Is the world's greatest nation ignored in Bible prophecy? If it is, how could prophecy be considered valid? How could prophecy be inspired, If the United States of America is nowhere mentioned? Surely, if Bible prophecy is relevant to our times, NOW, then it MUST mention the United States! Many small, insignificant nations are mentioned: Ethiopia, Libya, Syria, Egypt. Students of prophecy know that many Middle-Eastern nations are identified; some of them by their modern names. What about Great Britain, Canada, Australia; the Commonwealth? For that matter, what of the nations in Europe?

       The breathtaking rise to power and national greatness of the United States is unparalleled in all history! The course of world history has been dramatically altered by the rise of the United States.

       Today, we are a major superpower. American astronauts have walked, driven a vehicle about on the surface of the moon. In two world wars, Americans have lent decisive support to their brothers in England and France, as well as other nations, emerging victorious in global struggles which led directly to America's super power status.

       Think of world history for the past one hundred years! How much influence has America exerted? How important has been England's contribution?

       It is absurd to believe the prophecies of the Bible could be accurate; that they could be up-to-date, portraying events to occur in our times, NOW, if they OMIT mention of the United States and Britain! This would be an oversight, an error so gross as to challenge the very credulity of the Bible itself!

       But the United States is mentioned in Bible prophecy—believe it or not, more often than any other nation!

       Are Bible prophecies merely the literature of a bygone age—fireside tales of seers and sages of yesteryear; wrathful pronouncements of indignant prophets? Are they merely the dead, ancient fragments of literature from a forgotten race; histories, genealogies, myths?

       Or is the one full third of the Bible which is prophecy actually relevant—meaningful to US; to our children and grandchildren in this modern nuclear age?

One Man's Family

       In many ways, the Bible could be called the story of "one man's family." In only a few short chapters, one sixth of all the history of the world is covered; from creation until the flood of Noah, a period of approximately one thousand years.

       Then follows the account of the overspreading of the earth by Noah's children; the attempt at racial amalgamation and the tower of Babel; the dividing of the nations and confusion of their languages—all within but a few chapters. By the twelfth chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we begin reading of a man named "Abram," who was called of God for a great mission in life. Turn to this vital twelfth chapter, and read it with your own eyes.

       "Now the Eternal had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

       "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).

       What a promise!

       This was a promise of recognition from God Almighty. It meant Abram would have a great name. Do not millions strive for recognition; for "fame" as well as fortune? Do not millions hope to make a "name for themselves"? Here was a promise of great wealth; of fame, and of a reputation so great that those who appreciated and "blessed" Abram would themselves be the recipient of great blessings!

       What follows is an outstanding example of one man's obedience to God. Without argument, Abram did exactly as he was told. He obeyed God!

       Later, in scriptures throughout the Bible, Abraham, as he will become known, is called the "father of the faithful." He is an example of unquestioning OBEDIENCE to God! Abraham came to understand that when God speaks, one instantly, without equivocation, doubt, or argument, OBEYS! This was a quality of character that endeared this great man to God—a quality of character almost totally lacking in mankind today!

       "And the Eternal said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD, AND WESTWARD: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.

       "And I will make thy seed [your children—your progeny to follow] as the dust of the earth [numbering hundreds of millions]: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered" (Genesis 13:14-16).

       God is not promising that Abram's children would become but a small, struggling nation in the Middle East! This is not a description of "Israel" of this modern time—a nation surrounded by hostile Arab nations, struggling for survival.

       The Jews in modern Israel hardly comprise a nation so large; a people occupying all points of the compass who number "as the dust of the earth."

       Later, God expanded on this marvelous promise to Abram! He promised Abraham's grandson, Jacob (whose name was changed to "Israel"), "And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed!"

       Obviously, this great promise clearly stated that Abraham's children would "spread ABROAD" from the ancient land of Palestine; that they would ultimately be found in all directions; north, east, south, west, from Palestine! They would be numbered in the countless MILLIONS—"as the dust of the earth" in number!

       This promise transcended the narrow national boundaries of ancient Palestine! This promise was GLOBAL!

