If you have studied the evolution of Christianity, you may already know the seven major Christian denominations: Anglican / Episcopal, Assembly of God, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic.

While the various types of Christianity share some basic beliefs, they differ on many issues.

Read on to learn more about where these faith groups intersect and where they diverge.

Basis for Doctrine

Christian denominations differ in what they use for the basis of their doctrines and beliefs. The biggest split is between Catholicism and the denominations that have roots in the Protestant Reformation.

Here are what the seven major types of Christianity base their religion on:

• Anglican/Episcopal: The Scriptures and the Gospels, and church fathers
• Assembly of God: The Bible only
• Baptist: The Bible only
• Lutheran: The Bible only
• Methodist: The Bible only
• Presbyterian: The Bible and the Confession of Faith
• Roman Catholic: The Bible, church fathers, popes, and bishops

Creeds and Confessions

To understand what different types of Christians believe, you can start by studying ancient creeds and confessions, which spell out the denominations’ major beliefs in a short summary. The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed both date back to the fourth century.

Below are the creeds and confessions of the major types of Christian denominations.

• Anglican/Episcopal: Apostles’ and Nicene Creed
• Assembly of God: Statement of Fundamental Truths
• Baptist: Generally avoid creeds or confessions that might compromise commitment to the Scriptures as the sole rule of faith
• Lutheran: Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Augsburg Confession, Formula of Concord
• Methodist: Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed
• Presbyterian: Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Westminster Confession
• Roman Catholic: Many, yet focus on the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed

Inerrancy and Inspiration of Scripture

Christian denominations differ in their view of the authority of Scripture (the Bible). The inspiration of Scripture identifies the belief that God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, directed the writing of the Scriptures. The inerrancy of Scripture means the Bible is without error or fault in all that it teaches, but only in its original handwritten manuscripts.

The following is how the different Christian denominations view the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture:

• Anglican/Episcopal: Inspired (Book of Common Prayer)
• Baptist: Inspired and inerrant
• Lutheran: Both the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America consider Scripture to be inspired and inerrant
• Methodist: Inspired and inerrant
• Presbyterian: “For some the Bible is inerrant; for others, it is not necessarily factual, but it breathes with the life of God.” (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: God is the author of Sacred Scripture and Catholics believe the Bible teaches everything they need to know for salvation without error. (Catechism – 2nd Edition)

The Trinity

All seven denominations agree on the basic structure of the Trinity, the belief in one God with three distinct entities (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). These are three distinct persons in one God, not three gods nor three parts of God, but all coequally and coeternally God.

The main differences lie in how each tradition emphasizes the roles and interactions of the Trinity in Christian life and practice. For instance, Pentecostal traditions like the Assembly of God may focus more on the Holy Spirit, while Roman Catholics integrate the Trinity deeply into their sacraments and liturgies.

Despite these differences, the doctrine of the Trinity serves as a unifying theological foundation. In their own words, here is how the various Christian denominations view the Trinity:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “There is only one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or suffering; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Anglican Beliefs)
• Assembly of God: “The terms ‘Trinity’ and ‘persons’ as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture…We, therefore, may speak with propriety of the Lord our God who is One Lord, as a trinity or as one Being of three persons…” (AOG Statement of Fundamental Truths)
• Baptist: “The Lord our God is the one and only living and true God; Whose subsistence is in and of Himself…In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Spirit. All are one in substance, power, and eternity; each having the whole divine essence, yet this essence being undivided.” (Baptist Confession of Faith)
• Lutheran: “We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.” (The Nicene Creed and the Filioque: A Lutheran Approach)
• Methodist: “We join with millions of Christians through the ages in an understanding of God as a Trinity—three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons. ‘God in three persons, blessed Trinity’ is one way of speaking about the several ways we experience God.” (United Methodist Member’s Handbook)
• Presbyterian: “We believe and teach that God is one in essence or nature…Notwithstanding we believe and teach that the same immense, one and indivisible God is in person inseparably and without confusion distinguished as Father, Son and Holy Spirit so, as the Father has begotten the Son from eternity, the Son is begotten by an ineffable generation, and the Holy Spirit truly proceeds from them both, and the same from eternity and is to be worshipped with both. Thus there are not three gods, but three persons…” (What We Believe)
• Roman Catholic: “Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: ‘the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God.’ In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son. Yet, notwithstanding this difference as to origin, the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent.” (Dogma of the Trinity)

Nature of Christ

The seven major Christian denominations all agree on the nature of Christ—that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God.

This doctrine, as spelled out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, states: “He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.”

The early church debated other views regarding the nature of Christ, with all being labeled as heresy.

Resurrection of Christ

All seven Christian denominations agree that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a real event, historically verified. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The mystery of Christ’s resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness.”

Belief in the resurrection means that Jesus Christ, after being crucified on the cross and buried in the tomb, rose to life from the dead. This doctrine is a cornerstone of Christian faith and the foundation of Christian hope.

By rising from the dead, Jesus fulfilled his promise to do so and solidified his pledge to his followers that they, too, would rise from the dead to experience eternal life (John 14:19).

Salvation

Both Protestants and Catholics generally agree on God’s plan of salvation. Both believe in the necessity of God’s grace for salvation, and Jesus Christ’s role as Savior is central in both traditions.

