Blonde ancient Egyptian woman (Pixabay)
By COGwriter
Many people do not understand world events today. In the United States, for example, some people wonder why it is going into so much debt and why it is experiencing a variety of other problems (some of this is also covered in the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine). (Information on the 'ten lost tribes' is also in the YouTube sermon titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter?)
Yet in the developing countries, some people wonder why the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, New Zealanders, and even the Southern Africans have prospered for so long.
The truth is that many of the events we see in the world have been prophesied. But for whom?
Well it is a fact that everyone had to descend from someone in the past, so having an idea of from whom the nations descended can assist in better understanding biblical prophecy--especially since the Bible gives a variety of genealogies and prophecies related to some mentioned in them.
Since there are other papers at the COGwriter.com website that describe where many groups came from (please see articles listed at the end of this paper in the Appendix), this brief paper will focus mainly on the twelve tribes of Israel, including the ten "lost tribes" of Israel and will focus more specifically on the descendants of two of those tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh (counting those as two makes it 13 tribes of Israel).
Is this idea new? Or have at least parts of the locations of the "lost tribes" been noted in church history?
This article basically identify several different peoples from the Bible and select historical sources. The latter quarter of this article focuses mainly on end-time prophecy and why the Anglo-American nations will be punished. It is partially because the identity of the tribes of Israel are not often realized that certain ones have misunderstood the timing of prophecies such as Ezekiel 38.
As far back as the Book of Genesis, God promised Abram that he would be the father of many nations:
4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you (Genesis 17:4-6).
Notice that the promise was for Abraham’s descendants to be “many nations”—this simply is not fulfilled by the split into the two nations of Judah and Israel (1 Kings 12:17-20) in the Old Testament.
The late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, noted that the Bible taught something interesting about God's promises to Abraham:
Notice now again how God first called Abram, and the twofold nature of His promises: "Now the Eternal had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a GREAT NATION ... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:1-3).
Notice the twofold promise: 1) "I will make thee a GREAT NATION" -- the national, material promise that his flesh-born children should become a great nation … 2) "... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" -- the spiritual promise of GRACE. This same promise is repeated in Genesis 22:18: "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." This particular "one seed" refers to Christ, as plainly affirmed in Galatians 3:8, 16.
Right here is where those who profess to be "Christians" -- and their teachers -- have fallen into error and scriptural blindness. They have failed to notice the twofold promise God made to Abraham. They recognize the messianic promise of spiritual salvation through the "one seed" – Christ…
We have seen how both sets of promises, right of birth and gift of grace, were unconditionally made by God to Abraham. Both the birthright and the sceptre were repromised by the Eternal to Isaac and to Jacob. But the fact that should open your eyes, as a joyous truth newly discovered, is that from that point these two sets of promises became separated! The sceptre promises of the kingly line culminating in Christ, and of grace through Him, were handed on to JUDAH, son of Jacob and father of all Jews. But the astonishing truth is that the birthright promises were never given to the Jews!
Let that be repeated! Realize this! The birthright promises were never given to the Jews!
Turn to these passages -- read them in your own Bible!
"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah ..." (Gen. 49:10).
"... But the birthright was Joseph's" (I Chron. 5:2).
Of course it is well understood that the sceptre went to Judah and was handed down through the Jews. King David was of the tribe of Judah. All succeeding kings of David's dynasty were of the House of David, tribe of Judah. Jesus Christ was born of the House of David and the tribe of Judah (Armstrong HW. THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY. 1954, 1967, 1972, 1975, 1980 edition).
This is perhaps one of the biggest misunderstandings that mainstream theologians have—they simply do not realize that God gave both physical and spiritual promises to Abraham and that since the physical promises were NOT fulfilled by the Jews, that they had to somehow be fulfilled in these last days.
Notice that the Bible agrees with Herbert Armstrong as it is clear that the birthright through Abraham, Isaac and then Jacob was given to Joseph and not to Reuben (the firstborn) or Judah (from whom Christ traced His genealogy):
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel--he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 2 yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's (1 Chronicles 5:1-2).
The birthright was originally Reuben's. When it comes to wealth and territory, Reuben-France sold off much territory in the form of the Louisiana Purchase to the then rising U.S.A. in 1803.
This could have marked a transfer of birthright blessings to the descendents of Joseph at that time (more information on this tribe is in the article The 'Lost Tribe' of Reuben: France in Prophecy?; a two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The 'Lost Tribe' of Reuben and France and Prophecy).
Notice also a distinction between Sarah's and Hagar's son:
15 Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." (Genesis 17:15-16)
Since Sarah Abraham's wife was promised to be the mother of “nations” this shows that there are nations descended from Sarah’s only son Isaac—hence the descendants of Abraham, Isaac's sons, not Ishmael is what God is referring to here. And since nations is plural here, it is not just a reference to the nation once and now known as Israel.
Notice further:
21 Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. (Genesis 21:12)
God said to Abraham that his seed would be called after Isaac. Hence, they would not known as Abrahamites or something similar, but something derived from the word Isaac.
If you believe the Bible, you must realize that somehow some had to be named after Isaac. Well, in addition to the Scythians (Colossians 3:11), there is a group known as Isaac's sons, the Saxons!
Yet, most theologians and ministers pass right over what God promised and do not consider that the existence of 'Saxons' or Scythians fulfills biblical prophecy.
Note: The birthright, while conferring physical blessings, does NOT mean that only those who are of physical Israel can be saved. I, myself, am not a physical Israelite, and thus can proclaim that we in the Continuing Church of God do believe that salvation is available now and in the future (Revelation 7:9-10) to people of all races and ethnic groups (see also God's Grace is For All). We teach against racial prejudice (e.g. LOVE AND SALVATION FOR ALL RACES AND PEOPLES. Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God. © 2013/2019 Continuing Church of God). Hence, we in the Continuing Church of God are NOT part of the so-called "Christian Identity movement," even though we do teach a form of British-Israelism that understands that physical blessings (along with curses for disobedience) were promised to those that are now the primary Anglo-American nations in the world. But we do consider that those in the United Kingdom are British Israelites and that those in the United States, Canada, etc. are also Anglo-Israelites, but again we do not teach that the physical blessings promised to the descendants of Israel mean that non-Israelites are not now being saved--the Apostles were quite clear that salvation is available to Gentile peoples (Acts 11:1-18)--and since I am a Gentile, I am one who benefits from the biblical teachings here. Furthermore, those of the "Christian Identity movement" tend to advocate the destruction of other peoples and the rise of the Anglo-Saxon peoples--while we faithful in the Continuing Church of God understand that the Anglo-American nations received blessings from God, but are likely to be destroyed soon without massive repentance.
Furthermore notice what was told to the wife of Isaac:
60 "Our sister, may you become
The mother of thousands of ten thousands;
And may your descendants possess
The gates of those who hate them" (Genesis 24:60).
For many years, the major sea gates of the world were possessed/controlled by the United States (Panama Canal and certain locations in the Pacific ocean) and the British Empire (Straits of Malacca, Singapore, Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Simon’s Town/Cape of Good Hope, etc.). And while that is no longer the case for many of them, they seem to have been prophesied to be taken away for disobedience as well (cf Deuteronomy 28)--and certainly these nations have disobeyed the God of Abraham. It is likely that the remaining "sea gates" that the UK has such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands will be separated from UK control (see also Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands?).
Notice also something related to migration:
The Scythian tribes … continued to flock into Europe … The Saxons were … a Scythian tribe; and of the various Scythian nations which have been recorded, the Sakai or Sacae, are the people from whom the descent of the Saxons can be inferred ... Sakal-Suna, or the sons of Sakal, abbreviated into Saksun is the same sound as Saxon, seems a reasonable etymology of the word Saxon. (Turner S. The History of the Anglo-Saxons from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest, Vol. 1. Cary and Hart, 1841, pp. 81,82).
It may be of interest to note that it is believed that the term "Saxon" is derived from expressions meaning related to the descendants of Isaac, or Isaac’s sons:
The Saxons
What then is the degree of parentage between the Saxons and the Scythians? ... the "Sacae," upon arriving in Western Europe, notably in the British Isles, took the general name "Saxons."
"Among the diverse nations known under the name Scythians, the Sakai or Sacae represent the ancestors of the Saxons.... This fact can be affirmed without violating the chances of probability. Sakal-Suna, or "Sons of Sakal" is the same thing as "Saxons" (The History of the Anglo-Saxons, Turner, Vol. 2, Chap. 1, p. 81, emphasis ours).
In all likelihood, the exact derivation of the name "Sacae" — or "Sakae" — is from Isaac, the father of Israel. The names "Sacae" or "Isaac" have the same etymological root. Because of the fact that the vowels were mute in the ancient Hebrew language, the two names have the same pronunciation.
"Saxons" — or "Sacal-Suna" — represent then a variation of "Isaac's sons." This well demonstrates the truth, for the Israelites were the sons of Isaac, by Jacob! (Apartian D. The French-Speaking Peoples In Prophecy. Ambassador College Thesis, 1961)
Wherein, by the advice of all, it was determin'd, that the Saxons were invited into Britain ... They were thought by good writers (Florent. Wigorn ad. an. 370) to be descended of the Saca, a kind of Scythian in the north of Asia, thence call'd Sacasons, or sons of Sacae, who with a flood of other northernnations came into Europe (Milton J. Britain under Trojan, Roman, Saxon Rule. By John Milton.-England under Richard III. By Sir T. More.-The reign of Henry VII. By F. Bacon ... Verbatim reprint from Kennet's England, Ed. 1719. A. Murray & Son, 1870 Original from The British Library Digitized, Jul 26, 2013, pp. 74-75)
The Saxons were a... Scythian tribe; and of the various Scythian nations which have been recorded, the Sakai, or Sacae, are the people from whom the descent of the Saxons may be inferred with the least violation of probability. Sakai-suna or the sons of Sakai, abbreviated into Saksun, which is the same sound as Saxon, seems a reasonable etymology of the word Saxon. The Sakai, who in Latin are called Sacae, were an important branch of the Scythian nation. They were so celebrated, that the Persians called all the Scythians by the name of Sacae; and Pliny, who mentions this, speaks of them as among the most distinguished people of Scythia (Pliny, lib. vi. c.19). Strabo places them eastward of the Caspian...
This important fact of a part of Armenia having been named Sakasina, is mentioned by Strabo in another place (Strabo, p.124), and seems to give a geographical locality to our primeval ancestors, and to account for the Persian words that occur in the Saxon language; as they must have come into Armenia from the northern regions of Persia.
That some of the divisions of this people were really called SAKASUNA, is obvious from Pliny; for he says that the SAKAI, who settled in Armenia, were named SACASSANI (Pliny. lib. vi. c.11); which is but SAKASUNA spelt by a person unacquainted with the meaning of the combined words. And the name SACASENA (Strabo. lib. Xi. pp. 776, 778), which they gave to the part of Armenia they occupied, is nearly the same sound as SAXONIA. It is also important to remark, that Ptolemy mentions a Scythian people sprung from the Sakai, by the name of SAXONES. If the Sakai who reached Armenia were called Saca-sani, they may have traversed Europe with the same appellation; which being pronounced by the Romans from them, and then reduced to writing from their pronunciation, may have been spelt with the x instead of the ks, and thus SAXONS would not be a greater variation from SACASSANI or SAKSUNA than we find between French, Francois, Franci, and their Greek name, Phraggi; or between Spain, Espagne, Hispania(Turner S. The History of The Anglo-Saxons, also known as The History of England: From the Earliest Period to the Death of Elizabeth, Volume I, 3rd edition. 1820, Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, pp.115-116).
Turner is undoubtedly correct in saying that the "ks" was changed to an "x." These variations of the word Sacae (or Saka) are not any greater, says Turner, than the variations of names for such modern nations as France and Spain (ibid. pp.87, 88, 95).
He then says that Ptolemy placed another people, the Sasones, north of the Sacae. These have been selected as our ancestors... Sasones, Sacaesons, Saxones (ibid., fn., p. 95).
Turner then mentions that some of these marauding Sakai or Saca-sana were, in all probability, gradually propelled to the west coast of Europe, on which they were found by Ptolemy, and from which they made incursions into the Roman Empire, in the third century A.D. A people known as the Saxoi, lived on the Black Sea, according to Stephanus (Stephanus de urb. et Pop. p. 657). (McNair R. Key to Northwest European Origins. 1963, pp. 94-95)
According to Greek and Iranian sources the Assyrians planted colonies in the region of Kabul and Gandahara to the east of Hara…According to local tradition the eastern part of Hara (“Ghor”), where the Hara river rises was once settled by people referred to as “Asaakan” and Bnei Yisrael”. “Assakan” was shortened to “Sak” or “Sok” and local muslim lore equated the term the name “Isaac”, father of Israel…The Royal family, for instance, had a tradition that they had descended from the Tribe of Benjamin…The existence of these names are evidence that a section of the Israelite nation had once been in that area, and these are apparently to be identified with the historical “Sok” or “Sakae” (meaning Scythians) who were in the Hara region from at least around 600 b.c.e. (if not earlier)…In about 676 a new element known that the Ishkuza emerged from the Cimmerian ranks, these are identified with the Scythians whom the Persians and Babylonians referred to as “Saka”: Both the names “Ishkuza” and “Saka” may be understood as forms for the name “Isaac” (Davidy Y. The Tribes. Rabbinical approbation: Rabbi Abraham Feld of the Maccabee Institute Jerusalem, July 4, 1993. Russell-Davis Publishers, Hebron (Israel), pp. 22-23,28).
(Note: There are two books cited called "The Tribes" throughout this article, the 1993 edition where the author spells his name Davidy, and the 2011 edition where the same author spells his name Davidiy.)
Furthermore, notice what God promised to Sarah’s grandson Jacob:
14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 28:14).
11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body (Genesis 35:11).
Thus it should be clear to those willing to see that the descendants of Jacob would include multiple nations, and not be limited to just the area of Palestine. The USA and Canada are clearly west of Palestine (see also Who is the King of the West?). The old British Commonwealth would seem to fit the description of “a company of nations.” And the nations of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, along with the territories of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands still do to this day. Those with Anglo-Saxon minorities (in the Caribbean, Asia, and Southern Africa) have since lost control to the non-Israelites among them (cf. Deuteronomy 28:43).
And this expansion to a group of nations simply did not happen to the ancient nations of Judah and Israel.
Furthermore, notice these prophecies for the latter days by Jacob:
1 And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father…
22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.
24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers (Genesis 49:1-2,22-26).
It is only the United States and the groups of English nations now composed of the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand who have historically fulfilled these prophecies given to Abraham and his descendants (and they have been separated from their "brothers" on continental Europe, Ireland, and Iceland). Specifically they are descendants of Joseph, and sometimes called "Jacob" or "Israel" in scripture--Manasseh is also sometimes called Joseph (Numbers 13:11) or Samaria (cf. Isaiah 9:9,21). Perhaps it should be pointed out that a "fruitful bough" with "branches run over the wall" implies a colonizing people--and perhaps no peoples did more colonizing than the British.
Notice:
11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!" ...
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:
"God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth…19 “... He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!' "
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow." (Genesis 48:11,15-16,19-22).
It should also be mentioned that since Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28), that in the first statement above he is clearly indicating that biblically one or both of the sons of Joseph could be referred to by the name Israel. And although Manasseh was born first, God had Jacob give the “right hand” blessing to Ephraim (Genesis 48:13-14) and God later declared, “Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9). This may be why Ephraim emerged as a major power before the USA (and of course it lost its position as the top international power).
Notice also that Israel said that the sons of Joseph would get more than the brothers. And while that had ancient application, it also may be part of why we have seen the past couple of centuries with British-American dominance of the world.
Consider the following from the New Testament:
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21)
From the above we see that Jacob was giving a prophecy that God wanted and did it by faith. Well, by faith, Christias should believe that God had that fulfilled--and He did with the British Empire and the rise of the USA!
The Jews have a tradition that the descendants of Joseph would rule over the ten tribes:
The Malibim (1809-1879) on Masiach ben Yosef
#Our Sacred Sages had a tradition in the beginning [of the End Times] there would arise a Messiah [i.e. Anointed Savior] from the House of Joseph, who will reign over the Ten Tribes. He will wage war and all of Israel will be gathered under his banner. (Davidiy, p. 205)
Understandings and predictions and commentaries concerning the Messiah son of Joseph...may be taken in a symbolic sense. ... The recent (in historical terms) assistance that first Britain and then the USA (both from Joseph) gave to help establish and stabilize the State of Israel and the ingathering of Jewish exiles is one aspect of the Messiah son of Joseph in the symbolic sense. (Davidiy, pp. 205-206)
While the UK and later the USA did not necessarily officially rule over the other ten tribes and no one Messiah came up from them, they led the allied fight in World War II and had support from all the tribes of Israel. The USA and UK have ruled the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which directly includes most of the tribes, and the USA and UK have also provided protection to all of the other tribes.
Here is a bit more from a Jewish source:
The Malbim interprets the blessing of Jacob (Genesis 48) to Ephraim would become great before Manasseh. Ephraim would become great through his own merits and self-assertion almost from the beginning. Manasseh would wait until the vast numbers of his population and the weight of his blessing would of itself result in greatness. We identify Ephraim with the British and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the whites of South Africa. The USA is Manasseh. The interpretation of the Malbim concerning Ephraim and Manasseh fits historic reality. (Davidiy, p. 384)
And Ephraim did arise first, followed by Manasseh.
Before going further, notice the following from the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God:
Times of Israel’s Punishment a Key to Understanding
Israel was promised great national blessings, including national greatness if they would obey God. But God also promised that if they obstinately refused to obey Him, if they refused to follow His laws and let Him rule their lives, then He would punish them for a period called seven times (Lev. 26).
The Bible itself defines this period of seven times for us. If you turn to Revelation the twelfth chapter, and compare verses 6 and 14 you will see that the word time in prophecy simply means a year, hence seven times would be seven years or 2520 days.
Now let’s notice another key. In Numbers 14:34, God said Israel would bear their iniquities in the wilderness after the number of days they searched the land of Canaan, forty days, each day for a year.
Then seven times or 2520 prophetic days would equal 2520 literal years! This period of seven times or 2520 years punishment did come upon Israel because they went their own ways and would no: submit to the rule of God. Israel went into captivity about 721 B.C. and did not become a great people again until their times of punishment ceased about 1800 A.D. At that time the descendants of the ancient House of Israel -America and Britain and the democratic peoples of the world--began to rise to such wealth and power as the world has never enjoyed before all because of the promises made to Abraham. (Hoeh H. What are the Times of the Gentiles? Plain Truth, September 1955)
The Seven Prophetic Times
Now continue in Leviticus 26: “And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins” (verse 18).
It is important to understand this!
This expression “seven times” is translated into the English from a Hebrew word which conveys a dual meaning. The original Hebrew word Moses wrote is shibah. It is defined as “seven times,” and also as “sevenfold.” The “seven times” implies duration or continuation of punishment. But the word also conveys the meaning of “sevenfold,” or seven times greater intensity of punishment—as a punishment that is sevenfold more intense. In this sense, the meaning would be the same as in Daniel 3:19, where King Nebuchadnezzar, in a rage, commanded that the furnace into which Daniel’s three friends were to be thrown should be made seven times hotter.
Now understand the “seven times”--or seven prophetic “times.” For this is a prophecy. In prophecy, a “time” is a prophetic 360-day year. And, during Israel’s punishment, each day represented a year being fulfilled. ...
But when that 2520-year withholding of the birthright had expired, God was faithful to His unconditional promise to Abraham! Not because of any British or American goodness, superiority, or worthiness, but because of God’s faithfulness to His promise, beginning in 1800 these two birthright peoples suddenly burst forth as the greatest world powers in all history! (Armstrong HW. The United States and Britain in Prophecy. WCG, 1980 edition)
721 B.C. is when the ten-tribed nation of Israel, sometimes referred to by the name of the tribe Ephraim (Ezekiel 37:16), was sieged by the ancient Assyrians.
It was essentially 2520 years later that the Anglo-American powers rose up.
Now notice what a writer (AB Robertson) who believed that Ephraim was England reported about the expansion of the British Empire:
The Acts of Union 1800 (sometimes erroneously referred to as a single Act of Union 1801) united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (previously in personal union) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with effect from 1 January 1801. (Acts of Union. Wikipedia, accessed 08/21/17)
4 September – the French garrison in Valletta surrenders to British troops who have been called at the invitation of the Maltese. (1800 in Great Britain. Wikipedia, accessed 08/21/17)
Let us look further at the wide world scope of this Colonisation. It embraces Four Great Groups, which already together dominate no inconsiderable share of the earth's surface—1st, the North American ; 2nd, the Australian; 3rd, the West Indian; and 4th, the South African...
The following list shows at a glance the truth and importance of this 19th century expansion, following logically, be it observed, upon our Spiritual Revival, our victories over France, and the phenomenal increase of our population :—
Malta acquired by conquest 1800
Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) organised 1803
Cape of Good Hope taken from the Dutch 1806
Ceylon acquired 1815
West Australia formed into a province 1829
South Australia formed into a province 1834
Hong Kong taken from the Chinese 1841
New Zealand made a separate colony 1841
The Punjab formally annexed 1849
Victoria formed into a province 1850
Second Burmese War: Pegu annexed 1852-53
Oude annexed 1856
India transferred to the Crown 1858
Queensland formed into a province 1859
Queen publicly proclaimed Empress of India 1876
Cyprus taken possession of 1878
New Guinea annexed by Queensland 1883
Upper Burmah annexed 1886 (Robertson AB. Ephraim-England: the sixth century revelation of the fruits of history. James Nisbet, 1886 Original from Harvard University, Digitized Dec 15, 2008, pp. 17-18)
So, there was a lot of territorial expansion of the British Empire. So much so, it was said that "the sun never set" on it.
Notice also the following:
In 1913, 412 million people lived under the control of the British Empire, 23 percent of the world's population at that time. It remains the largest empire in human history and at the peak of its power in 1920, it covered an astonishing 13.71 million square miles - that's close to a quarter of the world's land area. (McCarthy N. The Biggest Empires In Human History. Statista, December 19, 2019).
The United States is the world’s greatest economic power, measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). … The United States is relatively young by world standards, being less than 250 years old; it achieved its current size only in the mid-20th century. … Probably no other country has a wider range of racial, ethnic, and cultural types than does the United States. … Annually, the U.S. spends more on its military than the next seven highest-ranking countries in military spending combined. (Harris, JT, et al. United States. Encyclopædia Britannica. Last updated December 22, 2019)
From the 19th century to present, the USA and United Kingdom have dominated the world (though this will be lost later in the 21st century). They have received the blessings that God promised them through Jacob.
As far as USA ethnic diversity goes, some of the prophecies related to Manasseh refer to it as “Samaria” (e.g. Hosea 7:1; Obadiah 1:19; Isaiah 9:8-12,21). By Jesus’ time, the Samaritans were only partially, Israelites—even though they claimed to be from the tribe of Joseph ("Samaritans" in Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972, Volume 14, col. 727, as cited in Louvish M. Religious life and communities. Keter Books, 1974, p. 61). However, the Bible shows that they were highly ethnically mixed (2 Kings 17:24).
Moses himself taught that God promised blessings to Joseph's sons:
13 And of Joseph he said:
"Blessed of the LORD is his land,
With the precious things of heaven, with the dew,
And the deep lying beneath,
14 With the precious fruits of the sun,
With the precious produce of the months,
15 With the best things of the ancient mountains,
With the precious things of the everlasting hills,
16 With the precious things of the earth and its fullness,
And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.
Let the blessing come 'on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.'
17 His glory is like a firstborn bull,
And his horns like the horns of the wild ox;
Together with them
He shall push the peoples
To the ends of the earth;
They are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
And they are the thousands of Manasseh." (Deuteronomy 33:13-17).
Thus, blessings were promised to these peoples. These are blessings that history seems to show were given to the British and American-descended peoples. More details related to those in Canada, including the Franco-phones there, are included in the article Canada in Prophecy.
But because they are in Bible prophecy (and some of those prophecies are in other sections of this paper) understanding their original identity is an important key to understanding many events which will shortly come to pass.
It may be of interest to note that the Jewish writer Yair Davidiy reported that some believe that the term America (which most historians say comes from the explorer Amerigo Vespucce), actually was derived from the term Machir, which itself was a derivative of Manasseh (Davidiy, pp. 400-401). While the Western Hemisphere is referred to as North, Central, and South America, when the term 'Americans' is used, this is normally universally to refer to those of the USA (though the Latins themselves use the term Norte Americanos to refer to those in the USA).
It should probably be mentioned that portions of Bible prophecy tie the descendants of Manasseh as being prophetic Samaria. Notice, for example, the following:
8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob,
And it has fallen on Israel.
9 All the people will know —
Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria —
Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
10 'The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with hewn stones;
The sycamores are cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars."
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up
The adversaries of Rezin against him,
And spur his enemies on,
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;
And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still...21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;
Together they shall be against Judah.For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:8-12,21)1"When I would have healed Israel,
Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered,
And the wickedness of Samaria.
For they have committed fraud;
A thief comes in;
A band of robbers takes spoil outside.
2 They do not consider in their hearts
That I remember all their wickedness;
Now their own deeds have surrounded them;
They are before My face.
3 They make a king glad with their wickedness,
And princes with their lies. (Hosea 7:1-3)
So, we see that Ephraim and Samaria are separate and at the end Ephraim and Manasseh (who was referred to as Samaria) as separate. Hence, while Ephraim is not Samaria, sometimes it appears that Manasseh is (cf. Hosea 7:1-7). Isaiah 9 seems to suggest that the some of peoples who are alluded to in Psalm 83 (discussed later) will also harass Ephraim and Manasseh after they have suffered. Isaiah 9 ties the identity of Manasseh in with prophetic Samaria; Amos 3:32, 6:1 and Obadiah 19 seem to as well.
In addition to intermingling that occurred in ancient Samaria, Samaria was part of the old territory of Manasseh:
The hill of Samaria was in the tribal territory of Manasseh, but apparently was not significantly inhabited until the time of King Omri (Ahab's father). For the next 160 years, the city was the capital of the northern kingdom, apparently reaching a size of 150 acres (as large as Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time). Samaria is well situated with steep slopes on all sides. (Samaria (Sebaste). http://www.bibleplaces.com/samaria.htm viewed 02/19/14)
23 Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. Six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill. (1 Kings 16:23-24)
Northern Samaria is often referred to by its biblical tribal designation: Manasseh. (Killebrew A. Biblical peoples and ethnicity: an archaeological study of Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, and early Israel, 1300–1100 B.C.E. Society of Biblical Lit, 2005, p. 159)
Jewish scholars also recognize that the Samaritans were of mixed Israelite and non-Israelite heritage (Samaritans, Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906, Volume 10, pp. 669-681).
It is interesting to note that while a mixture, the Samaritans themselves claimed to be from the tribe of Joseph. A Midrash from 300-500 A.D. (Genesis Rabbah Sect. 94, ) relates about an encounter between a Jewish rabbi and a Samaritan. The story that developed includes the following dialogue:
R. Meir asks the Samaritan: What tribe are you from?
The Samaritan answers: From Joseph.
R. Meir : No!
(RABIN MISHNAH STUDY GROUP Mishnah study in the religious climate of Masorti (Conservative) Judaism by Rabbi Simchah Roth. BET MIDRASH VIRTUALI of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel. February 27th 2003 / I Adar 25th 5763 [Sotah 083] http://www.bmv.org.il/shiurim/sotah/sot083.html accessed 01/20/17)
Notice also the following:
Until the middle of the 20th century it was customary to believe that the Samaritans originated from a mixture of the people living in Samaria and other peoples at the time of the conquest of Samaria by Assyria (722–721 BCE). The Biblical account in II Kings 17 had long been the decisive source for the formulation of historical accounts of Samaritan origins. Reconsideration of this passage, however, has led to more attention being paid to the Chronicles of the Samaritans themselves. With the publication of Chronicle II (Sefer ha-Yamim), the fullest Samaritan version of their own history became available: the chronicles, and a variety of non-Samaritan materials. According to the former, the Samaritans are the direct descendants of the Joseph tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, and until the 17th century CE they possessed a high priesthood descending directly from Aaron through Eleazar and Phinehas. They claim to have continuously occupied their ancient territory and to have been at peace with other Israelite tribes until the time when Eli disrupted the Northern cult by moving from Shechem to Shiloh and attracting some northern Israelites to his new followers there. For the Samaritans, this was the 'schism' par excellence.( "Samaritans" in Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1972, Volume 14, col. 727, as cited in Louvish M. Religious life and communities. Keter Books, 1974, p. 61).
Interestingly years ago (at least 5-6 years before I saw either of these Jewish sources nor did I get this from any group's writings, but the Bible only), I had come up with the view that certain prophecies related to Samaria were, in fact, pointing to the USA (and so discussed this with LCG minister Gary Ehrman, when I was still with that group). The belief that Joseph, and specifically Manasseh were Samaritans, is consistent with my view.
And in late 2019, I saw the following from a Jewish source:
[Obadiah 1:19] AND THEY OF THE SOUTH SHALL POSSESS THE MOUNT OF ESAU; AND THEY OF THE PLAIN THE PHILISTINES: AND THEY SHALL POSSESS THE FIELDS OF EPHRAIM, AND THE FIELDS OF SAMARIA: AND BENJAMIN SHALL POSSESS GILEAD.
Samaria means Menasseh (says Daat Sofrim) who according to Rashi (Davidiy Y. Commentary on the book of Obadiah. http://britam.org/obadiah.html accessed 11/05/19)
As far as Chronicles go, various ones point to 2 Chronicles 34:9 as proof that there were descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh that remained in Samaria, and thus there could have been interbreeding of those from the Assyrians and the sons of Joseph.
Notice that Isaiah 9:9-10 ties the arrogant Samaritans in with making declarations to rebuild. After the attacks of 9/11/2001, various US politicians made statements consistent with the "we will rebuild" declaration. For example, notice the following quote that then Senator Tom Daschle made to Congress on 9/12/2001 related to the 9/11/2001 attack:
We will rebuild, we will recover.
Others have made similar statements. But notice that God calls those leaders arrogant. While the USA has rebuilt in the area known as 'ground zero,' the USA is not finished being subject to attacks and ultimately, despite having the strongest military, it will be taken over (cf. Daniel 11:39).