       Fix firmly in your mind, and never forget, that Abraham and his children were promised multiple millions of progeny—time and time again! There are those who attempt to deceive and confuse, claiming the promise of the world being blessed by Abraham's seed meant only Christ! As we shall see, there is definite reference to "that ONE SEED," which was Christ; and it is true there is a duality to the promise "in thy seed shall the earth be blessed." But fix firmly in your mind how God made the promise, again and again, of countless seed, as the "dust of the earth" to Abraham and his son and grandson; that they were to overspread the earth in all points of the compass!

       Abraham did exactly as God commanded. As a result, God reconfirmed His promise to Abraham many times. He said, "...look now toward heaven, and tell [count] the stars, if you be able to number them: and He said unto him, so shall thy seed be.

       "And he believed in the Eternal; and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:5, 6).

       This promise of multiple millions of progeny occurs two chapters prior to the final "covenant" between God and Abraham; prior to the change of name; from "Abram" to "Abraham," which meant, "father of many nations."

       J. H. Allen has written perhaps one of the best-known of the many books attesting to the identity of modern-day Britain and America in Bible prophecy. In his forward of his well-known book, Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright, Allen says, "Although it is not generally known, it is nevertheless true that God made two covenants with Abraham, or, rather, that He made one with Abram and another with that same man after his name was changed to Abraham. This change of name was made that it might harmonize with the new character and the new order of things as they pertain to the covenant man.

       "The first, or Abram, covenant was made when the man was ninety years old; but the second, or Abraham, covenant was not made until this man was called upon to make the one great sacrifice of his life."

       We shall see this great test required of Abraham a little later.

       Now, notice this second, or "Abraham" covenant God made: "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly . . . as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be [become] a FATHER OF NATIONS!

       "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

       "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations [PLURAL! MORE THAN ONE NATION!] Of thee, and kings [PLURAL! MANY KINGS!] shall come out of thee.

       "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed [plural! multiple, national seed—like the dust of the earth and the stars of heaven for number!] after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed [millions of them] after thee.

       "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

       "And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations" (Genesis 17:1-9).

       Does this leave any doubt whatsoever in your mind about God's promises to Abraham of multiple MILLIONS of progeny? How many grains of dust are there? How many stars can you see? Scientists tell us there are something like two hundred BILLION stars just in the milky way. Though this is obvious metaphor, and not intended to predict a finite number, God is absolutely promising that Abraham's seed would eventually become many nations; that whole dynasties of kings would be among his descendants; that, eventually, MULTIPLE MILLIONS of human beings would have descended from Abraham!

       Anyone who attempts to interpret these facts as applying only to "that one Seed," which was Christ, is wresting, violently, the sacred Word of God! Notice carefully; let this burn deeply into your mind, and never forget it!

       (1) "Abraham," the new name for Abram, means "The father of MANY NATIONS."

       (2) God promised: "...I will make NATIONS of thee..."

       (3) God promised: "...KINGS [plural! More than one!] shall come out of thee."

       (4) God promised: "I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed [plural!] after thee in THEIR [plural!] generations!"

       (5) God promised: "I will give unto thee and thy seed [plural!] the land..."

       (6) God promised: "I will be THEIR [plural!] God!"

       (7) God promised—over and over again, that Abraham was to become the progenitor of many nations; that whole dynasties of kings would come from him; that his progeny would eventually become "as the dust of the earth" and as "the stars of the heavens" in number.

       Yet, as in many cases in the Bible, especially in prophecy, there is oftentimes DUALITY in God's Word. Later, as we shall see, the children of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) were given specific, prophetic declarations: Each one of Jacob's twelve sons (thirteen in all, for Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Jacob's favorite son, Joseph) were given a specific national prophecy—an outline of the future; showing the national characteristics; the ultimate inheritance of each.

An Unconditional Promise

       At first, God told Abraham, "Walk thou before me, and be thou perfect, and I will be a God unto thee." He made the promises to Abraham conditional, based upon Abraham's obedience. But later, as we shall now see, God made those promises absolutely unconditional.

       Read Genesis, the 22nd chapter. This is the account of how God instructed Abraham to do something which seemed utterly unthinkable—impossible!

       Though Abraham and Sarah had been childless through all their adult life until they were very old, God repeatedly promised Abraham would become a father—that through his son, he would become the progenitor of many nations. "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

       "And I will bless her, and give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

       "Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

       "And Abraham said unto God, 0 that Ishmael might live before thee! (Ishmael was Abraham's son through his handmaid, Hagar.)