The most significant difference lies in the role of works. Protestants generally view works as a natural outcome of genuine faith, not as a contributor to one’s salvation. Catholics, however, see works as going hand-in-hand with God’s grace in the process of being saved.

More so than Protestants, Catholics emphasize the sacraments and the authority of the Church as essential to salvation. Protestants usually believe that individuals will be saved if they truly accept Christ. Catholics, however, think of salvation as a lifelong process whose ultimate success is influenced by one’s ongoing faith and actions.

In their own words, this is what the major Christian groups say about salvation:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine…” (39 Articles Anglican Communion)
• Assembly of God: “Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: “Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer…There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.” (SBC)
• Lutheran: “Faith in Christ is the only way for men to obtain personal reconciliation with God, that is, forgiveness of sins…” (LCMS)
• Methodist: “We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only…” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: “Presbyterians believe God has offered us salvation because of God’s loving nature. It is not a right or a privilege to be earned by being ‘good enough’…we are all saved solely by the grace of God…Out of the greatest possible love and compassion God reached out to us and redeemed us through Jesus Christ, the only one who was ever without sin. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection God triumphed over sin.” (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: Salvation is received by virtue of the sacrament of Baptism. It may be lost by mortal sin and regained by Penance. (CE)

Original Sin

Original sin is another basic Christian doctrine accepted by all seven denominations. This idea comes from the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they disobeyed God, sin entered the world, causing all humans to be born with a sinful nature.

However, the seven Christian groups differ in their interpretation of how people can overcome sin—some focus on the role of personal faith, while others emphasize the sacraments and God’s grace.

Below, learn how different kinds of Christians see original sin in their own words:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam…but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man.” (39 Articles Anglican Communion)
• Assembly of God: “Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: “In the beginning man was innocent of sin…By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and inherited a nature and an environment inclined toward sin.” (SBC)
• Lutheran: “Sin came into the world by the fall of the first man…By this Fall not only he himself, but also his natural offspring have lost the original knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, and thus all men are sinners already by birth…” (LCMS)
• Methodist: “Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man.” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: “Presbyterians believe the Bible when it says that ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.'” (Romans 3:23) (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: “…Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice.” (Catechism – 404)

Atonement

The doctrine of atonement deals with the removal or covering of sin in order to restore the relationship between humans and God. All seven denominations believe that atonement for sin is necessary and that Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection are central to this process. The Assembly of God and Baptists emphasize the importance of personal faith, while the other denominations also place importance on the sacraments and God’s grace.

Learn how each denomination discusses atonement for sin:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world…” (39 Articles Anglican Communion)
• Assembly of God: “Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: “Christ honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin.” (SBC)
• Lutheran: “Jesus Christ is therefore ‘true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,’ true God and true man in one undivided and indivisible person. The purpose of this miraculous incarnation of the Son of God was that He might become the Mediator between God and men, both fulfilling the divine Law and suffering and dying in the place of mankind. In this manner, God reconciled the whole sinful world unto Himself.” (LCMS)
• Methodist: “The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone.” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: “Through Jesus’ death and resurrection God triumphed over sin.” (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: “By his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has ‘opened’ heaven to us.” (Catechism – 1026)

Nature of Mary

All Christian denominations agree that Mary was the mother of Jesus and played an important role in God’s plan. Roman Catholics differ significantly from Protestant denominations, however, with a special devotion to Mary and a belief that she can intercede with God. The other denominations focus more on Jesus and do not believe in praying to Mary or attributing special powers to her.

Here are varying Christian beliefs about the nature of Mary:

• Anglican/Episcopal: Anglicans believe Jesus was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was a virgin both when she conceived Jesus and when she gave birth. Anglicans have difficulties with the Catholic belief in her immaculate conception—the idea that Mary was free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her own conception. (Guardian Unlimited)
• Assembly of God and Baptist: Mary was a virgin both when she conceived Jesus and when she gave birth. (Luke 1:34–38). Though “highly favored” by God (Luke 1:28), Mary was human and conceived in sin.
• Lutheran: Jesus was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was a virgin both when she conceived Jesus and when she gave birth. (Lutheran confession of the Apostles’ Creed.)
• Methodist: Mary was a virgin both when she conceived Jesus and when she gave birth. The United Methodist Church does not subscribe to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception—that Mary herself was conceived without original sin. (UMC)
• Presbyterian: Jesus was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary is honored as “God-bearer” and a model for Christians. (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: From conception, Mary was without original sin, she is the Immaculate Conception. Mary is the “Mother of God.” Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus and when she gave birth. She remained a virgin throughout her life. (Catechism – 2nd Edition)

Angels

The seven major Christian denominations all believe in angels, who appear frequently in the Bible. They agree that angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve God, often delivering important messages or helping people.

While Roman Catholics emphasize angels in their worship and daily practices, members of other denominations, such as Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, focus more on their relationship with God and Jesus.