The following also seems to be directed against the USA:
9 'Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. 10 For they do not know to do right, 'Says the Lord, 'Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.'" 11 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "An adversary shall be all around the land;He shall sap your strength from you,And your palaces shall be plundered." 12 Thus says the Lord: "As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria — In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch! 13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,"Says the Lord God, the God of hosts, 14 'That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. (Amos 3:9-14)
While most in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand believe that they will be protected by the USA, notice the following:
1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! 2 Go over to Calneh and see; And from there go to Hamath the great; Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory? 3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; 4 Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; 5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; 6 Who drink wine from bowls,And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed. 8 The Lord God has sworn by Himself, The Lord God of hosts says: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it." (Amos 6:1-8)
Those who think that they will be able rely on the USA, seemingly referred to as Mt. Samaria above, will be severely disappointed at a time in the future. And this includes those in the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies. Those at ease in 'Zion' might be referring to Laodicean Christians (Revelation 3:14-18). Amos 6:6 may be mainly referring to the descendants of sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) or it may also include the rest of the tribes of Israel--thus they, too, are subject to captivity and slavery (see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).
Consider also:
1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes! 2 Go over to Calneh and see; And from there go to Hamath the great; Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory? (Amos 6:1-2)
The above is warning those who trust in Mount Samaria--the military of the USA (see also Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New).
Calneh according to Fausset's Bible Dictionary means: - the fort of the god Anu. Hamath according to Smith's Bible Dictionary means: - Fortress. These are places are also listed in Isaiah 10--so there seems to be a connection.
Hosea wrote the following:
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah saw his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb; Yet he cannot cure you, Nor heal you of your wound. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
So we see Ephraim tries to make a deal with Assyria.
Hosea also warns about whirlwinds and a coming massive tornado:
6 For from Israel is even this:
A workman made it, and it is not God;
But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.7 “They sow the wind,
And reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no bud;
It shall never produce meal.
If it should produce,
Aliens would swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
Now they are among the Gentiles
Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.
(Hosea 8:6-8)5 Even though Ephraim ran wild,
the black sheep of the family.“God’s tornado is on its way,
roaring out of the desert.
It will devastate the country,
leaving a trail of ruin and wreckage.
The cities will be gutted,
dear possessions gone for good.
16 Now Samaria has to face the charges
because she has rebelled against her God:
Her people will be killed, babies smashed on the rocks,
pregnant women ripped open.
(Hosea 13:15-16, THE MESSAGE)
In the above, notice that Samaria is also affected in both of the above sections. This seems to be a referring to the ‘melting pot’ of the USA (Samaria was a melting pot mixture of Babylonians and Israelites; see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).
Also notice Hosea 8:8-9 where Ephraim apparently tries to pay for help while Israel (perhaps the U.S.A. or the U.S.A. and Judah) is essentially gone:
8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles, Like a vessel in which is no pleasure. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.
In Hosea 12:1 Ephraim tries to make a deal with the Assyrians:
1 Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians. And oil is carried to Egypt.
And in Hosea 7:11-12, at risk of repeat, notice that Ephraim also tries to make a deal with Egypt and Assyria. These deal seem to be made after the USA has been eliminated or is on its way out.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria. 12 Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them, According to what their congregation has heard.
There would seem to be no point in going to Egypt if the King of the South has already been overwhelmed by the King of the North, so this attempt to make deals might happen fairly early in the Great Tribulation.
There is nothing that I am aware of in world history that shows that Ephraim calls to Egypt after Hosea was written in a manner to fulfill that prophecy. Perhaps British's King Charles or one of his descendants will be a leader in making some of these contacts. Since this is a prophecy that must come to pass, this is one more reason why I believe the Bible supports the concept that the King of the North invades the U.S.A. and its English-speaking allies before it invades the King of the South.
Notice that Ephraim will eat unclean things in Assyria:
3 They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria. (Hosea 9:3)
These verses in Hosea suggest that the Ephraimites (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and the Jews (modern Israel) think they should get some protection from Assyria (Germany), probably because the U.S.A. (Manasseh, Israel?) was the primary reason the King of the North attacked the strongest fortresses and/or because they have made various treaties.
Furthermore, it shows that one of the reasons that Israel, including Ephraim, is swallowed up is because they trusted Assyria. Assyria is a people who Isaiah 10 shows will destroy nations.
Interestingly, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah are also prophesied to turn on each other to some degree (Isaiah 9:21).
This seems to be consistent also with a Roman Catholic prophecy:
St. Senanus (died 560): They (English) themselves will betray each other… (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 128)
Hosea 10:9-11 suggests that Ephraim and Judah will be forced into hard labor, perhaps around this time as well; while 11:1-8 says that Assyria will be the king of Ephraim and Israel, because they refused to repent, and that the sword will devour their cities.
The last verse in Hosea (14:9) begins with:
9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them.
Note that the word translated as “prudent” above is the same Hebrew biyn that is in Daniel 11:33/35 as understanding. Since I believe that the Philadelphian portion of the Church is to have the wise and prudent, I believe that Hosea is giving more insight as to why it may be tied into Daniel 11.
Black Hebrew Israelites (also called African Hebrew Israelites, Black Jews, Black Hebrews, Black Israelites, or Hebrew Israelites) claim that the ancient Israelites were black.
One stated to me that 1) People thought when Moses fled Egypt he was an Egyptian (Exodus 2:19-21), 2) Roman soldiers thought the Apostle Paul, who they arrested as a rabble-rouser was a particular rabble-rousing Egyptian (Acts 21:38-39), and 3) Egyptians were supposedly black, therefore 4) the Israelites would have been black.
Well, the bulk of the Egyptians were not black (though some were). And one can see that by looking at many ancient hieroglyphics.
Notice some:
Blonde ancient Egyptian woman (Pixabay)
Depiction of white Egyptian woman with wings (Pixabay)
Depiction of white Egyptian man (Pixabay)
Also, when black men are shown, they are shown as essentially the color black on hieroglyphs I have seen, with other Egyptians more of a tan color.
Notice also the following:
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-27)
Two points related to the above. 1) A Black Hebrew advocate stated that the Pharaohs may have been white, but most of the Egyptians were black. 2) While most Egyptians were not black, if Moses refused to be considered to be called the son a Pharaoh's daughter, it is logical that he was basically white. Otherwise, it is not possible for him to pass as "Pharaoh's daughter."
And in the 21st century, there is another way to determine the race of the ancient Egyptians. Notice the following:
Egyptologists, writers, scholars, and others, have argued the race of the ancient Egyptians since at least the 1970’s. Some today believe they were Sub-Saharan Africans. ...
The problem, it was thought, is that mummy DNA couldn’t be sequenced. But a group of international researchers, using unique methods, have overcome the barriers to do just that. They found that the ancient Egyptians were most closely related to the peoples of the Near East, particularly from the Levant. This is the Eastern Mediterranean which today includes the countries of Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The mummies used were from the New Kingdom and a later period, (a period later than the Middle Kingdom) when Egypt was under Roman rule.
Modern Egyptians share 8% of their genome with central Africans, far more than ancient ones, according to the study, published in the journal Nature Communications. The influx of Sub-Saharan genes only occurred within the last 1,500 years. This could be attributed to the trans-Saharan slave trade or just from regular, long distance trade between the two regions. Improved mobility on the Nile during this period increased trade with the interior, researchers claim. (Perry P. Were the ancient Egyptians black or white? Scientists now know. June 11, 2017 https://bigthink.com/philip-perry/were-the-ancient-egyptians-black-or-white-scientists-now-know)
Anyway, no, the bulk of the ancient Egyptians were not black.
Nor were the bulk of the Israelites.
Now look at the following:
Mereneptah Stele (Wikipedia)
The Mereneptah Stele is dated to the 1200s BC. This actually mentions the children of Israel and also shows that the Egyptians at that time were not mainly black.
See now the following:
Berlin Pedestal (Biblical Archaeology Society)
The Berlin Pedestal may be the oldest archeological discovery that mentions “Israel.” This was from the 1400s B.C. and shows three Israeli captives. The children of Israel were captives of the Egyptians for the first half of that century. Anyway, the three enslaved males are NOT black but have more of a Caucasian Middle Eastern appearance.
Consider the following:
Some scholars have decided to test the validity of the claim that there exists Jews of African descent. Parfitt came to the conclusion that the Lemba people of Zimbabwe may have some connection to ancient Jewish populations based on historical and anthropological research.56 Moreover, a geneticist named Trefor Jenkins found that the Lembas had 50 percent Y chromosomes that were Semitic in origin and 40 percent Negroid.57 This test seems to verify the existence of Jews of African descent. Though this may seem to confirm the Hebrew Israelites’ claim, it implies only that those who can trace their heritage to the Lemba are likely ethnically Jewish. Contrarily, the Falashas of Ethiopia, whom the Black Hebrew Israelites use to prove their validity, were proven to have no biological connection to the ancient biblical Israelites through genetic testing.58 Therefore, the myth that the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba became the first king of Ethiopia conflicts with the available scientific evidence.
Thus, the reader should conclude that unless one can show that all African Americans originate from the Lemba tribe, Hebrew Israelites have no basis for the claim that all African Americans are descendants of the ancient Hebrews. It is false to reason that the existence of some African Hebrew descendants proves the claim that all African Americans are Israelites. (Butts J. The Origin and Insufficiency of the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement. CRI, June 21, 2017 accessed 07/24/19)
Now let's look at some scriptures:
2 The precious sons of Zion ... 7 Her Nazirites were brighter than snow And whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Like sapphire in their appearance. 8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot; They go unrecognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones, It has become as dry as wood. (Lamentations 4:2, 7-8)
The above is saying that they were very white, but after disaster they would be unrecognizable.
It brings to mind something about Job:
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. (Job 2:7-8)
Notice what Job later said:
30 My skin grows black and falls from me; My bones burn with fever. (Job 30:30)
Job was not black or would not have said that. But with his affliction and the ashes, he said he skin was growing black.
Job lived in Uz (Job 1:1) which is in the an area near Ur of the Chaldeans (Matthew Henry's Commentary), which is where Abram was from (Genesis 11:28-31).
Now, various ones, like the late Raymond McNair believe that Job was the builder of the great pyramid and that historical evidence shows that the builder's daughter was blond and white (Key to Northwest European Origins. AuthorHouse, 2012, pp. 64-65). Notice something about that:
The pigmenation of the Egyptians was usually a brunette white ... the daughter of Cheops, the builder of the great pyramid is shown in the coloured bas reliefs of her tomb to have been a definite blonde. Her hair is painted bright yellow stippled with fine red horizontal lines. This is the earliest known evidence of blondism in the world. (Coon, The Races, p. 98) (as cited in McNair R, p. 65)
Even if this is not referring to Job's daughter, but instead an Egyptian, again we see evidence of people who were white.
Isaac's brother-in-law and Jacob's father-law was named Laban. The 19th century, Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible defines Laban to mean " white; shining; gentle; brittle." Laban's sister was Isaac's wife Rebekah and his daughters were Jacob's wives Leah and Rachel. The name Laben would not seem to be describing a black man. The word Lebonan is related to Laban and means:
(the) white mountain (from its snow) (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Thus, it would make sense that the name Laban would have something to do with whiteness.
David seems to have been white based on the following description:
12 Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes (1 Samuel 16:12)
Ruddy means red or rosy. Many believe this points to David having red hair.
Dr. James Tabor reported that he found hair of an ancient Israelite man in something called the Shroud of the Tomb:
One of the more fascinating finds in this tomb, one that has not received much attention, was the preservation of a sample of Jewish male hair. The hair was lice-free, and was trimmed or cut evenly, probably indicating that the family buried in this tomb practiced good hygiene and grooming. The length of the hair was medium to short, averaging 3-4 inches. The color was reddish. (Tabor J. The Only Ancient Jewish Male Hair Ever Found. Biblical Archaeology.org, September 27, 2012. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-only-ancient-jewish-hair-ever-found/ accessed 07/24/19)
That is supportive of the view that the ancient Israelites were not black Africans. There also was earlier found braided hair of a woman at Masada:
The length of the hair indicates that it was ftom a woman. The color is now quite dark, but since hair darkens as it ages its original shade cannot be determined. (Gorski A, Zias J. Capturing a Beautiful Woman at Masada. c. 2007. https://www.academia.edu/25836648/Capturing_a_Beautiful_Woman_at_Masada accessed 07/24/19)
Quite dark would indicate that it was not originally black--hence it would have been blond, brown, or red. A picture of it in the above paper indicates that the indivual hair strands were round like Caucasoids have. It was not flat/kinked as Negroids have. This also would indicate she was not a black African.
Now some claim she was not an Israelite, but most scholarly sources I checked with believe that she was.
Getting back to the Tomb of the Shroud, it is about 2,000 years old. There were about 20 Jews buried there. Note some information about the DNA result:
Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed the locks of hair were contextually associated with the skeletal remains found in loculus SC1. ... The haplotype designations for mtDNA analyses are population categorizations that have been used extensively in the past to infer population movements. The haplotypes for the Tomb of the Shroud individuals are commonly distributed throughout the North of Africa and the Middle East through to Eastern Europe. The tomb occupants exhibit a number of different maternal influences. The maternal relatedness of these individuals supports inferences that this Akeldama site was a family tomb which was in use in the first-century C.E. (Matheson CD, et al. Molecular Exploration of the First-Century Tomb of the Shroud in Akeldama, Jerusalem. PLOS One. December 16, 2009 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008319)
Hence, 2,000 years ago, those Jews of the family that were buried there were not black Africans. The DNA 2,000 years ago is consistent with recent research on the Jews:
A series of analyses was performed to address whether modern Jewish Y-chromosome diversity derives mainly from a common Middle Eastern source population or from admixture with neighboring non-Jewish populations during and after the Diaspora. Despite their long-term residence in different countries and isolation from one another, most Jewish populations were not significantly different from one another at the genetic level. Admixture estimates suggested low levels of European Y-chromosome gene flow into Ashkenazi and Roman Jewish communities. A multidimensional scaling plot placed six of the seven Jewish populations in a relatively tight cluster that was interspersed with Middle Eastern non-Jewish populations, including Palestinians and Syrians. Pairwise differentiation tests further indicated that these Jewish and Middle Eastern non-Jewish populations were not statistically different. The results support the hypothesis that the paternal gene pools of Jewish communities from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East descended from a common Middle Eastern ancestral population, and suggest that most Jewish communities have remained relatively isolated from neighboring non-Jewish communities during and after the Diaspora. (Hammer MF, et al. Jewish and Middle Eastern non-Jewish populations share a common pool of Y-chromosome biallelic haplotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jun 6; 97(12): 6769–6774)
Jews were not originally black and displaced by white people like some have erroneously claimed.
Notice also something from the Song of Solomon:
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, (Song of Solomon 5:10, NKJV)
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, (Song of Solomon 5:10, Jewish Publication Society Tanakh 1917)
The beloved is said to have been white. Now the Hebrew word צַח tsach does not necessarily mean the color white, though it can. It means bright or dazzling.
Now, the famous Hebrew Rabbi known as Rashi wrote the following about the above:
My beloved is pure white. White, as in, “they were whiter צַחוּ than milk.”
(Rashi on Song of Songs 5:10, https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Song_of_Songs.5.10.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en accessed 07/23/19)
But now notice something else from the Song of Solomon:
5 I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not look upon me, because I am dark,
Because the sun has tanned me. (Song of Solomon 1:5-6)
Notice that the women is black from the sun. She would not have said that if she was black from birth. White people can tan to be quite dark from the sun.
Notice the following related to Moses:
1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. (Numbers 12:1, NKJV)
1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. (Numbers 12:1, Jewish Publication Society Tanakh 1917)
The word translated as “Ethiopian” is word Kuwshiy, which according to Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary means descendants of Cush. Or in other words, people of dark color–and it is commonly translated as Cush or Cushite in many Old Testament passages.
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married a black woman as Cushites are black (dark-skinned Africans). If Moses was black, then they would not have proceeded with their charge against him.
Notice also something that Jeremiah wrote:
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? (Jeremiah 13:23, NKJV)
23 Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? (Jeremiah 13:23, NLT)
Again, this is the Hebrew word Kuwshiy. It would make no sense that Jeremiah would refer to a different people if his own people were black. Furthermore, it should be noted that Jeremiah took the king's daughters to the British Isles and the current queen is a descendant. And Queen Elizabeth II is white.
Of course, not all with the Israelites were white as "A mixed multitude went up with them also" (Exodus 12:38). Furthermore, I had a professor who looked Chinese but said he was Jewish. So, yes there was some interbreeding. And yes, there are black people who also interbred with Jews and other Israelites.
Consider that during the time of the Roman occupation, Jewish men were displayed on one or more coins:
There are indeed portrayals of Jewish men with the “philosopher” look on Roman coins issued by the emperors Vespasian and Titus. These show captive Jewish fighters (partially stripped), after they revolted against Rome in the years 66-70 AD. It would be reasonable to think then that at least some Jewish men in Judaea looked like this, even if there is stereotyping. (Taylor J. What did Jesus really look like, as a Jew in 1st-century Judaea? Irish Times, February 9, 2018 https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/what-did-jesus-really-look-like-as-a-jew-in-1st-century-judaea-1.3385334 accessed 07/24/19)
After Titus conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Emperor Vespasian issued coins–the back side of which shows conquered Jews:
Titus on left, Jewish man on bottom right (CNG coins)
Vespasian on left, captured Jewish soldiers on right, 71 A.D. (CNG coins)
Notice that the Jews were not African. The back of the coin inscription in Latin Ivdea means Judea. This is clear evidence that the Jews of the first century (like Jesus) were not black Africans.
Now, mosaics are colored floor tiles. A fifth century Jewish synagogue in Huqoq (an ancient Jewish village, located 12.5 km north of Tiberias) has several interesting and relevant ones.
Man with inscription on mosaic of the 5th century (Jim Haberman)
The man to the right is clearly primarily Caucasian.
A mosaic depicting Jonah being swallowed by a fish. (Jim Haberman, Courtesy UNC-Chapel Hill)(Rogers J. 1,600-year-old biblical mosaic discovered in Israel, sheds light on ancient Judaism. Fox News, July 2, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/science/1600-year-old-biblical-mosaic-discovered)
If you look at the legs of the man being swallowed by the great fish, they show a light-skinned person. If Jews in the fifth century were mainly black, they would not have pictured Jonah as white.
Now, in the New Testament Book of Acts, a man in Acts 8:27 is described with the Greek word transliterated as Aithíops. This compound word literally means 'to scorch' 'the face' which is also stated to mean a "blackamoor" in Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Dictionary.com defines blackamoor as an archiac term meaning:
a black African or a very dark-skinned person.
If the Jews, Benjamites, and others of Israel were mainly dark-skinned then it makes little sense that this would be pointed out. I believe it was pointed out to show that God was clearly also calling Gentiles. A scorched face is black.
Furthermore, when you look at the prophecies to the tribes in Genesis 49 where Jacob stated "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days, what the fulfillment of what he said later in that chapter is best fulfilled in the mainly white nations as shown earlier.
Now, one 'Black Hebrew' group whose website I visited stated:
The True Hebrew Children of Israel are Black
... I keep calling them pale skinned Jewish people, but they are also known as European Jews or Ashkenazi Jews ... Even the Word describes the skin color of Israelites as dark [Jeremiah 8:18-21, Lamentations 4:6-9, Songs of Solomon 1:1-5, Job 30:28-30]. ("Philip." The True Hebrew Children of Israel are Black. October 18, Taught of Yah 2016 ©. http://www.taughtofyah.com/the-true-hebrew-children-of-israel-are-black/ accessed 07/25/19)
Well, the passages referred to simply do not teach that the descendants of Israel were dark and most have been discussed already. But Jeremiah 8 was not cited, so let's look at that:
18 I would comfort myself in sorrow; My heart is faint in me. 19 Listen! The voice, The cry of the daughter of my people From a far country:" Is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her King in her?" "Why have they provoked Me to anger With their carved images — With foreign idols?" 20 "The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved!" 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me. (Jeremiah 8:18-21 NKJV)
Again, that does not teach that the descendants of Israel were physically dark. While some translations have the expression "I am black," verse 21 is discussing "to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments)" (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)--and it is sackcloth that is black per Revelation 6:12.
One argument that is popular with those who do not believe that modern Jews are the descendants of Abraham is because of the term "Ashkenazi Jews." Some have then cited the following as proof:
2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (Genesis 10:2-4)
Japheth was the progenitor of many Asians and some others. He not the progenitor of Abram (Abraham), Shem was. So the argument is that modern Jews are not Abraham's descendants.
There are many problems with that conclusion. One of which being when the DNA of Ashkenazi Jews has been analyzed, they have been found with Europeans and Near Eastern ancestory, not the other parts of Asia (Costa MD, et al. A substantial prehistoric European ancestry amongst Ashkenazi maternal lineages. Nature Communications volume 4, Article number: 2543, 2013). Shem is the progenitor of many of the Europeans as well as Near East peoples. Furthermore, if many of them converted into Judaism as has been believed, they would be expected to have mixed DNA (Yandel K. Genetic Roots of the Ashkenazi Jews. The Scientist, October 8, 2013. https://www.the-scientist.com/daily-news/genetic-roots-of-the-ashkenazi-jews-38580 accessed 07/25/19). But either way, having the name Ashkenazi Jews does not mean that they were actually descendants of Japheth.
According to Wikipedia:
Medieval Jews associated the term with the geographical area centered on the Rhineland of Western Germany. ... In rabbinic literature, the kingdom of Ashkenaz was first associated with the Scythian region ... (Ashkenaz. Wikipedia, accessed 07/25/19)
Anyway, the use of that name Ashkenaz by Jews is NOT proof they descended from Japheth.
The Taught of Yah site (and some others) claim that Deuteronomy 28 is proof that the Hebrews were black:
For anyone who believes the Word, the best evidence for the true Hebrews is in the Word itself. In Deuteronomy 28, God details what would happen if our fathers turned from his way.
Deut 28:45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
Deut 28:46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
Notice that the Most High told us these curses would be on us for a “sign.” These are the best evidence for discovering the Hebrew people. We have to ask ourselves, what group of people can lay claim to these curses more so than the so called black people brought to the Americas? ("Philip." The True Hebrew Children of Israel are Black. October 18, Taught of Yah 2016 ©. http://www.taughtofyah.com/the-true-hebrew-children-of-israel-are-black/ accessed 07/25/19)
Well, the tribes of Israel were pulled out and their lands destroyed by the Assyrians in the 6th century B.C. Furthermore, Jewish history is replete with various persecutions and other problems for the Jews. To claim that the curses in Deuteronomy essentially must be a reference to Africans brought to the US as slaves is an inaccurate assertion. That is not proof. More on slavery aspects of Deuteronomy 28 can be found in the article: Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?
Here is something from another website promoting Hebrews as black:
Ham sons are the people of the African continent, the Ancient Egyptians, Ethiopians, Somalia's, Canaanites etc.
The Israelites are descendants of Noah son SHEM, through Abraham, he is the father of the Hebrew Israelite Nation. ...Noah's son, Khawm, or Ham in English. Khawm means black, hot and burnt. ...
In the book of Amos chapter 9: we will now see Israel being compared to Ham (Khawm) first born son Cush / Ethiopians.
Verse 7 says "ARE YOU NOT AS CHILDREN OF THE ETHIOPIANS UNTO ME, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL?"...
In this Verse, the Israelites are being called children of the Ethiopians by the Most High. The Ethiopians are a known black- skinned people, and the most high is calling Israel their children. How much sense would it make to call a white skinned people, CHILDREN OF THE ETHIOPIANS? The majority of Jews today are white-skin. if ancient Israel were a white skinned people, wouldn't it make more sense to compare them to a white skin nation. This verse does not say,
"ARE YOU NOT AS CHILDREN OF THE ROMANS / GREEKS / GENTILES UNTO ME O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL?"
It clearly compares Israel with a black skinned people. The reason for this is simple. Israel was and is a black skinned people, and the majority of them still are. (THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF ANCIENT ISRAEL THE HEBREWS & THE SONS OF HAM. http://www.angelfire.com/ill/hebrewisrael/printpages/phys.html accessed 07/25/19)
Consider that many of the children of despised the Cushites (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers). That would be a reason God was comparing them together--nothing is referring to skin color in Amos.
Let's look at Amos 9:7 in context:
7 "Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me,
O children of Israel?" says the Lord.
"Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
The Philistines from Caphtor,
And the Syrians from Kir?8 "Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,"
Says the Lord.9 "For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.
10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,
Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (Amos 9:7-10)
The context shows Amos 9:7 has to do with sinners. We see that God was telling the children of Israel that God felt that they were like others they despised because of their sins. Amos 9:7 is NOT teaching that the Israelites were black.
Furthermore, consider that many of the children of Ham were black and that the Bible shows that the Israelites originally descended through Shem, not Ham.
The biblical, historical, prophetic, and other evidence points to the Israelites as basically being white, with others who also were with them.
Now, on July 26, 2019, I received an email with the following:
EPHRAIM & MANASSEH ARE NOT THE U.S. & BRITAIN!
THE BIBLE’S EXPLAINATION OF EPHRAIM & MANASSEH’S GENETIC LINE DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR BELIEF BUT INVALIDATES IT!!
The Bible tells us that the mother of Ephraim & Manasseh (ASENATH), was an Egyptian (Because Her father was the Egyptian Priest “POTIPHERAH”: Genesis 41:45,50 & 46:20), and that The Egyptians were descended from Noah’s son Ham; HAM FATHERED THE FOLLOWING NATIONS (AFTER THE FLOOD), “ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE”:(Genesis 10:6): CUSH(Ethiopians),MIZRAIM(Egyptians), PUTH(Libyans), and CANAAN(Canaanites)! See also PSALMS:(78:51),(106:22),(105:23),(105:27), which tells us that the Egyptians were the children of HAM!
Genesis 10:6 Is telling us that the (BLACK Ethiopians), Egyptians, Libyans & Canaanites were “BROTHERS” and ALL had the same (Black Father),“HAM”! ... Which means ASENATH(the Egyptian mother of Ephraim & Manasseh), Was BLACK, In case you haven’t figured it out yet Asenath’s BLACK Genetic traitswould make it IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO GIVE BIRTH TO TWO WHITE SONS EPHRAIM & MANASSEH (U.S. & BRITAIN), NO MATTER WHAT COLOR HER HUSBAND (JOSEPH) WAS!I
That view is not a fact, but an assertion based on some inaccurate assumptions.
Now, yes, the Cushites were black. Remember Noah had three sons (Ham, Japtheth, and Shem), and their descendants became the three primary races (Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid). Based on dominant and recessive genes from his parents, Ham himself likely was not black (Negroid), as it is much more likely his wife was. Similarly, it would be most likely that Japheth's wife was Mongoloid and Shem's wife likely Caucasoid.
The bulk of the ancient Canaanite records we have shows most of them were not what we would consider black.
Notice also the following:
The black race is composed of some of the descendants of Noah's son Ham. Part of the black race stems from Cush (Gen. 10:6). Cush means black in Hebrew (Young's Concordance). The word "Cush" is often translated into English by the word "Ethiopia," but not all Cushites live in Ethiopia (an independent nation in East Africa). The Greeks called the children of Cush "Ethiopians." That's why we use the word in English. ...
Ham had another son, Phut or Put-it is spelled both ways in the Bible. Here is what Josephus writes about the people of Phut.
Phut also was the founder of Libya (by which he means Africa), and called the inhabitants Phutites, from himself: there is also a river in the country of the Moors which bears that name; whence it is that... the Grecian historiographers mention [Africa] by the appellation of Phut" (See Antiquities, VI, 2).
Put, or Phut, then, is the father of the central Africans. The Egyptians called the region of the Sudan (which was south of Egypt) by the name of Pet. The Babylonians and Persians called a similar region "Putu" (from Smith's Bible Dictionary and Inter. Stand. Bible Ency.).
Numerous sons of Put early settled into the western region of Mesopotamia, a few hundred miles from ancient Babylon. This is the original center of Hindi, the language of northern and central India (Ency. of World History, by Langer, p. 28).
The people who were settled in this region were uprooted by the Assyrians and driven east into India. ...
Of the four sons of Ham, only Cush bears a name which means "black." Just as some of the sons of Cush are brown so some of the children of Phut are black. (The Development of The Races. Ambassador College, 1968)
Through Ham many of the light people of North Africa arose. The black peoples throughout Africa and South east Asia also descended from Ham. Only two of Ham's four sons were black. (Hoeh H. The Race Question. Plain Truth, April 1957).
While some of the mixed multitude of Israel were black, and there were some blacks in Egypt, the bulk of the Egyptians were not black.
Notice also the following:
Ephraim and Manasseh – were they part black Egyptian?
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and
without a word from you, no man shall lift up his
hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah.
And he gave him Asenath, the daughter of
Potipherah, priest of On, for his wife. And Joseph
went out over the land of Egypt.” (Gen 41:44-45. Cf
also 46:20, 34)
The Bible does not state that she was an Egyptian at all. Given that On was in the Goshen
area where the Hyksos or similar White tribes settled and their aristocracy settled, it is
reasonable to assume that he married into that stock for the Egyptians proper were driven
southwards.
Although her name is Egyptian, ... a name itself is not proof for her being a Black Egyptian. and this sort
of thing happens all over the world. (White C. Chart: Was Israel mixed? V. 2.2. Received via email 07/25/19)
Again, most Egyptians were not black, so it is not logical to state that Joseph's wife must be black.
As far as having one parent black and one white notice the following:
This chart shows how that works with two parents with three white-skin alleles (gene traits), and three black-skin alleles. The use of six gene traits is just an example to show how the mixing can produce many different combinations.
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ampp3d/how-white-baby-can-born-4145688 accessed 07/27/19
So, with Ham's sons, presuming he was actually 100% white and his wife 100% black, there was only a 1 of 8 chance for any of the sons to be 100% black, and basically a 50% chance that one would be--and his son Cush probably was. But the odds are that none of his brothers were black. So the assertion that all of Cush's brothers would have to be black is not correct.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
3 Let no one deceive you by any means (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Some make emotional appeals. Some misinterpret scripture. Some twist doctrines to suit their own agendas and desires.
Yet, part of the purpose of having the faithful ministry is to prevent deception.
The truth is that the bulk of the children of Israel were not black (see also Were the Ancient Tribes of Israel Black? Was Jesus Black?).