       "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. . . my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee in this set time in the next year" (Genesis 17:15-21).

       God repeated the promise in Genesis 18, where you read the account of God's messenger reconfirming the promise to Sarah and Abraham of parenthood; of Sarah laughing incredulously, believing herself to be much too old for childbearing.

       Then follows the account of the rescue of Lot and his family from Sodom; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire (and powerful testimony as to God's attitude toward homosexuality!).

       Genesis 21 contains the account of Isaac's birth. "And the Eternal visited Sarah as He had said, and the Eternal did unto Sarah as He had spoken.

       "For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

       "And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac" (Genesis 21:1-3).

       Now Abraham knew God had kept his promise! At last he had a son of his own loins; a son of his own beloved wife, Sarah! More than one hundred years old at Isaac's birth, Abraham must have been greatly delighted with the lad; saw in him the fulfillment of God's many promises; realized that Isaac would become the progenitor of many kings, nations, hundreds of millions!

       Then came a grueling test!

       Abraham must have been nearly dumbfounded when God commanded him to sacrifice his own son—the very son God had promised. By this time, Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away to settle family difficulty; jealousy and resentment between Sarah and Hagar. God had saved Sarah from Abimelech, a pact was made between them, and Abraham had the well at Beersheba dug and designated "the well of the oath of seven," to connote the agreement between Abraham and Abimelech.

       Then, as if like a bolt out of the blue, God said to Abraham, "Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.''

       Was this possible? Was it even thinkable? Here God had promised again and again Abraham was to have a son; that, through this son, he would become the progenitor of hundreds of millions; that lines of kings would come from him. Now, it seemed God was changing His mind! God now commanded him to sacrifice Isaac! To kill the son he loved above all else—loved more than his own life!

       What follows is an example of faith and obedience virtually unparalleled in history! Centuries later, Paul was to write, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory [boast]; but not before God.

       "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:1-3).

       In this chapter is one of the best Bible descriptions of faith coupled with and exemplified by OBEDIENCE! God said, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM!" (Romans 4:20, 21).

       God had promised Abraham would become the father of many nations; that he would become the progenitor of hundreds of millions; kings! Then, He gave him Isaac. Now, he commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac! Then what was God now planning to do?

       The carnal mind; a mind influenced by Satan, would begin to DOUBT God at this point! It would be filled with self-pity; with the seeming illogicality of it all! It would be filled with resentment! "What is God doing?" The carnal mind would think, in self-pity and doubt, "But this isn't fair, God gives, and then He snatches away!"

       The carnal mind would think, "Why, that would be murder! Does not God say, in His own law, `Thou shalt not kill?' Now, here He is, telling me to kill my own son"! A torrent of outrage, self-pity, anger, hostility, resentment, incredulity and doubt, would rage through the carnal mind—a mind that had never become "fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform!"

       But Abraham? What did HE think?

       We cannot know perfectly, but here is a very logical, fair assumption! He must have thought:

       (1) Then God is going to immediately resurrect Isaac! He will not allow His word to fail! He has promised, and, since He is God, and cannot lie, He will not go back on His word. Therefore, He intends resurrecting Isaac; bringing him back to life!

       (2) Or, if not, then God will give me another son! Perhaps two, or three, or five, or ten! But God will surely perform His word unto me, as He has promised!

       (3) Besides, what do I owe God? I owe Him my life; all that I have. I owe Him Sarah's freedom; my wife could have been taken away from me—I would never have seen her again had she been made a part of Abimelech's harem! But God helped me; He spared Sarah, who gave me Isaac. She can give me yet other sons!

       Whatever Abraham's thoughts, the Bible says, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and claved the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him."

       What an example of faith and obedience! When God originally called Abraham in his own country, the Bible simply says, "So Abraham departed." Simple. God commands. Abraham obeys. At the very last moment, as Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac, God called out! "Abraham! Abraham!" He answered, "Here I am."

       "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

       "And Abraham lifted up his eye, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took up the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son" (Genesis 22:1-14).

       Here is a shadowy type of God, the Father, being willing to offer His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world (John 3:16).

