The following study is one that shows that Ephraim is a type (symbol) for the Christian church since the resurrection of Christ. Ephraim was the ruling tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the collective group of tribes (ten tribes: Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Menasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Gad and some of Levi) were known by "Ephraim" as a result. Ephraim was the youngest son of Joseph and whose mother was an Egyptian (named Asenath). It seems fitting that Christ (Joseph a type for Christ) would bring salvation to the outside world (the gentiles) where they are made fellow heirs to the nation Israel. Ephraim's mother is an Egyptian which is a symbol for the gentile world. Jesus takes the chosen gentiles of the world and has made them seed of Abraham...the promise made spiritually. Jacob "adopts" Ephraim and pronounces his blessings on him over Manasseh who was really the first born. Ephraim becomes part of the family Israel (Jacob). Since the Jews had rejected Jesus as the Messiah, it was predestined that the gentiles would receive the Kingdom of God. Being rejected by the Jews was an affliction and the gentiles were without God in their world and so were afflicted as well....without hope.
(Gen 41:52 KJV) And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
The kingdom would be taken from the Jews and handed to a nation that would produce fruits. Ephraim means "two fruit land" or "double fruitfulness"...Ephraim, the "gentiles" who would receive the Spirit of God and become the body of Christ on earth.
(Mat 21:43 KJV) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Jacob blessed Ephraim over his older brother, Manasseh. Ephraim's seed would become a "multitude of nations" which, interestingly, was translated from "melo hagoyim" which literally means "fullness of the gentiles".
(Gen 48:19 KJV) And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
This is a major hint that this pertains to the fullness of the gentiles who become the body of Christ before the Jews are grafted in again... confirmed in the new testament (emphasis mine):
(Rom 11:25 KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES be come in.
"melo hagoyim" = "a multitude of nations" = "the fullness of the gentiles"
Another clue comes in the New Testament from a seemingly trivial detail but really is a MAJOR, forward-looking statement :
(John 11:54 KJV) Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
Jesus walked NO MORE OPENLY AMONG THE JEWS (they were seeking to kill him) but went to a country near to the wilderness (in the desert world of the gentiles where God wasn't) to a city called EPHRAIM (the gentiles) and there continued with his disciples....continued with his disciples in the "gentile" world of the Christian church away from the Jews who had been blinded until the appointed time. It is also interesting to note Ephraim is only mentioned once in the entire New Testament and what a coincidence that the city's name is Ephraim.. Jesus does not walk OPENLY among the Jews...they have yet to see the revelation of the Messiah even though he is here among his followers..
The Lord will graft the Jews back in and will be one with the Christian church....all Israel will be saved. We will be as one man..one house under the King who is Jesus...who sits on the throne of David.. But before that happens, God has shown us in Hosea there is sin or unfaithfulness (whoredom) in the Christian church.
(Hosea 6:10 KJV) I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
In fact, He would have grafted the Jews ( harvest set for Judah) back in but then the "iniquity of Ephraim was discovered".....it seems the sin of the Christian church delays the "harvest". The wickedness of Samaria is the wickedness of the church leaders who oversee the sheep. They commit falsehood.
(Hosea 6:11 KJV) Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
7:1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
The Christian church (Ephraim) is guilty of having idols:
(Hosea 4:17 KJV) Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Another clue to Ephraim being the new testament church is that both Ephraim and the church at Laodicea boast in their wealth and find themselves not lacking anything in their own eyes::
(Hosea 12:8 KJV) And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
(Rev 3:17 KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Another link from Hosea to Revelation is found in Baal worship:
(Hosea 13:1 KJV) When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
The church at Thyatira is shown that they are accepting members of the church who teach things that Jezebel (a foreigner who was queen over the Northern Kingdom) taught....that is, Jezebel was a worshiper of Baal and tried to destroy all of God's prophets in the Northern Kingdom while installing her prophets of Baal in place of. Likewise the church has Baal worship in it by the teachings of Jezebel. Baal (when used as a noun) means "husband, master, lord, owner or possessor". Therefore Ephraim (the leaders of the Christian church) has joined to his idols (Hosea 4:17). They have made Baal or idol worship their possessor...they are joined together. They have the spirit of whoredoms within their midst when they should be faithful to their true husband...God who is their first love.
(Hosea 13:4 KJV) Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
The Lord has set us free from the bondage of sin (the land of Egypt) and we are to have no other god but Him. And yet, the leaders of the church have introduced idols into the sanctuary.
The leaders (prophets of Baal) teach and seduce the members of the church to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols:
(Rev 2:20 KJV) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Hosea 5:
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
Jezebel's name means "where is the prince?" The Phoenician meaning is "Baal is the prince". It is interesting to note that in the New Testament it is said that this question will be asked as per the word spoken by the prophets...that a certain group of people would be asking "where is the promise of this coming?" or....."where is the prince?"....where is the Messiah? Emphasis mine:
(2 Pet 3:2 KJV) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Another interesting observation is that when Ephraim becomes guilty of Baal worship, he DIES:
(Hosea 13:1 KJV) When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
Likewise, we find Jesus telling the messenger of the church at Thyatira that he gives those involved in Jezebel's teachings time to repent and will bring great tribulation onto those in the church who refuse to repent of their deeds. HER CHILDREN WILL DIE ...Ephraim died because of Baal worship (emphasis mine)::
(Rev 2:21 KJV) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
And this is reinforced again in Hosea...where is shown great tribulation (desolation, falling by the sword) and their children dashed in pieces::
(Hosea 13:16 KJV) Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Samaria (meaning "mountain of watching) is the capital on the "mountain" where the altar of Baal is...the ruling class of church leaders who lead people astray after idols.