The words "British-Israelism" seem not
only contradictory to most people but
very odd. The words come from the central theme of this heretical doctrine. It
refers to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Most persons who hold to this 'doctrinal'
position are strongly Anti-Semitic. They often hold that the Jews of today are
not the Jews, or Hebrews, of the Bible. The word "Hebrew" is often used in their
discussions to denote the Biblical tribes from the progeny of Jacob, or Israel.
Much is made of the destiny of the Twelve Tribes. 1 When Jacob blesses the tribes, and later, when Moses extends his blessing, this is one of the last formal addressings of the Tribes of Israel [Sheveca Y'Israel]. While a great deal is is made of the Tribes and while they are frequently mentioned, the tribe of Dan leaves off direct mention. By the time Revelation expounds the Twelve, the names are slightly altered. (see note)
Persons of this stance often posit that the Lost Tribe(s) migrated from the Mid-East to Great Britain. Formidable but very faulty historical evidence is provided and there is often a scriptural sophistry as well. The Lost tribes, of which Dan is purported, eventually are anglicized, hence, the true Israel according to skewed logic, are the Anglo-Saxons, derived from the Lost tribes of Israel, hence the name, "British Israelism". British Israelism is a 'replacement theology' : it holds that the White anglo-saxon peoples are the true Israel and therefore replace the Hebrew Children of yesteryear. It often holds the current Jewish nation as imposters. Armstrongists, or 'Worldwide Church of God' is one of the greatest proponents of this position: they argue that there is a great difference between the word "Jew" and the word "israelite". The argue that distinctions widened when the kingdoms separated between the Kings Rehoboam and Jeroboam and ten tribes moved north and 2 tribes stayed near Jerusalem. The ten northern tribes are named 'Israel' and they go into intricate explanations about Israel being the redeemed who later ended up in Britain and later America. The great flaw of this thinking is that a careful study shows that the terms are used interchangeably in the Bible to refer to the Jews of History, God's Chosen, and that the division, rather than being a good thing which distinguished God's children from others of the flesh, was thereafter referred to as a great sin ("the sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat") and was decried by God and punished with the Assyrian and Babylonian captivity. Modern day positions carry the 'lost tribes' to America, where some even give co-ordinates in the Southern States for the "New Jerusalem". The danger of this position is self-evident: with modern Jews denigrated as imposters, the doing away with them is facilitated.
British Israelists when encountering 'uninformed' persons or possible new converts, often appear in fundamental Church congregations, or in Churches of their own which the unitiated may not readily identify as being different from other Churches. While many are found among White Aryan Churches, many individuals and congregations of this doctrine are found among Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches as well. They often know Scripture far better than most Church-attendees, making persons who know the Scriptures only peripherally highly susceptible to their arguments. When someone begins to discuss the Lost tribes, it is a warning to be aware of what may follow. Following are some key issues and phrases that may denote "British Israelism".