       Before, God had told Abraham, "Walk thou before me, and be thou PERFECT, and I will make thee a father of many nations..." Now, Abraham had passed the utmost and final test! God knew, now, that Abraham would obey Him unquestioningly! He knew Abraham BELIEVED GOD! Today, millions "believe on" Christ. They "believe" He was the Son of God; they "believe in Him." But they DO NOT BELIEVE HIM! They refuse to believe WHAT HE SAID! Christ said, "Think NOT that I am come to destroy the law..." Millions believe He DID come to destroy it! Christ said He would be three days and three nights in the tomb (Matthew 12:40), and millions believe He was in the tomb only from Friday sunset until Sunday morning at sunrise, two nights, and one day! He said, "If you will enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!" (Matthew 19:17) and millions believe He did away with His Father's law!

       Millions believe "on" Christ! But they do not believe His gospel message; a message about the soon-coming Kingdom of God; the world-ruling, 1,000 year reign of Christ ON THIS EARTH! (Revelation 20:4; 2:26; 3:21).

       Abraham did not merely have a "belief," like millions of professing Christians today. He KNEW! There is a difference!

       Therefore, God said to him, "By Myself have I sworn, saith the Eternal, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice!" (Genesis 22:15-18).

       Once again, note well that Abraham's seed were to become in-numerable! They were to possess the strategic land and sea "gates" that would ensure their prosperity, protection from their enemies!

       These fabulous promises were reconfirmed to Isaac; and then to Jacob. Later, the birthright promises were passed on to Jacob's sons; his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, by aged Isaac, as he lay dying.

       But, as we shall see, God said, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah!" Though God allowed human nature and human reasoning to fulfill His great purpose; allowed Rebekah and Jacob to deceive Isaac in the matter of passing on the birthright blessing to Jacob, instead of Esau, He nevertheless determined that the "sceptre"; the promise of that "one seed" which was Christ, would not depart from JUDAH, who was yet to be born; one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the progenitor of the "Jews," which is merely a "nickname" for "Judah." As we shall see, there became a necessary breakdown in the dual covenant; one of RACE and one of GRACE. Much later in history, after centuries had gone by; after two whole nations, embodying thirteen tribes in all had emerged; after the northern ten tribes had been removed from their land and disappeared from history, one of God's chosen apostles was illustrating to disbelieving gentiles the validity of Christ's credentials as the promised "seed" of Abraham; the GRACE promise; the fulfillment of God's prediction that "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah!"

       Many, seizing on this scripture, attempt to set aside and negate all you have read; all the repetitious promises of God Almighty to Abraham concerning MULTIPLE SEED; NATIONS, KINGS, POPULATIONS AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN!

       Now notice! When the apostle Paul was arguing concerning the promise of GRACE (not RACE) with the gentile Galatians, he said, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).

       But notice the difference between the promises of national, racial, inheritance, and the promise of the inheritance of grace.

       "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah..." (Genesis 49:10). God prophesied, "For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him comes the chief ruler [prince]; but the birthright is Joseph's!" (I Chronicles 5:2).

       The birthright is something which was to be Joseph's (Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's two sons, upon whose heads the dying Jacob [Israel], said, "Let my name be named upon them") BY RIGHT OF BIRTH! It had nothing to do with "grace." It was not something to be earned, or deserved—it was the BIRTHRIGHT of Joseph. The Word of God makes it clear that, while the lineage which was to culminate in Christ would come through JUDAH, the promise of multiple seed; kings, nations, millions of progeny, would be continued down through JOSEPH!

       A sceptre is the official baton, or staff, of a king. It connotes kingly office. Christ was to come through JUDAH! Notice, "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood" (Hebrews 7:14).

       Think, for a moment of the dual meaning inherent in the expres- sion, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." As you will come to understand as you read; as you will come to know, if you have studied recent world history, the entire world has been mightily blessed because of the two nations of Great Britain and the United States of America! The statement is so obvious that it needs no magnification.

       But think of the global community of nations; of the colonizing British—of the development of underdeveloped, backward, impoverished nations through trade and commerce. Think of what the world might have been like if there had never been a Britain or a United States! Hundreds of nations have been blessed, materially, as well as spiritually, by those two great nations!

       And what is the meaning of the word, "nation"? Usually, you think of a nation as a political entity; a country on the map, having a name. But today, the use of the word has changed from its original intent. Originally, the term meant a family of people gathered together into one political entity, or country.

       It comes from the same root as "birth," or "nativity," "natal," and "native." Its meaning pertains to birth, or family.

