| (Copyright 2023) by Dwight Fleming (Oroville, California) |
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| While there are those ministers who make light of attempts by others to better understand the prophecies found in the Bible, NEVER underestimate the power of God to grant understanding to those who seek God with a humble heart. Don’t let their lack of faith rob you of your reward. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). How does God reward those who earnestly seek Him? Recall the dream of Nebuchadnezzar which he could not remember but was disturbed by it. No one could give him the answer that he wanted, and he sentenced all the wise men of Babylon to death. This death sentence included Daniel and his three friends. As you know, they earnestly sought help from God who rewarded Daniel a vision of the dream and the interpretation. Listen to Daniel’s praise: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have made known to me what we have requested, for You have made known to us the dream of the king” (Daniel 2:20-23). Despite our limited understanding and foresight of Bible prophecy, we need to consider which prophecies may pertain to events that happen in the world so as to gain wisdom and understanding of the outcome. This will help us to be better prepared for what may come our way. The world was shocked by the brutal attack by Hamas terrorists against innocent and helpless Israeli civilians on October 7th of this year. As Israel begins its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, we can’t help but wonder what prophecies, if any, may apply to the current unfolding of events and whether this crisis will escalate into a greater war as happened in 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Some ponder if this could be the time of the Psalm 83 prophecy. See Psalm 83. Bill Salus has explained this prophecy for many years with books and videos. Link to his website: www.prophecydepotministries.net/ If other groups become involved in attacking Israel, then the Psalm 83 prophecy is something we need to consider as we watch events develop. Here is something that I came across today that should be considered as relevant. It is found in Isaiah 11. It may refer to a future time but may also apply to what is happening now. Recall that ancient Gaza was occupied by the Philistines. The name “Palestine” was applied to the Holy Land by Rome because of the revolt of the Jews. That name refers to the Philistines. Now consider Isaiah 11:12-13: “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and the adversaries of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, nor will Judah harass Ephraim.” After the death of Solomon, Israel became divided into the Kingdom of Israel, led by the tribe of Ephraim, and the Kingdom of Judah, led by the tribe of Judah. In these last days, the modern nation of Israel (Judah) and the United States of America (Ephraim) have become allies. Now back to Isaiah 11: “They will swoop down [air attacks?] on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab and the Ammonites will be subject to them. The Eternal will devote to destruction the gulf of the Sea of Egypt; with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates” (verses 14-15). Will Israel attack Iran? Who are the “sons of the east”? Is it any nation east of Israel (Judah)? Could it possibly include China? I’ve heard that China is sending some warships to the Mediterranean or possibly the Persian Gulf. China needs Iranian oil. So, they are certainly concerned over any escalation of the war against Hamas which may impact the availability of Iranian oil. We have to watch and see how things develop in this volatile area of the world. Only after the dust settles can we fully determine any prophetic implications. At this time, it is my hunch that if Israel is successful in their efforts to subdue their enemies in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Iran, then a time of relative peace may ensue which would allow the peaceful pursuits in Israel according to certain prophecies yet to be understood. After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Egypt eventually made peace with Israel. And after the Gulf War in 1991, efforts were made to settle the Palestinian dispute. However, any peace that may result will be fragile and probably not last very long. The hatred toward Israel by the Arabs goes back centuries. “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman” (I Thessalonians 5:3). Whatever peace that may eventually be obtained by the current war will end when a nuclear device of some kind is detonated in Israel causing thousands, if not millions, to flee. This would then be the start of the 1,260 days as described in Revelation 12:6. See also Zechariah 5:5-11, which may picture a nuclear device. We can’t make any definite conclusions at this time. Instead, we have to do as Christ warned by watching and not be caught unawares of what is happening around us. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-16). I have obtained a book that I hope to start reading soon. It is entitled: “GOD AND CHURCHILL — How The Great Leader’s Sense of Divine Destiny Changed His Troubled World And Offers Hope For Ours.” Quote from the back cover: “When Winston Churchill was just sixteen, he already had a clear vision of his life’s purpose. ‘This country will be subjected somehow to a tremendous invasion,’ he declared in 1891. ‘I shall be in command of the defenses of London, and … it will fall to me to save the Capital and save the Empire.'” It is authored by Churchill’s great grandson, Jonathan Sandys, and Wallace Henley. Winston Churchill had his flaws as we all do. But he also had a vision of purpose which kept him driving forward. We also have a Divine Destiny. No matter what future hardships and trials that we may have to face, let us be inspired and encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul: “Brethren, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it [perfection]. