I understand your position, I do however disagree with it. In the book of 1st Kings Israel was split into two houses.
The house of Judah (some call Jews) are no longer Israel. As I stated the house of Israel became captives to the Assyrians.
The two tribe southern kingdom Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians. In 477 B.C.
* Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple of God (the same location of the Temple Mount in modern Israel). Note: At this time there are still no Jews, there is only the Kingdom of Judah. ‘
We see this separation in 2 Kings as Israel is at war with Judah.
You find the word ‘Jew’appears for the first time in 2 Kings 16:6, where the Southern Kingdom are fighting the Israelites in the North.
II Kings 16:6 "At that time Resin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day."
This distinction must be made accurately, because it presents itself time and time again.
saying,"
This is another vision, dealing still with the House of Israel. However the House of Israel is brought in to the picture, which is covering a later time period.
Ezekiel 37:16 "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: Then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:"
On the first stick, Ezekiel wrote the name of Judah, and it will represent all those who call themselves "Jews". It doesn't matter if they have Jewish blood or not, as long as they consider themselves of Judah. These people include those people of the tribes of Benjamin, and Judah, as well as part of the Levitical priesthood.
The whole "House of Israel", are all the Christian nations around the world. The English People are the offspring of the tribe of Ephraim, in large part. However, this second stick represents all the House of Israel that were divorced by God, and brought back as the "sons of the Living God".
By using the two sticks, God is symbolizing the division between Israel, and Judah, or in terms of today; Christian and Jew.
Ezekiel 37:17 "And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." ~ TSO