       However, in modern times, any number of racial strains; "families" of people having common genealogical origins, may be incorporated inside a given national boundary. Modern-day Belgium, for example, is one political entity referred to as a "nation." Yet, there are two distinct racial stocks within Belgium; the Flemish and the Walloons. As in many other nations today, those two racial strains do not always get along. The same thing applies to Yugoslavia; to former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), and to the former Soviet Union, which is made up of more than a dozen different racial stocks; Mongols, Georgians, Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Russians, and many more. Switzerland is made up of three distinct cultures; German, French, and Italian.

       Knowing that many modern nations have become racially mixed does not set aside the promises of God concerning the many "nations" that were to come out of Abraham. Even though the political borders have become confused; even though many nations have become of mixed racial stocks, a virtual "melting pot" of racial strains, God's promises have not been thwarted! His word still stands!

The Birthright; Sold and Transferred

       Now, let's understand the vast difference between the birthright promises and those of the kingly sceptre which was to be fulfilled in the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

       The fascinating story of how the birthright blessing was transferred from Joseph to his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, is found in Genesis 48.

       "And Israel [Jacob] beheld Joseph's sons and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

       "Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he [Joseph] brought them near unto him [Israel]; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

       "And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.

       "And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

       "And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.

       "And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly ["making his hands wise"; margin]; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

       "And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my lifelong unto this day, the Angel ["messenger"; Hebrew] which redeemed them from all evil, bless the lad; and LET MY NAME BE NAMED UPON THEM and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

       "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.

       "And Joseph said unto his father, not so my father, for this is the first born; put thy right hand upon his head.

       "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!"

       WHAT A PROMISE!

       These two sons of Joseph were to become two great peoples—the elder, Manasseh, a single, GREAT NATION, and the younger, Ephraim, a GREAT GROUP OF NATIONS—a "multitude of nations."

       And WHO, down through history, was to bear the name of ISRAEL? You read it plainly! Aging Israel (Jacob) said, "LET MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM" and he also said the names of Abraham and Isaac would be upon them.

       Millions of Americans and Britons are blissfully unaware of their ancient roots. They have not the faintest conception that the great community of nations called the British Commonwealth; including Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, comprise the peoples of Ephraim. Nor do countless millions in the United States understand that they are the Manasseh of Bible history—and Bible prophecy!

       Instead, millions believe, erroneously, that the names "Israel" and "Jewish" are synonymous. This is a gross error; a complete false assumption, yet millions are completely ignorant of it. More on this later. But for now, let it be firmly fixed in your mind that dying Jacob, whose name was changed to ISRAEL, plainly said that name was to be indelibly affixed to EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH!

       The only two tribes of which much of the world is aware are those of Judah and Levi. One finds many, many names among those commonly called "Jewish," which in fact are "Levite." In Hebrew, the name "Cohen" means "priest," or "Levite." The names Levi, Levine, Levinson, Levy, Kahn, Kuhn, Cohan, Kohane, Cohen, Kohn, Levitz, Lewitz, Lewis, Lewison, Liebov, Leibowitz, and many, many others are derivations of "Levi" and "Cohen," or "priest."

       And how many know, even among the Jewish people, where the tribes of Issachar, Dan, Zebulon, Naphtali, Reuben, and others are located? Most have not the slightest clue! Millions believe the terms "Jewish" and "Israelite" are synonymous! What gross error! What ignorance!

       Joseph's two sons were brothers. These two brother nations were to eventually become a great, single nation, and a "company of nations." Where, in the world today, does one look to find nations matching these descriptions—brothers enjoying a long, enduring relationship (even though brothers sometimes fight, and do not always agree)—two great peoples possessing between them much of the wealth of the world?

       You may search history; study ethnology, geography, geopolitics—and you will find that the ONLY peoples who suit this biblical description are the peoples of the United States of America and the British Commonwealth!

"The Gates of Enemies"

       The British colonized, developed, expanded around the globe, finally reaching the status of EMPIRE. Study any pre-World War II map of the world. Maps and globes of that period usually colored the British Commonwealth red; her territories and protectorates pink.

       One could look anywhere on earth, and find British possessions; dominance and influence.

       First, one would see the British Isles, lying like a dominating lion offshore Europe; secure behind the famous English channel, yet guarding the gateways to Europe; the Kategat and Skagerrak; the ports of Holland and France. The position of the British Isles has been absolutely decisive in the course of history—has influenced dramatically the outcome of many, many wars, including the first and second World Wars!

