Dear COGWA: You're Still Not Israelites

I'm not the most sentimental gal in the world, but I've always had a soft spot for Sarmatians. Maybe it's because they rhyme with "dalmatians," which are undeniably cute, even to a tomboy like me. Maybe it's because, up until a few years ago, I believed they were my ancestors. Females are allowed to be indecisive, right?

Anyway, when I saw that COGWA just posted an article today discussing artifacts excavated from the tomb of a Sarmatian noblewoman,  I just HAD to read it:

"This past summer, an amazing discovery was made near Rostov-on-Don, a Russian port city on the north coast of the Black Sea," wrote COGWA blogger Erik Jones. "Archaeologists were excavating the 2,000-year-old tomb of a Sarmatian noblewoman. To their surprise, among the artifacts discovered in the tomb was an object they never expected to be there: a carnelian seal engraved in ancient Hebrew!"

Jones posits that archaeologists will probably explain away this discovery as an example of trade in the ancient world.

"But could there possibly be more to it?," he asks. "In fact, it is very possible that this discovery sheds light on an even greater ancient mystery."

Jones goes on to explain that this astounding finding supports COGWA's teaching, carried over from the theories of Herbert W Armstrong, that the "lost" 10 tribes of Israel migrated west and eventually settled in Europe and the United States of America.

Oh, THAT'S right. Now I remember why I like the Sarmatians so much. It's because they and their Scythian cousins totally ruin Armstrong's theory on the lost 10 tribes, also known as British Israelism.

Jones, COGWA and other Armstrong-inspired groups claim that the Scythians descended from the lost 10 tribes of Israel. The Sarmatians pushed the Scythians out of the Black Sea region into continental Europe.

It's true that the Sarmatians dominated and eventually displaced the Scythians from the Black Sea region, likely in the 2nd century B.C. But we aren't talking about a clash of cultures here. We are talking about a tribal rivalry. The Scythians and Sarmatians were closely related. Sarmatians even spoke Scythian.

What's more, we know that the Scythians were not related to Western Europeans. Oh yeah? How can you say that? What did you do? Dig up some Scythians and test their DNA?

In a word, yes. Not me, personally. But essentially, that's what happened. Tombs containing Scythian warrior bodies have been discovered in the Mongolian-Alatia mountains. Researchers excavated more than twenty tombs containing frozen and mummified human remains. Artifacts and possessions buried within them identified them as Scythians.

DNA testing proves that Scythians are closely related to the Sarmatians. Who, incidentally, worshiped fire, not Yahweh, according to the source Jones cited. And Sarmatians are Persians - Iranians. The Human Genome Project has determined that Palestinian Jews are and Arabs are related. While Persian DNA was a bit more diverse, likely due to the region being at the crossroads of ancient societies, testing showed many Persians came from the same genetic background as the Jews and Arabs. Which is in no way connected to the most prevalent genetic backgrounds in Western Europe. It's true that some Persians did migrate west into Europe. They were the predecessors of the Slavic peoples.

Please don't disregard these scientific findings just because they came from the same guys who brought you evolution. This is not biased scientists looking for the missing link. This is very specific research, done on a specific portion of human DNA, from actual people with proven ethnic and national origins who are walking the earth today. Or, at least, they were walking the earth during the Human Genome Project. Project research also included DNA gleaned from tribal artifacts and intact bodily remains. This scientific evidence is solid enough that it would be considered "proof in a modern court of law."

Jones' source promises to keep up with the Hebrew Seal mystery. We can be sure that COGWA will be checking in and using any discoveries to promote its failed theory of British Israelism. And you can be sure that we will be keeping an eye on COGWA.

For more information on the Human Genome Project and the disproven theory of the lost 10 tribes, please read our post, "Happy Thanksgiving, from my Gentile Family to Yours!".

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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