Who is the prodigal son?

Every Christian has been taught the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32. The basics are, repent because the Father (God) loves you no matter what you've done. And this it true! A deeper understanding would be the prophesy given to Ezekiel in the form of two sticks. Sticks come from trees, and trees often represent men (Daniel 4:20-22; Mark 8:24). In this particular case, the same passage of scripture tells us exactly who each of these sticks represent. The first one represented the House of Judah and all who were with Him (Ezekiel 37:16). The second stick represented Ephraim, the House of Israel, and all who were with him (Ezekiel 37:16).

Two brothers. One older. One younger. One will depart from God's house and wind up in the dregs of society, eventually to wake up and realize they're sleeping with pigs. Then they will desire to return to their Father's house, and they will do so humbly. When the Father more than welcomes them home, because He loves them, the older brother will be jealous. But which brother is which?

Many teachers are now saying that that the prodigal son is Ephraim, the House of Israel. They say that Ephraim is now waking up, realizing he's been 'sleeping with pigs' through paganism disguised as Christianity. But is this truly the case?

Ephraim has made no secret of the fact that he plays with pigs, consorts with them, and feasts with them for the past 2000 years. Why would he all of a sudden wake up and realize he's been with what's he's been bragging about being with?

Also, did not Jacob/Israel claim Ephraim as his own and then give him the blessing of the Firstborn (Genesis 48:16-20)? Would not that make him the elder brother no matter the chronilogical age difference between Ephraim and Judah?

So which brother is the one who wakes up to realize he's sleeping with pigs? The one who doesn't already believe he is. Judah. Which brother will be driven to envy the other? Ephraim.

This is verified in Isaiah 11:13. Read the passage very carefully.

"The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim."

Which brother was jealous? Which brother needed his envy to depart? Ephraim.