       Then, one thinks of the vast territory, natural resources and physical wealth of Canada; the continent "down under," Australia; the island nation of New Zealand. There is South Africa, with some of the richest deposits of minerals and natural wealth on earth.

       During the last of the nineteenth century and much of the twentieth, Britain controlled many, many other nations, including India, Egypt; the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, as it used to be called; many of the nations of East Africa, including those lost by Germany following the Treaty of Versailles. Britain had possessions all over the globe! Here are some of them:

       Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Gibraltar, Malta, Crete, the Suez Canal, The Khyber Pass, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ceylon, Rhodesia, Kenya, and Tanganyika; Singapore and the Straits of Malacca; Hong Kong, Brunei, the Gilberts and Solomons, New Georgia and New Guinea; Santa Cruz. In the Atlantic, Britain controlled the Hebrides, the Falklands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Barbuda, Antigua, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and British Honduras, as well as British Guiana.

       The major sea and land gates of the world were possessed almost entirely by the British and the United States.

       For our own part, the strategic location of the United States itself, protected from Europe's wars by the vast Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has played a vital role in the preservation of freedom in America. We possessed vitally important sea gates and strategic island defenses in the Panama Canal; Guantanamo on Cuba, the Hawaiian Islands; Midway, Guam, and Wake. We possessed the frigid island chain of the Aleutians with Dutch Harbor. Only a cursory knowledge of history would serve to impress upon anyone the vital, all-important strategic value of these areas.

       Britain possessed Gibraltar and Suez, thereby bottling up the Mediterranean, and with Malta, Crete and Cyprus available as naval bases, not to mention Alexandria, in Egypt, as well as the Bosporus-Dardanelles between European Turkey and the Anatolian Peninsula, bottling up the Black Sea. Britain stood astride the most vital sea lanes in the world.

       Add to this the huge naval base at Singapore and the Straits of Malacca, Hong Kong on the Chinese littoral, together with Brunei, and one gets a picture of how and why Britain was able, together with the Dutch (who are the descendants of Zebulon, another of the so-called "lost ten tribes") who possessed the East Indies, to maintain a powerful naval and military presence in the Far East.

       This is the fulfillment of a prophecy uttered by the parents and brethren of Rebekah, wife of Isaac. It is another reconfirmation of, and enlargement upon, the promises God gave Abraham, which were passed on through Isaac and Jacob. The story of the search for Isaac's wife is often given romantic emphasis in Bible literature; is a favorite subject for children's classes. But the point is hardly romantic. Let's notice it:

       "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Eternal had blessed Abraham in all things.

       "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

       "And I will make thee swear by the Eternal, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

       "But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

       "And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

       "And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

       "The Eternal God of heaven which took me from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

       "And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again" (Genesis 24:1-8).

       Abraham was seriously intent that his servant not allow Isaac to leave the land of Palestine; not return to the land of Abraham's ancestors, lest it negate God's promises. Further, he was determined Isaac would marry among his own race; from his own kind, even among distant kin.

       The story continues throughout the 24th chapter of Genesis.

       The servant arrived in Mesopotamia, was in need of water; Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, who was Nahor's son, who was Abraham's brother—meaning Rebekah was Isaac's third cousin, came to the well with a pitcher on her shoulder; gave a drink to the servant of Abraham; drew water for his camels.

       The servant knew the meeting was providential; gave her expensive gifts: possibly tokens of betrothal, and went to lodge with her parents. In the ensuing account, he identified himself, spoke to her parents. She agreed to go with him to become married to Isaac. Now, notice the strange prophecy God caused her own parents to utter!

       "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them" (Genesis 24:60).

       Rebekah became the mother of Jacob and Esau, and was instrumental in ensuring the birthright promise was passed on to Jacob. Though God allowed human nature to fulfill His purpose, and the selling of Esau's birthright for a pottage of lentils has oft been told as an example of contemptuous disregard, on Esau's part, for something of inestimable value, God nevertheless intended that Jacob become the rightful heir.

       Aged Isaac, deceived by both Jacob and Rebekah, blessed Jacob, assuming it was Esau. He said, "Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven [rains in due season], and the fatness of the earth [bounteous harvests] and plenty of corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be everyone that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee" (Genesis 27:28, 29).