Here are some specific teachings:

• ​Anglican/Episcopal: Angels are “the highest beings in the scale of creation…their work consists in the worship of God, and in the service of men.” (​A Manual of Instruction for Members of the Anglican Church by Vernon Staley, page 146.)
• Assembly of God: Angels are spiritual beings sent by God to minister to believers (Hebrews 1:14). They are obedient to God and glorify God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 5:8–13).
• Baptist: God created an order of spiritual beings, called angels, to serve Him and do his will (Psalm 148:1–5; Colossians 1:16). Angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation. They are obedient to God and glorify God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 5:8–13).
• Lutheran: “Angels are God’s messengers. Elsewhere in the Bible, angels are described as spirits…The word ‘angel’ is actually a description of what they do… They are beings who do not have a physical body.” (LCMS)
• Methodist: Founder John Wesley wrote three sermons on angels, referring to biblical evidence.
• Presbyterian: Beliefs are discussed in Presbyterians Today: Angels
• Roman Catholic: “The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith…They are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures.” (Catechism – 2nd Edition)

Satan and Demons

Mainline Christian denominations generally believe that Satan, the Devil, and demons are all fallen angels—real beings who rebelled against God. They see Satan as the leader of these fallen angels and moving people away from God and towards sin.

Differences arise in the emphasis placed on these forces and the methods of opposition. Roman Catholics have detailed rituals for fighting evil, while Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians focus more on prayer, the Bible, and trusting in God’s power.

Below is what they say about these beliefs:

• Anglican/Episcopal: The existence of the Devil is referred to in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, part of the Book of Common Prayer, which defines the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. While the baptismal liturgy in the Book of Common Worship contains references to battling the Devil, an alternate service was approved in 2015 and eliminates this reference.
• Assembly of God: Satan and demons are fallen angels, evil spirits (Mat. 10:1). Satan rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezek. 28:12–15). Satan and his demons do everything in their power to oppose God and those who do God’s will (1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:14–15). Though enemies of God and Christians, they are defeated enemies by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:4). Satan’s destiny is the lake of fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:10).
• Baptist: “Historic Baptists believe in the literal reality and actual personality of Satan (Job 1:6-12; 2:1–7; Matthew 4:1–11). In other words, they believe that the one referred to in the Bible as the Devil or Satan is a real person, though they certainly do not perceive him as the caricatured red figure with horns, a long tail, and a pitchfork.” (Baptist Pillar – Doctrine)
• Lutheran: “Satan is the chief evil angel, the ‘prince of demons’ (Luke 11:15). Here is how our Lord Jesus Christ describes Satan: ‘He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language,for he is a liar and the father of lies’ (John 8:44).” (LCMS)
• Methodist: See the Sermon on Satan’s Devices by John Wesley, founder of Methodism.
• Presbyterian: Beliefs are discussed in Presbyterians Today: Do Presbyterians believe in the devil?
• Roman Catholic: Satan or the devil is a fallen angel. Satan, though powerful and evil, is limited by God’s divine providence. (Catechism – 2nd Edition)

Free Will vs. Predestination

Beliefs concerning the balance of human free will versus predestination (God’s control) have divided Christian denominations since the Protestant Reformation. However, all seven denominations believe that God has a plan for everyone and that humans can choose to follow God.

Generally Baptists, Assembly of God, and Methodists emphasize free will and Presbyterians emphasize predestination. Anglicans/Episcopalians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics believe in more of a balance

This is what the different types of Christians think about free will and predestination:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby…he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen…to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation…” (39 Articles Anglican Communion)
• Assembly of God: “And on the basis of His foreknowledge believers are chosen in Christ. Thus God in His sovereignty has provided the plan of salvation whereby all can be saved. In this plan man’s will is taken into consideration. Salvation is available to “whosoever will.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: “Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man…” (SBC)
• Lutheran: “…we reject…the doctrine that conversion is wrought not by the grace and power of God alone, but in part also by the co-operation of man himself…or anything else whereby man’s conversion and salvation is taken out of the gracious hands of God and made to depend on what man does or leaves undone. We reject also the doctrine that man is able to decide for conversion through ‘powers imparted by grace’…” (LCMS)
• Methodist: “The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works…” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: “There is nothing that we can do to earn God’s favor. Rather, our salvation comes from God alone. We are able to choose God because God first chose us.” (PCUSA)
• Roman Catholic: “God predestines no one to go to hell” (Catechism – 1037; See also “Notion of Predestination” – CE)

Eternal Security

The doctrine of eternal security deals with the question: Can salvation be lost? Christian denominations have been divided on this subject since the time of the Protestant Reformation.

All these denominations agree that salvation is a precious gift from God. Some, like Baptists and Presbyterians, believe that once you are saved, you are saved eternally. Others, like Methodists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Assembly of God, and Anglicans/Episcopalians, believe a person can lose salvation by turning away from God and their faith, but that God’s grace can always be relied on to help them return.

