"British Israelism is one of the major teachings, of the antichrist theology. It is also referred to as Anglo-Israelism. Basically it is the unscriptural theory. It is also referred to as Anglo-Israelism. Basically it is the unscriptural theory that Britain and the United States constitute the ten lost tribes of Israel who were carried away as captives by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The advocates of this view teach that the Kingdom of Israel (consisting of ten tribes after their separation from the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the days of Rehoboam - I Kings 12:21) never returned to Israel after Assyrian captivity as did Judah and Benjamin after their 70 years' captivity in Babylon.

"The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) are "lost" after their capture by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Through intermarriage with other nations, their unique national identity is "lost". Great Britain and the USA [including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] are believed to be the Anglo-Saxon ancestors of the tribes Ephraim and Manasseh (predominantly), so it may be inferred by British- Israelism that white, English speaking people are really the chosen people of God.

"It is also believed that the Jews who were living in Israel at the time of Christ are now under a curse for rejecting the Messiah. The Israelites (the lost 10 tribes) now become the inheritors of God's promises. Ephraim and Manasseh (the two sons of Joseph) are the major inheritors of the title "Israelites" along with the other eight tribes whose descendants are spread in other parts of the world. Because of this dispersal, it is believed that the Queen of England now sits on the throne of David.

"This theory was first put forward around the year 1519.. As with all cults, once an unscriptural perspective has been taken, the next step is to find a scripture which will support that doctrine. The key verses for British Israelism is 2 Kings 17:18-23:

"Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only." (2Kings 17:18) Here "out of His sight" is interpreted as "disappeared into oblivion." "There was none left but the tribe of Judah only " is interpreted as "descendants of Judah are the only tribes in existence today." (Today, The Bible and You, PO Box 690628, Tulsa, Ok 74169, April 1999)