       Now, even though God allowed this to occur through human subterfuge, Jacob was possessor of both the birthright and the blessing.

       The next several chapters are concerned with Jacob's life; his work for Laban; Laban's deception, and Jacob's wives and children. Notice how God reconfirmed the promises He had made unconditionally to Abraham—showing Jacob was now the rightful heir: "And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.

       "And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a NATION and a COMPANY OF NATIONS shall be of thee, and KINGS [plural! More than one! A dynasty of KINGS over MANY NATIONS! This is not referring to that "one seed, which is Christ"; not referring to the sceptre part of the two-fold promise of race and grace; it is referring to the birthright portion; the promise of national greatness!] shall come out of thy loins;

       "And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land" (Genesis 35: 10-12).

       Jacob set up the famous "pillar stone" there, anointed it with oil, and named the place "Bethel," meaning "God's house." It later became an important city in ancient Palestine.

Jacob's Pillar Stone

       Isaac, following the pattern set by his father Abraham, forbad his son, Jacob, to marry among the Canaanites. He "...called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

       "Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

       "And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave to Abraham" (Genesis 28:14).

       Esau also disdained marrying among the Canaanites, knowing it would displease his father (Genesis 28:6-9).

       "And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

       "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

       "And, behold, the Eternal stood above it, and said, I am the Eternal God of Abraham thy father and of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed" (Genesis 28:10-13).

       There are those who attempt forcing the interpretation that God was promising only the land of Palestine to Jacob; that He meant "the land on which you lie—ONLY," and did not mean to grant to Jacob the promise of seed which would overspread the earth!

       But how ridiculous! Was God promising merely a patch of rocky ground about six feet by two and a half feet? The "land whereon thou liest" was only the patch of rocky ground actually touched by the body of Jacob! Such an assumption would be sheer nonsense! Do those who quote this verse only, attempting to negate the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and here reconfirmed to Jacob, have a case of terrible "tunnel vision"? For, note carefully the very next verse!

       "And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt SPREAD ABROAD TO THE WEST, AND TO THE EAST, AND TO THE NORTH, AND TO THE SOUTH: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed!" (Genesis 28:14).

       The families of the earth would be blessed because the seed of Jacob would ultimately be living everywhere among them—scattered AROUND THE EARTH!

       Again, it is absolutely proved that God promised Abraham's seed would ultimately be hundreds of millions; that they would spread abroad FROM the land of Palestine; that they would be found in all directions of the compass from Palestine!

       Jacob awoke from his vivid dream and said, "Surely the Eternal is in this place, and I knew it not...How dreadful [awesome; overwhelming, not terrible] is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

       "And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar [stood it on end, like a monument, or marker], and poured oil on the top of it.

       "And he called the name of that place `Bethel' [the house of God]: but the name of that city [which it later became] was called Luz at first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Eternal be my God:

       "And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee!" (Genesis 28:16-22).

       Like his grandfather Abraham, who had tithed to Melchizedek, the Priest of the most high God, Jacob understood the law of tithing. He knew God has a prior claim on the first tenth of the income He freely gives to those who obey Him! Note well that these references to God's law of tithing occur in the Bible LONG BEFORE any Levitical priesthood; long before the birth of Moses; long before any laws given at Sinai.

       Abraham, Isaac and Jacob OBEYED God. They did not merely think "nice thoughts" about God; they did not offer Him lip service. Their quality of character was not merely a "good attitude"; they PROVED their love and obedience to God BY THEIR WORKS! James wrote, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith BY MY WORKS. Thou believest that there is one God? [or, "that God is one"]; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and tremble!" (James 2:17-19).

       The devil is a great BELIEVER! He KNOWS God exists, for he has SEEN GOD! His fallen angels, called "demons," also "believe"! Like millions of professing Christians, they "believe on" Christ! Oh, don't doubt for a moment that the demons KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST! They KNOW He died for the sins of the world; that He is the Saviour of mankind! Was not Satan the devil personally inside of Judas Iscariot at Christ's betrayal?

       But "belief" is NOT ENOUGH!

       Notice! "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

       "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works [deeds-action!] was faith made perfect?

       "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham BELIEVED GOD [he didn't merely "believe on" God—HE BELIEVED GOD] and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God" (James 2:17-23).