Let’s take a look at the varying viewpoints:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.” (BCP, 1979, p. 298)
• Assembly of God: Assembly of God Christian adherents believe salvation can be lost: “The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: Baptists believe salvation cannot be lost: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.” (SBC)
• Lutheran: Lutherans believe salvation can be lost when a believer does not persist in the faith: “…it is possible for a true believer to fall from faith, as Scripture itself soberly and repeatedly warns us…A person may be restored to faith in the same way he or she came to faith…by repenting of his or her sin and unbelief and trusting completely in the life, death and resurrection of Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.” (LCMS)
• Methodist: Methodists believe salvation can be lost: “God accepts my choice… and continues to reach out to me with the grace of repentance to bring me back to the way of salvation and sanctification.” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: With reformed theology at the core of Presbyterian beliefs, the church teaches that a person who truly has been regenerated by God, will remain in God’s stead. (PCUSA; Reformed.org)
• Roman Catholic: Catholics believe salvation can be lost: “The first effect of mortal sin in man is to avert him from his true last end, and deprive his soul of sanctifying grace.” Final perseverance is a gift from God, but man must cooperate with the gift. (CE)

Faith vs. Works

The doctrinal question of whether salvation is by faith or by works has divided Christian denominations for centuries. Baptists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, believe that salvation relies on faith alone and that good works result from true faith. Roman Catholics believe that both faith and good works are necessary for salvation. Anglicans/Episcopalians and Methodists believe that salvation is by faith, but also believe that good works are an important response to God’s grace and a demonstration of faith.

The following is how different Christian denominations view faith vs. works:

• Anglican/Episcopal: “Albeit that Good Works…cannot put away our sins…yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith…” (39 Articles Anglican Communion)
• Assembly of God: “Good works are very important to the believer. When we appear before the judgment seat of Christ, what we have done while in the body, whether good or bad, will determine our reward. But good works can only issue out of our right relationship with Christ.” (AG.org)
• Baptist: “All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society…We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick… ” (SBC)
• Lutheran: “Before God only those works are good which are done for the glory of God and the good of man, according to the rule of divine Law. Such works, however, no man performs unless he first believes that God has forgiven him his sins and has given him eternal life by grace…” (LCMS)
• Methodist: “Although good works…cannot put away our sins…they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith…” (UMC)
• Presbyterian: Positions vary depending on the branch of Presbyterianism.
• Roman Catholic: Works have merit in Catholicism. “An indulgence is obtained through the Church who…intervenes in favor of each individual Christian and opens for them the treasury of the metis of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion…(Indulgentarium Doctrina 5, Catholic Answers)

If you found this information useful, please check out our website for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Christian Denominations appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

Are we living in the end times? How can you know for sure? Here are 19 signs, straight from the Bible, that show how close we are to the end of this age.

Is it Possible to Know the End is Near?

Yes. In Matthew 24, after Jesus gave a sequence of events that would happen at the end of the age, He said, “when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matthew 24:33)

Jesus Christ has given specific signs of the end times so we would be able to know when the end is near.

Sign 1: The Rise of Great Britain and America

Did you know that the Bible foretold that two powerful nations would rise in 1788? One nation would be the leader of a group of nations and become the greatest empire in history. The other nation would become the wealthiest and most powerful nation in history.

This prophecy about the last days was fulfilled right on time by Great Britain and the United States of America.

Sign 2: An Explosion of Knowledge

The book of Daniel in the Bible contains many prophecies about the end times. After the angel Michael told Daniel the sequence of end-time events, he said:

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.” (Daniel 12:4)

This statement foretold that a short time before the end, there would be an increase in travel and knowledge. Has this been fulfilled? Just look around you.

Sign 3: The Jews Return to the Land of Israel

In 1916, during World War I, Great Britain and France made a secret treaty to divide the Middle East and create a special international zone in the area of modern Israel. With help from the British, the Arabs began a revolt, and soon after the allied forces invaded Palestine. These events opened the way for the Jews to return to the land of Israel.

Many Bible prophecies show that many of the Jews will be living in the land of Israel at the end of the age. In fact, the Bible even foretold that 1916 would be a major turning point for the Jewish people.

Sign 4: The Rise of Germany

After World War II, most people were sure that Germany would never rise again. But those who understood end-time Bible prophecy confidently foretold that Germany would rise again to become the leading power in Europe and the world. Germany’s recent pledge to spend 100 billion euros to build up its army is fulfilling prophecies about the end-time.

Sign 5: The Decline of the USA and Northwestern Europe

Great Britain used to be the leading nation in the world. Now, especially after Brexit, Great Britain is struggling to find its place in the world.

In 2021 the world watched as America ran away from Afghanistan as the Taliban reversed decades of war in a few days.

The troubles in America and Great Britain, Canada and Australia, France and the rest of Northwestern Europe are obvious.

The Bible predicts many specific troubles these countries are experiencing now, and will experience in the next few years. Will America and the West recover from these troubles or will they collapse?

Sign 6: Skepticism and Disbelief

The Bible foretells that in the last days, many people will scoff at Bible prophecies:

in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his arrival? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

In the past 150 years several billion people have learn at home and at school that there is no God and the Bible is a book of myths. Even some who claim to be Christians have no interest in end-time prophecy, because they don’t think anything important will happen any time soon. This lack of belief is one sign of the end times.

Sign 7: Widespread Selfishness

Here is another sign of the end times:

But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. (1 Timothy 3:1-5)

Is this an accurate description of our age? You decide.

Sign 8: The Rise of a False Christianity

When Jesus taught His followers about the end times, the very first thing He said was:

Watch out so that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5)

Many people think Jesus was only warning about people who claim to be Christ. But Jesus was also warning of a more subtle danger. He said that there would be many who come in His name, in the name of Christianity, and who say that Jesus is the Christ.

The Bible foretells that at the end-time, a powerful, miracle-working prophet will deceive the world with his signs. What you may not realize, is that the Bible show that this prophet will claim to be the legitimate leader of Christianity!

