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The United States as Ephraim
(for Yair's
response - click here)by William F. Dankenbring The following article FROM W. F. Dankenbring constitutes the first part of a longer piece that was sent to us. The article in effect elaborates on the short summary by W. F. Dankenbring that we already posted. The article is interesting and worth reading, it also appears convincing, even so WE DO NOT AGREE WITH IT AND HAVE POSTED OUR REPLY TO THE SUBJECT OF 'EPHRAIM AS UNITED STATES OR BRITIAN.' "Although virtually no one has noticed it, God has left the identity of modern Israel in the most obvious place one could imagine -- in the very name of our great nation! Our nation is the only nation in the world directly named 'company of nations'! "Not only that, but Manasseh was to become a great nation, and only one modern nation is known as being 'great' in its very name -- Great Britain! "The official name of Great Britain is of course the United Kingdom -- a single great nation. The United Kingdom and the United States. A nation and a company of nations. "To those of us who have strongly believed that the United States is Manasseh this requires some adjustment in thinking. But if the reader will withhold judgment until all the evidence can be considered, it will be seen that the United States is Ephraim, and that once the mental adjustment is made, this understanding makes many times more sense than believing our nation to be Manasseh! "The important thing to grasp is that the United States fits both the type and the biblical interpretation of 'company of nations.' The house of Israel was a company or union of equal members, none of whom were sovereign. This fits the United States. It does not fit Great Britain or the British Commonwealth. The British Commonwealth has never been a company of equal states. Britain has always been one great nation. Whereas the British Commonwealth is a collection of scattered, independent, satellite nations around the world under the authority of the single great nation Britain. The United States is an assembly of fifty united states who have given up their sovereinty in the interests of collective political union and are, for the most part, united geographically, as was the house of Israel anciently. The United States began with thirteen states. When we reached the West Coast we had 'filled up' our land with forty-eight states, perhaps paralleling the forty-eight cities for the Levites in ancient Israel. Then we added two more to reach a 'fullness' of fifty, or five times the number in the house of Israel of old [and the Jubilee number!]. The United States is the company, fullness, assembly, or convocation of states that Ephraim was to become" (ibid., p.87). On the other hand, if Ephraim were the nations of Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc., then when the prophecies of Hosea speak of Ephraim "calling to Egypt" or "going to Assyria," which of those nations would be meant? (Hos.7:11). If Ephraim were composed of widely scattered nations, the prophecies of Hosea would be inexplicable; it would be impossible to determine to which "part" of Ephraim they applied, or how they could possibly apply to every "nation" of Ephraim! Obviously, the prophecies directed toward Ephraim in the Bible are directed to ONE UNITED COUNTRY, one sovereign nation, UNITED TOGETHER -- as Ephraim was historically, and as the United States is, today! The very words of the U.S. Constitution reveal our national identity! The Constitution begins, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union . . ." The U.S.A. -- A Union of "Nation-States" Ephraim was to become a united company or assembly of peoples. Isn't it interesting that the United States is famous around the world for being the "melting pot" of the nations? The United States has more emigrants from more diverse locations, than any other nation on earth! This is both a strength, and a fatal weakness. The prophet Hosea foretold this condition would describe Ephraim in the last days! Hosea wrote, "Ephraim MIXES with the nations; Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over [white on one side, baked black or brown on the other side!]. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice" (Hosea 7:8-9). The United States began with thirteen colonies, and a flag of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. Ephraim was the "thirteenth tribe" of ancient Israel! Mere coincidence? Ephraim's very name means "double fruit." It is the United States which exploded onto the world scene, becoming a world power in the days of Theodore Roosevelt at the turn of the century, and the twentieth century has been hailed as "America's Century," and world peace "Pax Americana." In a very short time, historically speaking, the United States grew, burgeoned, with rippling muscles, and grew past his older brother Manasseh, yet they are united by language and cultural ties unlike that of any other separate nations on the face of the earth! They are true brothers, sometimes arguing, squabbling, fighting, but back-to-back against any common enemy from the outside! The Greatness of Ephraim Jacob prophesied that the younger brother, Ephraim, was to be greater than his older brother, Manasseh. Manasseh, the firstborn, was the older brother. Which nation is older -- the United States or Great Britiain? That fact alone should tell us that Great Britain was the older brother, Manasseh, which was to be "great," and even has the word "great" in its name, unlike any other country on the earth today! But what about the United States? Is it greater than Great Britain, even as Ephraim was to be greater than Manasseh? Let's face this question honestly and squarely, without pride, pretence, or hypocrisy. The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world in terms of resources, business and assets, and gross national produce -- although we have also become the world's biggest debtor nation by far due to our sins and living beyond our means during the past decade. We comprise only six percent of the world's population, and yet we control over 40 percent of the world's wealth! We are the breadbasket of the world. Our gross national product is over $5 trillion dollars annually. Either California or New York could be the world's fifth or sixth richest nation in the world. The state of Illinois produces more than the entire continent of Africa! The eight industrial states from New York to Illinois produce as much as the Common Market, the Soviet Union, or all of Latin America, Africa, most of Asia except Japan, and the Middle East combined! Gred Doudna writes concerning the greatness of America, versus that of Great Britain: "Jacob plainly, clearly, says Ephraim was to be greater than Manasseh. The United States is greater than Britain by far. Britain is now no more than a second-rate power on the world scene. It is the United States which is the greatest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen. "Younger Ephraim was to be greater than older brother Manasseh. This alone, apart from anything else, should conclusively settle the question of which is Ephraim and which is Manasseh" (p.89). Ephraim's national wealth and prosperity in the End Time was prophesied by Hosea. The prophet foretold, "Ephraim boasts, 'I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin'" (Hos.12:8). It has been the United States which has soared to the status of the richest of nations during the end times -- not Great Britain. The comparison in national wealth is meaningless -- there is no comparison. The economy of the United States has been the engine that has driven the free world since the end of World War II. It has led to postwar recovery of the entire Western World. Further, there is no comparison in military power between the two nations in the last days. Hosea prophesied of Ephraim -- or the United States of America -- "When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; he was EXALTED in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen" (Hos.13:1-2). Some have suggested that since the United States is obviously greater than Britain, when Ephraim was prophesied to be greater, can be explained by the fact that Ephraim was to be a company of nations, whereas Manasseh was to be the greatest single nation. But that is NOT WHAT THE PROPHECY SAID! Jacob plainly said, without equivocation: "Nevertheless, his younger brother will be GREATER than he" (Gen.48:19). Now notice the time sequence of Jacob's blessing. Manasseh he mentioned first, that he would be great. THEN he mentioned Ephraim would be greater than his brother. Timewise, therefore, we see that Manasseh was to shoot to greatness first, even as Great Britain did. But then, later, his younger brother Ephraim was to shoot past him, and surpass him in greatness, wealth, and military might! This is just what happened! Britain became a great country, and colonizer, first; but then America suddenly grew up, burst her bonds, and became the economic, industrial, and military colossus of the world -- the greatest UNITED STATES the world had ever seen in all its history! What an amazing, incredible fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy, uttered almost 4,000 years ago, shortly before his death! In Genesis 35:11 God told Jacob that his progeny would become "a nation and a community of nations." Notice which came first -- the single nation. Then the community of nations, or "united states," were to follow. Again, this is exactly what history records. The single nation -- Great Britain -- came first historically and was great, and Britain "ruled the waves," the British pound was the international currency, and the "sun never set" on the British Empire. But then the "company of nations" or "united states" followed, and surpassed the greatness of the British Empire at its height. After World War II, no nation and no empire could compete with the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! It ruled the sea lanes of the world; its currency, the dollar, was the foundation of international trade. Thus Ephraim, the United States, surpassed his older brother, Manasseh, or Great Britain. It was all prophesied long ago! Says Gred Doudna: "The British Empire used to rule the seas and the world, but God is concerned with the end-time in Bible prophecy, the time we are living in, the time the Bible was written for. That's now -- not 100-200 years ago or more. To explain Britain's supposedly being Ephraim by saying that Britain was at one time greater than the United States, that she used to be greater in the 1800's, is entirely unsatisfactory. What about now? Prophecy was written for the twentieth century, not the eighteenth or nineteenth. One of the strongest and most persistent objections to the whole 'Anglo-Israel' theory is this fact of Britain's ignoble decline and current second-rate status. Yet it confirms modern Israel's true identity and the truth of Jacob's words if we but realize that our nation, the United States, is Ephraim!" (p.90). Population Explosion! One of the tremendous blessings God promised the descendants of Israel in the end-times was great fertility and fruitfulness, the blessings of the womb (Gen.17:6, 22:17, Deut.28:4). Jacob referred to Joseph as a "fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall" (Gen.49:22). The descendants of Israel in the End Time were to be "as the sand of the sea" (Isa.10:22). "Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel?" (Numbers 23:10). The population of Britain is about 60 million. The population of the United States is 240 million -- about four times as much! The prophet Hosea indicated that of all the Israelite nations, Ephraim was to become the most fruitful; "even though he thrives ["be fruitful," KJV, "flourishess," Tanakh] among his brethren," God foretold, "an east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His store house will be plundered of all its treasures" (Hos.13:15). "The more they increased, the more they sinned against me," God foretold (Hos.4:7, Tanakh). These Scriptures show that Ephraim was to be the MOST FRUITFUL of the tribes of Israel -- the MOST POPULOUS! The only nation descended from ancient Israel which can truly fit this description today in the United States! Ephraim -- "Doubly Fruitful" If the United States is NOT Ephraim, the most populous, "doubly fruitful" Israelitish nation -- then who is? Fruitfulness, flourishing population, can also refer to the rate of growth. The growth rate of the United States has been nothing short of phenomenal -- from virtually nothing to 240 million in only 200 years! During that time Britain has grown from 15 million to 60 million -- four times. But the United States has grown from a population of 3,240,000 in 1784 to 240,000,000 in the same length of time -- an exponential population growth of nearly 70 times over! No country in history has, like the United States, literally come from out of nowhere, and literally EXPLODED in population growth and power, both military and economic! Truly, the United States -- modern "Ephraim" -- has experienced a dramatic population increase. Truly it has lived up to its name -- and is "DOUBLY fruitful"! Vast Natural Resources Promised Recall that God promised outstanding natural resources and blessings to the descendants of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, with Ephraim receiving the "double portion" as the "birthright son" of the two. This promise of the choicest gifts of heaven above, of the deep below, of the everlasting hills and valleys, and most fertile fields, and precious metals, has been fulfilled nowhere like it has in the United States. God also promised national greatness, and prestige and honor among the other nations. Again, this promise has been fulfilled nowhere as much as in the United States! God said of Isaac's descendants, "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness -- an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed" (Gen.27:27). Although these blessings would accrue to all the children of Israel, as the primary inheritor of the BIRTHRIGHT, they would accrue to Ephraim most of all! For we read in I Chronicles 5:2, "the rights of the FIRSTBORN belonged to Joseph. Balaam prophesied of Israel, "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters" (Numbers 24:5-6). Isaiah was inspired to prophesy of Ephraim, "Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley -- to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine" (Isa.28:1). A land of hills and mountains, lakes and rivers, and fertile vast valleys, Ephraim is characterized. What land fits that Biblical description more than the United States? The KJV translates this passage "fat valleys," the Living Bible has "rich valleys." Either way, no nation on earth has richer, fatter, more fertile and vast valleys than the United States of America! "Fat valleys" is a symbol of rich agricultural bounty. Of the two, the U.S. and Britain, which is known as the "breadbasket of the world"? Of the two, which is known for its abundant wine production? Britain is famous for its ales and beer, and Scotland for its whiskey, but the United States is world famous for its wines -- especially California wine! The United States has such world renown agricultural valleys as the San Joaquin, San Fernando, Oregon, Ohio, Cumberland, Shenandoah, etc. This passage in Isaiah 28:1 also speaks of the "flower" of Ephraim's "glorious beauty." What nation on earth is more famous for its "glorious beauty" and natural scenery than the United