Britain & USA: King of the South?

Two Jehovah’s Witnesses came to my door a couple of days ago and dropped off a book titled Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!

On page 56 of that book is an illustration of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image with various dates. It starts with Babylon as the head of gold, followed by Medo-Persia as the chest and arms of silver, followed by Greece as the belly and thighs of bronze, followed by Rome as the upper to middle leg. When I saw the JW illustration, I immediately noticed some problems with the early dates the JWs used (even the same JW booklet on pages 31-33 has a much earlier start date for Nebuchanezzer’s rulership than its illustration–though it tries to explain it), but more importantly, I was surprised that the JWs show Britain and the USA as part of the image discussed in Daniel 2. They showed what they call “Anglo-American World Power” as the lower legs, but not the feet.

Apparently the JWs believe that after Britain made a deal with France in 1763, that it became part of the image succeeding Rome. On page 140 of the same book they specifically teach that Britain was the “little horn” of Daniel 8:7 and on page 141 they teach that the USA grew out of it.

In the time of the end, the JWs seem to teach that the bottom portion of the image is either unknown or related to the United Nations. FWIW, the JWs specifically teach that “the digusting thing that is causing desolation…(Daniel 11:31b)” was “the League of Nations” (Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! pp. 267,269).

This differs from positions of groups like the Living Church of God (LCG) which teach that the feet/toes of the final portion of the image will be a revival of the Roman Empire–something we believe is beginning to form currently in Europe. LCG also teaches that the “abomination that makes desolation” has to do with false Christianity stopping Jewish sacrifices (which must start before they are stopped) and more firmly establishing itself in Jerusalem at the time of the end.

In Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! the JWs correctly teach,

The designations “the king of the north and “the king of the south” refer to kings north and south of Daniel’s people, who were freed from Babylonian captivity and restored to the land of Judah (p. 218).

However, the JWs also teach that because Britain controlled Egypt for a while in the early 20th century, that Britain then became the “king of the south”!

Notice what else the JWs teach in Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!:

When World War I broke out in 1914, Egypt belonged to Turkey…

Britain…declared Turkey a British protectorate. Gradually forming close ties, Britain and the United States of America became the Anglo-American World Power. Together, they came into position of the king of the south (p.247).

This causes the JWs several problems as they indicate with the image of Daniel 2 that the Anglo-American World Power formed over 100 years prior to WWI, plus the fact that since Britain and the USA no longer control Egypt, that they are not south of Judah (actually, all of Britain and the USA, with the exception of the Falkland Islands and some minor territories, are north of Judah).

A chart that the book Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! has on page 284 shows that the JWs believe that “Anglo-American World Power” became the “king of the south” around WWI, were also the king of the south in WWII, were also the king of the south during the time of the “cold war”, and will be at the final end.

In addition, unlike the COGs, the JWs teach:

Similarly, the king of the south is not destroyed by the king of the north (p. 285).

Sadly, the misunderstanding of prophecy that many groups (like the JWs and even many who are affiliated with some of the COGs) will deceive them about end-time events.

Three articles of related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
The Bible and the Arab World In 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?
Modern Nations and God’s Ancient Plan Many peoples are mentioned in the Bible. And other than the fact that the nation of Israel represents the ancient kingdom of Judah, do you know who any of these people are now?