Now notice something from the later time of the New Testament, from a Catholic translation:
11 Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11, DRB)
We see a list of contrast. Consider also that the Jews considered the Gentiles to be barbarians.
The reference to Scythians is pointing to descendants of the children of Israel who live in the East.
Notice the following from the late Dr. Herman Hoeh:
Remnant of Ten Tribes on Shores of Black Sea
Notice the historic proof — confirming Peter's letters — that a remnant of the House of Israel was settled on the shores of the Black Sea in northern Asia Minor in early New Testament times.
Greek writers, in the time of Christ, recognized that the regions of northern Asia Minor were non-Greek (except for a few Greek trading colonies in the port cities). New peoples, the Greeks tell us, were living in northern Asia Minor in New Testament times. Here is the surprising account of Diodorus of Sicily:
"... Many conquered peoples were removed to other homes, and two of these became very great colonies: the one was composed of Assyrians and was removed to the land between Paphlagonia and Pontus, and the other was drawn from Media and planted along the Tanais [the River Don in ancient Scythia — the modern Ukraine, north of the Black Sea, in southern Russia]" (Book II, — 43).
Notice the areas from which these colonies came — Assyria and Media. The very areas to which the House of Israel was taken captive! "So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day" (II Kings 17:23). "The king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes" (verse 6). ...
Britain, after A.D. 449, was settled by hundreds of thousands of new people not there in Peter's day. History knows them as Angles and Saxons.
They came originally from the shores of the Black Sea — where the House of Israel dwelt! In A.D. 256 they began to migrate from northern Asia Minor along the shores of the Black Sea to the Cymbric Peninsula (Denmark) opposite Britain. These were the people to whose ancestors Peter wrote his epistles.
Which one of the twelve apostles preached to their ancestors — the so-called "White Syrians" — while they abode by the Bosporus and on the Black Sea? Listen to the answer from Greek historians: "In this division Andrew had Scythia, and the neighboring countries primarily allotted him for his province. First then he travelled through Cappadocia, [Upper] Galatia and Bithynia, and instructed them in the faith of Christ, passing all along the Euxine Sea" — the old name for the Black Sea — "... and so into the solitude of Scythia." (Hoeh H. Where Did the TWELVE APOSTLES Go? Plain Truth, May 1964)
The late Raymond McNair wrote the following:
The word "Scythian" is used only once in the Bible. ... (Col. 3:11). ... The Scythians were looked upon as barbarians in the eyes of the Greeks and the Romans. They did not have their culture, but they had a highly developed culture of their own. ... True, they were nomads who roamed far and wide over the vast Euro-Asiatic steppes of South Russia in tents and in covered wagons. But they were not barbarians ...
MOST OF THE SCYTHS WERE ISRAELITES
Who were these Scythians, or Scyths, as they were often called? And how did the name "Scythian" originate?
This was one of the names that the Ten-Tribed House of Israel bore in their captivity. The most likely derivation of this word is as follows:
This word "SCYTHIAN" appears to be derived from the Hebrew word "SUCCOTH." We shall later see that the language of the Scythians (Scythiac) was very similar to the Hebrew. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines this word as follows. "Cukkouth, sook-kahthr'; or Cukkoth, sook-kohth';... booths; Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, p.82).
The Hebrew language was written only in consonants. The vowels had to be supplied by the reader. If one takes out the vowels from the Hebrew word "Succoth" the basic part of the word is "Scth." In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance it is spelled phonetically both with a "c" and also with an "s." Remember the "c" and the "s" often have the same sound, as in our English words, "cell" and "sell." Both English words are pronounced exactly alike. ...
"Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt" (Lev. 23:42,43).
This was to be observed by Israel "forever" (v.41). The Hebrew word used in verses 42 and 43, translated as "booths" is from the Hebrew SCTH or SKTH. The Greek word for "Scythian" is "Scuthes," and is pronounced much like the Hebrew word for "booth."
\ The Scythians were undoubtedly booth dwellers or Succoth-dwellers originally, though at a later period in their history, many of them lived in covered wagons. After the Israelites were deported from their homeland in Palestine, unto the region of Media and Assyria, they were an unsettled people. They undoubtedly wandered about in tents or booths, and were called "Scythians," meaning booth or tent dwellers.
Some historians think "Scythian" means "the tribes". (McNair R. Key to Northwest European Origins. Ambassador College Thesis, May 1963)
The late evangelist Dibar Apartian wrote:
Among all the peoples known under the general name "Scythians," the Sacae were the descendants of the children of Israel! Not only is it possible for us to notice a parallel by comparing the traditions of the two peoples, but history even recognizes that the majority of the peoples of the British Isles, particularly the "Scots" and the "Saxons," are the descendants of the Scythians (New English Dictionary, Article: "Scots"), thus of the Israelites! (Apartian DK. The French-Speaking Peoples In Prophecy. Translated from the French by Carol Kalin in 1975. Ambassador Collage, 1961)
Scythians, according to the ancient information I have seen on them were basically white.
Scythian archer c. 500 B.C. (Jastrow)
They apparently were, for a time, the bulk of the 'ten lost tribes' of Israel.
The bulk of the Scythians were not black.
While this article mainly focuses on the two tribes that descended from Joseph, when Jacob made his prophecy in Genesis 49 he mentioned all twelve tribes (though there are thirteen when Ephraim and Manasseh are counted separately).
Here is some of what the Bible records:
1 And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it--He went up to my couch.
5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. 6 Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.
8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
13 "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.
14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens; 15 He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.
16 "Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!
19 "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.
20 "Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties.
21 "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. 24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil."
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing (Genesis 49:1-28).
8 "But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
'You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:8-10)6 Indeed He says,
'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' (Isaiah 49:6)
Notice that each of the tribes had their own "blessing" and some of the descendants would be at the ends of the earth. Hence, biblically speaking, they should be looked for individually. Are not England, Canada, and Australia, to cite three examples, the among the ends of the earth from Palestine? And if you consider lands still, like the Falklands, and formerly, like the Far East and India, which were once controlled by Britain, some of the tribes were scattered to the ends of the earth and future scattering will take place (see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).
Yair Davidiy wrote that a rabbi named Manasseh ben Israel in the 17th century observed that the French term for England, Angleterre, literally meant "End of the Earth" (Davidy, p. 414).
As far as the prophecies in Genesis and elsewhere go, it has been stated:
The nations identified...as being of the Israelite-seed of Abraham were those who mainly conducted European colonist policies from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 15).
Although I do not agree with all the conclusions in the book cited below, it has been written:
In Sercia (east Scythia) the RHABBANAEI of Reuben bordered the Garianaei of Gad...Ribuiari...is another form for Reuben...Ribuari may have been similar to the Franks own name for themselves (Davidy. The Tribes, pp. 161-162).
The "CHATAE SCYTHAE"...The Chinese records say that that portion of the Naphtalities who had been north of them moved westward prior to 450 c.e. They also say that they had previously been north of the Altai mountains and were part of the Massagete, blue-eyed and fair-haired (Davidy. The Tribes, pp. 199-200).
Finland has been identified...as...especially Issachar (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 217).
BENJAMIN also seems to have been represented by the NORMANS (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 232).
Britain was dominated by the Tribe of Joseph and especially the section of Ephraim...From Britain came many of the settlers of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (Davidy. The Tribes, pp. 377,390).
...characteristics of Menasseh are found in the U.S.A. (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 403).
...The Irish of today... have characteristics applicable to DAN and Simeon...The forefather of the Danes in Danish tradition was called DAN (Davidy. The Tribes, pp. 432,438).
THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE JEWS...Most Jews come from the tribe of Judah followed by the tribes of Benjamin and Simeon together with Levi...Judah is the determining factor (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 433).
The French descend mainly from Reuben (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 440).
We in the Continuing Church of God believe that the descendants of Israel traveled to many places. While the following list may need some adjustment, it basically reflects where many of us have been taught those descendants went (even though some of each are scattered throughout many lands):
These are the countries that contain the physical cities of Israel that Jesus apparently was referring to in Matthew 10:22-23. Countries like Sweden, Belgium Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands Switzerland, Finland, France, Denmark, Ireland, and Iceland seem to fit some of the positive statements in Genesis 49--but they will ultimately face tests and trials from the coming European Beast power (cf. Ezekiel 5:4; 39:23,28), as Ezekiel 5:4 seems to show that after the USA is eliminated, fire will spread to "all the house of Israel." Some of the Israelite nations will temporarily support the Beast power (for writings related to Reuben, check out the article The 'Lost Tribe' of Reuben: France in Prophecy?).
Perhaps it should to be pointed out that several of the "Israelite nations' are ethnically mixed (per Davidiy Y. The Tribes, 4th edition. Russell-David Publishers, 2011 and other sources) and it may take them some time for the actual Israelites to separate out. (Information on the 'ten lost tribes' is also in the YouTube sermon titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter?)
They probably are also where the 144,000 from Revelation will be chosen from (except Dan, which is missing from the list in Revelation 7:4-8; interestingly, many in the Catholic Church tend to believe that the antichrist will be from the tribe of Dan). Back in the old Worldwide Church of God, some speculated that Denmark would leave the EU and not be part of the European Beast power. I am not particularly sure on that one way or the other, but do consider that it is a possibility (the viper and serpent comments in Genesis 49:17 suggest that it is different than others who might unify). Yet, the fact that the tribe of Dan is the only tribe not listed amongst the 144,000 in Revelation 7:4-8 makes me lean the other way at this instant--yet the fact that Denmark has not yet adopted the Euro (though its currency is directly linked to it) suggests a certain independence on the outskirts of the EU.
On the other hand, we of the Philadelphia remnant and the old WCG correctly taught:
The English-speaking nations will not prosper for long in connection with this system, however. In fact, they will ultimately be overpowered and destroyed by it militarily. Prior to military attack and occupation, devastating weather problems, combined with internal civil strife ("tumults in the midst" cf. Amos 3:9) will bring our nations to the point of internal collapse. (Ogywn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Booklet, Charlotte (NC)).
Ephraim (modern Great Britain) will not be part of the "Beast" power, so we can expect some significant change that will push the British out of the EU. (Davis. D. Ireland says "No!" to EU power grab. Commentary, July, 1 2008)
Perhaps it should be mentioned that the general position within the Churches of God is that Britain will not remain in the EU and will pull out at some point. (Thiel B. Tony Blair a Catholic EU Leader? Church of God News, June 26, 2007. http://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/tony-blair-a-catholic-eu-leader/)
It should be understood that ultimately, Britain will NOT thrive as part of the EU but will be taken over by the final European Beast power–yet its former Prime Minister is promoting something that will not help the peoples of the UK. (Thiel B. Tony Blair Calls for a Strong, Elected, EU President Church of God News, June 9, 2007. http://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/tony-blair-calls-for-a-strong-elected-eu-president/)
Here is Britain trying to GET IN on this uniting of Europe! ... It is this same daughter of ancient Babylon who is to lay the YOKE of captivity and slavery on America and Britain. ... Britain is allowing it self to get mixed in with European foreigners... When God brings Britain DOWN-the rime of JACOBS' S TROUBLE -the only time when the DAUGHTER of Babylon will be sitting astride a united MILITARY EUROPE. (Armstrong HW. BRITAIN'S DOOM Prophesied for Common Market Seeking Membership! Plain Truth, July 1962)
Bible prophecy clearly shows that Britain will not be one of the ... NATIONS comprising the final United States of Europe (McNair R. A Strong United Europe. Tomorrow’s World, February 1970, p. 17).
On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (see UK votes YES to leave the European Union–What is now prophesied to happen? and/or watch Post Brexit Prophecy).
Back in the early 1990s, when I was vice president of an irrigation equipment manufacturer, I told our British sales representative, who was visiting the factory in California, that one day the UK would separate from Europe. He flat out told me that could not possibly happen. And he gave reasons, but they were not biblical ones--I told him he was in error. The Brexit vote shows that he, who was not part of the Church of God, was in error. And the fact of “Brexit” has proved that and it is consistent with our understanding of biblical prophecies and the identity of the British and American peoples.
Notice also something that was in my article Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?) two years BEFORE the Brexit vote:
While I do expect violent unrest in Europe, and some losses to Europe including the United Kingdom, this does not mean that the final beast power will have to be restricted to 10-11 existing nations.
Those of us in the Church of God were right about this.
Ultimately a European power will take the UK over (see Europa, the Beast, and Revelation).
Many simply believe that the nation of Jews called Israel is ALL OF ISRAEL, along with Jews scattered around the world. As shown by other scriptures (e.g. Genesis 48:11,15-16,19-20; cf. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2), the name Israel was to be placed on the descendants of Joseph. Yet, it was prophesied that most would call the Jews 'Israel':
1 Hear this, O house of Jacob,
Who are called by the name of Israel,
And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah (Isaiah 48:1)
This has happened today, so most overlook the scriptures that teach that there are other tribes of Israel in other places (e.g. James 1:1).
While some have pointed to the formation of the small nation of Israel as the fulfillment of many end time prophecies, this has frequently been overstated.
Although this formation has prophetic relevance, it was not the 'fig tree' that many Protestant prophetic watchers have claimed as the start of the final generation (Mark 13:28-30). If we grant that a generation would last for up to 70 years (cf. Psalm 90:10), Jesus would have needed to return by 2018 for 1948 to be the starting point for "this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30).
Furthermore, the formation of Israel is NOT the final prophesied regathering. Here is some of what Herbert Armstrong wrote about this in 1948:
Not Prophesied Regathering
In God's own due time the Jews are to be released from their persecutions, their harrowing trials, and be reestablished within Palestine IN PEACE! But this is not that prophesied regathering of Israel! This is merely a blundering human effort to do for themselves, before the time, what they will have to wait for God to do for them. And this present movement, setting up a nation of Jews and calling it "ISRAEL," can only lead to more bloodshed and more troubles!
In the first place, the new nation that has declared itself in Palestine is not Israel at all—it is only a part of JUDAH! When the great prophesied exodus occurs, it will be Israel and Judah together. And they will not do it in their own defiant, embittered power and strength; they will be taken back, by Christ after His coming, from a condition of slavery and from the land of their enemies (see Ezek. 39:25-27). At that time they will take captive their captors and rule over those who had been ruling over them (Isa. 14:1-3—see especially Moffatt translation; Jer. 30:16; 31:11). It will be a greater exodus than the typical one under Moses—this one will be under CHRIST at His return! (Jer. 23:7-8.) They will go back to Palestine weeping, confessing their sins, loathing themselves for having ignored and transgressed against God, seeking the MESSIAH whom they have rejected (Jer. 50:4-5; Ezek. 20:34-43). They will then be converted, changed from sinners into Spirit-filled people living by God's laws (Jer. 50:19-20; Ezek. 36:24-28). The Jews in Palestine, and this new nation, fulfill NONE of those prophecies! But what a strange dilemma!
The Jews Are Not Israel!
Most people today do not seem to know that the Jews are not Israel, but only a part of Judah. The first place in the Bible where the word "Jews" occurs, the Jews are at war against ISRAEL (II Kings 16:6). Four whole books of the Bible are devoted to showing the historic difference between the two nations Israel and Judah. There were twelve tribes of Israel, originally. But after Solomon died, the nation ISRAEL rejected her king, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and made Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, king. Then the one tribe of Judah split off from the nation Israel and formed a NEW NATION of their own (just as they are trying to do again today), in order to retain Rehoboam as king. This new nation was called the kingdom of JUDAH. The tribe of Benjamin and a large portion of Levi then joined Judah, leaving the TEN TRIBES in the nation ISRAEL. (Armstrong HW. Plain Truth, June 1948)
And he was correct. The nation of Israel does not represent all the tribes of Israel. Notice the following prophecy:
18 "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers. (Jeremiah 3:18)
7 For thus says the Lord: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O Lord, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!' 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. 9 They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.' (Jeremiah 31:7-10)
That has NOT been fulfilled. The 'land of the north' has to do with end time Babylonian Europe (cf. Zechariah 2:6-7).
Because certain ones do not understand that the nation called Israel is not all Israel, they have misunderstood the timing of prophecies such as Ezekiel 38.
I would add that Jesus said certain events would happen during a generation (Matthew 24:34), and unless a generation is to exceed 70 years, the formation of Israel in 1948 was not the start of the last generation.
Some object to the entire concept of the tribes being heavily European and point out that the differing peoples/tribes/nations often look different than the Jews. But notice the following:
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (Hebrews 7:11-14)
Since it is evident that Jesus looked like a Jew (from Judah) and not a Levite (which is where the priests came from) the New Testament is clearly stating that those of Judah could be distinguished from the tribe of Levite. Hence, it is obvious that people of different tribes of Israel could, even now, look different from each other.
Because of intermarriage and other factors, some of the countries that the differing tribes tended to dominate are subject to debate--however, overall the peoples of northwestern Europe seemed to have descended from the tribes of Israel as well as the nations that came from those peoples.
Here are some comments from the late Dr. Hoeh (I left out Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah as they have more coverage elsewhere):
4. Levi, the priestly tribe, was to be scattered in Israel (Gen. 49:5-7). God never gave them land to inherit as the other tribes. Therefore, we should not expect them to be given territory today. Nothing is said in Deut. 33 about inheriting land. Among the Jews today we find many bearing the names: Levi, Levy, Levine. Others bear the name "Cohen" and its variations. The Hebrew word "Kohen" means priest and is so translated 725 times in the King James version. Here then, we have the great bulk of Levi scattered among Judah because they left their priestly functions in Israel almost totally (I Kings 12:31).
5. Simeon received no blessing from Moses. In fact, he does not even mention the tribe! Jacob said God would scatter them throughout Israel. How? Take a map of Palestine for the time of the division of the land. Notice that Simeon did have an inheritance SOUTH of Judah. When Judah separated from Israel, Judah occupied that territory, yet Simeon went with Israel! The only explanation is that Simeon migrated into Israel generally, but no new territory was assigned to Simeon. This tribe became scattered. It is possible that the small scattered tribes in Western Europe, variously called the Senones or Semaones or Sennones, represented the fragments of the tribe of Simeon.
6. Reuben, unstable as water and having the excellency of greatness, we have recognized as France. Southern France, settled by the descendants of Javan (the Greeks), is gentile ... is unstable, yet sets the styles for the world, has the form of real excellency, and has the same sex weakness as Reuben, is France... And is it not significant that the very country at war with England around 1800 should be France (Reuben), who would lose the birthright in the Napoleonic war? (Napoleon was Italian.)
7. Dan was originally divided into two parts, one about Joppa, a seaport, and the other in the north of Palestine. Dan refused to fight along side the other tribes against the Gentiles (Judges 5:17). Dan would judge, or stand up to rule, his own people as one of the separate tribes of Israel indicating he would gain self-government in the following manner: "Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the part, that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider falleth, backward." Ireland has done just that to England. In fact, the symbol of the illegal Irish Republican Army was the coiled snake!
Dan would also be like a young lion leaping forth, an apt description of Denmark, which acquired the Virgin Islands, Greenland, Iceland and other islands in her heyday. Especially unique is the fact that of all the tribes Northern Dan still preserves their father's name the Danes!
8. Benjamin constitutes Norway and Iceland. The Icelandic people in reality a colony of Norwegians. Benjamin was given to David because Jerusalem, David's capital, was in the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah. God said He would give David light in Jerusalem (I Kings 11:36). This verse could not refer to Judah which did not have to be given to the Jewish House of David. Benjamin was told to flee the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 6:1) which many of them did.
Benjamin is compared to "a wolf that raveneth; in the morning he devoureth the prey, and at even he divideth the spoil" (Gen. 49:27). This is certainly an apt description of the Vikings who pillaged Northern Europe, and even Mediterranean regions. Almost all Viking raids came from Norway. It is also significant that Benjamin, the smallest tribe, still is the smallest today. There are fewer Norwegians (plus 148 thousand from Iceland) than any other Israelite nation. (Moses' blessing in Deut. 33 has particular reference to this fact that Jerusalem was in the tribe of Benjamin.)
9. Issachar is compared to a "large-boned ass," Jacob continues: "For he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he BOWED HIS SHOULDER TO BEAR, and became a SERVANT UNDER "ASSWORK." (Gen. 49:14-15.) An ass is not the most intelligent of animals, but it is a willing worker. Such is Finland. Finland is the ONLY nation that has voluntarily taken the full responsibility of her debts. She is today paying off a huge indemnity to Russia. Her land is pleasant and good, not extraordinarily rich. According to Deuteronomy 33:19 she derives wealth from fishing and from hidden treasures of the sand gigantic peat bogs and the finest sand for glass-making. Issachar is not a colonizing people they dwell pastorally "in tents," said Moses.
10. Nepthali represents Sweden "satisfied with favor, full with the blessings of the Lord." She is compared to a prancing hind or deer and "giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21). From Sweden, with a well-balanced economy, come the Nobel prizes in token to great world accomplishments. Sweden, during two world wars and the recent trouble in Palestine, sent her emissaries to speak words of conciliation and peace. The promise by Moses to possess "the sea and the south" is applicable both to ancient Nepthali and modern Sweden: notice the position of the Sea of Galilee and Baltic relative to the position of this tribe.
11. Zebulun settled in Holland (The Netherlands). Zebulun dwell at the "shore of the sea, and he shall be a shore for ships, and his flank shall be upon Zidon" a Gentile country. Moses said: "rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out." She takes also treasures from the sea and the sand, Zebulun, then, is a colonizing people. She is not a pillaging people as Benjamin.
12. Gad, which means "the troop" certainly designates Switzerland the only Israelite nation in which every man is mobilized for defense. Against Gad would come the foreign troops, said Jacob, but he will "trod upon their heel." Moses declared that Gad does NOT "leap," a characteristic of the colonizing or pillaging tribes. Gad "teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head" of the Holy Roman Empire, in whose territory "he chose a first part for himself, and there a portion of a ruler was reserved." To Gad come "the heads of the people" as they do today to Geneva. No other nation on earth so perfectly fits this description of a nation of troops.
13. Asher "his bread shall be fat and he shall yield royal danties" (Gen. 49:20). This peculiar expression could have reference alone to Belgium and the kindred state Luxembourg. From Belgium have come the finest Flemish paintings, the royal tapestries which graced the halls of kings, fine cut diamonds, porcelain and Belgian lace. Belgium and Luxembourg are blessed above many another son of Jacob "Blessed be Asher above sons; let him be the favoured of his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil" prosperity. Iron and brass shall by thy bars; and as thy days, so shall they riches increase. Because of uranium, Belgium's prosperity will continue to grow. (The above rendering of Deut. 33:25 is the correct it is highly obscure.)
SUMMARY: Here we have a recapitulation of Jacob's prophecy for the latter days, and of Moses' blessings (some of which apply to the millennium). IN ALL THE WORLD THERE IS NO GROUP OF NATIONS SO PERFECTLY CORRESPONDING TO THE PROPHECIES. And within this extraordinary group of nations each nation has its own characteristics. (LOCATION OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL by Herman L Hoeh (ca. 1950s) http://www.giveshare.org/israel/locationtribes.html)
Related to Gad, let me add the following scripture:
20 And of Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad; He dwells as a lion, And tears the arm and the crown of his head. 21 He provided the first part for himself, Because a lawgiver's portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people; He administered the justice of the Lord, And His judgments with Israel." (Deuteronomy 33:20-21)
Switzerland, Geneva particularly, has had a history of being an "international lawgiver." Note: Even though the migrations of some of the ancestors of Switzerland and Germany are similar, while some have erroneously taught that Germany is Gad, Germany has no history of being a recognized lawgiver--but instead primarily descended from Assyria (see Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History).
Here is more information on most of the other tribes, straight from the Bible:
6 "Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few."
7 And this he said of Judah:
"Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah,And bring him to his people;Let his hands be sufficient for him,And may You be a help against his enemies."
8 And of Levi he said:
"Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one,Whom You tested at Massah, And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah, 9 Who says of his father and mother,'I have not seen them'; Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, Or know his own children; For they have observed Your word And kept Your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob Your judgments,And Israel Your law.They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar. 11 Bless his substance, Lord, And accept the work of his hands; Strike the loins of those who rise against him, And of those who hate him, that they rise not again."
12 Of Benjamin he said:
"The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him,Who shelters him all the day long;And he shall dwell between His shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33:6-12)
18 And of Zebulun he said:
"Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! 19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand." (Deuteronomy 33:18)
22 And of Dan he said:
"Dan is a lion's whelp; He shall leap from Bashan."
23 And of Naphtali he said:
"O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the Lord, Possess the west and the south."
24 And of Asher he said:
"Asher is most blessed of sons; Let him be favored by his brothers, And let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:22-26)
It may be of interest to note that the word translated as 'west' regarding Napthali is also defined as roaring sea, which is how Herman Hoeh explained it. Sweden is basically on the west border of the Baltic Sea (for more on Sweden, see Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Naphtali – Sweden).
Although certain "theologians" have dismissed the idea that Israel is still separate from Judah, the Bible is clear that into the last days (cf. Revelation 18:2-5) that there remains a separation between the two:
5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, By his God, the Lord of hosts, Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel." 6 Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He shall recompense her. (Jeremiah 51:5-6)
So, despite critics, those who actually believe the Bible realize that God considers that Israel (the so-called ten lost tribes) and Judah (Judah, Levi, and perhaps part of Benjamin) still exist separately.
Before going further, perhaps it should be mentioned that there are several prophecies involving the nation that is now called Israel (which is mainly descended from Judah) that should be quoted:
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20)
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-17)
22 Behold, the noise of the report has come, And a great commotion out of the north country, To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals. (Jeremiah 10:22)
6 Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem
You have sold to the Greeks, That you may remove them far from their borders. (Joel 3:6)
Disaster is prophesied for the current nation known as Israel. And its surviving residents apparently will become slaves, apparently in lands controlled by northern peoples, like the Greece (note: the old Greek Empire included much of the old Roman Empire, hence lands other than Greece may end up with those from modern Israel).
Perhaps it should also be mentioned that Jesus is clear that the twelve tribes will exist in the far future:
24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:24-30)
Notice also:
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:9-21)
Thus, God has a plan for the twelve tribes according to the New Testament. The twelve apostles will be ruling over the twelve tribes.
And while most commentators understand the passages from Jacob in Genesis 48 & 49 to be prophetic, many seem to conclude that they have been fulfilled long ago. Even though Jacob specified that they were for “the last days” (Genesis 49:1), notice what the renowned Protestant theologian John F. Walvoord wrote:
Genesis 49:1-28 … In connection with Zebulun, Jacob predicted, “Zebulun will live by the seashore …” (v. 13). Though Zebulun would not border the sea, it would be near enough …
Gad … (v. 19) … may refer to this (cf. 1 Chron. 5:18-19)
In general, the prophecies that Jacob bestowed on his children have been fulfilled in their subsequent history (Walvoord, John F. The Prophecy Handbook. Victor Books, Wheaton (IL), 1990, pp. 31-33).
Outrageous! Notice that Dr. Walvoord falsely claimed that although Zebulun was not at the sea, this prophesy was “near enough” apparently by the 10th century BCE. Elsewhere he wrote that claimed the prophecies to Naphtali, Asher, and others had fulfillment in Old Testament times (Ibid, pp. 32-33).
Furthermore, consider that Ephraim and Manasseh were prophesied by Jacob to become a great nation and company of nations (Genesis 48:19). But that did not happen prior to Israel’s captivity. Nor, did they otherwise end up a a great nation and company of nations until a couple of centuries ago.
It was during the time of the New Testament that the last days began (Hebrews 1:2), and no commentator (outside of those who accept that there are still tribes of Israel that are not affiliated with the nation now called Israel) has been able to show how else the prophecies of Genesis 49:1-27 were fulfilled in “the latter days.”
Those of us who truly believe what the Bible says realize that the latter days promises had to fulfilled after Jesus came and thus, some of us have looked into more recent history to point to their fulfillment. Many Protestants simply do not understand where the USA is mentioned in prophecy (see also Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy).
Not only have most NOT been fulfilled historically, these prophesies were for the last days. (Information on the 'ten lost tribes' is also in the YouTube sermon titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter?)
On the other hand, the late John Ogwyn correctly noted:
There is no record of Ephraim and Manasseh ever becoming a great nation and company of nations prior to Israel’s captivity. They never became a blessing to all the nations of the world before they went into Assyrian captivity in the eighth century before Christ. Clearly, the fulfillment of the promises that God made to Abraham and reconfirmed to his descendants did not occur before ten-tribed Israel disappeared from the pages of your Bible and then from the pages of secular history (Ogwyn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Charlotte, 2006, p. 17).
While “disappeared” is how many view them, the fact is that they did fulfill the prophecies and have more still to fulfill.
Furthermore, a major prophetic chapter in the Bible after those in Genesis is in Leviticus 26. In a sense it could be called the first major “blessings and cursings” chapter in the Bible. Without going into all the details, notice one verse:
33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste (Leviticus 26:33).
And while God did allow the Assyrians to scatter the children of Israel in the Old Testament, they did not then destroy their cities. Instead, the cities remained and the Assyrians put other peoples in them (2 Kings 17:24).
And why is that relevant?
Because it shows that the “cities” becoming “waste” prophecy is still ready to be fulfilled. Hence, this is another Old Testament prophecy that is waiting to happen—and is likely to impact the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim and Manasseh are called "a great people" in the Bible (Joshua 17:17).
Interestingly, the Bible in other places distinguishes between the descendants of Judah and those of Joseph. Notice one such place:
As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions' (Ezekiel 37:16).
Similarly notice:
3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near...6 Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed. 8 The Lord God has sworn by Himself, The Lord God of hosts says: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it." (Amos 6:3, 6-8)
The descendants of Joseph, also known as Jacob, will be punished (Jeremiah 30:7) for sin including pride. Notice that they do not think it can happen to them, but it will:
8 "Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,"
Says the Lord.
9 "For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.
10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,
Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (Amos 9:8-10)
Are not the nations of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies sinful? The Bible points out that the descendants of Jacob and Joseph are God's people (Psalm 77:15).
Also notice the following prophecy:
25 "Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name — 26 after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, 28 then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. 29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,' says the Lord God." (Ezekiel 39:25-29)
This was NOT fulfilled by the Jews going back to the land in the Middle East and establishing the nation of Israel in 1948. Why? Because most Jews were secular then and now. All do NOT know the living God--which the prophecy shows that they would have, if it had yet been fulfilled. (To learn more about by whom and how they will be made captive, please see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?)
What about those that are not descended from Judah, Ephraim, or Manasseh? The remaining tribes of Israel? Well, while the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) does not start with their immediate punishment (Ezekiel 5:1-3 seems mainly to point to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh), they too will receive punishment (bolded end of verse 4):
1 "And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber's razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 5:1-4)
The bolded portion seems to show that the rest of the house of Israel will have tribulation after the modern nations that include the Anglo-descended countries will essentially be gone. This would include such countries as France, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Norway. The 'small number' in verse 3 appears to be about 10 percent as that is the amount that Isaiah 6:13 indicates will be left.
Consider also the following:
5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the Lord.
6 For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners. 7 Their land is also full of silver and gold, And there is no end to their treasures; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made. 9 People bow down, And each man humbles himself; Therefore do not forgive them.
10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty. 11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts
Shall come upon everything proud and lofty,
Upon everything lifted up —
And it shall be brought low—(Isaiah 2:5-12)3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim,
The kingdom from Damascus,
And the remnant of Syria;
They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,"
Says the Lord of hosts.4 "In that day it shall come to pass
That the glory of Jacob will wane,
And the fatness of his flesh grow lean. (Isaiah 17:3-4)
The above timeframe is the Day of the Lord. It shows that various parts of Jacob/Israel are pleased with foreigners. They have silver and gold (cf. Revelation 18:11-12). They will end up hiding in the rocks (cf. Revelation 6:15-17)--while this hiding includes all associated with Babylon, it appears to be including various of the tribes of Israel. Notice also that hunger/famine is expected.
Some of wondered if Israelitish-descended nations could be part of the final Beast power. History shows us that France, Switzerland, and at least parts of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and UK were part of old Roman Empire. At least parts of France, as well as essentially all of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Belgium were part of the so-called 'Holy Roman Empire.' Consider also that three members of the House of Luxembourg reigned as 'Holy Roman Emperors.' The fact that at least part of the Israelitish peoples were part of the beasts in Daniel 2:40-43 and 7:2-8, should show all that it, for a time, can be part of the final Beast power (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?)
Of course, after Jesus comes and His Kingdom is established, all of that type of punishment will end.
Protestant critic Walter Martin claimed that Amos disproved Anglo-Israelism. Notice what he wrote:
The coup de grace to Anglo-Israelism's fragmented exegesis is given by the prophet Amos of Judah...(Amos, dwelling in Bethel, prophesied against Israel's restoration as a separate kingdom [Amos 9:8-10]). We learn from this prophecy that as a kingdom, the ten-tribes were to suffer destruction, and their restoration would never be realized. How then is it possible for them to be 'lost' and reappear three millenniums later as the British Kingdom when that Kingdom was never to be restored? (Martin W. The Kingdom of the Cults. Baker Books, 2003, p. 518)
Amos 9:8-10 (which was cited earlier) teaches that God would make it so the ancient kingdom of Israel would no longer be able to exist (it still does not), that Jacob though would still remain (his descendants still do), that those people would be sifted through the nations (which they have been), and that the sinners among them will be punished (which will happen)—since those of us in the CCOG believe all that, we would tend to state that Amos 9:8-10 supports, and does not disprove, British-Israelism (I even quoted it in this article before I added Walter Martin's comment about it). British-Israelism, as understood in the CCOG, does not mean all ten tribes became the British Empire, but mainly one, along with another that became the USA.
Perhaps it should also be noted that Jeremiah 51:5-6, especially when compared to Revelation 18:2-6 and Ezekiel 37:15-26, clearly shows that into the present century that God still considers that Israel is separate from Judah; thus, despite comments from critics, the Bible does teach many aspects of “British-Israelism.”
There are various traditions and legends concerning Jeremiah and the British Isles. Essentially they are based upon tying a few biblical passages in with some early claims. Notice one discussed by E.B.Benjamin in 19th century (scriptures within {} below inserted by me):
In Jeremiah i. 10 we read a commission given to him in these words: "I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." In tracing the prophet's history, his pulling down and destroying is clearly told, for his whole cry was the destruction of the nation of Judah and the conquest by the King of Babylon…
Then "Jeremiah went with Gedaliah and dwelt with him" {Jeremiah 40:6}; he was the "governor whom the King of Babylon had set over the people of the land." {vs. 7}
This "governor" was conquered by Ishmael, "of the seed royal," {41:1} who had joined the Ammonites, and Ishmael carried off his captives, "even the king's daughters," {41:10} to go to the Ammonites.
Ishmael, in his turn, was conquered by Johanan {41:16}, who took his captives, with Jeremiah and the king's daughters, to "Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt." {41:17} There they pretended to desire to know what the Lord wished them to do {42:1-3}. Through Jeremiah they were commanded not to go to Egypt {41:19}. Like many of later date, the thing they were told not to do was that they had determined upon {43:1-5}. So—we may judge sorely against his will—Jeremiah and the king's daughters were taken into Egypt {43:5-6}. As this was against the direct command of God, and as his mission "to build and to plant" {1:10} was yet unfulfilled, we may infer that the prophet escaped from Egypt at the earliest opportunity.
Doubtless ships of Dan {cf. Judges 5:17} were still engaged in the same trade as that of the Phoenicians, the trade in tin with Cornwall, and in one of Dan's ships, tradition tells us, Jeremiah and the king's daughters, and the stone, the Lia Fail, embarked. Holy Writ is silent on this subject, leaving us only sure that Jeremiah would fulfil his mission.
It is said the vessel was wrecked on the coast of Spain; tradition in that country confirms this. Finally, 580 B. C, the goal was reached, and the Tuatha de Danans welcomed to Tara's halls the great prophet and the Eastern princess, who brought with them the heirloom of Israel, Jacob's Pillow.
Jewish tradition tells that this stone had been preserved in the temple as a pillar of witness of the covenant between Jacob and his God. Irish tradition tells of the beauty of the princess (but one is spoken of, perhaps the others married in Spain) Tephi, the beautiful, and of her grave; of the college established by the prophet; of the city and nation that he built and planted; and the grandeur of Tara's halls is now both " said and sung." (Benjamin EB. Lia Fall. The Churchman, November 16, 1878. Original from the University of Michigan. Digitized, Oct 31, 2009, p. 595).
As far as the king's daughters, it should be mentioned that one king (Jehoiakim) and one prince (Coniah) of Judah were told that their descendants would not occupy the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:30; 22:24-30). And hence, this is may be part of why King Zedekiah's daughters are mentioned in scripture (Jeremiah 41:10; 43:6)--the throne was apparently to go through them.
Here are some passages from scripture to also consider about the throne of David:
45 ... King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. (1 Kings 2:45)
2 ... Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! (Jeremiah 22:2)
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord,
"That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
17 "For thus says the Lord: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.'" (Jeremiah 33:17-18)
The above passages make clear that the throne of David was to last and that Jesus, though He will sit on it, is not yet doing so. Thus, since scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), then someone has to be on that throne now. Someone has had to have been on that throne since the time of the Zedekiah (a contemporary of Jeremiah), the last king of Judah. And the royalty in the British Isles fits this. Let me also state that there have been Levites ever since Jeremiah 33:17-18--the fact that they do not do their original biblical role does NOT change the fact that they still exist.
It should be understood that not only is this doctrine about David's throne in the Bible, the idea that "Christ upon His return, will take over David’s throne" was believed by those who held to many Church of God doctrines in Transylvania during the late Middle Ages. (Marx G. The Beliefs and Practices of the Church of God in Transylvania During the Middle Ages, 1588-1623; see also Die Sabbatharier in Siebenburgen (The Sabbatarians in Transylvania) Ihre Geschichte, Literatur und Dogmatic (their story, literature and doctrines) ein Beitrag zur Religions und Kulturgeshichte der Juengsten Drei Jahrhunderte (a contribution to the religious and cultural history of the last three centuries) von (by) Dr. Samuel Kohn, printed in Leipzig, Germany in 1894).
There are reports about an object that may have travelled to Ireland and then Scotland:
Ancient Irish legends recount that in addition to the king’s daughters, Jeremiah brought with him "some national treasures from the Temple. The most important of these was the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, Jacob’s stone" (Rogers, pp. 31–32). The Bible relates that Jacob, the forefather of the Israelite tribes, set up a stone pillar after making a covenant with God (Genesis 28:13–22). It was also a custom in ancient Israel to crown kings over a stone (Judges 9:6; 2 Kings 11:12–14).
The stone was later taken to Scotland by a king Fergus, and then to England. It has been used in all three countries for the coronation of monarchs—following the ancient Israelite custom. (Behind the Mists of Ireland. Tomorrow’s World magazine. Jan-Feb 2000).
Those of us with backgrounds in the old WCG basically believe that there is a connection between the old throne of Israel and the current throne of the British royal family. Whether or not it is the same stone has been questioned, however. It may be of interest to note that the Irish have various old traditions, including one that might be related to the Day of Atonement, that suggest they had ties to ancient Israel.
Notice the following from the late evangelist John Ogwyn and late Herbert W. Armstrong (who helped teach him):
The Throne of David
God made a remarkable promise to King David of ancient Israel. Speaking through Nathan the prophet, God told David: "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:12–16).
God explained to David that while he might punish his descendants for their sins, he would not remove the kingdom from their line as he had done with Saul. What happened to that line of kings? History records that King Zedekiah, a descendant of David, was the last king to sit upon the throne of Judah in Jerusalem. In 586bc Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took Zedekiah captive to Babylon, burned the temple, and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Notice the statement in 2 Kings 25:7: "Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put out the eyes of Zedekiah… and took him to Babylon."
Did God's promise to David fail?
For the rest of the story, notice the prophecy that God inspired Ezekiel to record in Ezekiel 17. It starts out by posing a riddle that describes an eagle coming to a large cedar tree and cropping off the topmost branch. This small branch was taken to the "city of merchants" (v. 4). What is this riddle describing? Verse 12 tells us: "Say now to the rebellious house: Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon."
That is not the end of the story, however. God went on to tell Ezekiel in verses 22 and 23: "I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell."
We have already seen that the "top branch" of the cedar symbolized Judah's last king, Zedekiah. A twig coming out from that branch would be one of his children. As we have also seen, his sons were killed. This "tender" twig must clearly refer to one of his daughters! God talks of her being taken to a high mountain (used in Bible prophecy to symbolize a nation) where she would be "planted" and would grow into a great tree. This shows that she would marry and produce offspring and that the dynasty would continue! Also note, while David's line had been reigning over Judah, it would now be "replanted" ruling over Israel.
Irish history records the remainder of this story. It tells of the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch coming to Ireland after the fall of Judah with a young princess and the coronation stone, called in Gaelic lia fail. In ancient Irish records, the princess was named Tea Tephi. She married the son of the High King of Ireland. Their descendants reigned from Tara in Ireland for many centuries. Later, in the days of Kenneth McAlpine, they transferred their place of rule to Scone in Scotland. This same dynasty continues on down to today in the person of Queen Elizabeth II, a direct descendant of Tea Tephi and her husband. God has fulfilled his promises to King David just as He said! (Ogwyn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Charlotte, 2006)
David's Dynasty Forever
David succeeded Saul. David sat on the Eternal's throne. David's son Solomon succeeded him, also sitting on the Eternal's throne. "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Eternal as king instead of David his father" (I Chron. 29:23; see also II Chron. 9:8).
I wish here to impress another special point. Before Saul, the Eternal had been King over Israel. These human kings were sitting upon the Eternal's throne. The Eternal - "LORD" - is Jesus Christ who was with the Father before the world was (John 17:5 and 1:1-2, 14). Jesus is both the "root" and the "offspring" of David (Rev. 22:16). Since He was the "root," the throne was His before David was born. David merely sat upon the Eternal's throne. Secondly, since Jesus was David's lawful fleshly Son, this same throne shall once more become His right by inheritance, continuing David's dynasty. And so, when Christ returns to earth, David's throne will be doubly His right!
Now we come to a seemingly incredible fact - fantastic - almost unbelievable, but true! While David was king, God made with him a perpetual covenant, unconditionally, which God cannot and will not break! This covenant is even more amazing, and less understood, than the unconditional covenant with Abraham!
I want you now to plant firmly in mind the specific nature and character of the covenant the Almighty made with David. For it is a vital link in the purpose and mission of Christ - an important KEY to Bible understanding!
In II Samuel 23:1, 5, we find: "Now these be the last words of David . . . . God . . . hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure." In other words, a covenant that shall endure forever and cannot fail! (Armstrong HW. The United States and Britain in Prophecy. WCG booklet)
There is an old legend that makes a connection between the first Scottish kings and the children of Israel. Here is one 19th century report of it:
A popular makes Fin-Mac-Cumhal, or Fingal, the school-mate of the Prophet Jeremiah. We have seen a late work on prophecy gravely affirming that the Prophet Jeremiah died in Ireland, having been forced hither by the wandering sons of Ephraim. One of the few unquestionable facts connected with early Irish history, is the intercourse between Ireland and the Phoenicians, through Spain. The Israelitish settlers, according to the tradition, carried with them Jacob's pillow or pillar, known as the Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny, which secured a perpetual monarchy to the people so happy as to possess it. This stone, at the crowning of the first king of the Scots in Scotland, was borrowed... (The Christian remembrancer; or, The Churchman's Biblical, ecclesiastical & literary miscellany, Volume XLVIII. July-October 1864. Original from Oxford University, Digitized, Oct 5, 2006, p. 2).
The above legend is interesting as it may tie Ephraim in with the British Isles, and affirms the idea that Jeremiah also came to the isles. In the 43rd chapter of Jeremiah, Jeremiah is shown to be with the "king's daughters" (Jeremiah 43:6). The only two times the expressions "king's daughters" is used in the Bible, it is in the book written by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 41:10, 43:6). Presuming that Jeremiah took one or more of the "king's daughters" with him, this would be a way to fulfill the following prophecies:
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10).
5 I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' (1 Kings 9:5)
The Davidic kingdom ended in Judah centuries BEFORE Christ came (around 586 B.C.), thus there had to be a way for the descendants of David to rule. And probably prior to the time the last true king of Judah died, his daughters (who seem to have been in the British Isles) likely married and had descendants to reign. Those who actually believe what the Bible teaches must realize that somehow God must have fulfilled His promises. And the British Isles seems to make the most historical sense to fulfill this.
The British monk Gildas, commenting on the Saxon invasions happening in his day wrote:
After this, sometimes our countrymen, sometimes our enemy, won the field, to the end that our Lord might in this land try after his accustomed manner these his Israelites, whether they loved him or not (Giles JA, editor and translator. The Works of Gildas and Nennius. James Bohn, 1841 Original fromMichigan State University, Digitized, Apr 26, 2013, p. 22).
Hence, apparently Gildas felt that the British were Israelites. I would also add that the 7th/8th century British monk known as the 'venerable Bede' recorded that the Picts came from Scythia, tried to settle in Ireland, but instead went to what we now call Scotland (Bede. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Oxford Univesity Press, 1969, pp. 10-11). Some believe Scotland got its name from its Scythia connection:
Scotia from these Scythae ; for, saith Walsingham, Scythae, Schythici, Scoti, Scotici, are all one (Stillingfleet R. Origines Britannicae, Or, The Antiquities of the British Churches. William Straker, 1837 Original from Princeton University, Digitized Mar 18, 2008p. xli)
The Otago Witness, a prominent newspaper in New Zealand for about 80 years up until 1932, ran an article on Sept. 24, 1902, titled “The King’s Pedigree.” It mentioned how Frederick Robert Augustus Glover, one of the best Irish historians with knowledge about Jeremiah, researched the history of the British monarchy and contacted Queen Victoria. “He sent Her Majesty a letter intimating the nature and result of his labors,” the paper reported.
In reply, he got what both surprised and delighted him. The Queen’s answer was a most gracious letter in which she acknowledged Mr. Glover’s [work] and informed him that she was already in possession of the facts of which he had spoken concerning her ancestral line … and led him to believe that the facts were actually accepted as genuine by the royal family as true and authentic.
Queen Victoria died in 1901, so this is fairly recent history. She recognized that she was a descendant of King David of ancient Israel—that her sitting on the throne of England was actually a fulfillment of God’s promise to King David! (https://watchjerusalem.co.il/528-finding-the-ark-of-the-covenant retrieved 04/02/19)
Here is something that the then Duke of York, who later was King George VI of England from 11 December 1936 until his death on February 6, 1952, reportedly wrote in 1922:
... I am sure the British Israelite business is true. I have read a lot about it lately and everything no matter how large or small points to our being ’the chosen race.’ (George, Duke of York. Letter, 1922. Facsimile printed in The Independent, April 6, 1996 per Wikipedia, viewed 11/21/12)
So, even the last King of Great Britain believed in British-Israelism.
Notice the following, which is from part of the coronation ceremony of Ethelred the Second from the late 10th century:
Here he shall be Anointed with oil; and this anthem shall be sung: — ' And Zadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed ' Solomon king in Sion ; and, approaching him, they said, May ' the king live for ever !'… The Sceptre shall be here given to him… The Rod shall be here given to him… And He who ' is the key of David, and the sceptre of the house of Israel, ' who opens and no one can shut; who shuts and no one can ' open ; may he be thy helper! (Turner S. The History of the Anglo-Saxons from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest, Volume 3, 6th edition. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1886. Original from Harvard University, Digitized Nov 1, 2007 pp 153-154)
The ancient kings of Israel were anointed (1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:34) with oil (1 Samuel 16:13). Scepters were long recognized in the Bible as a symbol for ruling (Genesis 49:10; Ezekiel 19:14). The key of David is mentioned in both the Hebrew (Isaiah 22:22) and Greek scriptures (Revelation 3:7). Having all of these as part of a coronation ceremony may be more than a coincidence or simple imitation of what some later saw in the Bible.
FWIW, I also own a book which attempts to explain why Zebulun is the Netherlands, and several books explaining why Manasseh is the United States, and Ephraim is the British-descended peoples of the old British Commonwealth, so the reader may wish to check other references for additional details. As far as the Dutch go, consider also the following:
Johannes Goropius Becanus (1519-1572).
This Renaissance polymath was not only a physician to the royals, he was also an amateur linguist. ...
The Dutch, a lost tribe?
While creating his alternative mythology, Becanus is also credited with debunking the popular myth at the time that Hebrew was the mother of all languages.
He is also recognized as having taken the first steps on the road to discovering the Indo-European roots of many languages. “Both with respect to his methods and ideas … Becanus can be considered a pioneer of comparative language studies,” says Kees Dekker, a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
Besides, Becanus’ ideas didn’t sound as absurd back in his own time as they do today. Adriaan van der Schrieck (1560-1621), another Flemish language researcher, reportedly claimed that “the Netherlanders with the Gauls and Germans together in the earliest times were called Celts, who are come out of the Hebrews.”
According to Dutch Israelites, the Dutch were one of the lost tribes of Israel, namely the Zebulun. After all, one of the children of Zebulun was called Helon, who gave his name to Holland.
Some outlying Dutch fundamentalists still believe this... (Diab K. Did Adam and Eve speak Dutch? June 23, 2014. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/iphone-article/.premium-1.600665 accessed 10/14/15)
If the term Holland came from Helon of the Bible that would seem to be a strong connection. Zebuon's son Helon is mentioned five times in the Book of Numbers (1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16).
Furthermore, here is a link to an article with more information about the Netherlands-Zebulun connection Ten clues tying Zebulun with the Dutch; here is a link to an article with some information related to the Gad-Switzerland connection Swiss immigration vote causing major EU concern.
The following might also be of interest:
The name Scot is also derived from “Scyth.” The Scyth traveled to Scotland via Spain and Ireland. Prior to the Dalriadic migration of the Scots from Ireland to Scotland, the northern area of Ireland was known as “Scotia” (note the similarity to “Scythia”). These people simply carried their name with them into the highlands of Scotland...
The Normans (Norse men) and the Vikings both have their roots in Scandinavia. Vikings also settled in Iceland after marrying Irish women whom they had captured. On a recent trip to Iceland, I asked my taxi driver where the Icelanders came from. He answered, “We believe we are from the tribe of Benjamin [the youngest of the Israelite tribes]” This may be just anecdotal, but it bears out the fact that many northwestern Europeans have long held to the idea that they are descended from the so-called “lost ten tribes of Israel.” (King R. Who are the Scots? Tomorrow's World Magazine, May-June 2009, p. 15).
The Old Testament shows that the tribes were to be split with ten becoming part of the northern tribes:
29 Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you 32 (but he shall have one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David. 34 However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and give it to you--ten tribes (1 Kings 11:28-35).
These ten tribes have long been called "the ten lost tribes" of Israel or the "lost ten tribes." After they rebelled against King Rehoboam (the son of Solomon) the Bible calls the kingdom of the ten tribes Israel:
16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying:
"What share have we in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
Now, see to your own house, O David!"So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah (1 Kings 12:16-17).
Israel is NOT Judea as the Bible shows. Furthermore, from the time of Jeroboam until the captivity of Israel, the Bible shows a different set of kings for Judah and Israel in the books of Kings and Chronicles.
Notice that it was because of their sins of using pagan forms of worship that God allowed the Assyrians to take over Israel:
5 Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, 8 and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made...
23 So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day (2 Kings 17:5-8,23).
The king of the Assyrians also reported about this on cuniform tablets translated as follows:
I besieged and captured Samaria. I carried away 27,290 of its inhabitants, I collected there 50 chariots. (Mercer SAB. Extra-Biblical Sources for Hebrew and Jewish History. Longmans, Green, and Company, 1913 Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Jun 22, 2007, p. 43)
A non-canonical book, called Tobit, around 721 B.C. records:
1: The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali;
2: Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.
3: I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians.
4: And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages.
5: Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.
6: But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts...
What Tobit shows is that he was the only one from the tribe of Naphtali (spelled Nephthali above) that kept the biblical Feasts in Jerusalem, while others (including his father) began worshipping heathen gods (a practice that occurs to this day).
Notice that both the Bible and Tobit record that those of Israel ended up mixing with those of Assyria. This is similar to the fact that many of those of the "lost ten tribes" are near Germany and even came to other lands by way of Germany.
Part of the Jewish Babylonian Talmud (Mishnah) teaches that the ten tribes ended up outside of the Middle East:
...THE TEN TRIBES WILL NOT RETURN [TO PALESTINE], FOR IT IS SAID, AND CAST THEM INTO ANOTHER LAND, AS IS THIS DAY: JUST AS THE DAY GOES AND DOES NOT RETURN, SO THEY TOO WENT AND WILL NOT RETURN: THIS IS R. AKIBA'S VIEW. R. ELIEZER SAID: AS THIS DAY — JUST AS THE DAY DARKENS AND THEN BECOMES LIGHT AGAIN, SO THE TEN TRIBES — EVEN AS IT WENT DARK FOR THEM, SO WILL IT BECOME LIGHT FOR THEM. (Epstein I. Hebrew-English Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Volume 1. Soncino Press, 1969. Original from the University of California, Digitized Jun 9, 2009, p. iii)
Some Jewish rabbis of the 12th and 13th centuries pointed to part of Europe, particulary north-west Europe as the area where the ten tribes ended up. Other Jewish sources point to the Middle East and Arab peninsula, but without commenting that people in those regions migrated, often in a northern direction to not have to deal with the Romans and then the Muslims.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that Judah was NOT part of the particular captivity that relocated the ten tribes as God delivered Judah from the king of Assyria when Assyria later attempted to take Jerusalem during the time of King Hezekiah (Isaiah Chapters 36 and 37). And while Judah has its own set of problems, the Bible shows that it was able to return to the area of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1-3; 2:5).
And Jesus, of course, was of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14). And at first told His disciples to reach the lost of Israel:
5 Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6).
In the first few centuries after Jesus died, Christians with Jewish practices "felt they had an obligation to carry out proselytism especially among 'the lost sheep of Israel' (Matt. 10:6)" (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970. Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p.94; also cf. James 1:1)--and we in the Continuing Church of God try to reach those people today.
One important point to note is that Jesus did not consider that the Samaritans in that region were then part of the lost of Israel. Samaria was another name for northern Israel, as well as the capital of the nation of Israel (1 Kings 16:28) located with the territory of the tribe of Manasseh, with Jerusalem the capital of the nation of Judah.
Samaria was one of the capitals of Northern Israel and possibly its most important city. (Davidiy Y. The Tribes, 4th edition. Russell-David Publishers, 2011, p. 242)
After the ten tribes were deported (eighth century B.C.), notice what happened in Samaria:
24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. 25 And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land." 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land." 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
29 However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt. 30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 So they feared the LORD, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. 33 They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods--according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. 34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel (2 Kings 17:24-34).
Thus those the Assyrians sent to Samaria and the surrounding areas blended pagan worship along with some biblical practices--but this did not completely make them descendants of Israel. History shows some of the travels of the tribes of Israel into areas of the Caucasus and Scthyia, and as this article suggests, some made it to the UK and various parts of Europe, and some to the USA.
Bert Otten of the Netherlands put together the following:
The Israelites were white
Who wants to know what the original Israelites looked like? And what difference does it make? I believe the Israelites were quite white and there is only one reason why it could be of importance. Those who do not want to situate the lost tribes in Northwestern Europe often say that we are white peoples, while Israel of old was coloured. However, people at the time of Solomon were white enough to be able to get tanned in the sun. Like most of us.
Laban
Laban is the first clue. His name is White, Laban, pronounced as lavan. We come across this word in Lebanon (l’vanon), the snowcapped white Lebanon Mountains (Mount Hermon). The name Laban hints at a white colour of skin, whiter than usual. A brown skinned coloured people would not call a lighter individual ‘white’, but a white coloured people would, if someone is very white (and maybe red haired).
If Laban was white, what about his sister Rebeccah and his two daughters Leah and Rachel? What about his grandfather Terach? If Laban was white, then Rebecca (Jacob’s mother), Leah and Rachel were most likely white too. The Israelites are descendants of Rebecca, Jacob, Laban, Leah and Rachel.
Esau
That the patriarchs were white is confirmed by Esau, Jacob’s twin brother, Laban’s nephew,
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau (Genesis 25:25, KJV throughout, unless mentioned otherwise).The redness of Esau is explained in two ways, he either had a very red skin at birth or he was covered in red hair. It does not matter for the sake of this article. Especially white people get very red skinned babies or babies with red hair. One way or the other, Red (haired) Esau fits very well with white skinned uncle Laban. Probably both had the red hair gene. Anyway we now have two indicators that the Israelites were white.
David
Like the brother of his ancestor Jacob, king David was red too:
So he sent and made him come in. Now he had red hair and beautiful eyes and pleasing looks. And the Lord said, Come, put the oil on him, for this is he (1 Samuel 16:12, BBE, Bible in Basic English).
And when the Philistine, taking note, saw David, he had a poor opinion of him: for he was only a boy, red-haired and good-looking (1 Samuel 17:42, BBE).
This is a jump of about 900 years, from Esau to David. The same Hebrew word for red is used in either case. As with Esau, there are those who reason that David was red-skinned, rather than red-haired. It does not matter for the purpose of this article. Both red hair and red skin are characterisitics of a white people.
Just think of the term ‘rednecks’. Wikipedia: “The term redneck is a derogatory term chiefly used for a rural poor WHITE [stress is mine] person of the Southern United States.”
Red hair or red skin, both hint at a white people. But there is more. Solomon’s sweetheart was ashamed of her suntan (Song of Songs).
Suntanned against her will
Dark am I, and comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As tents of Kedar, as curtains of Solomon. Fear me not, because I am very dark, Because the sun hath scorched me, The sons of my mother were angry with me, They made me keeper of the vineyards, My vineyard — my own — I have not kept (Song of Solomon 1:5-6, YLT, Young’s Literal Translation).
This is one generation after King David. Solomon’s ‘love’ has become very suntanned because of her work in the sunshine. We should not take the tents of Kedar literally, but they were very dark. Solomon’s sweetheart was forced to work in the sun by her brothers and she became very tanned. This is a characteristic of white people. Some white people can become very tanned in summer. ...Lamentations
Lamentations describes white people of Jerusalem getting black skins as well:
Her holy ones were cleaner than SNOW, they were WHITER than milk, their bodies were redder than corals, their form was as the sapphire: Their face is BLACKER than night; in the streets no one has knowledge of them: their skin is hanging on their bones, they are dry, they have become like wood (Lamentations 4:7-8, BBE). (Otten B. The Israelites were white. Received September 2016)
So, there is biblical evidence that the ancient Israelites were white.
What about DNA or other genetic evidence?
In 2010 it was reported “that when teams of geneticists led by Professor Bryan Sykes took DNA samples in the Celtic regions of Britain they discovered ancestries in the Caucasus, which lay within ancient Scythia, and Mediterranean Europe” (Hutchinson R. Book review: The Highland Clans, by Alistair Moffat. The Scotsman – April 26, 2010. http://news.scotsman.com/features/Book-review-The-Highland-Clans.6223804.jp viewed o4/26/10). Thus, the travels of these descendants seems to have some modern support.
Notice also the following:
Atlantic Modal Haplotype #3 The most common variant of the Atlantic Modal Haplotype in the YHRD database has DYS389i,ii values of 13 and 29, and DYS385a,b values of 11 and 14. This haplotype differs by one step upward on the most quickly mutating marker. This haplotype is very interesting, from the perspective of the YHRD database, because most of the top frequencies are not in Europe but in the United States. Of the top twenty, twelve are among U.S. populations. Two are Hispanic samples, three are African-American (most likely of Anglo-American origin), and the rest are European American. These samples seem to congregate in areas of the U.S. settled by French, Scottish, English, Irish and German immigrants. That accords with the Western European origin of AMH. Southern Ireland and London, England appear among the top ten European frequencies, along with four separate locales in The Netherlands. Although "Border Reiver" descendants would most likely have acquired this haplotype through British "Celtic" ancestry, the multiple hits in The Netherlands suggest that an Anglo-Saxon origin is also quite possible. (Haplogroup R1b (Atlantic Modal Haplotype). http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gallgaedhil/haplo_r1b_amh_13_29.htm viewed 12/08/12)
The above tends to confirm observations made by the late Raymond McNair and others that those who made it to the area of the USA, for example, were somehow different than other Europeans (like Germans) that they lived near, but who stayed in Europe. Yair Davidiy has written that the Germans who ended up in America came from areas of Germany dominated by Manasseh (Davidiy, p. 403)--he also reported that, while skeptical of earlier DNA claims, that more recent DNA tests tended to confirm the view that the scattered tribes in Europe and elsewhere descended from Israel was correct (Davidiy, p. 495).