States? From sea to shining sea, from the redwoods and Sequoias of California to the majestic waters of Niagara Falls, to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee to the Mojave Desert, from the Grand Canyon of the Colorado to the paint pots and geysers of Yellowstone, from the Grant Tetons of Wyoming to the towering granite spires of Yosemite, from the Everglades of Florida and the Texas Big Bend Country to the waters of Waikiki, Hawaii, you name it -- no country on the face of the earth can compare with the glorious beauty of Ephraim -- the United States of America! We sing the song, "O beautiful for spacious skies, for ambers waves of grain; for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain -- America, America, God shed His grace on thee; O crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!" We sing the song, "God bless America, land that I love; stand beside her, and guide her, with the light from the light from above." We sing, "This land is your land, this land is my land, From the Gulf Stream waters, to the New York island, this land is made for you and me." But as we sing these inspiring, rich, bountiful songs, little do we realize that we are singing the songs of Ephraim -- the youngest son of Joseph, who was to inherit the blessings of the FIRSTBORN! The "glorious beauty" of Ephraim in the glorious and awe-inspiring beauty of the United States! A few years ago I took my family on a trip through the summer. We went through the National Parks of Mount Rainier, the Northern Cascades, Glacier in Montana, Yellowstone and Grant Tetons in Wyoming, and dropped down to the Canyonlands, Arches National Monument, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park -- we covered seven National Parks in just one trip, but didn't have time for Yosemite, Sequoia, King's Canyon in northern California, or Crater Lake in Oregon. Nor did we have time for the Big Sur country along the California coastline, or the beautiful Oregon coast. But we saw enough to be overwhelmed by the greatness of the heritage of the beatiful places God has bequeathed to the children of Joseph, Ephraim in particular! The United States has the Great Plains, the Mississippi River system, the Great Lakes -- the finest breadbasket and grazing land, commercial water base and drainage system of the whole world. The Great Plains are the greatest area of useful land in the world. Half the fresh water of the world is contained in the Great Lakes system. Incalculably rich deposits of iron ore, coal and limestone lie along this great waterway. In this region was erected the world's greatest steel industry that helped make America the strongest and richest nation on earth. The famous words of Abraham Lincoln express the truth: "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, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness" (quoted in Ascent to Greatness, Raymond F. McNair pg.196). Hosea the prophet further describes the blessings that would come to Ephraim as the recipient of the blessings of the firstborn of Israel, and then to all Israel. God says of Ephraim, "I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place" (Hos.9:13). What nation on earth has a more "pleasant place" than the United States? What mercantile city today more resembles ancient Tyre, the mercantile hub of the ancient world, than New York City? Here again are further allusions to the identity of modern Ephraim -- the United States! Why were the vast, farflung resources of North America left virtually untapped and unused for millennia until the arrival of the Anglo-Saxon descendants of ancient Jacob, or Israel -- the peoples of Ephraim, and Manasseh? Was it all "manifest destiny," as our forefathers believed? Moses was inspired to write: "When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel" (Deut.32:8, NIV). God reserved the choicest portions of the earth for the birthright tribe of Israel. He gave the beautiful North American continent to the sons of Joseph -- Ephraim the part belonging to the United States, and Canada the portion He reserved for Manasseh, and some of the children of Reuben. Interestingly, it was Joshua -- an Ephraimite -- who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Today America is a new "Promised Land" of our time. Millions of foreigners strive to emigrate here, legally or illegally, regarding this fair land as the "last best hope for mankind." Interesting, also, that Joseph was the brother that was "separated from his brethren" (Deut.33:16, KJV). Modern Joseph, also, is "separated" from his brothers -- other Israelitish nations -- by the Atlantic Ocean! Only Ephraim, and a portion of Manasseh, are located on the North American continent, thus "separated" from their brother nations in northwestern Europe! Hosea says of Ephraim, "like a wild donkey wandering alone" (Hos.8:9). Balaam said of Israel, "I see a people who LIVE APART and do not consider themselves one of the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel?" (Num.23:9-10). When Ephraim was born, Joseph gave him that name, saying, "It is because God has made me FRUITFUL in the land of my suffering" (Gen.41:52). Like his father Joseph, Ephraim has