JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

May 1988

Dear Friend:

You asked about the identity of the "other sheep" mentioned in John 10:16.

Christ said, "And OTHER SHEEP I have, which are not of THIS FOLD: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and ONE SHEPHERD" (John 10:16).

"This fold" refers to Judah -- the Jews -- who were living in Judea. Christ come to His own -- to the Jews -- and His own received Him not (John 1:11). Christ was born of the tribe of Judah, but the Jews rejected Him saying, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14).

Who are the "other sheep"? They are the OTHER tribes of Israel. Israel (Jacob) had more than one son -- he had twelve sons. The "other sheep" then are the descendants of the other sons of Jacob. Christ referred to them (the other tribes of Israel) as "the LOST SHEEP of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:6). The Jews referred to the other tribes of Israel as "the dispersed among the Gentiles" (John 7:35).

Israel and Judah became TWO SEPARATE NATIONS (houses) during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. For information on where the OTHER tribes of Israel were at the time of Christ and where they are today, request our free booklet THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY. The "other sheep," or the lost tribes of Israel, were NOT in Judea.

Some have thought that the gentiles represent the "other sheep." Yet, it must be remembered that only the descendants of Jacob (Israel) are referred to as "sheep" in all the Bible. The gentiles can obtain salvation through Christ (Eph. 2:11-13), but nationally they are never referred to as "sheep."

Christ concluded by saying, "And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). When will the house of Judah and the house of Israel be one fold and have one king and one shepherd?

The prophet Ezekiel gives the answer (Ezek. 37:21-28). David will be that king with Christ, the chief shepherd (verses24-25). Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Jeremiah 30:9 show that David is to be resurrected from the dead and made king. The resurrection from the dead occurs at Christ's Second Coming to this earth (I Thess. 4:13-15; I Cor. 15:20-23, 50-52). Christ will then establish the new covenant with the house of Israel AND the house of Judah (Heb. 8:8-10; Jer. 31:31-33; 50:4-5).

Thus, the "other sheep" are the other tribes of Israel.

Thank you for your interest. If you have further questions, please feel welcome to write.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT