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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:
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"Ephraim and Manasseh"
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