been fruitful in the land of his affliction or early suffering. The early colonists in North America underwent extreme privation and troubles, before the foundation was laid for a new land, a new nation. The exploits of the voyagers on the Mayflower, most of whom perished en route to the New World, and the harrowing difficulties of the Pilgrims, and the settlers at Jamestown, in a sense duplicate the earlier sufferings of their forefather Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, and cast into the dungeon of Pharaoh and virtually forgotten there. On the other hand, Manasseh means "Causing to forget." When he was born, Joseph said he named him that, "Because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household" (Gen.41:51). Notice how this name reveals the nature of Manasseh. Britain, the older of the two sons, has truly "forgotten all his father's household" -- and even his national identity, despite all the evidence around them! There are the historical records and legends of Jeremiah bringing the king's daughters to Ireland, where Princess Tea married into the royal line already established by early Israelites. There was the nameof Tara, the ancient Isrish capital, meaning "Torah." There was the Stone of Scone, or Jacob's Pillar Stone, and its traditions and history. There were the royal genealogies, which trace the British monarchy back to the line of King David! There was the very name "British" itself -- which is Hebrew for "Covenant man." And, the very name "Saxons," which derives from "sons of Isaac." Over the centuries, God caused ancient Israel to go into captivity. While there, they eventually lost their true identity, being far removed from the land of Palestine. God later released their captivity, and led them to their new inheritances, in Western Europe, the British Isles, and the New World. He blessed them, and caused them to become great. But Manasseh, despite all the legends, history, and evidence, lost the knowledge of his own identity, and "forgot" who he really was, just as his name implies! Here then is more evidence that Manasseh is Great Britain, and Ephraim the United States of America! These Biblical allusions would fit perfectly to two peoples, both descended from Joseph, both dwelling apart as he did from his brethren -- who was "separated from his brethren" (Deut.33:16, KJV) -- dwelling apart from the Old World countries -- in the island of England, and in the "New World," the Western hemisphere! The "Coastlands of Ephraim" The prophet Isaiah was inspired of God to write, "Ephraim is MY FIRSTBORN" (Jeremiah 31:9). He was to dwell in the "north lands" and "the ends of the earth" (verse 8). He was to dwell in the "isles afar" (v.10), and the "coastlands" (Isa.49:1, Tanakh). What description better fits the United States, with the longest habitable coastline of any nation? It is in the northern hemisphere; it is "far off" and at the "ends of the earth" from Jerusalem; and it is a long and valuable "coastland." No other land can combine all these qualifications, like the United States -- modern Ephraim! When God scattered His people in 718-721 B.C., he drove them among the peoples of the earth; "yet in DISTANT LANDS they will remember me," He foretold (Zech.10:9). He prophesied of them, "Stand silent before me, coastlands, And let nations renew their strength" (Isa.41:1). Did not the United States, free from the yoke of European wars and oppression, and the weakening influence of pagan religion, receive a NEW BIRTH in a NEW LAND of pristine opportunity and magnificent wealth -- free from the stifling influences of paganism and heathen customs? God literally brought His people Ephraim to "distant lands," and "coastlands." The same Hebrew word yam is translated "sea" and "west." Therefore, the "islands of the sea" or "coastlands of the sea" could just as readily be translated as "coastlands of the west." Needless to say, the United States is a "coastland of the WEST"! -- far west of Jerusalem! Isaiah writes, "Look! These are coming from AFAR, these from the NORTH and the WEST, and these from the land of Sinim" (Isa.49:12, Tanakh). If you draw a line due north of Jerualem to the North Pole, and due west, and followed both of them till they intersected, the section of the globe carved out would include Europe, and North America -- the portion of the globe which includes most of the Israelitish nations of the earth -- The United States, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and France! Hosea the prophet wrote, "Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day . . ." (Hos.12:1, NIV). The east wind blows WEST. Thus Ephraim was prophesied to move to the WEST of Jerusalem. The United States lies in part due west of modern day Israel and Jerusalem! God says of His firstborn son Ephraim, "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? . . . I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man -- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come TREMBLING FROM THE WEST" (Hos.11:8-11, NIV). When we look carefully at a map of the globe, we find that the Northern hemisphere and the western hemisphere -- North America -- most perfectly fulfills the description of "coastlands" afar off to the north and west of Jerusalem! To be candid, any reference which can apply to Britain applies with even more forcefulness to the United States! And to the far northwest from Jerusalem, we come to America's 49th state -- the state of Alaska, the largest state of all! In ancient times, Manasseh was divided into two parts -- one part dwelt on the other side of the Jordan river, and one part went with Ephraim, and settled near them. Isn't it interesting that in modern times, too, part of Manasseh chose to remain in England and Britain, while many others chose to come to the New World, and settled in Canada, near modern Ephraim? The parallels are too striking to ignore! In ancient Israel, west Manasseh's southern border was Ephraim, and constituted the longest border between any two tribes of Israel. Even so, today modern Ephraim (the United States) still lies to the south of Manasseh (Canada), and the border between the two peoples is the longest unfortified, friendly border in the world! No passports are required to cross between the two countries. When Joshua gave each tribe its territory in ancient Canaan, we read, "There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the sea. On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the sea . . ." (Josh.17:9-10). Isn't it also interesting that today the western borders of Manasseh and Ephraim STILL terminate at a western sea -- the Pacific Ocean? Greg Doudna points out: "West Manasseh had 'ten portions' of Canaan (Josh.17:5). Canada has ten provinces. West Manasseh's land area was larger than that of Ephraim's. Canada occupies a larger land area than the United States. No geographic, social, or racial barriers separate our two nations. We speak a common language. We are eachs other's best trade partner. We are just like brothers" (p.96). Moses said of Joseph's descendants, 'Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh' (Deut.33:17). The populations of the United States and Canada are about 240,000,000 and 24,000,000 respectively -- a ratio of ten to one -- just like the ratio or proportions used by Moses! Could anything be more striking? The 2,520 Years of Punishment The leader of the ten-tribed northern kingdom of Israel was the tribe of Ephraim, whose capital city was Samaria. The ten-nationed kingdom went into exile in 718 B.C. by the Assyrians (I Kings 17). They were to be "punished seven times" for their sins (Lev.26:18,21,24,28). A "time" equals a year in fulfillment of prophecy (Rev.12:6, 14-16). A promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and "Joseph." And it is our nation which has received these blessings! Writes Gred Doudna: "The ending of this seven times period of 2520 years punishment marks the emergence of Ephraim alone as a separate nation in its own right -- apart from any other Israelite nations!" (p.112). Doudna continues: "It was not until the seven times were finished that God allowed Ephraim to rise to national greatness. It was our nation which has had to wait 2520 years to receive the blessings, and it is also our nation which has received those blessings, abundantly, filled to the brim and running over. "At first Ephraim was just one of Israel's thirteen tribes. After the split with Judah, Ephraim took its place as leader of the ten-tribed house of Israel. In the centuries following the captivity, Ephraim became particularly allied with his older brother Manasseh, as Jacob had predicted, and together they grew and prospered in Britain. "Britain before 1800 was Joseph -- both Manasseh and Ephraim combined. Why was Britain so great before 1800? Partly because Ephraimites were still there -- they had not yet migrated to America! "At this time of the ending of the prophecy of the seven times period, the final separation occurred in the process of several millennia. God set Ephraim apart as a sovereign and independent nation, signifying this by giving Ephraim the choicest land in the entire world on the very year ending the seven times period. "After this no further split or separation was possible. Ephraim was now by itself -- one indivisible nation. This is why the Civil War resulted in defeat for the Confederacy and victory for the Union. This is why the United States is one nation today, not many divided and conflicting, independent nations as it could have been. The history of the growth and preservation of the United States is a story of God's hand in history. "The separation of younger Ephraim from Manasseh occurred almost 200 years ago [this was written, remember, in 1974]. The British nation continued as Manasseh and maintained its position throughout the 1800's as a great empire, as the fledgling United States struggled to survive, expand, produce, build, grow, and prosper in the new Promised Land. And prosper it has! "One day Britain woke up to realize her empire was gone, her prestige vanishing, and that she was no longer great. At the same time the United States grew until it found itself the greatest nation ever in history! "Manasseh had been surpassed by younger Ephraim!" (pp.113-114). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- return to Brit-Am Israel return to Yair Davidiy's Response |