Though controversial, based upon the information above on Atlantic Modal Haplotype #3, travels, and other data, Raymond G. Helmer concluded:
In short – haplotype R1b came to the United States from exactly the immigrants that we would expect to carry it. (Helmer RG. THE BLOOD OF MANKIND – PART III THE BLOOD OF AMERICA. (http://www.helmerspoint.com/uploads/4/0/0/2/4002281/the_blood_of_mankind_iii.pdf)
Thus, there is physical evidence. The haplotype evidence also suggests that the British were different than those who remained on the continent of Europe.
Furthermore, the Jews claim that there is DNA evidence about the identiity of the sons of Aaron (which is spelled Aharon below):
This is a remarkable testimony to the profound dedication, faith and determination of the bloodline of Aharon, thousands of generations old, to return to their divinely entrusted responsibility to act as conduits and enablers for the entire nation of Israel, when history and the prophetic promise of redemption allows it.
In recent years, scientifically conducted DNA studies have uncovered incontrovertible evidence of the singular genetic profile which the descendants of Aharon today, wherever they be found, each share with a single common father who lived more than three thousand years ago. That, in itself, is extraordinary. ("This is an eternal statute." Temple Institute newsletter, April 27, 2018)
We may see more DNA and other clues in the future.
What about spiritual development? Did followers of the new (Hebrews 9:15), and better (Hebrews 7:22, 8:6), covenant make it to the British Isles?
As far as Christianity in the British Isles, it has been suggested that the Apostle Philip possibly ordained Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60) and sent him to the British Isles (Wall JC. The first Christians of Britain. Talbot & Co., 1927. Original from the University of California, Digitized Sep 25, 2007, p. 168), but this is not certain. "Legends...record that Joseph was sent by Philip from Gaul to Britain along with 11 other disciples in 63 A.D." (Kerr CM. Joseph of Arimathaea. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. http://topicalbible.org/j/joseph_of_arimathaea.htm#isb viewed 12/03/2012).
Gildas, a Catholic monk of the 6th century, wrote that Christianity made it to the British Isles by 37 A.D., the last year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Giles JA, editor and translator. The Works of Gildas and Nennius. James Bohn, 1841 Original from Michigan State University, Digitized Apr 26, 2013, p. 10).
While I am not certain of his original source in 1609, Cardinal Baronious, Vatican librarian, wrote the following under his 35 A.D. heading. The Latin is hard to read, so the following is an approximation of what seems to be there:
Annus 35…
Lazarum, Mariam Magdalenam, Martham, & Marcellam peditfequam…cum Maximino difcipulo…comitemque…Ioiephum ab Arimathaea nobilum Decurionem, quem tradunt ex Gallia in Brittanniam naugafie, illeque pofit predicatum diem claufifle extremum. (Baronius, Cesar (Cardinal). Annales Ecclesiastici. Sumptibus Uoannis Gymnici & Antonji Hierati. Anno M.DC.IX (1609), pp. 280,281)
Essentially translated into English as follows:
Hence there is at least an old legend that Joseph of Arimathea made it to Britain. And that would indicate an early Christian presence there, if this is accurate. Though many, including The Catholic Encyclopedia, dispute that he did (Gigot, Francis. "Joseph of Arimathea." The Catholic Encyclopedia). Some think that the Apostle Paul made it to Britain--but the Bible does not teach he made it there.Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Martha, & Marcella the servant…with the disciple of Maximim… and with… Joseph of Arimathea the noble Decurion fled in a boat without oars to Marseilles, then from Gaul to Britain, where after preaching the gospel he {Joseph} ended his days.
After His resurrection, Jesus told the disciples:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19).
And while the Apostle Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, it was the Apostle Peter who was the apostles to those of Israel (the circumcision) as Paul wrote:
7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles) (Galatians 2:6-8).
Peter did not ignore the fact that he was sent to those of Israel. Notice what the Apostle Peter wrote:
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (1 Peter 1:1-2).
The “Dispersion” or the Diaspora had been a term used to refer to those Israelites who are not located in the area of Palestine. Yes, early Christians knew that the ten "lost tribes" were scattered abroad and had knowledge of some of their locations at the time.
The author of the Book of James also wrote to those who were scattered:
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad (James 1:1).
Thus James was apparently acknowledging that the twelve tribes of Israel (or possibly their spiritual descendants) were scattered in many places.
Also the first century, the Jewish historian Josephus noted:
...[W]herefore there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers (Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews, 11:5:2).
Thus, Josephus recognized that the ten tribes were still not part of Judea. He essentially seemed to believe that they were all part of and/or mixed with the Scythians. Some still were, but others had already migrated by the time Josephus wrote this. Many of the Ephraimites and Reubenites were under Roman domination, as well as some of the Manassehites in the first century. But the fact is that during the time of Jesus, Josephus DID NOT believe that the 'ten lost tribes' were part of Judea of the Roman Empire.
Later in the first century, we see the following from 2 Baruch (a Jewish writing not part of the Bible):
78 1 These are the words of that epistle which Baruch the son of Neriah sent to the nine and a half tribes, which were across the river Euphrates, in which these things were written.
2 Thus says Baruch the son of Neriah to the brethren carried into captivity: 'Mercy and peace.' I bear in mind, my brethren, the love of Him who created us, who loved us from of old, and never hated us, but above all educated us. 3 And truly I know that behold all we the twelve tribes are bound by one bond, inasmuch as we are born from one father.(2 Baruch 78:1-3)
Hence, in the first century, it was known that there were descendants of the tribes of Israel that were not Jewish, though related, and they were in lands beyond Palestine. And the fact that they would be likely to have descendants that are alive today is not considered to be of major consequence to many “theologians.”
However, those who reach such conclusions are ignoring prophecies that the Bible teaches must somehow come to pass.
Notice also something apparently written in the 1st or 2nd century 2 Esdras (a Jewish writing not part of the Bible):
39 “And as for your seeing him gather to himself another multitude that was peaceable, 40 these are the nine[l] tribes that were taken away from their own land into exile in the days of King Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, made captives; he took them across the river, and they were taken into another land. 41 But they formed this plan for themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the nations and go to a more distant region, where no human beings had ever lived, 42 so that there at least they might keep their statutes that they had not kept in their own land. 43 And they went in by the narrow passages of the Euphrates river. 44 For at that time the Most High performed signs for them, and stopped the channels of the river until they had crossed over. 45 Through that region there was a long way to go, a journey of a year and a half; and that country is called Arzareth. (2 Esdras 13:39-45)
l Other Lat Mss ten; Syr Ethiop Arab 1 Arm nine and a half
There was a belief, originally from scripture, about the disappearance of the ten tribes. Other writers have made observations as to the locations (Benite BDZ. The Ten Lost Tribes: A World History. Oxford University Press, 2009).
Here is a claim about the second century:
That the Britons are of Asiatic origin seems to be supported by the testimony of Theophilus bishop of Antioch (A.D. 160). (Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America" Volume 1, 1910, p. 21)
Theophilus actually wrote:
For though at first there were few men in the land of Arabia and Chaldæa, yet, after their languages were divided, they gradually began to multiply and spread over all the earth; and some of them tended towards the east to dwell there, and others to the parts of the great continent, and others northwards, so as to extend as far as Britain, in the Arctic regions. ...
Who, then, of those called sages, and poets, and historians, could tell us truly of these things ... ? ... And therefore it is proved that all others have been in error; and that we Christians alone have possessed the truth, inasmuch as we are taught by the Holy Spirit, who spoke in the holy prophets, and foretold all things. (Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapters 32, 33)
He clearly is teaching that the origins of humanity were not understood by the sages of the world, but mainly by Christians. But his statements are not clear regarding British Israelism per se, though not inconsistent with it.
A biblical reality is that the apostles were at first told to go the lost of Israel (Matthew 10:6). After Jesus' death and resurrection Peter and some others were to reach the non-Gentiles (Galatians 2:7-9) while Paul and Barnabas were reaching the Gentiles (Galatians 2:9). And while the original apostles went into many lands, they specifically tried to reach the scattered tribes of Israel (though apparently some of them who were not mentioned as attending the conference discussed in Galatians 2 also were trying to reach Gentiles as well then).
Notice Hippolytus in the third century (that may or may not be valid), makes the following claims about the apostles:
1. Peter preached the Gospel in Pontus, and Galatia, and Cappadocia, and Betania, and Italy, and Asia ...
2. Andrew preached to the Scythians and Thracians, and was crucified, suspended on an olive tree, at Patrae, a town of Achaia; and there too he was buried.
3. John, again, in Asia, was banished by Domitian the king to the isle of Patmos, in which also he wrote his Gospel and saw the apocalyptic vision; and in Trajan's time he fell asleep at Ephesus, where his remains were sought for, but could not be found.
4. James, his brother, when preaching in Judea, was cut off with the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and was buried there.
5. Philip preached in Phrygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis with his head downward in the time of Domitian, and was buried there.
6. Bartholomew, again, preached to the Indians, to whom he also gave the Gospel according to Matthew, and was crucified with his head downward, and was buried in Allanum, a town of the great Armenia.
7. And Matthew wrote the Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, and published it at Jerusalem, and fell asleep at Hierees, a town of Parthia.
8. And Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and Margians, and was thrust through in the four members of his body with a pine spears at Calamene, the city of India, and was buried there.
9. And James the son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem was stoned to death by the Jews, and was buried there beside the temple.
10. Jude, who is also called Lebbaeus, preached to the people of Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia, and fell asleep at Berytus, and was buried there.
11. Simon the Zealot, the son of Clopas, who is also called Jude, became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried there at the age of 120 years.
12. And Matthias, who was one of the seventy, was numbered along with the eleven apostles, and preached in Jerusalem, and fell asleep and was buried there.
13. And Paul entered into the apostleship a year after the assumption of Christ; and beginning at Jerusalem, he advanced as far as Illyricum, and Italy, and Spain, preaching the Gospel for five-and-thirty years. And in the time of Nero he was beheaded at Rome, and was buried there (Hippolytus. On the Twelve Apostles. In Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume V by Robert & Donaldson. 1885 Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), printing 1999, pp. 254-255).
Thus, the disciples traveled to many lands and most likely encountered descendants of the various tribes of Israel on their many journeys.
Another document, apparently from the third century, called The Epistula Apostolorum states:
But he said unto us: Go ye and preach unto the twelve tribes, and preach also unto the heathen, and to all the land of Israel from the east to the west and from the south unto the north...(Epistula Apostolorum, verse 30. excerpted from Montague Rhode James in The Apocryphal New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon Press 1924), pp. 485-503. Copyright © 2001 Peter Kirby).
Thus the above indicates that those of Israel were believed to be in many lands.
Furthermore, there is an interesting latter days' (Number 24:14) prophecy in the Old Testament that may have reference to some of the "lost tribes" of Israel:
24 And ships shall come from the coast of Kittim (Cyprus), and shall afflict Asshur (Assyria), and shall afflict 'Ever (i.e., Region beyond the River [Euphrates]), and he also shall be unto destruction. (Numbers 24:24, Orthodox Jewish Bible, OJB)
The above, including parenthetical comments, was copied in its entirety. And while I, like certain various theologians, believe that Kittim should be translated as "western lands," it is interesting to see that the OJB refers to the descendants of Eber (called 'Ever above) as the region beyond the Euphrates river. As far as this Asshur being Assyria, this was also the position of the Commentary of Rashan (as cited in Davidiy Y. The Tribes, 4th edition. Russell-David Publishers, 2011, p.269).
'Ever/Eber is of interest. Eber was a son of Shem and the children of Israel descended through Eber's son Peleg (Genesis 11:19-26; Luke 3:34-35), as did most of the Arab peoples (cf. Genesis 25:12-18). At least twice Josephus identified descendants of Israel (including the ten tribes) as being beyond the Euphrates. Yet, this passage in Numbers 24:24 does not necessarily seem to be referring to all the tribes of Israel (though it could be as all might be concerned by what is happening then). As it turned out, Eber had another son, Joktan, who had 13 sons (Genesis 10:25-29). And various descendants of the tribes of Israel, like Simeon (cf. Joshua 19:2), seemed to be in contact with some of Joktan's descendants (like Sheba of Genesis 10:28) and probably intermingled with them. Hence, it is possible that it is the Israelite-descended nations in Northern Europe that are afflicted when Assyria is. The fact that Havilah, the name of another of Joktan's sons (Genesis 10:29) was anciently between Egypt and Assyria (Genesis 25:18) suggests that perhaps some migrated along with the Assyrians and could be others in Europe who are not Assyrian (perhaps like the Eastern Europeans). This prophecy in Numbers 24:24 may be pointing out some type of alliance between Assyria and some of the descendants of Israel (other than likely Manasseh, who probably is the sea power, or Ephraim, who is likely allied with him).
While it is not absolutely certain that Paul or any of the twelve apostles actually made it to Britain, some people think so.
Eusebius wrote that Jesus' disciples reached the British Isles:
His disciples…to preach to all the Name of Jesus, to teach about His marvelous deeds in country and town, that some of them should take possession of the Roman Empire, and the Queen of Cities itself, and others the Persian, others the Armenian, that others should go to the Parthian race, and yet others to the Scythian, that some already should have reached the very ends of the world, should have reached the land of the Indians, and some have crossed the Ocean and reached the Isles of Britain (Eusebius of Caesarea: Demonstratio Evangelica, Book 3, Chapter 5. Translated by W.J. Ferrar. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. London. The Macmillan Company. New York 1920, p. 113).
It has been observed:
II. EARLY PLANTING OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE BRITISH ISLES
That Christianity was established in Britain between the years A.D. 51 and A.D. 61, either by the Apostle Paul himself or by converts made by him during his Roman imprisonment, is the testimony of many credible historians. Gildas the earliest British writer of history, born A. D. 520, says of the introduction of Christianity into the islands: "Meanwhile these islands, stiff with cold and frost, and in a distant region of the world, remote from the visible sun, received the beams of light, that is, the holy precepts of Christ - who is the true Sun, and who shows to the whole world his splendor, nor only from the temporal firmament, but from the height of heaven, which surpasses everything temporal - at the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, by whom his religion was propagated without impediment." Comparing this with the previous passage, the events mentioned appear to be limited by the 'meanwhile' to a period between the defeat of Boadicea, A.D. 61, on the one hand, and on the other to events not far distant - such as the defeat of Caractacus, A.D. 51. Therefore the testimony of Gildas is to the effect that the gospel was preached in Britain before the year 61. (Yeowell, p. 22.) (Gamble J.L., Greene C.H. THE SABBATH IN THE BRITISH ISLES; Reprinted from "Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America" Volume 1, 1910 pp 21-39).
It has been written:
Early writings trace the apostles’ movements. Andrew traveled to Scythia, near the Black Sea. Bartholomew went to Armenia. Thomas and Jude headed to Parthia, south of the Caspian Sea, and beyond, into regions where the ten tribes of Israel had gone. Many early writers confirm that Paul, Peter, Joseph of Arimathea, Simon Zelotes and others all spent time in Britain—knowing that there were Israelites there. Vatican librarian Cardinal Baronius (1538–1607ad) and Anglican archbishop Ussher (1581–1656ad) both mentioned that several of the apostles and their companions traveled to the Isles of the West (Modern Nations and God’s Ancient Plan/ Tomorrow's World Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 4. July-August, 2006).
Hippolytus, in the early third century seems to have claimed that one of the seventy that Jesus sent out to preach ended up in Britain:
These two belonged to the seventy disciples who were scattered…
Aristobulus, bishop of Britain (Hippolytus. Where Each of Them Preached, And Where He Met His End ).
If that is so, Aristobulus could have have been placed in charge by one of the apostles as the seventy (Luke 10:1,17) had to have known the original apostles.
But it is clear that by the early third century, it was known that some version of Christianity had made it into the British Isles. And as others have indicated, this could have occurred earlier.
Whether or not the apostles went to Britain, perhaps it should be mentioned that the forms of Christianity originally found in Britain and Ireland were more "Jewish" than the forms practiced by the Roman Catholics when they finally made it to that part of the world.
True Christianity did come to the British Isles (including Ireland) prior to the Catholic visits. Interestingly, the Celtic/Keltic churches, around 600 A.D. claimed to have been descended from the church of the Ephesians (the apostolic and basically immediate post-apostolic church):
The Keltic Churches of Ireland, of Galloway, and of Iona were at one with the British Church. These claimed, like Southern Gaul and Spain, to have drawn their faith from the Apostolic See of Ephesus. Their liturgies, or such fragments as have come down to us, bear marks of belonging to the Oriental family of liturgies. (Dawson W. The Keltic Church and English Christianity. Transactions of the Royal Historical Society (New Series), 1884, p. 377 doi:10.2307/3677978 )
Here is a report related to the period 549-1049, by the famous historian Philip Schaff:
The term Culdee has been improperly applied to the whole Keltic church, and a superior purity has been claimed for it.
There is no doubt that the Columban or the Keltic church of Scotland, as well as the early Irish and the early British churches, differed in many points from the mediaeval and modern church of Rome, and represent a simpler and yet a very active missionary type of Christianity.
The leading peculiarities of the ancient Keltic church, as distinct from the Roman, are:
1. Independence of the Pope. Iona was its Rome, and the Abbot of Iona, and afterwards of Dunkeld, though a mere Presbyter, ruled all Scotland.
2. Monasticism ruling supreme, but mixed with secular life, and not bound by vows of celibacy; while in the Roman church the monastic system was subordinated to the hierarchy of the secular clergy.
3. Bishops without dioceses and jurisdiction and succession.
4. Celebration of the time of Easter.
5. Form of the tonsure.
It has also been asserted, that the Kelts or Culdees were opposed to auricular confession, the worship of saints, and images, purgatory, transubstantiation, the seven sacraments...(Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1997. This material has been carefully compared, corrected¸ and emended (according to the 1910 edition of Charles Scribner's Sons) by The Electronic Bible Society, Dallas, TX, 1998).
The Roman Catholic monk and historian Bede in the eighth century wrote about a group of church leaders in Britain:
They do not keep Easter Sunday at the proper time, but from the fourteenth...They did other things too which were not in keeping with the unity of the Church. After a long dispute they were unwilling, in spite of the prayers, exportations, and rebukes of Augustine and his companions to give their assent, preferring their own traditions to those which all the churches throughout the world agree in Christ (Bede. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Judith McClure and Roger Collins, editor. Oxford University Press, 1999, pp. 71-72).
In other words, from the time of Augustine (late fourth/early fifth century) it was clear that there were those in Britain who kept the Passover on the 14th and who held to practices that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox confederation of churches no longer held.
Furthermore, notice what Catholic priest and theologian R. McBrien wrote:
Pope Vitalin...supported efforts of the king of Northumbria, following the Synod of Whitby (664), to establish in England the Roman, as opposed to the Celtic, date for Easter (that is the Sunday after the Jewish Passover, rather than the Passover itself) and other Roman practices as well. (McBrien, Richard P. Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. Harper, San Francisco, 2005 updated ed., p.109).
Notice that the above account (written by a Catholic priest and scholar) acknowledges that Rome changed Passover in Britain from the biblical date (which apparently the Celts still observed into at least the seventh century) to the Roman date. Rome would not have felt that this was necessary if it originally installed an Easter Sunday tradition into the British/Irish regions in the first or second century. Thus they either got some of these practices from their ancestral origins or from Christians not part of the Greco-Roman confederation.
Sabbath-keeping was also occurring in the Celt dominated regions until at least 886:
The Celtic Church which occupied Ireland, Scotland, and Britain, had the Syriac (Byzantine) scriptures instead of the Latin vulgate of Rome. The Celtic Church, with the Waldenses and the Eastern empire, kept the seventh-day Sabbath...
“Adomnan’s use of sabbatum for Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is clear indication from ‘Columba’s mouth’ that ‘Sabbath was not Sunday.’ Sunday, the first day of the week is ‘Lord’s day.’ Adomnan’s attitude to Sunday is important, because he wrote at a time when there was controversy over the question whether the ritual of the Biblical Sabbath was to be transferred to the Christians’ Lord’s-day.’ — A.O. and M.O. Anderson (editors) Adomnan’s Life of Columba, Thomas Nelson’s Medieval Texts, 1961, pages 25-26.
“The Old Testament required seventh-day Sabbath observance and, reason Adomnan’s editors, since the New Testament nowhere repealed the fourth commandment, the seventh-day was observed by all early Christians. The evidence they adduce suggests that no actual confusion between Sunday and ‘the Sabbath’ occurred until the early sixth century, and then in the writings of the rather obscure Caesarius of Arles. (Ibid., page 26.)...
The Roman ‘movement’ to supersede the Celtic Sabbath with Sunday ‘culminated in the production of an (apocryphal) ‘Letter of Jesus’, or ‘Letter of Lord’s day’, alleged to have been found on the altar of Peter in Rome; and is said in the annals to have been brought to Ireland by a pilgrim (c. 886). Upon this basis laws were promulgated, imposing heavy penalties for those that violated on Sunday certain regulations derived from Jewish prohibitions for Sabbath. . . . There is in fact no historical evidence that Ninian, or Patrick, or Columba, or any of their contemporaries in Ireland, kept Sunday as a Sabbath.’ (Ibid., page 28.) (Celtic Sabbath-Keeping Study No. 264, from Cherith Chronicle, April-June 1998, pp. 46-47. http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/264.celtic-sabbath-keeping.html 6/24/06).
Thus "Jewish" practices were long part of the worship practices of those in the British Isles.
Though some seventh-day Church of God groups do not teach British-Israelism, was the idea known or understood before Herbert W. Armstrong left the old Church of God Seventh Day?
Yes.
The idea that the Jewish "kingdom" remained separate from the Joseph "stick/kingdom" "until this day" was asserted in an old CG7 publication (Phelps W. From Bro. Phelps. The Hope of Israel, May 16, 1864).
Church of God related leaders such as Greenberry G. Rupert, R.K. Walker, Frank Walker, and J.W. Rich had “Anglo-Israel” (also known as “British-Israelism”) beliefs and teachings in the early 20th century:
In 1920, R.K. Walker moved to Finley, Oklahoma, and soon met Elder M.W. Unzicker at Sardis, Oklahoma. This was the first Church of God man he had met. At the behest of Walker, Unzicker held meetings at Finley, and baptized Frank Walker to be a Church of God evangelist for the Oklahoma Conference, and Walker began his first meeting for the Church of God on May 19, 1923. Frank Walker began preaching at Crowder, Oklahoma in 1924. In 1987, Elder Frank Walker was independent and still publishing a paper, Hope of Israel, from St. Maries, Idaho.
It is interesting that the Walkers, Rupert and Rich held to "Anglo-Israel" beliefs. So did an Elder Ziegler, who put out a paper, The Torch of Israel, published in Washington, D.C. Ziegler tried unsuccessfully to work with Eyler.
G.G. Rupert established his own paper, the Remnant of Israel, published in Britton, Oklahoma, beginning in 1915. Rupert, a former Seventh Day Adventist minister, taught and practiced the keeping of all the annual sabbaths, or holy days. He also had a form of "British Israelism"... Rupert's article on the holy days was printed in the Bible Advocates of 1913, and two of Rupert's most popular books were the Yellow Peril and Inspired History of the Nations. (Nickels R.C. History of the Seventh Day Church of God. Giving & Sharing, Neck City (MO), 1988, p.76).In December, 1919, Merritt Dickinson of Longdale, Oklahoma wrote a series of articles in the Advocate ... Dickinson stated in the article that England is Ephraim and America is Manasseh, and presumably the rest of the Ten Lost Tribes are in northwestern Europe. (Ibid, p. 142)
And while versions of this view are still held by most groups with origins in the old WCG, the main CG7 group, never would teach it. This is despite A.N. Dugger admitting its truth in a letter to Herbert W. Armstrong (see photo of letter from A.N. Dugger, dated July 28, 1929 at the preceding link). A.N. Dugger also admitted the truth of the Anglo-Israelism doctrine to Merritt Dickinson in 1912, but A.N. Dugger would not teach it (Nickels, p. 143).
We in the Continuing Church of God, continue to teach the truth about it.
Although this article has mainly focused on the positive aspects promised to the tribes of Israel, both blessings and cursings are recorded for them in the Bible.
First let's look what the Bible records in Leviticus 26, starting with blessings:
3'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. 7 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.
9'For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. 10 You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. 11 I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright (Leviticus 26:3-13).
Blessings were promised first.
We have seen world dominance from the British Empire and the USA hegemony the past couple of centuries.
Consider also that the Anglo-American nations are four of the nine wealthiest nations on the earth:
7 May 2018
According to market research company New World Wealth, the world has accumulated $215 trillion in private wealth, a 12% increase over the last year.
Incredibly, the vast majority of this wealth – about 73.5% – is held by just 10 countries: http://www.visualcapitalist.com/chart-the-10-wealthiest-countries-in-the-world/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare
The US is currently the wealthiest country in the world at $62.584 trillion, followed by China ($24.803 trillion; Japan ($19.522 trillion), the UK ($9.919 trillion), Germany ($9.660 trillion), India ($8.230 trillion), France (6.649 trillion), Canada ($6.393 trillion), Australia ($6.142 trillion) and Italy ($4.276 trillion) among the top ten. (https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/india-us-china-among-worlds-10-richest-nations)
If you add New Zealand (see New Zealand's net wealth passes $1.5 trillion), then the Anglo-American nations have wealth of $86.538 trillion, which is 40.25% of the entire world and those nations have about 460,000 people, or 6% of the 2017 world population estimate of 7,600,000.
Truly an economic influence well beyond their relative population size.
But the time of the Anglo-American dominance of the world will end.
Why?
Cursings were also warned about if they did not obey God's laws:
14'But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you (Leviticus 26:14-17).
11 "Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin,
They have become for him altars for sinning.
12 I have written for him the great things of My law,
But they were considered a strange thing. (Hosea 8:11-12)
Thus terrors (like terrorism) are prophesied for those who were blessed because of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And these curses have began.
The Bible also warns:
25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25)
12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who are always at ease; They increase in riches…19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalms 73:12,19)
25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)
5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way (Ecclesiastes 12:5).
Notice that terror will come from within according to Deuteronomy 32:25. Recall that Isaiah 9 talks about what happens after the wall are rebuilt:
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind;
And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.For all this His anger is not turned away,
But His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:12)
This seems to be a reference for terrorists from Syria and Palestine. Consider that the USA and UK have both agreed to take in Syrian and other Islamic migrants. Could not this be setting them both up for terrorist attacks?
But that is not all. Additionally, notice that just before their takeover, the descendants of Israel are also prophesied to be afflicted with pestilences:
21 ‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.
22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number;
and your highways shall be desolate.23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me,
24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant;
when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you;
and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. (Leviticus 26:21-25)
The pestilences may have already started (see USA, UK, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand Facing Many Potential Pestilences).
There is also an interesting end-time prophecy related in Jerusalem that seems to be fulfilled regularly:
3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:3)
This may be part of why Jerusalem will be divided:
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)
News items have come out indicating the EU, as well as the current UN Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) want to divide Jerusalem now--the captivity will come later to fulfill Zechariah 14:2 (see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?).
The USA and other Anglo-nations are subject to famines and pestilences. Notice something that Ezekiel was inspired to write:
15 'So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.'" (Ezekiel 5:15-17)
The above sequence seems to be slightly different than that Jesus listed as part of the "beginning of sorrows" as the sword comes afterwards. But since the sword should begin the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, this may be how the beginning of sorrows ties into the Great Tribulation--this would suggest hunger and disease problems for the Anglo-nations prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.
One thing that I wish to add is the increasing use of genetically modified organisms for many of the grain crops in the USA is putting parts of humanity at major increased risk of unintended consequences such as famine and disease pestilences. Most of the corn and soy beans produced in the USA are genetically-modified. Soon, much of the wheat will be. Directly and indirectly, the USA and its Anglo-allies will cause most of the problems that it will be experiencing in the next several years.
Notice that even secular news sources are suggesting that the United States will someday apparently need to provide its food to nations it owes money, like China:
The Geopolitics of Food Scarcity
One of the toughest things for us to do is to anticipate discontinuity. Whether on a personal level or on a global economic level, we typically project the future by extrapolating from the past. Most of the time this works well, but occasionally we experience a discontinuity that we failed to anticipate. The collapse of civilization is such a case. It is no surprise that many past civilizations failed to grasp the forces and recognize signs that heralded their undoing. More than once it was shrinking food supplies that brought about their downfall.
Does our civilization face a similar fate? Until recently it did not seem possible, but our failure to deal with the environmental trends that are undermining the world food economy — most importantly falling water tables, eroding soils, and rising temperatures — forces the conclusion that such a collapse is possible...
No country is immune to the effects of tightening food supplies, not even the United States.
If China turns to the world market for massive quantities of grain, as it recently has done for soybeans, it will undoubtedly look to the United States, which dominates world grain exports. For US consumers, the prospect of competing for the US grain harvest with 1.3 billion Chinese consumers with fast-rising incomes is a nightmare scenario. It would be tempting for the United States to restrict exports, but this is not an option with China which now holds well over one trillion US dollars. Like it or not, US consumers will share their grain with Chinese consumers regardless of how high food prices rise.
If the food crisis worsens, national restrictions on grain exports coupled with various bilateral arrangements could tie down much of the exportable supply of grain, making it increasingly difficult if not impossible for weaker, less affluent countries to find grain to import. Many countries heavily dependent on imports could be left out, and the result would be hundreds of millions of desperate people. Desperate people do desperate things: They riot, they fight over food, they overthrow governments, and they mass migrate to more food-secure countries.
In many countries the social order has already begun to break down in the face of soaring food prices and spreading hunger. Deadly food riots broke out in a number of countries in 2008. In Egypt several people died in fights in government-subsidized bread lines. Food riots in Yemen turned deadly, taking at least a dozen lives. In Cameroon the food riot death toll was twice as high (The Geopolitics of Food Scarcity. Spiegel - Feb 11, 2009 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,606937,00.html).
The stage for the total destruction of the Anglo-American nations is being set, especially as they increase their debt almost daily--debt that their creditors will want to be paid back (see also the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine).