Sign 9: Wars, Famine, Disease, and Death

Among the sign that Jesus foretold would come before the end are wars, news of war, famine, disease, and death (Matthew 24:6-7). There are wars, famines, and disease now, but the troubles that Jesus predicted will come after a false Christianity begins to rise. In the final stage of these troubles, one-quarter of humanity will die (Revelation 6:8). The end will not come until after one-quarter of the world’s population dies.

Sign 10: The Persecution of Real Christians

Jesus told His followers:

At that time they will hand you over to oppression, and will kill you. And you will be hated by all the nations because of My name. (Matthew 24:9)

This persecution will not come on all who claim to be Christians. It will be directed at those who actually follow and teach what Jesus taught. But those who endure these trials will be counted worthy to escape the Great Tribulation.

Sign 11: The True Gospel is Preached

Jesus said that shortly before the end of the age, the gospel of the Kingdom would be preached everywhere in the world:

And this good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

There are still many who have not heard Christ’s true gospel yet. This sign has not been completed yet.

And just what is “the gospel of the Kingdom”?

Sign 12: A Muslim Attack on Europe

In the book of Daniel we find a prophecy about a war between the King of the South and the King of the North. This war marks the beginning of “the time of the end” (Daniel 11:40).

The King of the North, coming out of Europe, will respond to this attack with an invasion of North Africa and the Middle East. He will conquer Egypt, invade many lands, and many of the countries of North Africa and the Middle East will submit to him.

Sign 13: Sacrifices Stop in Jerusalem

Just 45 days after the war in North Africa the Middle East begins, the King of the North will stop the daily sacrifices in Jerusalem and set up an image in the holy place called the Abomination of Desolation.

That means that the Jews must begin performing daily sacrifices in Jerusalem before this prophecy can be fulfilled. However, one prophecy indicates that the daily sacrifices may only begin a short time before they are stopped (Hosea 5:6-7).

Sign 14: A Group of People are Taken Away

The Bible says that there is a specific group of people who will be protected during the tribulation. Who are they? Where will they be taken?

Sign 15: The Great Tribulation

Jesus described the Great Tribulation in this way:

then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

This will be a time of trouble for many, but the Bible actually predicts that it will be a time of great prosperity for some. During the Great Tribulation, the False Prophet will force everyone to receive the Mark of the Beast.

Sign 16: The Day of the Lord

What is the “Day of the Lord”? How is it different from the Great Tribulation? The Bible actually says that the day of the Lord does not begin until after the Great Tribulation is finished.

Sign 17: The Return of Christ

Finally, at the end of the Day of the Lord, Jesus Christ will appear in the sky. Everyone will see Him, and everyone will hear the sound of a loud trumpet. At that time, Jesus will be proclaimed as the King of the earth. But the world will not immediately accept their king.

Sign 18: Armageddon

Shortly after Christ appears in the sky, the nations of the world will form a plan to overthrow Him (Psalms 2). Huge armies will gather at Mount Megiddo (Armageddon) in Northern Israel, and from there they will march toward Jerusalem to fight Christ.

Sign 19: The Kingdom of God is Established on Earth

This may surprise you, but the Bible clearly foretells that God will set up His Kingdom on Earth—not heaven.

God Wants You to Study End-Time Prophecy

Think about this: Should you believe what some random guy put on the internet?

Absolutely not!

You shouldn’t believe anything you just read, unless you can prove it in the Bible. Yes. God actually wants you to read the Bible!

The Bible says:

 “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)

Are you going to do what the Bible says?

Are you going to learn what the Bible really says about the end times, before it’s too late?

If not, you will be deceived by the false Christianity that Jesus said would dominate the world at the end (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 13:14).

You need to understand Bible prophecy so you will recognize what is happening in the world and will know how you can escape from the trouble ahead.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post End Times Prophecies of the Bible appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

The Knights Templar was a large organization of devout Christians during the medieval era who carried out an important mission: to protect European travelers visiting sites in the Holy Land while also carrying out military operations. A wealthy, powerful and mysterious order that has fascinated historians and the public for centuries, tales of the Knights Templar, their financial and banking acumen, their military prowess and their work on behalf of Christianity during the Crusades still circulate throughout modern culture.

Who Were the Knights Templar?

After Christian armies captured Jerusalem from Muslim control in 1099 during the Crusades, groups of pilgrims from across Western Europe started visiting the Holy Land. Many of them, however, were robbed and killed as they crossed through Muslim-controlled territories during their journey.

Around 1118, a French knight named Hugues de Payens created a military order along with eight relatives and acquaintances, calling it the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon—later known simply as the Knights Templar.

With the support of Baldwin II, the ruler of Jerusalem, they set up headquarters on that city’s sacred Temple Mount, the source of their now-iconic name, and pledged to protect Christian visitors to Jerusalem.

The Pope’s Endorsement

Initially, the Knights Templar faced criticism from some religious leaders. But in 1129, the group received the formal endorsement of the Catholic Church and support from Bernard of Clairvaux, a prominent French abbot. Bernard authored “In Praise of the New Knighthood,” a text that glorified the Knights Templar and bolstered their growth.

In 1139, Pope Innocent II issued a Papal Bull that allowed the Knights Templar special rights. Among them, the Templars were exempt from paying taxes, permitted to build their own oratories and were held to no one’s authority except the Pope’s.

