Ephraim and Manasseh

Dear Brethren,

Have you wondered how it was that England and the United States became the super powers of the world?  Not so long ago it was said that, "England ruled the waves," and, "the sun never set on the British Empire."  And at the conclusion of World War II, America possessed the richest gold reserves, and became the most powerful nation the world has ever seen.  With its nuclear arsenal, the USA could have easily ruled the world as Germany and Japan would have done – but the Americans were not that kind of people – were they?

God promised great blessings of population and wealth to the patriarch, Abraham, and his descendents.  God reiterated those promises to Isaac and Jacob, whose name He changed to Israel.  Were those birthright promises ever realized, or should we look for their future fulfillment?  It is clear, from today's perspective, that the modern nation of Israel in Palestine cannot measure up to the vast scale of God's tremendous promises.

We know our history – ancient Israel rebelled against God and God used the rod of Assyria’s power to break Israel and carry them away into Assyrian captivity to the north and into Europe.  But, the people in England and the USA do not know why they are called Caucasians – a people who trace their origins to the Caucasus.  Caucasia is a mountainous region in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea – the border between Asia and Europe.  From there our people migrated to England and eventually to America.

England and America are the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh"Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.  For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's."  (1Chronicles 5:1-2)

Jacob’s name was Israel.  The name “Israel” and all that entails by way of prophecy and promises are on Ephraim and Manasseh.  The birthright promise of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is on England and America today!  Just before he died, Israel bestowed the birthright name on Ephraim and Manasseh.  "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."  (Genesis 48:16)  

God blessed our nations as He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, (whose name was changed to Israel).  But we in America and England have turned from our God just as our forefathers did.  George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, among many others of our founding fathers saw clearly the providence of God behind our national blessings.  The nation did not develop by accident or happenstance, they insisted, but by Divine design.

Thomas Jefferson – who I list among our founding fathers – was the architect of the Louisiana Purchase – one of our nations greatest blessings….  Thomas Jefferson said, “Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”  What has happened to our once mighty nations?

President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer   April 30, 1863:

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power [God], to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

Now we see a terrible scene before us.  The once magnificent British Empire has crumbled.  England is a debtor nation – only a glimmer of her former glory.  What has happened to that once mighty nation?  And, America is fast following in England's footsteps.  The United States of America has become an exceedingly great debtor nation.  What does the future hold for these formerly blessed nations?  Prophecy is history written in advance.  The answers are in the pages of our Bibles.  Let's take a look!

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Sermon: "Ephraim and Manasseh"

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