November 20, 2018
The United States’ national debt is approaching $22 trillion with a current federal budget deficit of over $800 billion. As Senator Rand Paul often points out, bankruptcy is the Sword of Damocles hanging perilously close to Uncle Sam’s neck. ...
The United States holds the most debt of any country in the history of the world. ...
How much debt can the system hold? When will the cracks grow too big to hide? When will the foundation crumble? There’s a great deal of ruin in a nation, said Adam Smith, and our ruin must ultimately come. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-coming-bankruptcy-of-the-american-empire/
Debt has continued to raise substantially since then and relatively soon will pass $30 trillion.
It needs to be understood that some of the cursings in the "Old Testament" of the Bible are clearly to occur at the latter time of the end:
... evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 31:29).
And since national repentance has not occurred, these matters will worsen:
18 'And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit...
26 When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.
27'And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. 32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. 34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest--for the time it did not rest on your sabbaths when you dwelt in it (Leviticus 26:18-20;26-35).
The Bible prophecies the destruction of the cities, after the military ("horses cut off" and "destroy your chariots" below) has problems:
10 "And it shall be in that day," says the LORD,
"That I will cut off your horses from your midst
And destroy your chariots.
11 I will cut off the cities of your land
And throw down all your strongholds.
12 I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you shall have no soothsayers.
13 Your carved images I will also cut off,
And your sacred pillars from your midst;
You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
14 I will pluck your wooden images from your midst;
Thus I will destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury
On the nations that have not heard." (Micah 5:10-15).
The USA and UK are in the process of downsizing their military might. Thus, the steps that proceed the destruction of cities is starting to take place now.
The final time of the Gentiles will come and that will be the end of Anglo-American dominance.
The Bible also prophecies captivity to the descendants of Jacob:
36 'And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee; they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues. 37 They shall stumble over one another, as it were before a sword, when no one pursues; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 You shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; also in their fathers' iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away.
40 'But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, 41 and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt-- 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left empty by them, and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; they will accept their guilt, because they despised My judgments and because their soul abhorred My statutes (Leviticus 26:36-43).
But that ultimately God will be merciful to them:
44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD' " (Leviticus 26:44-45).
As will be shown below, it apparently is a confederation of Islamic peoples who begin a plan to destroy the descendants of Israel, and most likely the descendants of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh.
However, as shown in Leviticus 26:44-45 and elsewhere, eventually they will stop.
Britain in Prophecy: The British are People of the Covenant
It may be of interest to note that the Hebrew term often translated as "covenant" in Leviticus and elsewhere in the Old Testament is "beriyth" and the word for "man" is "iysh" (Strong's word #377, found in Isaiah 46:8)--together they are pronounced similar to the term "British."
It may be that the British considered themselves the people of the physical covenant God made to Joseph.
It may also be of interest to note that the expression translated as "covenant of the people" in Isaiah 49:8 is made up of the word "beriyth" and "am", brit-am:
In Hebrew, Brit-am in northern dialects and in later spoken Hebrew would have become "Brit-aN" the final "m" being pronounced as "N"...Britain itself in old documents was sometimes rendered by the English as "Britammia" (Davidy. The Tribes, p. 413-414).
A most interesting fact is the Hebrew meaning of the names of the British people. The house of Israel is the covenant people. The Hebrew word for "covenant" is Beriyth, or berith. After Gideon's death, Israel followed the false pagan god Baal. In Judges 8:33 and 9:4, the word "covenant" is used as a proper name coupled with the name "Baal." This is quoted in the English text, Authorized Version, without being translated, as "Baalberith," meaning (margin) "idol of the covenant."
The Hebrew for "man" is iysh, or ish. In English, the ending "-ish" means "of or belonging to (a specified nation or person)." In the original Hebrew language vowels were never given in the spelling. So, omitting the vowel "e" from berith, but retaining the "i" in its anglicized form to preserve the "y" sound, we have the anglicized Hebrew word for covenant, brith.
The Hebrews, however, never pronounced their "h's." Many a Jew, even today, in pronouncing the name "Shem," will call it "Sem." Incidentally, this ancient Hebrew trait is also a modern British trait. So the Hebrew word for "covenant" would be pronounced, in its anglicized form, as brit.
And the word for "covenant man," or "covenant people," would therefore be simply "BRIT-ISH." And so, is it mere coincidence that the true covenant people today are called the "BRITISH"? And they reside in the "BRITISH ISLES"! (Armstrong HW. The United States and Britain in Prophecy. WCG booklet)
At minimum, the above suggests a link between the Hebrew language and the term British. And likely, it means even more than that. Britain somewhat sounds like the Old Testament word "beriyth" combined with the word for people "am" (Strong's word 5971).
Here is what Isaiah was inspired to write:
8 Thus says the Lord:
"In an acceptable time I have heard You,
And in the day of salvation I have helped You;
I will preserve You and give You
As a covenant to the people,
To restore the earth,
To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages (Isaiah 49:8).
Here is a definition of the word translated as covenant in Isaiah 49:8 (the same word is used ten times when God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:1-14):
OT:1285
beriyth (ber-eeth'); from OT:1262 (in the sense of cutting [like OT:1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): -confederacy, [con-] feder [-ate], covenant, league.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
There is a confederacy/league/covenant that seems to have been operating between the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even the USA for a long time.
Now there was and is a covenant/beriyth made between God that the throne that David and his descendants were to occupy would continue:
3 "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: 4 'Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations." (Psalms 89:3-4)28 My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him. 29 His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven. (Psalms 89:28-29)
34 My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. 35 Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: 36 His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; 37 It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky. (Psalms 89:34-37)
5 Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? (2 Chronicles 13:5-6)
1 Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high,
The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:...5...He has made with me an everlasting covenant (2 Samuel 23:1-5)
As mentioned before the late Herbert Armstrong and the Continuing Church of God teach that this promise was not broken and that the British royal family is fulfilling this today. Queen Elizabeth II is a descendant of David as are her son Charles and his son William. It should also be mentioned that we believe that the royal family will be replaced by Jesus when He returns (and recall that Jesus Himself is specifically called "the son of David" in Matthew 1:1):
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:32-33)
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)
The above scriptures are for the future, which is part of why we faithful in the Continuing Church of God believe that the Bible suggests that believers would understand that until Jesus got the throne, that physical descendants of David still would have it until now.
Interestingly, the Bible is clear that the throne original occupied by descendants of David such as Solomon is actually God's throne:
23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. (1 Chronicles 29:23)
8 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! (2 Chronicles 9:8)
Since Jesus has not yet returned, His throne is still under control of the British royal family. But He will receive the throne His father David and reign over the house of Jacob. Jesus clearly has not done that yet (which is why the British royal family still has the throne), but Jesus will gain it relatively soon.
Getting back to the terms about the "covenant people," the British people are those who this throne covenant currently applies to.
Now while the two Hebrew words for covenant and people are not used directly together in scriptures other than Isaiah 49:8, the following verse contains the same Hebrew word for people and the word that covenant seems to have derived from:
10 The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people. (Lamentations 4:10, Youngs Literal Translation)
This suggests that very hard times will be coming to those people (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).
Since the British descended peoples are the people of the covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24), the following would seem to apply:
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you 12 cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths…(Isaiah 3:12)
Of course, women are influential in the English-speaking nations. More so than in most (though not all) countries on earth.
The UK has already had a female prime minister (Margaret Thatcher) and has a female queen (Elizabeth II) for decades, Australia has had a female prime minister (Julia Gillard) as has New Zealand, and the USA had a female secretary of state (Hillary Clinton). These seem to be partial, but significant, fulfillments of that prophecy.
Some leaders, females included, are prophesied to lead their people to err and to be destroyed in the end. This end seems to be getting closer.
Another prophecy also seems to apply:
43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower (Deuteronomy 28:43).
The USA has had its first "alien" president, in the sense that Barack Obama's father was Kenyan (see also Prophecies of Barack Obama?). Also, non-Anglo portions of the Anglo-nations seem to be rising up at this time in the USA, UK, Canada, and the other Anglo-dominated lands.
The Bible strongly suggests that instead of calling for repentance, the leaders of the Anglo-lands will lead people into error and destruction. Notice another scripture supportive of this:
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).
Many of those who place their trust in politicians will be disappointed.
Those in the land of New Zealand may find the prophesied curse for disobedience distressing:
31... your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue them. (Deuteronomy 28:31)
New Zealand has about 10 sheep for every person who lives there and sheep-related exports are the major engine of its trade. While the other Anglo-nations do have sheep, none is as dependent upon them as New Zealand.
In addition to the fact that the USA has been the most powerful single nation in the world for some time, others have believed that various symbols of the USA help demonstrate connections to the tribe of Manasseh.
Here is one reference related to the "Great Seal" of the United States:
Upon the reverse of our national seal the references to our birthright as descendants of Joseph and Manasseh, and thus of Egyptian origin, are even still more pointed. The leading motto--" Annuit Coeptis " ("He has prospered our beginnings")--is a direct use of an expression so often reiterated in the Bible story of Joseph, that he has become the very type of a prosperous man...The building — a pyramid unfinished — an emblem of stability, of perfect measure, just weight, and of eternal truth, and harmony with nature, man and God, is eminently the Egyptian emblem of Manasseh. (Preface to Lieutenant Totten's book as cited in The International standard, Volume 2, 1884. Original from the University of Michigan Digitized Aug 4, 2009 p. 557)
The above source also indicated that the fact that the "Great Seal" shows a bow and arrows was consistent with the following scripture:
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. 24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (Genesis 49:22-24)
The above also shows that Joseph's sons would have military success.
The following has also been printed:
Joseph: Menasseh U.S.A. The United States of America...The reverse side of the Great Seal of the U.S.A...shows a pyramid...A PYRAMID is also a typical representation of Egypt and according to Jewish tradition the Tribe of Joseph had A picture of Egypt (possibly a pyramid for their Tribal Standard). (Davidy Y. The Tribes. Russell-Davis Publishers, Israel. 1993, p. 403
It is not clear to me that the developers of the "Great Seal" intended a connection to the tribe of Manasseh (other sources suggest that the banner for Manasseh was more like a wild ox that morphed into a unicorn; the Jewish Encyclopedia article on Manasseh says that its "standard," along with consist the other of Rachel's sons, consisted of a boy with the inscription "The cloud of the Lord rested on them until they went forth out of the camp"). Yet, it may be of interest to note that Benjamin Franklin wanted the seal to show the children of Israel leaving Egypt and Thomas Jefferson wanted to show the children of Israel in the wilderness. Hence, several associated with the development of the seal seemed to have believed in at least some type of "children of Israel" connection.
The word "Australia" seems to signify southern lands. And speaking of southern lands like Australia and New Zealand, notice a prophecy in Isaiah 49:12:
12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim. (Isaiah 49:12, NKJV)
ecce isti de longe venient et ecce illi ab aquilone et mari et isti de terra australi (Isaiah 49:12; Jerome translation: Latin Vulgate Bible)
Some have speculated that the lands from afar, specifically Sinim (NKJV)/isti de terra australi (Latin Vulgate) could be referring to certain modern lands in the South Pacific.
For example, Wikipedia (accessed 03/14/12) has stated:
Australia...the name Australia is derived from the Latin australis, meaning "southern". The country has been referred to colloquially as Oz since the early 20th century...
Legends of Terra Australis Incognita—an "unknown land of the South"—date back to Roman times and were commonplace in medieval geography, although not based on any documented knowledge of the continent. Following European discovery, names for the Australian landmass were often references to the famed Terra Australis.
The earliest recorded use of the word Australia in English was in 1625 in "A note of Australia del Espíritu Santo, written by Sir Richard Hakluyt", published by Samuel Purchas in Hakluytus Posthumus, a corruption of the original Spanish name "Tierra Austral del Espíritu Santo" (Southern Land of the Holy Spirit) for an island in Vanuatu. The Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1638, to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south. Australia was later used in a 1693 translation of Les Aventures de Jacques Sadeur dans la Découverte et le Voyage de la Terre Australe, a 1676 French novel by Gabriel de Foigny, under the pen-name Jacques Sadeur. Referring to the entire South Pacific region, Alexander Dalrymple used it in An Historical Collection of Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean in 1771.
Notice something that the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught about what this passage of scripture in Isaiah 49:12 may be referring to:
Referring to the house of ISRAEL, not Judah (Isaiah 49:3,6), God says: "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the NORTH and from the WEST; and these from the land of Sinim" (Isa. 49:12). In the Hebrew, the language in which this was originally inspired, there is no word for "northwest," but this term is designated by the phrase, "the north and the west." It means, literally, the northwest! The Vulgate renders "Sinim" as "Australi," or "Australia." So we now have the location northwest of Jerusalem and even spreading around the world. (Armstrong HW. THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY, 1954, 1967, 1972, 1975, 1980 edition)
Notice some comments on Isaiah 49:12 about Sinim:
Isaiah 49:12
Meaning, the south country, so that Christ will deliver his from all the parts of the world. (Geneva Notes, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2005, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)Isaiah 49:12
Behold, these shall come from far ... and these from the land of Sinim. The Arabians and other Asiatics called China Sin, or Tchin: the Chinese had no special name for themselves, but either adopted that of the reigning dynasty or some high-sounding titles. This view of "Sinim" suits the context, which requires a people to be meant "from far," and distinct, from those "from the north and from the west" (Gesenius). (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Sinim
a people noticed in (Isaiah 49:12) as living at the extremity of the known world. They may be identified with the classical Sinoe, the inhabitants of the southern part of China. (Smith's Bible Dictionary)
Isaiah 49:12...
From the land of Sinim - There have been many different opinions in regard to the 'land of Sinim.' The name 'Sinim' (סינים siyniym) occurs nowhere else in the Bible, and of course it is not easy to determine what country is meant. It is evident that it is some remote country, and it is remarkable that it is the only land specified here by name. Some, it is said, should come from far, some from the north, others from the west, and another portion from the country here specifically mentioned. Jerome understands it of the south in general - Isti de terra Australi...The Chaldee also interprets it as Jerome has done, of the south. The Syriac has not translated it, but retained the name Sinim...Grotius supposes that it means the region of Sinim to the south of Palestine, and Vitringa also coincides with this opinion...
Gesenius supposes that it refers to the Chinese, and that the country here referred to is Sina or China. 'This very ancient and celebrated people,' says he, 'was known to the Arabians and Syrians by the name Sin, Tein, Tshini; and a Hebrew writer might well have heard of them, especially if sojourning in Babylon, the metropolis as it were of all Asia. This name appears to have been given to the Chinese by the other Asiatics; for the Chinese themselves do not employ it, and seem indeed to be destitute of any ancient domestic name, either adopting the names of the reigning dynasties, or ostentatiously assuming high-sounding titles, as "people of the empire in the center of the world." (Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834]. viewed 03/13/12)
The above is interesting and perhaps Isaiah 49:12 hints that Australia/New Zealand, which are lands of the southern hemisphere and past China (from the perspective of Jerusalem), could have possibly been identified so long ago. This is not necessarily specific identification of the lands now known as Australia and New Zealand but it seems possible. From a Jerusalem perspective, Australia and New Zealand are far off lands and in the south east (and north and west were referring somewhere else--possible the UK and USA respectively).
(Some biblical and Chinese prophecies that might point to Australia and New Zealand are in the article Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? as well as the video Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?).
The Bible shows that in the last days, some Middle Eastern peoples and the descendants of Assyria will be used to punish some of the children of Israel.
The UK has the second highest dent in the world, and "The United States has the largest debt in the world" US News & World Report – Jan 28, 2011 http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/01/28/the-10-countries-with-the-most-debt; see also https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt aaccessed 07/27/22). Australia is starting to have some serious issues as well (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-14/budget-will-not-return-to-surplus-with-spending-cuts-alone-mood/7325930).
And the Bible clearly warns that an indebted people will be destroyed by people whose language that they do not understand, and that the destruction will be fairly total:
43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed...47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you (Deuteronomy 28:42-45,47-52).
7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)
13 And the Lord said, "Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, 14 but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts...16 I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them." (Jeremiah 9:13,14a,16)
12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. (Ezekiel 5:12)
Notice that getting in debt is considered to be a curse (see also the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine).
The debt situation of the USA is putting it at risk of being unable to recover should it be hit by weather problems, terrorist acts, war, riots, solar flares, severe earthquakes, civil unrest, devastation of their genetically-modified food supplies, food shortages, and/or various pestilences–an intensity of “sorrows” such as Jesus discussed in Matthew 24:4-8 leading up to the time of the Great Tribulation. Disasters such as pestilences, especially if there is an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (emp) attack or a severe solar flare storm, could be part of a so-called “perfect storm” of events that could set the USA for destruction.
As far as when goes, various prophecies suggest the end will come to the USA, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand by 2028 or earlier (see Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028?).
Some do not believe, but that was expected:
6 “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” (Micah 2:6, New Living Translation)
16 ... You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.' (Amos 7:16)
People will not want to hear! See also Preparing for the 'Short Work' and The Famine of the Word.
Now, notice the following prophecy which shows that destruction comes after pestilence:
Many sorrows that the U.S.A. will face, like severe weather problems, diseases and earthquakes, will happen irrespective of who is in the White House (Amos 4:7-10; Luke 21:11). Bible prophecy shows that no matter who is the next U.S.A. president (or possible successors), the King of the North and King of the South will rise up and the U.S.A. will be ultimately destroyed unless national repentance happens (see also Christian Repentance).4 What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep;
And wail, all you drinkers of wine,
Because of the new wine,
For it has been cut off from your mouth.
6 For a nation has come up against My land,
Strong, and without number;
His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
And he has the fangs of a fierce lion. (Joel 1:4-6)
Notice also that a the Bible also shows that a confederation of primarily Arabic peoples will come up with a plan to destroy Israel (more on their specific identities Is There A Future King of the South?), and that Assyria will decide to become part of this plan.
2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more."5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot (Psalm 83:2-8).
And while this essentially Arab/Turkish group will have the plan, other parts of the Bible indicate that it will actually be the Assyrians that truly succeed in destroying several nations--apparently several nations descended from Israel, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Terrorism will probably be involved as Isaiah 9:8-12 implies (see also Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy).
People in those lands will be slaves and need to beg food from them:
4 We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price. 5 They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest. 6 We have given our hand to the Egyptians And the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities. 8 Servants rule over us; There is none to deliver us from their hand”. (Lamentations 5:4-8)
They will be so hungry, that "Ephraim...shall eat unclean things in Assyria" (Hosea 9:3).
How do we know from the Bible that many of these prophecies apply to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and/or New Zealand?
Because Israel (Jacob) specifically taught that the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh should be named after his name:
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:
"God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them...(Genesis 48:13-16).
Because of this, sometimes when the Bible uses the term Israel it can be referring to the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, and they include the Anglo-nations.
Also related to Psalm 83, are you aware that there is currently an international organization called the Union for the Mediterranean States that may be, to a degree, the framework for that deal (see also Deal Leading to Psalm 83? and Mediterranean Union Makes Deal With Israel and Arab States)?
Prophecy is moving forward. The decline of the Anglo-nations has been occurring:
And the view that America is on a decline seems rather well ingrained in many people’s minds supported by 65 percent of people questioned in a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll published last week.
“It is true: Today’s economic problems are structural, not cyclical,” argued New York Times editorial writer David Brooks.
He said the United Sates is losing its world dominance much in the same way the British Empire began to crumble more than a century ago. (Doomsday warnings of US apocalypse gain ground. AFP – Sept 11, 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5guQwaDcJjALF1jtUfqcyIgRU7U1Q)
So, the British Empire (which once included the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) is setting the example of decline for the USA even according to some secular sources (for specific information on Canada, including Francophones, please see the article Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada?).
Notice another set of passages about people ruled by unrighteous leaders:
1 Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain." For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 10:1-4)
Now notice that this leads into according to passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel:
5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
'Are not my princes altogether kings?
9 Is not Calno like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria like Damascus?
10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'"12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the LORD has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." (Isaiah 10:5-12)
4... Samaria ... 9 "Therefore I have delivered her Into the hand of her lovers, Into the hand of the Assyrians, For whom she lusted. 10 They uncovered her nakedness, Took away her sons and daughters, And slew her with the sword; She became a byword among women, For they had executed judgment on her. (Ezekiel 23:4,9-10)
Notice that Samaria's Assyrian allies will destroy her. Also notice that the Assyrian does not really intend to do it (verse Isaiah 10:7), but will end up taking over nations anyway. It may be of interest to realize that the third century Catholic theologian and bishop Hippolytus (Hippolytus. On the Antichrist, Chapters 16, 57) tied in Assur/Assyria as apparently being the King of North based upon this and another passage in Isaiah--the Catholic doctor and saint Jerome seems to have concurred, and tied Assyria/Assur in with Germany and others in Europe (Jerome. Letter CXXIII to Ageruchia, Chapter 16). (More on the Assyrian ties to Germany can be found in the article Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History.) As far as end time Samaria goes, this seems like it could be an ethnically-mixed people, perhaps the USA itself which has a lot of both Israelite and Gentile as well as mixed people. Bible prophecy seems to tie the descendants of Manasseh as being prophetic Samaria in certain scriptures (cf. Isaiah 9:8-21).
And while various people will claim that the Europeans are the friends and allies of America and Britain, notice the following:
1 How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!
How like a widow is she,
Who was great among the nations!
The princess among the provinces
Has become a slave!2 She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. (Lamentations 1:1-2)
The USA and Great Britain (including its Anglo-Commonwealth members, like Australia and Canada) were "great among the nations." And the Bible is clear that betrayal is coming from national FRIENDS!
Notice:
Future of Germany
The Bible indicates that at the end of this age, the Israelite nations’ chief antagonist will be Assyria (Isaiah 10). God will use Assyria and its allies to punish Israelite nations that have forgotten their God (Isaiah 10:5–7; 24–25). Just like their ancient ancestors, the modern Assyrians have espoused a "master race" philosophy, have acquired a reputation for a certain aloofness and arrogance and have executed military operations with deadly precision and efficiency (Isaiah 10:8–14). Though few modern scholars look to the Bible for clues to understand geopolitics, the Bible’s prophetic references to Assyria in the "last days" do indeed point to modern Germany.
Legends indicate that Germany’s oldest city, Trier, grew from an Assyrian colony founded on the site around 2000bc. Arab sources in the 1400s refer to the Germans as Assyriana. The Assyrians and their allies were the earliest nations to use iron weapons, and iron has played a notable role in German social history. Charlemagne ruled from Aachen in present day Germany. He wore a suit of iron armor and "took the iron crown of Lombardy" to become the king of the Franks and Lombards (Germany, Her People and their Story, Gifford, p. 35). From 1813 through the end of World War II, German soldiers were awarded the Iron Cross for their meritorious service in war. German leader Otto von Bismarck acquired the nickname "the Iron Chancellor" for his memorable words that the great problems of the age would be solved by "blood and iron."
Prophecies in Daniel indicate that "at the time of the end" the German-led European "beast power" (called "the king of the North") will engage in military operations (Modern Nations and God’s Ancient Plan/ Tomorrow's World Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 4. July-August, 2006).
The King of the North will invade and destroy the United States, Great Britain, etc. And many in Europe, some associated with the tribes of Israel, and others from various Gentile peoples, will be aligned with this German-driven European power at the time of the end.
Herbert W. Armstrong made it clear in his later years that he believed that the King of the North (the one mentioned in Daniel 11:40-41 which is the same one who places the abomination mentioned in Daniel 11:31) would destroy the British and American peoples (shortly after he takes power, as in Revelation 17:12-13). Notice some of what he wrote about that in 1979:
The indication is the armies of the "beast" of Revelation 17, entering Jerusalem (Dan 11:41, Zech. 14:2), will stop this "daily sacrifice"...And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later "the beasts armies" will surround Jerusalem. Thirty days later the Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain--and possibly the same day or immediately after, on the United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of "Jacob's Trouble," spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. And Jacob's name was named on Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:16). At that time a third of the people in our nations will die, or shall have died, by famine and disease epidemics; another third will dies of the war--our cities being destroyed (Ezek. 6:6), and the remaining third will be carried to the land of our enemies as slaves (Ezek. 5:12). Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General's Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).
Here some of what Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about some of this in 1948:
Thus, once this EMPIRE is revived in Europe – AND BY UNITED STATES HELP AT THAT—so gullible are we and dull of UNDERSTANDING!—the new-born Fascist-Nazi military power will without warning DESTROY AMERICAN AND BRITISH CITIES OVERNIGHT WITH ATOMIC BOMBS, conquering our peoples, taking our survivors to Europe as THEIR SLAVES! (Armstrong HW. Now it Can Be Told. The Plain Truth magazine. December 1948, p. 6)
Something that resembles nuclear devastation is one of the prophesied curses mentioned in the Bible:
23 'The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath.' 24 All nations would say, 'Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?' 25 Then people would say: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 26 for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them. 27 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. 28 And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.' 29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:23-29).
6...He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 6-7)
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts
The land is burned up,
And the people shall be as fuel for the fire; No man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand
And be hungry;
He shall devour on the left hand
And not be satisfied; Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm. 21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah (Isaiah 9:19-21).
The above descriptions are consistent with a nuclear or similar attack. Manasseh represents the USA and Ephraim its British-descended allies. THIS HAS NOT YET HAPPENED IN HISTORY AND IS A PROPHECY FOR OUR TIME. While Israel was uprooted historically, the land did not burn up or become brimstone. Deuteronomy 29:23-29 provides one reason why most Protestants and most others that profess Christ do not understand these prophecies--they do not do the words of the law that God expects His people to do today.
Consider that the Bible warns of a church being involved in the destruction of the descendants of Israel:
5 "Sit in silence, and go into darkness,
O daughter of the Chaldeans;
For you shall no longer be called
The Lady of Kingdoms.
6 I was angry with My people;
I have profaned My inheritance,
And given them into your hand.
You showed them no mercy;
On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.
7 And you said, 'I shall be a lady forever,'
So that you did not take these things to heart,
Nor remember the latter end of them.8 "Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures,
Who dwell securely,
Who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me;
I shall not sit as a widow,
Nor shall I know the loss of children'; (Isaiah 47:5-8)
This "Lady of the Kingdoms" is related to the Babylonian (Revelation 18:1-8) Church of Rome (Revelation 17:18). Notice something that the late Herbert W. Armstrong stated on the radio:
Who's going to put that yoke on our neck? Will you turn real quickly back to Isaiah 47; I only have a few moments. Isaiah 47:1: "Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon [now this isn't ancient Babylon 600 years before Christ. It's the daughter of that Babylon, a virgin daughter Babylon. This is a prophecy for the far, far future, not a history of that day], O daughter of the Chaldeans [that Babylon was always called in the male gender as a he. Here is one that is a daughter, and my friends the feminine gender is always spoken of as a church, and the male gender as a civil government. And here it's speaking of a religious element here that is going to get into politics and rule over the political power it's speaking of. It's a modern thing, this is not the ancient Babylon - listen]: thou shall no more be called tender and delicate." (Isaiah 47:1) Just compare that to Revelation 17 and Revelation 18. You'll see the same thing, speaking of the same power exactly. Now the fifth verse, "Sit thou silent, get thee into the darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: thou shall no more be called [what?], The lady of kingdoms" (Isaiah 47:5). 'Lady' means a religious organization or church that entered into politics and ruled over nations. That's exactly what it's speaking of and you turn to Revelation 17 and there you'll find it described. "I [says God] was wroth with my people [that's Israel, and], I have polluted mine inheritance..." [that's Israel] (Isaiah 47:6). Why? Because of their sins, and He's going to punish us to STRAIGHTEN us out lest we destroy our own selves. God loves us and He's going to let us be punished for our own good if we won't heed His warning without the punishment. Listen, "[I have]...given them [that's Israel — His inheritance] into THINE hand [this daughter of Babylon] and thou did show them no mercy upon the ancient [or Israel] hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke." (Isaiah 47:6) There is the power that had the yoke on us. (Wake Up and Return To Our GOD! https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1377964801)
Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that private Catholic prophecies foretell a time when a Great Monarch will rise up and that he will destroy the English peoples (more details, including some prophecies from Nostradamus, are in the article Who is the King of the North?).
Furthermore, some Catholics seem to warn against something like this:
Zachary the Armenian (published 1854 and summarized in 2010): And then there would be the war that the prophecy refers to as "the struggle of the strong, against the strong". This empire of the north...will go to war against North America and North America will be fall and be conquered and brought into bondage. The next phase is the most frightful thing of all. It is then that Zachary says this text published in 1854, "and then the whole world fell under the dominion of the first born of hell." (Originally by Priest Fattecelli, Day of Anger: The Hand of God Upon an Empire, 1854, as paraphrased by Priest P. Kramer, What are the missing contents of the third secret? Fatima Crusader, 95, Summer 2010, pp. 45-46)
Josyp Terelya from the Ukraine while in Marmora Ontario (September 13, 1992 allegedly from a Marian apparition): Pray in this chapel for peace and for love in this country of Canada. People are not aware that the prophesied times are upon them...you are on the threshold of the day of judgment. (Flynn T & L. The Thunder of Justice. Maxkol Communications, Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 287)
For more on the fate of Canadians, please check out the article Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada?
Notice the following "Catholic" "message" (bolding in the original):
Our blessed Mother through Father Gobbi of the Marion Movement…provided several messages…
On November 15, 1990: Mary spoke about the great trial coming to the United States and for all humanity. The Blessed Mother specifically mentions the United States will know the hour of weakness and of poverty as well as “the hour of suffering and defeat”. The thunder of God’s justice will have arrived:
..."...Sins of impurity have become ever more widespread, and immorality has spread like a sea which has submerged all things. Homosexuality, a sin of impurity which is against nature, has been justified; recourse to the means of preventing life have become commonplace, while abortions,--these killings of innocent children--have spread and are performed in all areas of your homeland. The moment of divine justice and of great mercy has now arrived. You will know the hour of weakness and poverty; the hour of suffering and defeat; the purifying hour of the great chastisement..." America will know poverty and defeat! Those are strong statements made by the Virgin herself. Never before have we known something like this on a national scale (Flynn, Ted and Maureen. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, pp. 341,342).
Since I do not believe that Jesus’ mother Mary actually said the above (see Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions), perhaps I should add that even the demons know that the Bible condemns homosexuality (Romans 1:18-32; Jude 7) and abortion, as well as the fact that the USA is prophesied to be destroyed.