The Knights Templar at Work

The Knights Templar set up a prosperous network of banks and gained enormous financial influence. Their banking system allowed religious pilgrims to deposit assets in their home countries and withdraw funds in the Holy Land.

The order became known for its austere code of conduct (which included no pointy shoes and no kissing their mothers, rules outlined in “The Rule of the Templars”) and signature style of dress, which featured a white habit emblazoned with a simple red cross.

Members swore an oath of poverty, chastity and obedience. They weren’t allowed to drink, gamble or swear. Prayer was essential to their daily life, and the Templars expressed particular adoration for the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.

As the Knights Templar grew in size and status, it established new chapters throughout Western Europe. At the height of their influence, the Templars boasted a sizable fleet of ships, owned the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and served as a primary bank and lending institution to European monarchs and nobles.

Expanded Duties of the Knights

Though its original purpose was to protect pilgrims from danger, the Knights Templar progressively expanded its duties. They became defenders of the Crusader states in the Holy Land and were known as brave, highly skilled warriors.

The group developed a reputation as fierce fighters during the Crusades, driven by religious fervor and forbidden from retreating unless significantly outnumbered.

The Templars built numerous castles and fought—and often won—battles against Islamic armies. Their fearless style of fighting became a model for other military orders.

The Fall of the Knights Templar

In the late 12th century, Muslim armies retook Jerusalem and turned the tide of the Crusades, forcing the Knights Templar to relocate several times. The Fall of Acre in 1291 marked the destruction of the last remaining Crusader refuge in the Holy Land.

European support for the military campaigns in the Holy Land began to erode over the decades that followed. Additionally, many secular and religious leaders became increasingly critical of the Templars’ wealth and power.

By 1303, the Knights Templar lost its last foothold in the Muslim world and established a base of operations in Paris. There, King Philip IV of France resolved to bring down the order, perhaps because the Templars had denied the indebted ruler additional loans.

Arrests and Executions

On Friday, October 13, 1307, scores of French Templars were arrested, including the order’s grand master Jacques de Molay.

Many of the knights were brutally tortured until they confessed to false charges, which included heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, devil-worshipping, fraud, spitting on the cross and more.

A few years later, dozens of Templars were burned at the stake in Paris for their confessions. De Molay was executed in 1314.

Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V reluctantly dissolved the Knights Templar in 1312. The group’s property and monetary assets were given to a rival order, the Knights Hospitallers. However, it’s thought by some that King Philip and King Edward II of England seized most of the Knights Templar’s wealth.

The Knights Templar Today

The Catholic Church has acknowledged that the persecution of the Knights Templar was unjustified. The church claims that Pope Clement was pressured by secular rulers to destroy the order.

While most historians agree that the Knights Templar fully disbanded 700 years ago, there are some people who believe the order went underground and remains in existence in some form to this day.

In the 18th century, some groups, most notably the Freemasons, revived several of the medieval knights’ symbols, rituals and traditions.

Currently, there are several international organizations styled after the Knights Templar that the public can join. These groups have representatives around the world and aim to uphold the values and traditions of the original medieval order.

Throughout the years, various tales have surfaced about the knights’ mysterious work. More recently, stories about the legendary Templars have found their way into popular books and movies.

Some historians have claimed that the Knights Templar may have secretly guarded the Shroud of Turin (a linen cloth believed to be placed on the body of Jesus Christ before burial) for hundreds of years after the Crusades ended.

Another widespread belief is that the knights discovered and kept religious artifacts and relics, such as the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and parts of the cross from Christ’s crucifixion.

Various other ideas and myths exist about the Knights Templar’s secret operations. The popular novel and film The Da Vinci Code presents a theory that the Templars were involved in a conspiracy to preserve the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

Although much of these speculations are considered fictional, there’s no question that the Knights Templar have provoked intrigue and fascination and will likely continue to do so for years to come.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Knights Templar appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel refer to the sons of the Jewish Patriarch Jacob and are important for the tribal lineages of those who constituted the nation of Israel. In the ancient world, all ethnic groups developed stories of their ancestors in what are known as foundation myths as bloodlines were important in maintaining ancestral lineage and provided status as identity markers.

The twelve sons of Jacob, in order of their birth, are:

• Reuben
• Simeon
• Levi
• Judah
• Dan
• Naphtali
• Gad
• Asher
• Issachar
• Zebulun
• Joseph (Manasseh, Ephraim)
• Benjamin

Birth order was important in the practice of primogeniture, or the eldest son inheriting most of his father’s resources, and then distribution following the rank of the others. In the biblical narrative, after the death of Joseph in Egypt, his portion was given to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Each son’s status was later coordinated in the tribal territories they received in Canaan. Jacob undoubtedly had other daughters, but only one is mentioned, Dinah (see below).

Jacob

Jacob was the younger son of Isaac and Rebecca. Isaac was the child of the promise given by the God of Israel, to Abraham, the traditional founder of the nation. Jacob stole his brother’s birthright (as the eldest) and had to flee East to Haran (Northern Iraq), where some of Abraham’s relatives still lived. There he met Rachel at the well and asked her father Laban for her hand. Laban required that Jacob work for him for seven years first. He did so, but the night of the wedding revealed that it was the older sister, Leah, who was given. Jacob protested, but Laban told him to work another seven years and he could have Rachel as well.

