British Israelism

British Israelism (sometimes called Anglo-Israelism) is a complex set of theories, not necessarily compatible with each other, that have in common the idea that some ancient British people and/or royal lineages were direct lineal descendants of so-called lost tribes of Israel. The theory has adherents among a minority of Christians, usually Protestants of British descent .

Some strands of British Israelism are based on the idea that large numbers of the tribes were deported by Sargon, king of Assyria, on the fall of Samaria in 721 BC. Critics of this theory state that the Assyrian chronicles of the time claim that only a small number of Israelites were deported.

There are various sub-theories within the general theory of British Israelism; however, there are certain points that these theories have in common, and most can be traced back to a common historical starting point.

Origins of the theory

Although British-Israelists will cite various ancient manuscripts to show an ancient origin for British Israelism, the belief may have grown largely since the 1700s during the religious climate of Millenarianism and the preaching and writings of two men, Richard Brothers and John Wilson. Some of the first known books detailing this theory were Ezra Stiles' The United States elevated to Glory and Honor, published in 1783 and Richard Brothers' A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times, published in 1794. Also cited as an original work is Rev. John Wilson's Our Israelitish Origins which was originally published during the 1840s. Brothers was certainly the first of the two to begin to expound his version of British-Israelism, but he lacked credibility due to his mental illness and extreme tendencies. Wilson, on the other hand, developed the idea using Scripture and history combined with some degree of logic and reason.

Wilson’s ideas were to be refined and new ideas developed, well into the second half of the nineteenth century. Wilson had already begun to spread his message by public lecture, but no formal organisations or movement was formed under his leadership. British Israelism was seen as amusing to some, fascinating to others, but it seems it was not crucial enough to form any type of organised structure until the late half of the nineteenth century at the hands of two men, Edward Hine and Edward Wheeler Bird.

General overview

The teaching of British Israelism took off in the mid-19th century after the deciphering of the ancient rock inscription at Behistun in Persia, a type of 'Rosetta stone' written in three languages. On the rock, one of the kings of the nations that Darius the Great had subdued was the king of the 'Saka', or the Scythians -- a name which sounds a little similar to Saxon, who are not widely thought to be the same people. In the Babylonian, the Saka were called the Gimirri; in the Assyrian language they were referred to as the Khumri (Cimmerians).

In other Babylonian and Assyrian monuments and tablets the conquests of the Cimmerians and their eventual captivity were chronicled. Some link them further to the House of Omri, one of the kings of the northern tribes of the kingdom of Israel.

Some researchers have argued that both Celts and the Germans came from an area south-east of the Black Sea, and migrated westward to the coast of Europe, comparing the name of the Welsh for themselves, Cymry, with the name of the Cimmerians. The names Iberia for Spain, and Hibernia for Ireland are sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Habiru (Hebrews) traveled to and settled those areas.

According to the hypothesis, the Saka-Scythians migrated west starting with the reign of the Persian King Cyrus the Great, when they declined to help him in his conquest of the Babylonian empire. Herodotus says they were called "Germanii" at that point in time. The Greeks called the Scythians Sakae and Scyths. When the Saxons invaded England in 400 AD, their chroniclers said they "sent back to Scythia for reinforcements." The implication is that the Saxons considered themselves to be Scythians, the name having travelled with them even though they were far away from the region the Greeks had labelled "Scythia". The English are known to be descended from the Anglo-Saxons. Hence one possible connection with the tribes of Israel.

The burial customs of the Scythians and Vikings also show similarities, for which some have argued a common origin in support of British Israelism, though coincidence or shared Indo-European origins is usually considered more likely.

Legends such as the story that Joseph of Arimathea travelled to Cornwall sometime after Christ's crucifixion and established an early Christian community have been incorporated into some British Israelite arguments. Likewise the story of the coming of Brutus of Troy (Britis) to Great Britain after the burning of Troy is another element in many variants of the British Israel theory.

British Israelism often coincides with British Unionism, but it is worth noting that the Declaration of Arbroath, which declared Scottish independence in 1320 not only mentions a Scythian origin for the Scots, but also a Biblical one, which is used to justify Scotland's sovereignty over itself.

Theology involves claim of racial lineage

As with Judaism, British Israelism asserts theologically-related claims of a bloodline that traces back to God's chosen people, the early Israelites. As such, it is based on a genealogical construct. This belief is typically confined to the geo-political status or the prophetical identity of the nation, not to the individual's superiority or salvation status with God. Most denominations that follow the original teaching of Worldwide Church of God founder, Herbert W. Armstrong, are adherents to this doctrine. Armstrong, curiously enough, never mentioned the previous advocates of this theory, and claimed he received it as a personal revelation from God. The current Worldwide Church of God has abandoned this doctrine.

In Britain, the theology of British Israelism has been taught by a few fringe Pentecostal churches including the (now-defunct) Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship, an early offshoot of the Elim Pentecostal Church (who, however, do not hold to this doctrine).

In the United States, one branch of British Israelism turned into the Christian Identity religion, with many practitioners openly embracing white supremacy and antisemitism. ^*.

Early books connecting British Israelism to North America include:

J. H. Allen, Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, fifteenth edition (Haverhill, Mass.: Destiny Publishers, ^* 1917)
W. G. Mackendrick (The Roadbuilder), The Destiny of Britain and America, new edition, revised (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1922).

Other books connecting British Israelism to North America include:

H. W. Armstrong, The United States and Britain in Prophecy, 1954. 2005 edition (Edmund, OK: Philadelphia Church of God, 2005) ^*

External links

ANGLO-ISRAELISM & BRITISH ISRAELISM by B.A. Robinson, at Religious Tolerance.org
British-Israelism/Anglo-Israelism by Brian T. Ullman, at Religious Movements
Imperial British-Israelism: Justification for an Empire. (1987) by Gregory S. Neal
BRITISH ISRAELISM by Gary A. Hand
British Israelism - an expose by David M. Williams

New religious movements | History of the United Kingdom | Jewish Christian topics

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Gourt Home::Gourt :: British Israelism

Origins of the theory

General overview

Theology involves claim of racial lineage

See also

External links