The Supreme Title “Israel” And Who May Bear It

Editor’s Note: In his eulogy, a Bible verse was quoted for Dr. Goard, “Know ye not that there is a great man fallen this day in Israel?” And he was a great man of God. He began preaching at 14, came to Canada from England at 18 and was promoted to Captain in the Salvation Army at 21. He had taken two years of law school in England but his heart was set on preaching the Gospel and in the early 1880’s he moved to Winnipeg where he was ordained in the Methodist Church. For twenty years, he traveled the dirt roads of Manitoba and Saskatchewan opening churches and establishing many causes. Then, in 1906, he arrived in Vancouver to pastor the Grandview Congregational Church and it was in Vancouver that God really tapped him on the shoulder, probably saying, “Pascoe, you are going to open the eyes of so many of your brethren that it will surprise you.”

His own eyes were opened when two other great men, Professor Edward Odlum and Reverend Mark Jukes, came into contact with him about the time The Association of the Covenant People was formed in 1909 under our original name, “British Israel Association of Canada.” Dr. Goard became identified with the movement at its inception and shortly thereafter these three dynamic lecturers, preachers and authors, aided by such other stalwart men as Jacob Parker and William Savage, crisscrossed Canada and the United States opening eyes and attracting tens of thousands to the Israel Truth. In 1921, Dr. Goard left for a visit to England, not knowing that God had plans that he remain there and organize a world-wide movement. Dr. Goard became a Vice-President of British-Israel-World Federation and over the years, re-organized the federation’s two magazines into The National Message, helped establish the Harrow Weald College (serving as principal for three years), lectured extensively around the world, authored many books, editorials and leading articles.

The following article was written twenty-four years before the modern Israeli State assumed the name of Israel, as prophesied in Isaiah 44: 5. In this article, brings the names Israel, House of Israel and House of Isaac into a clear focus.

The title “Israel” was given to our forefather Jacob, at the time of his conversion, and upon his restitution of the birthright to Esau. Then he passed from the supplanter experience to that of Israel “ruling with God.”

All the family of the Children of Israel bare the family name until the organization of the nation upon the Exodus of the people from Egypt.

The united nation bare the name of Israel until the first division under Saul and David.

The separated ten-tribed nation which followed Jeroboam received the privilege of bearing the name after the separation, the remaining section taking the name of the tribe of Judah.

Israel carried the name with more or less honour, chiefly less, until her apostasy and rebellion. Then the name was withdrawn from her as to actual national use. She is still recognized as Israel in the prophecies, but that is not her exclusive name even there.

For national use she is assigned the name “the House of Isaac.” See the seventh chapter of Amos. But in that chapter the name “Israel” is used also. We will not say interchangeably, but because of the fact that Israel was thereafter to be found in the Saxon peoples.

For prophetic use the name Ephraim is used in addition to the name of Israel. Ephraim, like Saxon, is the larger name, and Israel is still to be found in Ephraim. This sounds rather strange, does it not? Have patience, however, and we shall see the light.

Finally, the names Saxon, or House of Isaac, and Ephraim, will be dropped and the name Israel will be the sole name of God’s nation.

What is the rule governing the use of these names? Israel is a title signifying union in rule with God, and can never be borne by, a person nor people who are apostate from or in rebellion towards God.

Therefore, while Israel sustained the worship of God, and honoured His constitution as their national law, she carried this most exalted of all titles. But when Israel subverted the worship, and put away the constitution, she forfeited the title, and the name “House of Isaac “was pronounced upon her by Amos the prophet. And she has borne that name ever since.

Yet the name Israel remained in the House of Isaac. Why was this?

Because there were persons in the House of Isaac who never apostatized, and who always honoured the constitution. These remained Israel.

Thus the Apostle Paul, in the letter to the Romans, quotes Elias: “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then, at this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of Grace.”

Chapter 9: 6: “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Those who are not apostate and rebellious have therefore the right to use the title Israel, PROVIDED THEY ARE OF THE SEED OF ISRAEL BY BIRTH OR BY ADOPTION THROUGH CHRIST.

When, therefore, we read: “And so all Israel shall be saved,” we are not justified in reading, “And so all the House of Isaac shall be saved,” and certainly, not “And so all Judah shall be saved.”

What then, is Israel not simply the Church of Jesus Christ? The Church is included in Israel, for “If ye are in Christ, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” But the fact appears to me to be clear that Israel consists of those who have not “bent the knee to Baal.” That is to say, those who have not forfeited their birthright by deliberate choice. They are born in Israel and go out by their own act; but the apostate Saxon, and the non-Israel peoples, must come into Israel by their own choice through Jesus Christ, who is the door of the sheepfold, which sheepfold is Israel.

There are a people who have the right to carry the title Israel in the House of Isaac still, as there always have been. The time is coming when the House of Isaac, by their own choice, through Jesus Christ the open door, will re-enter the Israel experience, and thus the ecclesia of Israel and the nation of Israel will be one again.

It will be noticed that while the name Israel was assigned to the House of Joseph, or of Ephraim, Joseph’s birthright son, the name Jacob followed the House of Judah, and the Prince of the House of Judah now reigning. This is the earthly name of our progenitor, and stands for the material and earthly things. Soon that name shall be known no more, and Judah, and the Prince of the House of Judah, shall he merged in the reconstituted House ruling with God, and named Israel.

What benefit, then, is there for the House of Isaac in the fact that they are physical descendants of Israel, our progenitor? Very much indeed! For while Israel is coupled with spiritual relationship to the God of Israel, the House of Isaac is still “Israel after the flesh,” of whom the Apostle Paul says, in Romans 9: “..my kinsmen after the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

The Saxon House, “Israel after the flesh,” is doing the work among the nations appointed by God as her task and mission. She is the inheritor of the great heritages granted and confirmed by God to her in despite of her apostasy and rebellion. And she is the subject of the great prophetic declarations which assure her restoration to faith and obedience, and to her leading into the glory of the millennium kingdom, and sustaining it during its continuance, literally “ruling with God.”

Let no man despise his birthright as “Israel after the flesh,” but rather let every man accept the fact gratefully, and labour night and day to bring the apostate part of Israel after the flesh back into the Israel experience and Glory by their accepting service under the King, and salvation under the Saviour, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and King.