The narrative then goes into quite elaborate detail concerning Jacob’s children. At first, Leah gave birth to some sons, while Rachel was barren. Rachel then offered Jacob her servant (an ancient form of surrogate motherhood in the case of infertility). Leah then became barren for a while and offered her servant as well. All this activity reflected the later traditions as to where and why the sons inherited certain tribal areas in the land of Canaan. It was tied to the identity of their mothers, Leah and Rachel, and the two servant women, Bilhah and Zilpah.

Wanting to go home and reconcile himself with his brother, on the way back Jacob was accosted at night by a being with whom he wrestled. Various retellings describe a man, God, or an angel. Jacob demanded a blessing, and he now received a new name: “Israel” or “one that struggled with the divine angel or with God and lived”. Hence, all his descendants became Israelites.

In Canaan

Genesis offers a few more stories about Jacob and his children’s life after their return to Canaan. Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. She went to visit some women in Shechem. The son of the local chief Hamor, who was also named Shechem, took her and raped her. Shechem loved Dinah and asked his father to obtain her from Jacob (34:6-10).

“Then Shechem’s father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob. Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done. But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. You can settle among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade in it, and acquire property in it.” (34:6-10)

Because their sister had been defiled, Simeon and Levi insisted that Shechem had to be circumcised first. Hamor and Shechem agreed and convinced all the Shechemites to undergo the rite as well. Three days later, “while all of them were still in pain” (Genesis 34:25), Simeon and Levi slaughtered Hamor, Shechem, and the entire clan, looting their villages. Some modern scholars consider this story as being inserted later, with Jewish ideas of impurity arising from idolatrous Gentiles, non-Jews. In some periods of later Jewish history, there were bans against intermarriage with such people. Dinah is featured in the modern novel by Anita Diamant, The Red Tent.

Joseph

The two sons of Jacob by Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died in childbirth with Benjamin. Because of his love for Rachel, these were Jacob’s favorite sons. Joseph was a dream-interpreter and told his brothers about a dream where they encircled Joseph and bowed down to him. When a caravan came along on its way to Egypt, they sold Joseph into slavery. They took the special robe Jacob had made for Joseph, covered it in blood, and told Jacob that Joseph was dead. As a dream-interpreter, Joseph was able to decode Pharaoh’s dream and became the vizier of Egypt.

This set up the story of how the Twelve Tribes moved to Egypt. When there was a famine in Canaan, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to negotiate for food. They did not recognize Joseph, who played several tricks on them, but eventually, he forgave his brothers and told them to bring the clan to Egypt. They prospered in Egypt until a Pharaoh arose who did not remember Joseph and enslaved the Israelites to build his grain cities.

Jacob’s Deathbed Blessings

At the end of Genesis, when Jacob is dying, he addresses each of the sons (chapter 49). Deathbed blessings were honored (as carved in stone) and were used as a literary device to predict future events:

“Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it. [There was an earlier story that Reuben had sex with his father’s concubines (second, legal marriages)]. Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub … The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:1-10)

It continues to the last son. Again, the blessings reflect later traditions when the tribes were settled in the land. As firstborn, Reuben should have inherited the mantle of authority, but he sinned against his father. Simeon and Levi slaughtered the tribe of Shechem. This blessing explains why Judah, the fourth son, inherited the promise to rule over the others (in his descendant, King David). Levi, whose descendants were Moses and Aaron, did not receive a portion of land. Aaron became the first high-priest. Instead of land, Levities became the personnel of the Temple when it was built in Jerusalem. Not working the land, all the other tribes were to contribute to the upkeep of the Levites with their sacrificial offerings of meat, bread, and wine. The Levites were also assigned cities of refuge in the land.

From Tribal Confederation to Babylonian Exile

The books of Joshua, Judges, and 1 Samuel relate the conquest and settlement in Canaan after the Jews escaped from Egypt (Exodus). By tradition, the Jews were told at Mount Sinai that they should not be like the other nations. This applied to governance as well; Israel was to have no human king because God was their king. Upon settlement in Canaan, the Israelites ruled through a tribal confederation. This was a joint venture to organize battles against the Canaanites, as well as the later Philistines. At this time the Israelites had a portable tent of meeting that housed the Ark of the Covenant (containing the stones tablets of the laws that God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai). To avoid jealously and any tribe claiming dominance, the tent was rotated among the various tribal lands. These various cult sites (such as Shiloh) produced many of the sources and stories of the tribes for this period.

When the Tribal Confederation was not sufficient to fight the Philistines, the people asked the Prophet Samuel to “give us a king” (1 Samuel 8:5). The first king, Saul, was a poor model, and when he was killed, the tribes elected David as king. This period became known as the united monarchy and was viewed as a golden age. His son, Solomon, built the first Temple complex in the new capital of Jerusalem.

Despite Solomon’s fame of wealth and wisdom, his building programs conscripted labor from the tribes. After Solomon’s death (c. 920 BCE?), the tribes approached his son to stop the practice. He refused. Ten of the tribes seceded and formed a separate kingdom in Northern Israel. Two tribes remained loyal, Judah and Benjamin, and formed their own kingdom in the South (the kingdom of Judah). For the next two hundred years, these kingdoms sometimes joined to fight off foreign invaders, but quite often fought each other (2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles).

