Thank you for the identity of the children of Israel, “Given Deuteronomy 28:15-68 Identifies the true children of Israel. Who would they be today? Biblical Scriptures only!”
As I read the question, the answer to the identity of the Israelites is not based on Deuteronomy 28:15–68. The answer is based on Genesis 12:1–3.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. The true children of Israel are the descendants of Abraham.
Genesis 12 says this, “The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a] 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”[b] (NIV).
B. The true children of Israel will be scattered if they disobey God.
Deuteronomy 28 refers to the blessings and curses upon the people of Israel who lived in the Promised Land. The reference speaks of now which refers the generation that inherited the land and the future generations who will live in the land.
The text is clear that if the Israelites continual disobedience will lead to exile from the land which happened in 722 BCE with the Assyrians and in 586 BCE with the Babylonians.
The text says this, “Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. 65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart” (NIV).
C. The true children of Israel will be preserved by God.
Saul of Tarsus declared that he was a true descendant of Israel. His lineage was mixed with other people group. He is asserting that he knows his tribal lineage and comes from that tribe and a person who knew and followed the Mosaic Law. His parents followed strictly the Law even though they outside of the Promised Land.
Philippians 3 says this, “3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (NIV).
4. The true children of Israel are the ones who believes God’s promises, not just being an Israelite.
The Apostle Paul clarifies what it means to a descendant of Israel in Romans 9. It is not just being physically born form Jewish parents, but the person who is believes the promises of God. Nicodemus being born of Jewish parents, being a Pharisee and teacher of the Law needed a new spiritual birth to belong to the Kingdom of God (John 3).
Romans 9 says this, “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c] (NIV).
It must be remembered that Abraham married Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar and even had other wives after her death, but those children are not considered as being the promised child between Abraham and Sarah.
Caution must be given here that some Christians have a distorted view of Ishmael and the children of Abraham’s concubines (Gen. 25:5–6). They are blessed of God. God promised to bless Ishmael because he is a descendant of Abraham. In the coming Kingdom of God, there will be reconciliation between Isaac and Ishmael’s descendant, between Jacob and Esau’s descendants.
Paul asserted that his family lineage is true to God even through the Assyrian, Babylonian, and now into the Roman Empire. With the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, are there still Jewish people who remain true to the Scriptures through the centuries? I believe so and God will continue to preserve his people.
5. The Gentiles are now grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel through Jesus Christ. Since it is by faith that one becomes a true child of Israel, so God has extended salvation to the Gentiles by faith.
Romans 11 says this about the Gentiles being grafted into the Olive Tree, “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (NIV).
Thus the true children of Israel are those who believes God’s promises through the ages by faith. This salvation is offered to both Jews and Gentiles. No one has to be born a Jew to receive salvation. Salvation is open to all who believes that is able to graft us into the branch. Jesus is the Vine. Believers are branches (John 15:1–4).
If the question is asking about whether there are still Jews today who can trace their lineage back to Abraham, one has to ask an orthodox Jew.
SUMMARY: God has preserved his people in ages past and he will preserve his people in this age. God knows those who are his children even though some Jews may not fully their lineage.