Notice something that the Bible teaches that the demons would also know is recorded:
23 'Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled. (Ezekiel 7:23-24)
Abortion is a crime of blood, so have many wars that the Anglo-nations have particated in. The USA has more crimes of violence than most other nations. And notice that "the worst of the Gentiles" will be used against the pomp of the strong. And certainly in today's age, many American politicians are pompous and believe that the USA is too strong for a real disaster.
The USA and the British descended peoples have long had a special relationship. This was recognized back in 1946 by the late Winston Churchill:
March 11, 2016
Last week was the 70th anniversary of the speech in which Winston Churchill coined the phrase “special relationship” (an oration at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, which, incidentally, also lodged “iron curtain” in the diplomatic lexicon). In the intervening decades, Downing Street has obsessed about its status. These are the most sacred words in British diplomacy. Maintaining an intimate friendship with Washington has been the bedrock of post-war British foreign policy. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35761366
Here is some of what Winston Churchill said on March 5, 1946:
Notice more about the relationship going further back in a speech given by Winston Churchill on March 5, 1946:
Now, while still pursuing the method of realising our overall strategic concept, I come to the crux of what I have travelled here to Say. Neither the sure prevention of war, nor the continuous rise of world organisation will be gained without what I have called the fraternal association of the English-speaking peoples. This means a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and Empire and the United States. This is no time for generalities, and I will venture to be precise. Fraternal association requires not only the growing friendship and mutual understanding between our two vast but kindred Systems of society, but the continuance of the intimate relationship between our military advisers, leading to common study of potential dangers, the similarity of weapons and manuals of instructions, and to the interchange of officers and cadets at technical colleges. (Churchill W. The Sinews of Peace (“Iron Curtain Speech”). March 5, 1946. Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Accessed on March 11, 2016 from http://www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/235-1946-1963-elder-statesman/120-the-sinews-of-peace)
So, a fraternal, brotherly, relationship existed. And on that, while he did not understand all of it, that point is correct.
Interestingly, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited with US President Barack Obama, he noted that the USA and Canada were siblings:
March 11, 2016
US President Barack Obama and Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have lavished praise on each other during the first official visit by a Canadian leader in nearly 20 years.
Mr Trudeau toasted the two nations as “siblings” at a state dinner. …
Mr Obama said … that the US and Canada were “blessed to be neighbours”. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35772329
The Bible tells of two siblings, the brothers Ephraim and Manasseh, who were the sons of Joseph. And they received blessings from Joseph’s father Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel (Genesis 48:13-16).
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau probably does not fully understand how the USA and Canada actually are siblings–not because of a shared border–but because their ancestors were brothers. But his observation, like the late Winston Churchill's, is consistent with scripture.
While many do not realize it, the reality is that the nations considered truly as allies by the USA are Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. A 2013 report disclosed by the German publication Der Spiegel noted that while the USA has a massive cyper-espionage program, that (according to a translation in Reuters) "Only Canada, Australia, Britain and New Zealand were explicitly exempted from spy attacks" (see EU tells USA to stop spying on it as it asks for more information; there is also a related video Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?).
What many Europeans want is that the USA will treat them the same way they treat the Anglo-nations, which have been called the “five eyes”:
Confronted with European fury at US spying, Washington is divided over whether its allies’ anger is genuine or a calculation that they can use the revelations to change the terms of intelligence sharing and targeting….
Underlying the debate over Ms Merkel are longstanding and deep tensions over intelligence sharing between the US and European nations such as Germany and France.
The US has for decades, and with few interruptions, shared intelligence with four other countries, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, under the so-called “five eyes” agreement which includes a proviso that they do not spy on each other.
“Germany and France have long resented this special relationship in intelligence,” said Tim Naftali, of the New America Foundation. “But the question is whether [France and Germany] would be able to accept the co-ordination of their foreign policies that comes along with the agreement.”
When intelligence agencies discuss targeting they are giving away what they know, said Mr Naftali. “Is the US prepared to do that across the board with France and Germany?” http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b9fc90ae-3ff4-11e3-a890-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2j7WaaEUy
The United Kingdom – United States of America Agreement (UKUSA,…is a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The alliance of intelligence operations is also known as Five Eyes (FVEY). (Wikipedia, viewed 10/19/2013)
The USA officially considers Canada, Australia, Britain and New Zealand as its apparently most trusted, and possible only non-hostile, allies.
But is not the USA a melting pot?
Yes, to a degree it is. And that seems to be why certain end time prophecies involving Samaria can be pointing to the USA (e.g. Isaiah 9:8-10; 10:5-11; Jeremiah 23:13-14; Amos 3:12-14; Micah 1:5-6). Samaria contained a mixture of Israelites and non-Israelites.
However at first, many came to the area of the east coast of the USA from the British Isles:
The English were the first non-Native Americans to settle the area that became the United States of America. From the first permanent colonies established at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 and at Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay in 1620-1622 to James Oglethorpe's settlement in Savannah, Georgia, in 1732, English joint-stock companies, proprietors, and Crown officials sought to create a modified version of their native society in their American colonies. While many Englishmen came to America to exercise their own religion, and others sought liberation from the religious intolerance on both sides of the Atlantic—as did Roger Williams, fonder of Rhode Island—most English settlers were drawn by the economic opportunities and cheap land. (Hanft S. English americans. http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Du-Ha/English-Americans.html#ixzz3GVhsKXK1 viewed 10/17/14)
Many believed to be from Manasseh came to the USA:
From the West of England and from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland the United States of America received approximately 87% (sic. 87%) of its British immigrants in its formative period#. In other words, early American society was formed largely by groups from the Tribe of Manasseh. Even today, more than half the white population of the U.S.A. may trace its ancestry back to Britain and Ireland with the British side being slightly larger than that of Northern and Southern Ireland origin. (Davidiy, p. 426. #Kephart, apparently a reference to-- Calvin Kephart, "Races of Mankind, Their Origin and Migration," N.Y. 1960, pp.437-438).
So many believed to be of Manasseh came to the USA. "The total white population in 1790 was about 80% British ancestry" (History of immigration to the United States. Wikipedia, viewed 10/17/14). Also notice:
Between 1820 and 1930 four and a quarter million British immigrants chose the United States as their new home. They took with them technological skills which helped make the United States a major industrial nation by the end of the nineteenth century. Cultural similarities and a common language allowed British immigrants to integrate rapidly and gave rise to a unique Anglo- American culture. (Van Vugt WE, editor. British Immigration to the United States, 1776–1914. November 2009. https://www.calvin.edu/academic/history/faculty/vanvugt/british%20immigration.pdf viewed 10/17/14)
Many came to the USA fromt the British Isles.
Yet, some may be asking themselves, how can modern Germany somehow represent Assyria since the United States also has so many of German heritage?
That is an excellent question.
As mentioned before, there was a commingling of the ten tribes of Israel with Assyria. But the commingling was not complete, in that while undoubtedly some interbreeding occurred, this was not complete--ethinic distinctions still remained for many.
It has been claimed that:
Manasseh = Mannus (legendary ancestor of tribes in Germany who moved to Gaul and Britain . . . (Davidiy, p. 408)
Mannus is listed as associated with Germanic peoples by Tacitus (see Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History).
Since God had Jacob give the prophecies for the tribes, it should be clear that somehow God would make them come to pass. Notice the following:
11'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
So even though they were scattered and their locations "cloudy and dark," this does not mean that they would not fulfill God's plan.
The late Raymond McNair looked into the origins of the British and European peoples and reported a variety of research findings as follows (any bolding his):
The Britannica states, "Celt ... the generic name of an ancient people, the bulk of whom inhabited the central and western parts of Europe" ("Celt," 11th ed., vol. 5).
The World Book Encyclopedia says, " ... Little is known of the Celts until about 500 B.C. Then they were found mainly in south-western Germany..."...
Sharon Turner (1768-1842) ... says, "Europe has been populated by three great streams of population from the East...The earliest of these...comprised the Cimmerian and Celtic race. The second consisted of the Scythian, Gothic, and Germanic tribes; from whom most of the modern nations of continental Europe descended...third and most recent...Slavonian and Sarmatian nations...who established themselves in Poland, Bohemia, Russia, and their vicinities. It is from the first two generations of European population [Celts and Scythians] that the ancient inhabitants of England successively descended... The earliest of these that reached the northern and western confines of Europe, the Cimmerians and Celts, may be regarded as our first ancestors; and from the German or Gothic nations who formed, with the Scythians, the second great flood of population into Europe, our Anglo-Saxon and Norman ancestors proceeded" (McNair R. America and Britain in Prophecy. Global Church of God, San Diego, 1996, pp. 29-30).
There is one verse in the Bible that mentions the Scythians by that name:
11 ... where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11).
What the above verse is doing is CONTRASTING Israelites and non-Israelites. Or specifically between Greeks and Jews, Israelites and Gentiles, barbaric Gentiles and the lost tribes of Israel (Scythians--essentially barbaric Israelites), slaves (to sin, Gentiles) and free (spiritual Israelites). Thus there is evidence in the Bible that the tribes of Israel should be associated with the Scythians.
It has also been noted that many in ancient Britain practiced a religion like that of the children of Israel:
W.M. Stukeley, in his book Abury (Pref., p. I), affirms after a close study of the evidence: "I plainly discerned the religion professed by the ancient Britons was the simple patriarchal faith." (as cited in Jowett GF. The Drama of the Lost Disciples, 16th ed. Coventant Publishing- UK/Presto Printing-Arkansas, 2009, p. 44)
Certainly, we would expect to see at least some of that.
But is there any evidence outside the Bible that when "Germans," for example, came to the United States, that they were closer ethnically to Israel than Germany?
Actually yes.
Raymond McNair also looked into this and reported the following (any bolding his):
Most true Germans are characterized by "Alpine" round skulls ... Yet ethnologist Madison grant writes, "In the study of European populations the great and fundamental fact about the British Isles is the almost total absence there of true Alpine round skulls" (p.137).
Ripley, in The Races of Europe says, "The most remarkable trait of the population of the British Isles is its head form; and especially the uniformity in every respect which is everywhere manifested. The prevailing type is that of the long and narrow cranium, accompanied by an oval rather than broad or round face" (p.303). Remember that this is the same type as the northern Celtic type. It is also the same as the Teutonic, Scandinavian type--the Scythian type!
In a 1915 article--"Are We Cousins to the Germans?"--Sir Arthur Keith wrote that "the Britons and German represent contrasted and opposite types of humanity" (The Graphic, Dec 4, p. 720). He explained, "The radical difference in the two forms leaps to the eye. In the majority of the Briton--English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish--the hinder part of the head, the occiput, projects prominently backwards behind the line of the neck; the British head is long in comparison with its width" (p. 720).
Keith then pointed out that "in the vast majority of Germans," the back of the head is flattened"--indicating "a profound racial difference"...
"The explanation," according to Keith, "is easy. With the exodus of the Franks to France and the Anglo-Saxons to Britain in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth centuries of our era, Germany was almost denuded of her long-headed elements in her population" (McNair, pp. 31-32).
When I attempted to verify some of the above, I found an older study from R.F. Parsons that showed that the German heads were indeed more rounded than the British heads. The study also reported:
In 1925 Germans the glabello-maximal length averages 189 mm., and the breadth 155.
In 127 British soldiers they are 191 mm. and 149 respectively, and in 103 medical students of British parentage, 194 and 192 (Parsons, R.F. Anthropological observations on German prisoners of war. The Journal of the Royal Anthropologic Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 49, Jan-Jul 1919, pp. 20-35).
And as far as Germans go (bolding in the source) notice:
Britannica:...The total number of those who sailed for the United States from 1820 to 1900 may be estimated at more than 4,500,000. The greater number of the more recent immigrants was from the agricultural provinces of northern Germany...(11th ed., vol. 11)...It is clear then that the Anglo-Saxon peoples are not Germanic--at least in the modern sense of the term (McNair R, p. 33-34).
A separate study, in the case of Germany at least those who went to the U.S.A. in the 1800s were somehow different from those who stayed behind and German officials themselves remarked on such a difference. The claim is that the distinction is based on consideration of physical types, areas-of-origin with Germany, religious orientation and social outlook (Davidy Y. The Tribes. Rabbinical approbation: Rabbi Abraham Feld of the Maccabee Institute Jerusalem, July 4, 1993. Russell-Davis Publishers, Hebron (Israel), p. 430).
Thus, there are reasons to believe that many of those who came to the United States were ethnically different than those that did not. And because God's promises were made to physical descendants, it is logical that this type of separation would have occurred.
The prophet Ezekiel had various warnings. But notice one:
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. (Ezekiel 3:17-20)
The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote the following:
There is duality here. First, God sets a modern "Ezekiel" as a watchman. Then the PEOPLE set him as their watchman.
UNDERSTAND THIS! In Ezekiel's day he was a P.O.W.—a prisoner of war, taken from his own country into Babylon. The people of Judah never set him as their watchman. But Christ's Apostle for our day has been set—first by Christ, then by the people of God—as their watchman. That is, one to watch events as they fulfill prophecy, to perceive and warn the people of the 20th-century house of Israel when such military invasion is reasonably imminent. He would have to be one with facilities available for warning the whole nations of America and the British peoples.
WHO ELSE, in our time, knows who are the modern Lost Ten Tribes—the HOUSE OF ISRAEL? No other church or leader has this knowledge.
Now what is the very crux of Ezekiel's WARNING? It is found in chapters 5 and 6. God says to 20th-century British and Americans (5:8-9), "Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I, even I, am against thee and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations!" (Emphasis mine.) Compare with Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1-2; Jeremiah 30:3-7.) There can be only one time of trouble more severe than any before or since. These four prophecies all speak of THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Jeremiah shows it will be primarily that of the British and Americans. Ezekiel shows, as quoted below, the nature and extent of that trouble.
Ezekiel's prophecy continues, "Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. A THIRD PART OF THEE SHALL DIE WITH THE PESTILENCE and with famine will they be consumed in the midst of thee: AND A THIRD PART SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD [nuclear destruction of our cities—see later, from chapter 6] ... and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my FURY to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT IN MY ZEAL, WHEN I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MY FURY IN THEM" (Ezekiel 5:11-13, emphasis mine).
This is to be the most terrible fate ever to happen to any people! God is going to send it upon peoples who, more than any others, have KNOWN HIS WILL—and have ignored it and rebelled against Him!
God has blessed us as no other nations! Not only has He blessed us with material wealth and national greatness unmatched, but He has blessed us with His TRUTH which our nations have spurned. We have made atheistic evolution the very foundation of our educational system, in which we have reared our children. Hundreds upon hundreds of our churches have idols that are adored. We Americans took our land away from the Indians and treated them unfairly. Our sins are monumental!
In chapter 6:6-8, a continuation of the above, "In all your dwelling places [different countries to which they shall have emigrated by the 20th century] THE CITIES SHALL BE LAID WASTE ... and the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD. Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations when ye shall be scattered through the countries."
The phrase "YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD" is frequently used by Ezekiel, designating Christ's Second Coming in GLORY and POWER! This great calamity foretold by Ezekiel actually shall begin in the "GREAT TRIBULATION" but will continue through the "DAY OF THE LORD"—the time of God's "FURY" mentioned earlier, and until Christ's coming in SUPREME POWER to RULE!
Ezekiel definitely pin-points this prophecy to "the HOUSE OF ISRAEL"—which is 20th-century United States and the British nations—later in this 6th chapter:
"And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them. Thus saith the Lord God, smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD, BY THE FAMINE, AND BY THE PESTILENCE ... thus will I accomplish my FURY upon them. Then shall ye know that I am the LORD! ..." (verses 10-13).
Again I repeat, "they shall know that I am the LORD" is a phrase Ezekiel uses continually to designate the Second Coming of Christ, when they will KNOW that He is LORD! Also this removes all doubt that this prophecy pertains to the Lost Ten Tribes of THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL who, today are the United States and British nations! (Armstrong HW. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - AMERICA THE CONDEMNED. Plain Truth, June-July 1980)
The Ezekiel warnings are now being at least partially fulfilled now by numerous warnings at COGwriter.com, CCOG websites, radio appearances, and Bible News Prophecy channel videos.
Notice that the Bible clearly teaches that Joseph's sons were to take on Jacob's name and that the time of Jacob's trouble is coming--a time that will thus affect the descendants of those sons:
Jacob said to Joseph:..."I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!... Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Genesis 48:3,11,16).
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
Those who have received the blessings given to the descendants of Joseph, should not be surprised if they will also be the recipient of biblical curses if they do not walk uprightly as a people. Those that are called Saxons (Isaac's sons) should not be surprised if biblical prophecies apply to them. The world will no longer be dominated by the Israelitish Anglo-nations, but by the Gentiles. It is a time of the Gentiles (Ezekiel 30:1-3; Jeremiah 10:25; Luke 21:23-24) (for more on the time of the Gentiles see The Times of the Gentiles).
Other than the cursings mentioned to fall upon those who received the promised blessings in Leviticus and Deuteronomy and the time of the Gentiles, why would Europe destroy the U.S.A. and its Anglo-allies?
Because it is the nominally Protestant U.S.A. (and essentially "officially" Protestant UK and its Anglo-allies) that most stands in the way of the goals of a future "Catholic"-influenced Europe to dominate the world; see also Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation and also Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy). (Perhaps I should add that certain Muslims consider that the U.S.A. is the "Great Satan" and that by eliminating it, they will be in a better position to try to force the world to become Muslim, and some of their prophecies look forward to).
Here some other passages from the Bible that may have a dual fulfillment for the Americans (including Canadians, as well as the other English peoples) who tend to not observe the law of God and whose sins are increasing, even though they have almost all heard parts of it, and that is why they will be afflicted:
11 But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 7:11-12).
10 To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord. I am weary of holding it in."I will pour it out on the children outside, And on the assembly of young men together; For even the husband shall be taken with the wife, The aged with him who is full of days. 12 And their houses shall be turned over to others, Fields and wives together; For I will stretch out My handAgainst the inhabitants of the land," says the Lord. 13 "Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,Everyone is given to covetousness;And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. 14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!'When there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the Lord.
16 Thus says the Lord:
"Stand in the ways and see,And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.' 18 Therefore hear, you nations,And know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth!Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts,Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it. 20 For what purpose to MeComes frankincense from Sheba, And sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me."
21 Therefore thus says the Lord:
"Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.The neighbor and his friend shall perish."
22 Thus says the Lord:
"Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth. 23 They will lay hold on bow and spear; They are cruel and have no mercy; Their voice roars like the sea; And they ride on horses, As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion."
24 We have heard the report of it; Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor. 25 Do not go out into the field, Nor walk by the way. Because of the sword of the enemy, Fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, Dress in sackcloth And roll about in ashes! Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.
27 "I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way. 28 They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, They are all corrupters; 29 The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; The smelter refines in vain, For the wicked are not drawn off. 30 People will call them rejected silver, Because the Lord has rejected them." (Jeremiah 6:10-30)
15 Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. (Jeremiah 30:15)
The word of God is becoming a reproach to the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies. Thus, great wrath for those that despise the law of God has happened in the past, and apparently will in the future. Notice also:
16 Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit...
17 My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations. (Hosea 9:16-17)
Not only does the Bible refer to the time of the great tribulation as the time of Jacob's trouble, it is clear that it is a time when the world will be dominated by Gentile powers (Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2). For additional information, please check out the article on the Great Tribulation.
Are there Roman Catholic prophecies about the USA and its Anglo-allies being destroyed?
Notice what one Roman Catholic has written about the punishment for America and Britain:
Priest G. Rossi (19th century): But boastful pride and presumption always go before a fall. With her large share of guilt, America cannot avoid her due share of punishment...If the world is not yet entirely converted to Christianity, the blame is not on the head nor in the conscience of the Catholic Church… Ah ! wretched Protestantism shall have to answer for the loss of faith … English schism and heresy have squandered their treasures and abused their great temporal power, not only in persecuting-the faith in Great Britain and Ireland, but also in banishing the true religion of Jesus Christ from their vast American possessions…Their long-deserved punishment, however, is approaching from the North! (Rossi, Gaudentius. The Christian Trumpet: Or, Previsions and Predictions about Impending General Calamities, the Universal Triumph of the Church, the Coming of the Anti-Christ, the Last Judgment, and the End of the World; Divided Into Three Parts, 4th edition. Patrick Donahoe, 1875. Original from Oxford University. Digitized Sep 1, 2006, pp. 16, 255).
So, at least one respected Roman Catholic priest published that a northern power will punish Britain, and its descendants, including the U.S.A. and Canada, for their “pride” and Protestantism. Notice how "Protestantism" has been viewed:
Priest P. Kramer (21st century): Pope St. Pius V teaches in his Catechism, the Roman Catechism — also known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent — that all of the Protestant religions are false religions, they’re inspired by the devil; and therefore their fruits are evil…The Protestant religions, as such, are inspired by the devil, as Pope St. Pius V teaches in his catechism. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004. THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08 )
Frederick William Faber (died 1863): Protestantism {is} an anticipation of Antichrist… All its sects unite against the Church. (Connor, p. 88 )
Hence, it is logical that many within Roman Catholicism will see the elimination of bastions of "Protestantism" (or countries that seemed to heavily promote it for a while) as a good thing (Protestants, themselves, tend to have misunderstanding issues related to the USA in prophecy and more, and for some information, please also check out Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy).
It should be understood that there are many Greco-Roman Catholic private prophecies that show the destruction of the English (note: the nation was not known as "England" when some of the prophecies were originally claimed, hence the term "England" was probably a translation of a term referring to the Anglo peoples):
Saint Cataldus of Tarentino (c. 500): "The Great Monarch will be in war till he is forty years of age....he will assemble great armies and expel tyrants from his empire. He will conquer England {the Anglo-Saxons, possibly referring to the USA} and other island empires {possibly referring to the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand}" (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.30).
St. Senanus (d. 560): They (English) themselves will betray each other: in consequence their sovereignty will be broken...One monarch will rule in Ireland over the English (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 128).
Merlin (7th century): After destruction of England...shall come a dreadful man...he shall set England on the right way and put out all heresies (Culleton, p. 132).
St. Malachy (12th century): ... the English in turn must suffer severe chastisement. Ireland, however, will be instrumental in bringing back the English to the unity of Faith." (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.15)
It has been foretold in 597, by ST. Columbkille..."...English nobility shall sink into horrible life--wars shall be proclaimed against them, by means of which the franatically proud race shall be subdued, and will be harassed from every quarter. The English shall dwindle into disreputable people and shall forever be derived of power" (Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 118-119).
St. Columbine (d. 597): The enemies of the English shall be aroused in battle--they who reside in the eastern and western parts of the world...the English shall be defeated...After the English shall be defeated in this battle, they shall be harassed by every quarter; like a fawn surrounded by a pack of voracious hounds, shall be the position of the English amidst their enemies. The English afterwards shall dwindle down to a disreputable people (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 131,132).
Ancient Irish source: England will again injure the Irish...This will be a sign for the frightful punishment of England...England suffers the same degradation as she meted out to her neighbor, and for the same length of time. Not the smallest fraction of time in this long period shall be remitted...Never shall world power be hers again...France restores order in England (Culleton, pp. 234,235).
St. Francis of Paola (Born in Italy, 15th century). "By the grace of the Almighty, the Great Monarch will annihilate heretics and unbelievers. He will have a great army, and angels will fight at his side. He will be like the sun among the stars. His influence will spread over the whole earth. All in all, there will be on earth twelve Kings, one Emperor, one Pope and a few Princes. They will all lead holy lives." (Dupont, p.38)
Saint Edward (d. 1066) “The extreme corruption and wickedness of the English nation has provoked the just anger of God. When malice shall have reached the fullness of its measure, God will, in His wrath, send to the English people wicked spirits, who will punish and afflict them with great severity…” (Culleton, p. 137).
Mother Shipton (d. 1551) “The time will come when England shall tremble and quake…London shall be destroyed forever after . . . and then York shall be London and the Kingdom governed by three Lords appointed by a Royal Great monarch…who will set England right and drive out heresy (Culleton, p. 163).
Werdin d' Otrante (13th century): "The Great Monarch and the Great Pope will precede Antichrist...All the sects will vanish. The capital of the world will fall. The Pope will go over the sea carrying the sign of redemption on his forehead...The Great Monarch will come and restore peace and the Pope will share in the victory" (Connor, p. 33).
Father Laurence Ricci, S.J. (died 1775): ... a valiant duke will arise from the ancient German house which was humiliated by the French monarch. This great ruler will restore stolen Church property. Protestantism will cease... This duke will be the most powerful monarch on earth. At a gathering of men noted for piety and wisdom he will, with the aid of the Pope, introduce new rules, and ban the spirit of confusion. Everywhere there will be one fold and one shepherd." (Connor p.37)
The one they often refer to as the Great Monarch appears to be the same one that the Bible warns about as the final King of the North. Only by eliminating the vast bastions of Protestantism (which as various Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies show is a goal), such as the U.S.A. and its Anglo-allies, can this ecumenical Greco-Roman Catholic domination be attained. (It would appear that the eastern and western parts of the world are the future Arab-Muslim King of the South power and the future European King of the North power, this is also consistent with the confederation of peoples in Psalm 83. It would also be logical that the United States might be considered as "the capital of the world".
Also, perhaps I should also include a quote from a Greek Orthodox scholar:
Dr. H. Tzima Otto (20th century): ...the USA will not be spared the ravages of WWIII (H. Tzima Otto. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. The Verenika Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, p. 469).
Hence, from several differing perspectives it appears that massive problems are in store for the Anglo-American peoples.
The fact that Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics believe that the Anglo-nations will be destroyed strongly suggests that certain "Catholic" leaders will be willing to help accomplish this.
God seems to give a reason why those who now inhabit the land of Israel, and are known as Jews, will be punished:
4 Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the Lord, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed. 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."(Amos 2:4-5)
God seems to give a few reasons why those who are now the descendants (the Anglo-Saxons) of Israel will be punished:
6 Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals. 7 They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name. 8 They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. (Amos 2:6-8)
27 As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. 28 They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend. 29 Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' (Jeremiah 5:27-29)
The Anglo-Saxons sin, are wealthy, have wicked deeds, and sell out morality for money. Also notice that they are wearing clothes taken in pledge. This would seem to mean that they have imported most of their clothes with pledges--debt that they will not pay back.
Notice also:
3 O My mountain in the field,
I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures,
And your high places of sin within all your borders.
4 And you, even yourself,
Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you;
And I will cause you to serve your enemies
In the land which you do not know;
For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever. (Jeremiah 17:3-4)
What heritage have the Anglo-nations let go of? Well, basing their laws on the Bible and forgetting that they are descended from Israel!
Notice also the following:
16 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. (Hosea 13:16, KJV)
How do we know that the Anglo-nations in general, and the USA in particular, and not just the land of Judea are the target of some of the punishments? Well, other than the reference to Samaria above (which was not part of Judea), another reason is found in Daniel 11:39:
39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)
The "he" is the final King of the North, the Beast of Revelation 13. The "strongest fortresses" in the world belong to the USA, and to a lessor degree, its Anglo-allies. The current nation of Israel does not have the strongest fortresses. And dividing the Anglo-lands would bring much more gain, than the land of Judea (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?). As many Bible commentators realize, at the time of the end there is no power that resembles the USA.
Isaiah warns that "The fortress also will cease from Ephraim" (Isaiah 17:3)--but unlike Manasseh (USA), Ephraim (UK, etc.) simply does not have the strongest fortresses in the 21st century. Yet, when you combine Isaiah 17:3 with Daniel 11:39 you see that the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies will lose their military might. The coming defeat of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies could be called World War III (WWIII; see also World War III: Steps in Progress).
How will the Europeans be able to do this?
For years, I have believed it would be because of technological advances as well as the USA trusting Europe too much. And Europe has made great strides in areas of military technology that relatively few seem to realize. For details, see European Technology and the Beast of Revelation as well as a related YouTube video titled Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Notice also some passages that Hosea and Amos were inspired to write:
9 O Israel, you have sinned..13 You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men. 14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people, And all your fortresses shall be plundered. (Hosea 10:9,13-14)
6 Seek the Lord and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it...The Lord is His name. 9 He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress. (Amos 5:6,8-9)
10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (Amos 9:10)
People who have faith that the USA will continue and get through all of this should ask themselves, “Why?” They also may wish to ask themselves since the Bible talks about end time kings of the north (Daniel 11:40), south (Daniel 11:40), and east (Revelation 16:12), why does it not mention an end time "king of the west"--the USA is west of Jerusalem (see also Who is the King of the West?)? The fact that the King of the North eliminates those with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39) should be a clue.
Disaster is coming:
2 "And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel:
'An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. 3 Now the end has come upon you, And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations. 4 My eye will not spare you, Nor will I have pity; But I will repay your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst; Then you shall know that I am the Lord!'
5 "Thus says the Lord God:
'A disaster, a singular disaster; Behold, it has come! 6 An end has come, The end has come; It has dawned for you; Behold, it has come! 7 Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land; The time has come, A day of trouble is near, And not of rejoicing in the mountains. 8 Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, And spend My anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations.
9 'My eye will not spare, Nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes. (Ezekiel 7:2-9)
Notice also what God inspired Jeremiah to record about those who thought they had prophetic understanding and did not believe that disaster would come:
12 They have lied about the Lord, And said, "It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine. 13 And the prophets become wind, For the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them."
14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts:
"Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them. 15 Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel," says the Lord."It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say...
30 "An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:12-15, 30-31)
14 Your prophets have seen for you
False and deceptive visions;
They have not uncovered your iniquity,
To bring back your captives,
But have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions. (Lamentations 2:14)
Here is another segment of scripture that show that this same, King of the North, leader seems to be affecting the USA and its Anglo-descended allies:
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.25 "Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:24-25a)
Nations such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK, and USA will be destroyed "in their prosperity." This is not talking about an invasion of Africa or South America (though the King of the North will also take over the Middle East per Daniel 11:40-43 and also prosper from that). This is referring to a group like the Anglo-descended nations.
And although the Anglo-descended nations have not completely done away with free speech yet, they ultimately will apparently be among those who, "commanded the prophets saying, 'Do not prophesy!' " (Amos 2:12). As time goes on, freedom of religious speech in these nations will be more and more curtailed.
But specifically why else will the Anglo-nations be destroyed?
Why would God allow some of the greatest nations of all time to be destroyed as the Anglo-Americans have been in the forefront of distributing Bibles, helping in humanitarian matters, assisting with international disasters, etc.?
