Hebrew Israelite Leader Proves He Can’t Read the Bible!

The Hebrew Israelite movement has been growing in influence, with groups like IUIC (Israel United in Christ), led by Bishop Nathanyel, aggressively pushing their beliefs.

They claim that Christianity is a deception, that Jesus and the Israelites were Black, and that only Black, Hispanic, and Native American people—whom they believe are the true Israelites—can receive salvation.

But the real question is: Do their teachings align with the Scripture?

In a recent livestream, Bishop Nathanyel misquoted the Bible multiple times, twisting the Scripture to fit his ideology. Instead of proving his claims, he exposed his own inability to read the Bible in context.

His attacks on Christianity were built on distorted interpretations, not Biblical truth.

I want to break down his arguments, show you where he went wrong, and explain why his misuse of the Scripture is not just misleading but dangerous.

Hebrew Israelites and Their Attacks on Christianity

Before diving into specific verses, let’s talk about the tactics Hebrew Israelites use. Many of them, including Bishop Nathanyel, don’t argue against real Christianity—instead, they attack a false, distorted version of it.

They argue that Christianity promotes white supremacy, that people manipulated the Bible, and that fake Israelites replaced the true ones. But here’s the problem—Christianity was never about race. 

The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not ethnic identity. Share on X

The Hebrew Israelites’ entire doctrine is based on race, not redemption. Instead of focusing on spiritual transformation, they focus on ancestry, ignoring key passages where the Bible says salvation is for all nations.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27

God did not choose Israel because they were the strongest, the biggest, or the most important nation. He chose them to display His grace, faithfulness, and power.

The same applies to salvation today—it’s not about ethnicity but God’s mercy and promise.

Christ Came from the Tribe of Judah – Understanding the Term ‘Jew’

Bishop Nathanyel and Hebrew Israelites insist that because Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, He must have been a Black man. However, this completely misunderstands what it means to be from Judah.

The word “Jew” originally referred to descendants of the tribe of Judah, but by the time of Jesus, it was used broadly for anyone in Israelite territory who followed Jewish customs.

Their claim that “Jew” is an exclusively racial term is not historically or Biblically accurate.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” — Deuteronomy 7:7-8

God chose Israel not because of their race, but because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Hebrew Israelites twist God’s choice of Israel into a doctrine of racial superiority, but the Bible never teaches that Israel was chosen because of skin color.

Song of Solomon 1:5

Another verse that Bishop Nathanyel misused was Song of Solomon 1:5. He confidently quoted this verse to “prove” that King Solomon was Black:

“I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.”

Bishop Nathanyel declared that this was Solomon speaking about himself which, according to him, proves that Solomon was a Black man. But there’s just one problem—Solomon isn’t the one speaking in this verse.

If you actually read the chapter in context, it’s clear that a woman is speaking, not Solomon. The Song of Solomon is a poetic dialogue between Solomon and his bride.

If Bishop Nathanyel had just read the surrounding verses, he would have seen that this line was spoken by a woman describing herself, not Solomon.

• The verse never says that Solomon himself is Black.
• The verse never claims that all Israelites are Black.
• The Hebrew Israelites ignore that the speaker is a woman, not Solomon.

If Hebrew Israelites were correct in their interpretation, then they would also have to explain why the same speaker says in verse 6:

“Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me.” — Song of Solomon 1:6

The passage suggests that this woman’s dark complexion was a result of sun exposure, not an ethnic or racial identity. If Solomon being Black was such an important theological truth, why does the Bible never clearly say it?

What This Verse Actually Means

Song of Solomon is poetry. The purpose of this book is to express love and devotion, not to establish the racial identity of Biblical figures.

Hebrew Israelites read their racial ideology into the text, rather than allowing the text to speak for itself.

The fact that Bishop Nathanyel had to cherry-pick a single verse from a poetic book shows how weak his argument is.

If the Bible actually taught that Solomon and all Israelites were Black, why would he need to pull verses out of context to make that claim?

The truth is, there is no strong Biblical evidence for his claim—only misinterpretation and manipulation of the Scripture.

This is the same tactic Hebrew Israelites use in other parts of the Bible. They twist verses that have nothing to do with race and try to make them fit their racially exclusive doctrine.

But when you take a closer look at the actual context, their argument completely falls apart.

Romans 9:4 

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” – Romans 9:4

Bishop Nathanyel claims this proves that God’s promises apply only to Israelites and that Gentiles cannot be saved. However, he misinterprets Paul’s words.

God did not choose Israel to keep salvation exclusive but to bring light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). He intended the Israelites to bless all people, not to hoard His grace.

Christianity teaches that a person can know about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob without knowing their skin tone and still be a child of Abraham.

Why? Because throughout the Bible, the message is clear—

Justification comes by faith, not by racial identity. Share on X

Paul himself addresses this issue head-on:

“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” — Galatians 3:7

Hebrew Israelites completely miss the point of the Gospel. The New Testament calls believers to move beyond racial distinctions and focus on spiritual rebirth.

However, groups like IUIC pull people back into an identity-based religion.

Rather than emphasizing what it means to be born again, they focus on convincing people to accept their racial identity as Israelites.

But even if someone could prove direct descent from Abraham, it would not change their standing before God.

The truth is, being a physical descendant of Abraham does not grant you salvation—faith in Christ does.

Who’s Who in Philadelphia

Bishop Nathanyel also cited Who’s Who in Philadelphia by Charles Fred White (1912) to support his claims. He argued that the book proves King Solomon identified as Black, that Jews mixed with the African breed, and that Jesus Christ was a Negro.

This claim is historically weak for several reasons. A single book from the early 20th century is not a reliable source for proving ancient Israelite lineage.

The Bible, along with archaeological and historical records, provides more reliable information about the Israelites’ identity and migration.

Who’s Who in Philadelphia was a biographical record of notable Black figures, not a historical or archaeological study.

Hebrew Israelites misuse the book to support their claims, even though it lacks solid genealogical evidence linking African Americans to the ancient Israelites.

If one book could prove Israelite heritage, anyone could make the same claim using an old publication with a similar assertion.

The Danger of Twisting Scripture

Bishop Nathanyel and other Hebrew Israelite leaders misrepresent Christianity by attacking a false version of it. Their attacks rely on distorted history, cherry-picked Bible verses, and racial identity claims instead of focusing on the true message of the Gospel.

Their doctrine focuses more on race than on Christ. They emphasize ethnic superiority over spiritual renewal. But the Bible teaches the opposite:

“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” — Luke 19:40

The truth of who Jesus is and who can be saved is so undeniable that even creation itself would testify to it if people remained silent.

Christianity is not about race—it’s about faith in Jesus Christ. The true Gospel invites all people to salvation, regardless of ethnicity. Share on X

If you found this discussion insightful, check out this article on how a Muslim preacher attempts to refute Jesus’ divinity but failed. It explores how even skeptics and religious leaders have had to acknowledge the undeniable truth of Scripture.

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