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and striving toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Prophecy Unfolding Article by Dwight Fleming Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| The only part of this I will dispute at this point is the part where he claims America is Ephraim. America is Manasseh. There are at least three reasons in scripture that tell us that Manasseh is the United States and Ephraim is Great Britan. They are as follows: Ephraim was blessed first and then Manasseh. (Great Britan became great first and then the United States.) Great Britan at one time became a multitude of nations. The United States was never a multitude of nations. The United States is one nation with 50 states. Great Britan at one time was in control of many nations, for example, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Ephraim is unable to pronounce “sh” (h) whereas the United States Manasseh does not have a problem pronouncing the “sh” (h) sound. Gen 48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. Gen 48:18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. Gen 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. Gen 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Jdg 12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; Jdg 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. This may or may not cause a problem with the above prophecy. |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Prophecy Unfolding Article by Dwight Fleming Comments by Rafael Algorri (Email) |
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Not sure my first attempt got through, very interesting points! Another interesting point of proof/view? https://wccongregationofgod.org/uploads/3/4/8/2/34821898/the_united_states_in_prophesy.pdf |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Prophecy Unfolding Article by Dwight Fleming Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| First of all, thank you for the information. The reason you are unable to get through to the list is because the list is set up as a one-way list. In other words, it is meant to send out newsletters and other important information. We believe we are in the last days. How close we are I don’t know, but at times we may receive information which is relevant to what is happening today so that everyone on the list gets a copy right away. It could be prophecy, a warning, or a prayer request or perhaps something else of some importance. I believe that the major problem with the article you sent to us as your proof that Ephraim is the United States instead of Manasseh is found in this verse: Gen 48:19 And his father refuseth, and saith, ‘I have known, my son, I have known; he also becometh a people, and he also is great, and yet, his young brother is greater than he, and his seed is the fulness of the nations;’ In the article they are trying to tell everyone that “nations” here should have been translated as “people.” The article is trying to say that Strongs #1471 means “people”, but they neglected to tell you the rest. H1471 gôy gôy go’ee, go’-ee Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: – Gentile, heathen, nation, people. ——— Most bibles translate it as “nations” even most literal versions. As you can see from the Strong’s definition the nations could be Gentile nations. As you know during war time you end up with a lot of mixed seed due to rapes and one night type stands and even through some lasting relationships. So why would Great Britain not be spreading their seed all over the world as they overtook and ruled over these many nations, gentile or not. Since the seed was mixed only God could count those who were and were not of Israelite (Ephraim) blood all over the world. From Wikipedia Several countries (dominions) within the British Empire gained independence in stages during the earlier part of the 20th century. Much of the rest of the empire was dismantled in the twenty years following the end of the Second World War, starting with the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, and continued until the handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. There remain, however, fourteen territories around the world known as the British Overseas Territories which remain under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Many of the former territories of the British Empire are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fourteen of these (known, with the United Kingdom, as the 15 Commonwealth realms) retain the British monarch (currently Charles III) as head of state. The British monarch is also Head of the Commonwealth, but this is a purely symbolic and personal title; members of the Commonwealth (including the Commonwealth realms) are fully sovereign states. Territorial evolution of the British Empire – Wikipedia Also, from Wikipedia As of 2023, there are 15 Commonwealth realms: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom. All are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization of 56 independent member states, 52 of which were formerly part of the British Empire. Charles III is also Head of the Commonwealth, a non-constitutional role. Commonwealth realm – Wikipedia The British Empire started to decline in the early 1900’s and after World War II. In it’s hey day the British Empire was the biggest empire that ever existed with a population of 531 million people. In 2021 the population of the United States was only 331.9 million people, and that number would also include many gentiles. So, I have to stick with what the bible says. Ephraim was blessed first making him the 12th tribe or Great Britian. It has been said that “The sun never set on the British Empire”. They were the largest and they were a multitude of Nations just like the bible says. Manasseh was blessed last making them the 13th tribe. Which means they are the smaller of the two countries which is the United States. Even in scripture Ephraim had a larger population than did Manasseh. Num 1:33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred. Num 1:34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; Num 1:35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. This scripture is interesting because it talks about and connects Ephraim with a unicorn (ox, reem “unicorn”). The coat of arms for Great Britain has a lion and a unicorn on it. The unicorn for Ephraim and the Lion for Judah because that is where the throne of David is and he (David) is of the tribe of Judah. Deu. 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. So, until you can show me biblical evidence that Ephraim is America, I will have to stick with what I see in the bible. Ephraim is Great Britain and Manasseh is the United States, there is too much biblical and historical proof to see it any other way at this time. If someone has more proof one way or the other, present it to us. |
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