their ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ! In other words, Jesus Christ ultimately inherits the promises of the scepter and the nation(s).
In his letter to the saints of Galatia, the Apostle Paul wrote: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16) He went on to make clear that everyone who accepts Christ as their Savior is made the heirs of those promises with him. Paul wrote: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (verses 28-29)
Likewise, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, we read: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he <Christ> took on him the seed of Abraham." (Hebrews 2:16) Moreover, after citing several outstanding examples of faith in action (including Abraham), the author of the epistle tells us "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13) And, after offering even more examples of faith, the author repeats that "these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (verses 39-40) Indeed, none of these people or their descendants ever received all of what was promised to Abraham. The United States and Britain NEVER received all of the land that was promised to Abraham, but Jesus Christ will one day rule over all of it!
One day, Jesus Christ, as God's firstborn son will inherit everything and will make Abraham's descendants innumerable - like the sands on the seashore. One day, Christ will be ruler over the nation of Israel and a great company of nations besides them! Hence, whatever the physical birthright of Abraham's, Isaac's, Jacob's and Joseph's literal heirs, ALL of the promises made to Abraham will find their ultimate and final fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ!
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