Because of their rebellion against Him (Hosea 13:16) and their deep corruption (Hosea 9:9).
Notice a reason that God gives:
7 Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, ...14 All your lovers have forgotten you;
They do not seek you;
For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
With the chastisement of a cruel one,
For the multitude of your iniquities,
Because your sins have increased.
15 Why do you cry about your affliction?
Your sorrow is incurable.
Because of the multitude of your iniquities,
Because your sins have increased,
I have done these things to you. (Jeremiah 30:7,14-15)
As far as being apparently the first to be hit with the great tribulation, note that the New Testament clearly teaches:
48 For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required (Luke 12:48).
The U.S.A. and its Anglo-allies have been given much. Yet, the three “most sinful nations” according to a 2010 BBC report based on the classic ‘seven deadly sins’—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride’— were Australia, the United States, and Canada (‘The Most Sinful Nation on Earth,’ February 2010, p. 30). The United Kingdom was 6th on that list. And while one can argue if other nations should be ahead of them on a sin-list, the reality is that the Anglo-nations promote a lot of sin. And they accept more and more sin.
They also promote sin.
One of the first actions US President Barack Obama did when he took office was to add funding to promote abortions around the world (see Obama’s Abortion Changes). Both he and Hillary Clinton have also promoted federal funding for the abortion group Planned Parenthood. Hillary Clinton wrote that pushing the LGBT agenda was one of her top priorities when she was the US Secretary of State for the Barack Obama Administration (Clinton HR. Hard Choices. Simon & Schuster, 2014, p. 27). The USA is a major producer of 'entertainment' around the world--and in addition to 'hard core pornography' it puts forth much 'soft-porn' around the world (see Pornography: A scourge on society)--and even its President has praised a 'soft-porn' performer (Beyonce) as perfect role model for his daughters:
"Beyonce could not be a better role model for my girls." http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/president-barack-obama-beyonce-could-not-be-a-better-role-model-for-my-girls-2012189#ixzz3ph3wtK7k
If you go to that link, you will see how Beyonce was even promoting soft-pornography even there. Women who do this are NOT proper role models for Christian daughters (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9; see also Pornography: A scourge on society). Donald Trump's promotion of pornography has also been disturbing.
Notice that God brought Judah low because of the sins of its leader:
19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord. (2 Chronicles 28:19)
Is not the advocacy of abortion, homosexual marriage, etc. being done by many of the leaders of the Anglo-nations now? That is something that Barack Obama, for one example, has done (watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse); and Joe Biden has done so as well. The USA has also proposed stifling economic controls that are consistent with those that the Beast of Revelation will do, as well as related espionage on all that it can. It also is violent and promotes violent sports.
You should ask yourself, Is the USA now an Evil Empire? (a related video is available: Is the USA an Evil Empire?).
Notice the following:
God is not pleased with the moral degradation of the U.S. and other nations that profess to be "Christian" while leading the world in behavior He says He "hates" (Malachi 2:16)! The Western nations kill unborn babies and call it "family planning" and a matter of "choice." A majority of Americans now say they support same-sex "marriage" ("Connubial bliss in America," Economist, July 30, 2011, p. 30) though the Bible—both Old Testament and New Testament—condemn homosexuality as an unnatural sin and abomination (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:27)! Meanwhile, youths riot out of control in London streets, and "flash mobs" across the U.S. prey on retail stores in a disturbing new crime trend. Some 40 million Americans are regularly involved in pornography on-line, destroying their own character and ripping apart the fabric of their marriages and families. As the American Psychological Society reported, "Finding pornography on the Internet is as easy as Googling the word 'sex,' as the 40 million Americans who visit porn Web sites each year can attest" (APA Monitor, November 2007, p. 50). Americans are no more disciplined financially, as their nation staggers under skyrocketing debt while its economy stagnates. Many are sensing that something has gone terribly wrong! (McNair R. On Shaky Ground. Tomorrow's World, Nov-Dec 2011, p. 24)
The Old Testament teaches:
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.7 “The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And reward them for their deeds (Hosea 4:6-9).
Notice that God promises to turn the glory of a people (like the Anglo-American powers) into shame because they have REJECTED knowledge and the law of God.
The religious leaders in these nations have by and large failed to warn their followers that they need to keep the law of God. This is knowledge that the people and the leaders should have as the Anglo-American powers have likely printed up more Bibles than the rest of the world combined.
The Bible warns that those that are obese and eat too much will suffer (for details see Obesity and Prophecy)--and the Anglo-Saxon peoples have major problems with obesity (see Obesity Continues to Increase in UK and USA). The Bible also seems to warn that polluters will be punished (cf. Revelation 11:18).
Many may say, yes, but there are worse nations so surely God would not destroy the USA and its Anglo-allies before them. yet, this too was foretold by the Prophet Habakkuk:
12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:12-13)
So, the idea that God could use a possibly less unrighteous power to punish groups like the Anglo-nations is certainly consistent with Bible prophecy.
Also notice what the Prophets Ezekiel and Amos were inspired to record:
23 The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them. (Ezekiel 39:23-24)
8 "Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," Says the Lord. 9 "For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground. 10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (Amos 9:8-10)
Thus, unfaithfulness, uncleanness, transgressions/sins, and not truly believing prophecy are major reasons that the descendants of Jacob will be specifically punished at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
It may be helpful to notice what happened between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day:
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains…”(John 9:41).
We in the Anglo-American nations do not have the excuse that we did not have the word of God freely available and discussed for generations.
We need national repentance. Otherwise, we have no excuse. Notice that lack of repentance is listed as a reason that the King of Assyria (the final King of the North) will become Ephraim's king:
3 I taught Ephraim to walk...5...But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. (Hosea 11:3a, 5b-7)
The prophesied shame is starting to come upon the Anglo-American powers. Without repentance, increased pride is occurring, and this will be followed by the prophesied destruction of the Anglo-nations. And yes, other nations have their sins, but they will be punished later.
People individually and the nations collectively need to repent, because truly the end is near. Those who think that they will be able to wait until the last moment (which will probably be sometime in the next decade) are deceiving themselves as a strong delusion will come upon the world then.
The New Testament further teaches:
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:16-17).
Anglo-American religious leaders should all know that they need to denounce sin, but most have compromised on several points. Pride (Amos 6:8) and arrogance will be factors. In addition to sinning, the US government announced in December 2011 that it may withhold foreign aid to nations that do not support parts of the homosexual agenda. It has continued to push that agenda since. This seems to be upsetting many of the Muslims in the Middle East (Egypt and USA’s Homosexual Agenda) and may be a factor leading to the fulfillment of Psalm 83.
The U.S.A. and its Anglo-allies are also likely to experience at least parts of what Jesus called "the beginning of sorrows":
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8).
The Bible also teaches something that will happen at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (which begins in Matthew 24:21):
5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation (Isaiah 10:5-6, KJV).
The Hebrew word translated as "hypocritical" above also conveys the idea of being "soiled" by sin. It is important to note that on many matters, including its espionage, the USA is considered to be a hypocritical nation by the many, including many of the Europeans (see, for example, Germany most upset by USA espionage; there is also a related video Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?) and others. Throughout the gospels, Jesus repeatedly condemned hypocrites (Matthew 6:2,5,16; 15:7; 16:3; 23:13-29; Mark 7:6; Luke 11:44; 12:1, 56). Hypocrisy was also condemned by various apostles (Romans 12:9; Galatians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 2:1).
Destruction will come to the hypocritical (Isaiah 10:6, KJV).
Notice also:
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14)
Christians all need to realize that when Jesus came, He clearly condemned the hypocritical religious leaders of His day (e.g. Luke 11:44), more directly than the more obvious sinners (Matthew 9:10-13).
Even the biblically-oriented evangelicals have problems with the type of hypocrisy various ones who profess Jesus have:
Studies by evangelical George Barna reveal that born-again Christians divorce more frequently than atheists and agnostics. Evangelical adolescents who claim to believe in abstaining from pre-marital sex are more likely to be sexually active than their peers in other religions. According to Barna, “Every day, the church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to change.” One religious writer observed, “The hypocrisy between Christian beliefs and actions is driving Americans away from the institutional church in record numbers” (Charlotte Observer, August 11, 2010). Jesus warned about the hypocrisy of professing believers, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Mark 7:6-7), and He pronounced a curse on those who cause others to stumble (Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42-43). (World Ahead Weekly Update, August 12, 2010)
So, there is hypocrisy among the religious in the Anglo-descended nations.
This is not to say that non-Anglo peoples do not have sin or that they will not be punished (for the European Assyrians will clearly also be punished, per Isaiah 10:12), but that the punishment will begin first on those that should have known better—those who claimed to live by the Bible but have repeatedly failed to do so. The Bible shows that the descendants of Jacob will be enslaved by foreigners (Jeremiah 30:8) until the start of Christ's reign.
And while the gospel warning message will be made quite clear to the English-speaking peoples prior to Daniel 11:38 and the Great Tribulation, because the Anglo-American nations are not likely to heed that warning, they will have to answer for their lack of response (cf. Ezekiel 33:7-9).
Let’s briefly look at another warning in Isaiah 30:12-13:
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:
“Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
Of course, more and more, the Anglo-American nations are trusting in policies that encourage perversity. Prostitution is legal in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the USA. New Zealand, interestingly, has the highest promiscuity rate for women in the entire world according to one study (New Zealand women most promiscuous Sydney Morning Herald AAP - Oct 13, 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/13/1191696214489.html). The Anglo-nations have seen rises in homosexuality and are often changing laws to accommodate this biblically prohibited practice (Australia has some of the biggest "gay pride" parades in the world and the USA is increasingly pushing LGBT issues around the world). The vast majority of Canadians seems to condone abortion (for details see, Canadians on Abortion).
While there is oppression in these nations (especially racial), the Hebrew word for it can also be translated “unjust gain.” This can include not just the historical exploitation of of various peoples, but can probably also include the fact that the economies of the Anglo-American nations for the past few decades has been benefiting from the gains of foreigners loaning money to it.
Notice the following prophecies related to debt:
5 ... if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. (Deuteronomy 15:5-6)
15 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
16 "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. ....
43 "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. (Deuteronomy 28:15-16, 43-44)
Consider that since the Roe vs. Wade pro-abortion decision, the USA went from being the world's largest creditor nation to become the greatest debtor nation in the history of humankind. Since the USA owes alien nations trillions of dollars, can you see that the curse in Deuteronomy 28:44 of having to borrow from aliens is happening to it now?
Notice also the following about the USA:
In real terms, as mentioned above, US growth in the 21st century seems to have fallen back to medieval levels. Why?...Because the economy failed to produce real growth. After 1973, wages, for example, adjusted for inflation, went nowhere. (Bonner B. Economic Growth in the Internet Age. Daily Reckoning, June 23, 2011)
Coincidence or curse?
As far as inflation goes, consider the following items, written many decades ago:
IF the dollar is devalued, INFLATION will almost surely result — and eventual economic COLLAPSE for the United States.
Those of you who truly BELIEVE the prophecies of your Bible KNOW such economic collapse is prophesied to happen! (Armstrong HW. Co-worker Letter, March 26, 1968)
Rome collapsed under the crushing twin burdens of confiscatory taxation and creeping inflation. The steady deterioration of Rome's currency was symptomatic of the increasingly serious financial situation of the empire.
But note this: What "average" pleasure-oriented Roman, living for the day, ever dreamed his proud nation would someday collapse into ignominy and be remembered only in the past tense in the pages of history?
There were those who warned the Romans of the inevitable end of their ways. Rome had its prophets, its seers, its political satirists. But their combined "jeremiad" fell on deaf ears. Romans, as a whole, would not listen.
And Rome fell.
Americans, Britons, Canadians, Australians, South Africans — as a whole — are not listening to the veritable torrent of shouts and warnings trumpeted by leaders in all aspects of national life.
Will our nations also fall?
The Five Major Causes
The five major causes for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire deduced from the writings of Edward Gibbon and noted historians of the Roman world are these: (1) The BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY and the rapid increase of DIVORCE. (2) The spiraling rise of TAXES and EXTRAVAGANT SPENDING. (3) The MOUNTING CRAZE FOR PLEASURE and the brutalization of sports. (4) The mounting production of ARMAMENTS to fight ever-increasing threats of enemy attacks. (5) The DECAY OF RELIGION into myriad and confusing forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide. ...
They are all part of our world — our society.
They were a part of Rome's, too. (Armstrong GT, Hogeberg G. The MODERN ROMANS - PART I. August 1969)
For many reasons including deficit spending, inflation will come.
Barack Obama put forth economic policies that increased the debt of the USA--it nearly doubled under his administration. This debt will increase even more once interest rates dramatically rise. Donald Trump also has put forth economic policies that also increased the debt of the USA. President Joe Biden has put forth economic policies that have increased the debt.
Hosea prophesied that because the Israelites’ rejected God’s instruction, "the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent" (Hosea 11:1–5). Let's look at a few more verses in Hosea:
5... the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. (Hosea 11:5-7)
Though the Anglo-descended peoples often call to God, they have backsliden and will not repent. So, the Assyrian will be their king and devour their lands. While they will have troubles (Mark 13:8) prior to the Great Tribulation, when the time for destruction comes, it will be sudden (cf. Jeremiah 15:8).
But how can this happen to the USA and its Anglo allies? It will likely happen with a combination of events. Notice the following:
5 "Moreover the multitude of your foes Shall be like fine dust, And the multitude of the terrible ones Like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly. 6 You will be punished by the Lord of hosts With thunder and earthquake and great noise, With storm and tempest And the flame of devouring fire. (Isaiah 29:5-6)
If the USA has big earthquakes and storms, especially if there is an emp attack on one or more of the Anglo-descended nations or a severe solar flare storm, it could be part of a so-called “perfect storm” of events that could set the USA and UK up for utter destruction. The “storm” that will be coming will be apparently the result of a combination of weather problems, pestilences, crop failures (probably at least partially related to the high dependance that most of the Anglo-nations have on genetically-modified “foods”), debt, military weakness, deception, etc. that is being brought on by the sins of the Anglo-Saxon peoples and the lack of national repentance. (Tornadoes, frequently called whirlwinds in the Bible, are suggested to be a factor in the destruction of the Anglo-nations, for more details, check out the article Weather Blessings and Sorrows).
I believe that the debt situation of the USA and UK are putting them at risk of being unable to recover should one or both countries be hit by weather problems, solar flares, severe earthquakes, civil unrest, devastation of their genetically-modified food supplies, food shortages, and/or various pestilences–an intensity of “sorrows” such as Jesus discussed in Matthew 24:4-8 leading up to the time of the Great Tribulation (see also the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine).
Habakkuk 2:3,6,7, which is consistent with Isaiah 29:5-6, 30:12-13 and Jeremiah 15:8, also teaches that the destruction will be sudden. And it mentions that this destruction will happen to those that increased their debt at the end times:
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry...5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man ... 6 "Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases What is not his--how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges'? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you. Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8).
9 "Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of disaster! 10 You give shameful counsel to your house, Cutting off many peoples, And sin against your soul. 11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, And the beam from the timbers will answer it. (Habakkuk 2:9-11)
The above prophecy will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. "The message was true, but the appointed time was long...in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come," Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use the same Hebrew term for "appointed time" as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently.
On September 19, 2019, I ran across the following which showed that the old WCG realized that this was a prophecy for our time:
THE PROPHET HABAKKUK
Habakkuk wrote his prophecy around 600 B.C. ...(Habakkuk 2:2). God also said that this vision was to be written for our benefit today. ... (Habakkuk 2:3). God showed Habakkuk that He will punish ... at the end-time. (The Minor Prophets Speak to Us! Youth Bible Lessons. Level 7, Lesson 9. Worldwide Church of God, 1985, p. 8)
Notice also the following from the Commentary on Habakkuk from the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls (roughly 2000 years old; translated in the 1950s by F.F. Bruce):
God commanded Habakkuk to write the things that were coming upon the last generation, but the fulfilment of the epoch he did not make known to him. (1Q p Hab. vii 1-5)
While ancient commentaries like this are NOT scripture, this particular one shows that those who understood the Hebrew language around 2000 years ago believed that Habakkuk's words had NOT then been fulfilled and were for the time of the end.
As far as to who these passages in Habakkuk are directed to in the end, it makes little sense that these verses in Habakkuk 2 would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end. As far as "violence of the land" as a contributing factor, this would seem to include crime, military missions, and perhaps riots/civil unrest, but might it also include promotion of violent sports? Is the USA government not giving shameful counsel regarding matters such as homosexuality and abortion?
The USA has a lot of debt:
The U.S. economy is the most highly indebted in the history of the world as a percentage of the global economy. The debt has piled up precariously on an eroding foundation of collateral. Think of trying to build a skyscraper out of pick-up sticks. The higher it gets, the more certain it is to collapse. (Davidson JD. The Economic Mess Trump Inherited. Strategic Investment/Sovereign Investor. January 26, 2017)
Who currently holds the most US debt?
Well Europe, followed by Japan, and then China:
US-based media have been reporting that Japan has become the biggest holder of the US treasuries, surpassing China last month. However, this is true only in regard to single countries. If we consider the European Union member states collectively, then they appear to be the biggest holder of the US treasuries. It has been so almost one year long. ...
According to the latest data from TIC (Treasury International Capital System), the EU was in possession of $1242 billion of US Treasuries in November 2016, $9 billion more than one month earlier. The EU was the only one from three biggest holders that increased its amount of US treasuries in November, while China and Japan continued to lower their holdings. (EU, not China or Japan, is the biggest US Treasury holder. And this is not a good sign. GEFIRA [Global Analysis from the European Perspective], January 24, 2017 https://gefira.org/en/2017/01/24/eu-not-china-or-japan-is-the-biggest-us-treasury-holder-and-this-is-not-a-good-sign/)
Sudden destruction will occur among those who are spiritually drunk:
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-7)
8... A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly...
13 Your wealth and your treasures
I will give as plunder without price,
Because of all your sins,
Throughout your territories.
14 And I will make you cross over with your enemies
Into a land which you do not know;
For a fire is kindled in My anger,
Which shall burn upon you." (Jeremiah 15:8;13-14)
Notice that both Paul and Habakkuk seem to have tied drunkenness in with this sudden calamity (so did Jesus in Luke 21:34-35). Truly the Anglo-nations are not spiritually sober.
Notice how Ezekiel's writings confirm that those who made profits improper will be punished:
13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. (Ezekiel 22:13-15)
Borrowing money that will not be paid back is a "dishonest profit" which the American and British peoples have been living on for the past several years (as is the "quantitative easing" programs for the US Federal Reserve; see also Doubling QE3 is not good and the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine). The Anglo-Saxon power will be scattered for this and their filthiness (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?). Sexual immorality and abortion are simply some outward signs of this filthiness.
It is the United States and its Anglo-allies that have loaded pledges of debt in these end times that they really do not expect to pay back. In that respect they have recently plundered many nations. And while much is owed to nations such as China, Japan, and the Arab World, the Europeans have trillions of dollars invested in the USA--money they may be disappointed to have devalued. Enough so that they may divide the land among themselves and other creditors (China is upset now with Australia, and for years I have suspected it may end up with at least part of it--for some details, see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).
The UK, Canada, Australia (see Australia accepts US troops, China not pleased and Increasing US Naval Presence in Australia), and New Zealand (see New Zealand Expands Defense Ties with USA) are all highly dependent upon the USA military and are strong USA military allies. The Europeans and others also know this and are prophesied to make the descendents of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh, the Anglo-American nations) scatter (Zechariah 10:6-11) and to cut them off from being nations (cf. Isaiah 10:5-7).
Furthermore, notice the following from COG ministers:
NOW, has come the shocking United States GOLD CRISIS. ... You have seen that the U.S. Dollar — long thought of as the stablest currency in the world — is in immediate jeopardy of being DEVALUED! That means that it will take you MORE DOLLARS to buy the SAME amount of imported goods. IF the dollar is devalued, INFLATION will almost surely result — and eventual economic COLLAPSE for the United States. Those of you who truly BELIEVE the prophecies of your Bible KNOW such economic collapse is prophesied to happen! (Armstrong HW. Co-worker Letter, March 26, 1968)
Regardless what many pundits say, the U.S.A. is dangerously at risk of staggering from a recession to a complete economic collapse in the coming years. Scripture warns that America and the British-descended nations (modern Jacob) will be consumed by our creditors, that this will lead to economic and literal slavery, and that this tragic collapse will happen suddenly and when many do not expect it (Isaiah 1:7, Habakkuk 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Stock markets may temporarily recover, but “modern Jacob’s” future is written in scripture. Fundamentally, our economies are broken. But much more condemning is that our nations continue to reject God and His laws regarding marriage, Sabbath observance, sexual immorality, pagan holidays, murder, theft, lying, violence, and more. (Ciesielka W. From recession, to depression, to slavery. http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/commentary/tw-comm.cgi?category=Commentary1&item=1246907185)
The days are coming when, “Suddenly, your debtors will rise up in anger. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless” (Habakkuk 2:7, NLT).(Ciesielka W. A New World Order is Coming. Tomorrow's World, Volume 11, Issue 1. January-February 2009).
Jeremiah 17:1-4 explains that national punishment is the eventual result of national sins and false religion. Ultimately, this punishment will lead to our wealth, and even our people being given “as plunder” to foreign nations (vv. 3-4). Furthermore, this tragic collapse will happen suddenly and when many do not expect it (Isaiah 1:7, Habakkuk 2:7, I Thessalonians 5:3)...Millennia ago, God warned of the consequences of debt and greed: “Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you…” (Habakkuk 2:6-8). (Ciesielka W. Economic Collapse! America's debt crisis. Commentary. http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/commentary/tw-comm.cgi?category=Commentary1&item=1272484006)
God tells us that, unless we repent, our wealth will be taken away from us as plunder by our enemies. "Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder without price, because of all your sins, throughout your territories. And I will make you cross over with your enemies into a land which you do not know; for a fire is kindled in My anger, which shall burn upon you" (Jeremiah 15:13–14). And: "I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, and your high places of sin within all your borders. And you, even yourself, shall let go of your heritage which I gave you; and I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you do not know; for you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever" (Jeremiah 17:3–4). Though these words were written specifically to ancient Judah, they also apply to the modern-day descendants of Judah and the House of Israel (Jeremiah 2:14–15)—including the American and British-descended nations (Reynolds R. Heading for Economic Catastrophe? Tomorrows' World, Volume 12, Issue 2. March-April 2010, p. 25).
Even secular sources are starting to recognize magnitude of the debt problem that the USA and UK are facing:
US and UK on brink of debt disaster
Economic Times - Jan 20, 2009
LONDON: The United States and the United Kingdom stand on the brink of the largest debt crisis in history.
How Safe Is Britain’s Proud Pound?
Spiegel - March 3, 2010...
Mass consumer debt in Britain is whitewashed in a similar manner. With an average personal debt of 170 percent of annual income, British households are even further indebted than the Americans. And interest rates kept artificially low by the Bank of England are still feeding this bubble. Sooner or later, a rise in interest rates is inevitable — at which point domestic demand could take a nose dive…
Turn off your iPad, David Cameron, and start dealing with Britain's debt
The Prime Minister David Cameron talks about fiscal sanity but is borrowing like a drunken Keynesian...
Telegraph - May 17, 2012...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9272356/Turn-off-your-iPad-David-Cameron-and-start-dealing-with-Britains-debt.html
But what secular sources fail to realize is that the ultimate disaster is MUCH WORSE than they have imagined per Habakkuk 2:3-8 (see also the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine).
Notice that Ephraim was warned that it would mix with many and that aliens would tend to take over:
8 Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples;
Ephraim is a cake unturned.
9 Aliens have devoured his strength,
But he does not know it;
Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him,
Yet he does not know it.
10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face,
But they do not return to the Lord their God,
Nor seek Him for all this. (Hosea 7:8-10)
One of the many cursings that were prophesied in the Bible was that of accumulation of debt:
43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you (Deuteronomy 28:42-45).
As the Anglo-American nations have not kept God's commandments, they have become the greatest debtor nations of all time!
Australia and New Zealand seem to have a fair amount of debt themselves:
CANBERRA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Australia's government on Tuesday rejected election-year charges by the opposition that the country was close to default on national debt, charging its controversial finance spokesman with threatening its sovereign rating. "Investors around the world don't find these remarks amusing. They take them seriously," a furious Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told parliament. "It is the height of risk to Australia's global economic reputation." Rudd's comments came after conservative opposition finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce told Australian radio "we're going into hock to our eyeballs to people overseas", referring to government debt raised last year to fund stimulus and dodge recession. (PM Rudd defends Australia from debt default barb Tue Feb 9, 2010 2:14am EST By Rob Taylor Bonds. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE61805120100209 viewed 02/09/10).
WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--The New Zealand dollar was trading slightly lower late Tuesday as concerns over sovereign debt continued to dominate the market... While the market had expected New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's opening speech in Parliament covering the government's plans for 2010 to weigh on the Kiwi it didn't eventuate. "It was short on specifics and a lot of it seemed to be out in the public domain such as that the GST (goods and services tax) might go up 15% and that the land tax is off the agenda. There was nothing really in the speech to get the markets going," Hindley said. (FEBRUARY 8, 2010, 11:41 P.M. ET NZ Dollar Down Late On Risk Aversion Due To Sovereign Debt Concerns. Wall Street Journal, online. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100208-717937.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia viewed 02/09/10)
And while Australia and New Zealand did not default in 2010, their debt problems will likely be grouped in with that of the USA and UK in the not to distant future.
The time for repentance of the Anglo-American nations is now as the proverbial handwriting is now on the wall (Daniel 5:26).
But what if the nations (like Hosea 11:5 indicates) will not repent?
Does this mean that you are doomed?
No. God does not require "group salvation". The Apostle Paul wrote:
...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling... (Philippians 2:12)
Thus, your personal relationship with God is not determined by what your fellow countrymen do.
Can, will, God help you during the coming tribulation?
Notice the prophecy for this latter time tribulation in the Hebrew scriptures:
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 31 (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31)
Thus, help from God during these hard times will be available to the truly sincere who really strive for it.
The Bible shows that there were prophecies given in the Book of Genesis and elsewhere related to all the tribes of Israel. These prophecies were NOT fulfilled prior to Jesus' first coming, thus since "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35), they must have had a fulfillment in the last days or in days soon to come.
Those who teach otherwise are clearly ignoring the Bible and the reality of recorded history.
Understanding the identity of these peoples helps people to better understand the Bible as well as other prophecies still to be fulfilled.
The Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, and New Zealanders were recipients of many blessings. And unless they quickly turn back to God, they will reap what they have sown and thus also receive the many cursings (including utter destruction) that God warned His people they would receive if they turned from Him (see also the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine).
That time of destructive punishment will most likely begin in the decade ending in 2020. And most simply are unaware that many "Catholic" prophecies show that this is a goal (although no Catholic that I have spoken to personally in the USA supports this--but that does not mean that this will not come to pass). Even many secular sources around the world realize that the USA and the UK are in major decline.
However, just because the whole world will be temporarily deceived by the rising European Beast power, you do not have to be. Hopefully this article has given you some reasons to look at the world and your life differently to motivate you to come to God now on His terms.
May God call you today and grant you the understanding so that you will "pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
To learn more about what happened to Christianity, a good place to start may be The History of Early Christianity page. To learn about the church with ties from the time of the apostles to present, you can go to the website of the Continuing Church of God. Information on the 'ten lost tribes' is also in the YouTube sermon titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter?
More biblical information about what is expected to happen to the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh is discussed in the articles Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? and Who is the King of the North? Information about what is expected to happen to the Europeans and the descendants of the ancient Assyrians can be found in the article Europa, the Beast, and Revelation. Information about when the Bible indicates the end may be can be found in the two articles When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? and Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?.
Information about how Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies seem to tie into this can be found in the article Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? An article related to Protestants and prophecy would be Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy, a related video would be Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?. Here is an article Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? and a video Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? related to sea gates.
Information on some of the other tribes can be found in the articles The 'Lost Tribe' of Reuben: France in Prophecy?, Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future, Location of Judah: This tribe is not ‘lost’, Ten clues tying Zebulun with the Dutch, and Ten clues tying Belgium and Luxembourg with the tribe of Asher. and Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Naphtali – Sweden.
Thiel B. Where Are the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel? www.cogwriter.com/britishisrael.htm (c) 2008/2009/2010/2011/2012/2013/201/2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020 /2021 /2022 0731
Note: There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy. And this often includes updates involving the Anglo-American nations at that page.
Appendix: Information on other peoples not discussed in this article can be found in the following articles:
Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the "Holy Roman Empire"? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany's Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Prophesied 'Islamic' Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a related YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Jordan in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible show will happen to the inhabitants of Jordan? Will they escape and then be punished? A related video is titled Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? A related video is also available: What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy.
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans? A related online sermon is also available: Africa: Its biblical past, present, and future. A video of possible interest is: Nairobi Conference: All About Love.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage. This article quotes the Bible and also discusses some of the witness to India throughout history and what is happening in the 21st century (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
India and the Beast of Revelation 13 Do biblical, Catholic, and even Hindu prophecies suggest that many in India will follow, for a while, the Beast and False Prophet/Antichrist? Here is link to a related YouTube video Will People in India Worship the Beast of Revelation 13?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? Japeth, Javan, Magog? Is there evidence that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel? What do Chinese writings and characters help show? What about the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Flood, and the Tower of Babel? Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia? A related sermon is also available: China’s biblical past and prophetic actions.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God's Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? What about the Apostle Thomas? Did Confucius say anything to get the Chinese to possibly consider Christianity? Is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath? What about the Ten Commandments? What type of Church of God witness has there been to China? What has been happening with China that ties it together with prophecies in Revelation? What about the 200 million man army and Armageddon? What about the Belt and Road Initiative and end time Babylon the Great? A related sermon is also available: China’s biblical past and prophetic actions. Watch also China’s Silk Road and Babylon the Great.
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the "Kings of the East"? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? Two YouTube video are Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? and China: A King of the East.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? What about the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?. Here is a link to a magazine with that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国：有任何证人吗？ A prophetic video is also available: Syria, North Korea, and Prophecy.
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy [Español: México, América central, Suramérica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profecía] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations/territories play? Two videos of related interest are available: Will Mexico Regain USA Territories? and Donald Trump and Mexico's future. A sermon of related interest is available: Latin America in Prophecy.
