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The Gathering of Christ Church – What is it?

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TL;DR:

The Gathering of Christ Church claims to represent true biblical teaching, focusing on the "12 Lost Tribes of Israel" and denouncing paganism. However, its doctrines rely heavily on extra-biblical sources and unorthodox interpretations, including claims about God’s name and the identity of Israel’s tribes. The teachings of The Gathering of Christ Church diverge significantly from biblical Christianity and should be avoided.

what does the bible say?

The Gathering of Christ Church is a movement claiming to be "sending an epistle throughout the world to the 12 Lost Tribes of Israel, which are scattered abroad and to all the Gentiles who believe the true doctrine of Christ by denouncing paganism and are baptized into the fold of Christ, keeping the commandments contained in the Bible" (https://gatheringofchrist.org/our-beliefs/; accessed 3/10/2025). The statement sounds almost orthodox, but the reality is that the group teaches extra-biblical and confusing doctrines. The movement’s teachings about the twelve tribes of Israel and its identification of modern minority groups as their descendants lack biblical and historical support. The Gathering of Christ Church’s unorthodox teachings, including its distorted view of Israel and reliance on extra-biblical sources, place it outside the bounds of biblical Christianity. Its theology promotes confusion and divisiveness rather than the unity and clarity found in Christ (Ephesians 4:4–6).

Biblical prophecy must be interpreted in its proper context. Gathering of Christ Church misuses scriptures like Isaiah 42:22 and Deuteronomy 26:68. They link the Isaiah passage to Africans and Native people in North America and the Deuteronomy passage to the slave trade of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. But Isaiah 42:22 refers to Israel’s captivity by Babylon, and Deuteronomy 28:68 addresses God’s covenant relationship with Israel, not transatlantic slavery. Misusing these passages distorts their meaning and confuses their application.

from the old testament

  • Regarding God’s name, the Bible uses multiple names to reveal His character and relationship with His people, including Yahweh (Exodus 3:14), Elohim, Adonai, and Father. The claim that "Ahayah Ashar Ahayah" (from Exodus 3:14) is the only true name of God disregards the broader biblical testimony about God’s self-revelation.
  • Deuteronomy 4:2 warns against altering Scripture: "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God." Altering Scripture is a significant issue with the Gathering of Christ Church’s teachings.
  • Isaiah 42:22 describes Israel’s captivity under Babylon, not African or Native American experiences during European colonization. Proper context is essential in understanding biblical prophecy.

from the new testament

  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 tells us that "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." The Gathering of Christ Church undermines the sufficiency of Scripture by relying on extra-biblical texts.
  • The Gathering of Christ Church claims that Jews in the state of Israel and ethnic Jews elsewhere, this movement says, are not really Jews, but rather the "synagogue of Satan.” Scripture presents the Jewish people as historically traceable descendants of the tribes, and Revelation 2:9, which refers to the "synagogue of Satan," addresses first-century Jews in Smyrna, not modern Western powers or ethnic groups.
  • Revelation 22:18–19 also warns against altering or adding to God’s Word.

implications for today

The Gathering of Christ Church is a movement claiming to be "sending an epistle throughout the world to the 12 Lost Tribes of Israel, which are scattered abroad and to all the Gentiles who believe the true doctrine of Christ by denouncing paganism and are baptized into the fold of Christ, keeping the commandments contained in the Bible." The statement sounds almost orthodox, but the reality is that the group teaches extra-biblical and confusing doctrines.

First, the group claims the only true name of God is Ahayah Ashar Ahayah Ahayah (I am that I am in Hebrew). Yet, the Bible identifies God as Lord, God, Father, Savior, YWHW, and other names.

Perhaps the Gathering of Christ Church's most difficult doctrine has to do with the "Lost Tribes of Israel," which they claim are made up of minority groups in North and South America, and in the Pacific. Here's how the Gathering of Christ Church identifies the twelve tribes:

Reuben = Seminole Indians and Australian Aborigines

Simeon = Dominicans

Levi = Haitians

Judah = African-Americans

Naphtali = Pacific Islanders

Gad = most North American Indians

Asher = the South American Indians

Issachar = Mexicans

Zebulun = Central American Indians

Ephraim = Puerto Ricans

Manasseh = Cubans

Benjamin = Jamaicans

The Gathering of Christ Church calls Jews today "the Roman powers" and identifies them as Western cultures that oppress Africans and native people in the Americas. In the biblical context, Revelation 2:9 refers to a group of Jews in Smyrna in the first century AD; it has nothing to do with Western powers. The Gathering of Christ Church also identifies the slave trade of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries as the judgement of God against Israel foretold in Deuteronomy 28:68. It is difficult to see how they make such a connection. They also believe the Africans and Native people in North America are referred to in Isaiah 42:22, which, in biblical context, is a prophecy about Israel being taken into captivity by Babylon in 586 BC. The group also has some odd beliefs about the tribulation, which it says is imminent, and believes the Illuminati are running a New World Order to carry out the wishes of Satan. The Gathering of Christ Church desires to get out of the United States of America because they believe the USA will suffer first and most grievously from the new world governance.

Christians should avoid The Gathering of Christ Church while praying for its adherents and sharing the truth of the gospel when opportunities arise. As 1 Peter 3:15 encourages, believers should "always be prepared to make a defense" with gentleness and respect, focusing on the sufficiency of Scripture and the grace of Jesus Christ as the foundation of faith.

understand

  • The Gathering of Christ Church claims modern minority groups are the "12 Lost Tribes of Israel," but this lacks biblical support.
  • The movement uses extra-biblical texts instead of relying on Scripture.
  • The group misinterprets biblical prophecies and promotes divisive teachings about God's name and the identity of Israel.

reflect

  • How can we ensure our understanding of Scripture stays grounded in the Bible, rather than extra-biblical sources or misinterpretations?
  • How can we approach others who may be influenced by unorthodox teachings with both truth and grace?
  • What difficulties do you face in correcting wrong doctrine?

engage

  • Often ancient, extra-biblical sources are used as proofs for the teachings of the Gathering of Christ Church. Particularly noteworthy are the Book of Jasher and the Book of Enoch (neither inspired by God nor included in Orthodox Christian canon) and a book published in 1976 by Arthur Koestler called The Thirteenth Tribe. Why is it important to hold fast to the sufficiency of Scripture, as emphasized in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, when faced with teachings that add to or alter God’s Word?
  • What is the danger of misinterpreting biblical prophecies, and how can we avoid similar errors?
  • How can we effectively engage in discussions about the identity of Israel and God's name with individuals or groups who hold differing beliefs?

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