In 722 BCE, the Assyrian Empire invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel and destroyed it. The Assyrians had a policy designed to squelch any future rebellion from a conquered territory. They literally exchanged populations by moving out the Israelites and replacing them with their own people. The destination and survival of these ten tribes remains a mystery. They became the ten lost tribes of Israel, lost to history.

The Assyrian Empire was conquered by the neo-Babylonian Empire. The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom in 587 BCE and destroyed Solomon’s Temple. With a similar foreign policy, the captives were taken to Babylon. This period is known as the Babylonian Exile (being exiled from the land). When Cyrus the Great (r. c. 550-530 BCE), founder of the Achaemenid Empire conquered the Babylonians, he permitted the Jews to return and rebuild their Temple (539 BCE). Thus, the two southern tribes, Benjamin and Judah were the only tribes who survived.

The Books of the Prophets

The Prophets of Israel served as oracles, or the way in which ancient people communicated with their gods. Prophets were called by God to issue teachings, warnings, and details of social justice. It is in the books of the Prophets where we find an explanation of why God had permitted these disasters. God had used the foreign powers to punish Israel for its sins, the greatest of which was permitting idolatry in the land. At the same time, the Prophets offered a message of hope that God would ultimately intervene in human history one more time, in “the final days” (eschaton in Greek). God would raise up a messiah (“anointed one”), a descendant of David. At that time, there would be a final battle followed by a final judgment. The wicked would be condemned to Hell, while the righteous would have a new Eden on earth, God’s original plan for humanity. At that time, the glory of Israel would be restored, and the rest of the nations subjected to its authority. This included a dominant theme of the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel, gathered from distant lands.

According to the Prophet Ezekiel:

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel,’ declares the sovereign Lord.” (39:25-29)

In 330 BCE, Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 BCE) conquered the Eastern Mediterranean, including Israel, and instituted Greek rule. The Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BCE) succeeded in victory over the Greeks, and Jewish rule lasted for about a hundred years until Rome conquered Israel in 63 BCE. This period saw an increased hope for Israel, with several self-proclaimed messiah figures, pleading for God’s intervention now. The idea of the restoration of Israel was revitalized in this period.

Christianity

Christians claimed that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah predicted by the Prophets. He preached the same message as the Prophets but also that the kingdom of God was now imminent. His ministry included the calling of twelve disciples (“students” in Greek), symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel. The gospels do not always agree on the names, and Luke reported that there were 70 others. However, they are consistently referred to as “the twelve”. In Luke’s version of the last supper, their role in the coming kingdom is explicit: “You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28-30).

In Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, he utilized the quote from Ezekiel (above) in his narration of the event of Pentecost. Jews were present in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (“from every nation on earth”), and this is when “the spirit of God” was poured out upon Jesus’ followers. In the book of Revelation, John of Patmos wrote about the 144,000 martyrs in heaven (12×12=144). In his vision of the restored Jerusalem, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the city gates (21:12-13).

Searching for the Lost Tribes

The search for the ten lost tribes of Israel began in antiquity and continues in the modern world. Several writings from late antiquity and the Middle Ages suggested areas to the East of Israel as well as locations in Africa, especially Ethiopia which had a community of Jews. The Beta Israel community of Ethiopia claimed to be descendants of the tribe of Dan. (These Jews were later airlifted to Israel during Operation Solomon at the end of the Eritrean/Ethiopian civil war 1991). With sporadic persecutions of the Jews of Russia and Europe, the hope for a homeland (Zionism) became an important theme that included ways in which to gather in all the lost tribes.

The Assyrian Empire, later conquered by the Babylonians and then the Persians, included a vast territory from Syria to Afghanistan, from northern Arabia to the Black Sea and southern Russia. The region contained the Silk Road, the caravan routes to China and India, and this gave rise to speculation that the tribes could be found among the various peoples of this region. A popular idea was that either the Scythians or the Cimmerians were ancient Jews who adopted tribal customs, and from these regions, tribes spread to Russia, and eventually to Europe.

Abraham Mordechai Farissol (1451-1525) was the first Jewish writer to claim that the indigenous natives of America were the lost tribes. Aaron Levi, who traveled in these regions, claimed that he witnessed the tribes practicing Jewish rituals and they were the descendants of Reuben and Levi. Others claimed that the Jewish communities in India were the descendants. The ten lost tribes began to be identified with Jews who lived in the regions of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Kurdistan, Kashmir, and among the Tartars of Russia, Japan, and China.

During the 19th century, Joseph Smith, founder of the community of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, claimed that native American tribes were the descendants of the ten who emigrated to the Americas before the Babylonian destruction (587 BCE). The claim included the idea that Jesus came to the Americas to visit them.

With the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948, some Israelis promoted the idea that true restoration would not be achieved without finding the ten lost tribes. Research institutes were established to utilize the new sciences of DNA and genome studies. Using DNA examples of peoples in the Asiatic and African regions, there is some connection to dominant traits of Semitic people of the Middle East (Arabs and Jews), although these mixed over the centuries with local genetic strains. The research continues.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post The Twelve Tribes of Israel appeared first on Precision Background Screening.