       As a result of Jacob's vow of obedience, God continued to bless him throughout his long life. More on his famous "pillar" stone later.

       Now we come to a Bible truth so simple, and yet so profound, that it is surprising that millions of churchgoing, professing Christians do not understand it! That has to do with the identity of "the House of Israel," and "the House of Judah."

       Few seem to understand that not all Israelites are Jews!

       Just as all Americans are not Texans, yet all Texans (legal residents) are Americans, so it is true that all Jews are Israelites! But all Israelites are not Jews!

       The term "Jew" is a nickname for the progenitor of the Jewish race, "Judah." Judah is one of the children of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.

       With the division of the tribes following the death of Solomon, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, controlled the southern portion of the land with its capital, Jerusalem. Levi was scattered throughout the other tribes and had no inheritance in the land. The "House of Judah" included, primarily, the tribe of Judah, with portions of Levi and Simeon, and perhaps a small portion of Benjamin, with which Judah shared a common border to the north of Jerusalem.

       The northern kingdom, with its capital at Samaria, embodied the remainder of all the tribes of Israel, numbering ten in all, under a completely separate dynasty of kings!

       Why is it that few churchgoing professing "Christians" know and understand that there were two separate nations, two separate capital cities, two separate dynasties of kings, and that there are four whole books of the Bible devoted to the separate national histories of these peoples; that one of them was called "the House of Israel," and the other "the House of Judah"?

       Jacob had twelve children.

       The story of Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel, is found in chapter 28 through chapter 31 of the book of Genesis.

       Leah was the mother of the following children: Dinah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

       Rachel's maid, Bilhah, bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali.

       Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Gad and Asher.

       Finally, Rachel, Jacob's choice for a wife and the one for whom he had labored so long, bore Jacob two sons, Joseph, and Benjamin.

       After the saga of Jacob and Laban, his marriage to the two sisters, the births of their many children and the expiration of many years, the Bible shows how greatly Jacob was enlarged and blessed, materially.

       In his prayer, because of fear of his brother Esau, Jacob said, "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

       "And thou said, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude" (Genesis 32:11, 12).

How Jacob Became "Israel"

       Then follows one of the strangest accounts in all the Bible.

       "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with Him until the breaking of the day.

       "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched [struck, Hebrew] the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him.

       "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

       "And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. "And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [he who strives, perseveres, or overcomes with God] for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hath prevailed.

       "And Jacob asked him, and said, tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

       "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

       "And as he passed Peniel [the face of God] the sun rose upon him, and he halted [limped] upon his thigh."

       This mysterious account shows that Jacob wrestled most of the night with a person whom he later referred to as God.

       Perhaps in some strange way Jacob realized the challenge of this person had to do with the birthright. To Jacob, he may have understood that if he could just persevere, prevail, hang on and overcome in this personal test of rugged endurance, physical strength and prowess, he would win great rewards.

       To Jacob, it might have been as if he had an opportunity to find Aladdin's lamp, possess the goose that laid the golden egg, storm the castle wherein all the king's treasures were stored, and gain a great prize if he prevailed and persevered with this personality who challenged him to a contest of physical strength!

       One sees the struggle as if lasting for hours, and, because the personality Jacob referred to as "God" had manifested himself as a physical human being, Jacob's tenacity was such that the only way this Person could overcome him was by striking a blow not unlike that of a karate champion which partially disabled Jacob and resulted in a pronounced limp!

       In any event, it was following this strange occurrence that God changed the name of Jacob to ISRAEL!

       Later, God appeared unto Jacob, "And God said unto him, thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but ISRAEL shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

       "And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation [singular] and a company of nations [multiple nations!] shall be of thee, and kings [plural] shall come out of thy loins!

       "And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac to thee I will give it, and to thy seed [multiple seed—millions!] after thee will I give the land" (Genesis 35:10).

       The promises which had been made unconditional to Abraham now passed on to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel! Much of the remainder of the book of Genesis is taken up with the story of how the jealous brothers sold Joseph, Israel's favorite son, into Egypt; how God allowed this to happen in order to provide a place for the family to endure the searing drought which would take thousands of lives in Palestine, and how the result was the birth of a new nation in captivity.

       Toward the end of the book of Genesis is a fascinating chapter (chapter 49) giving strong clues as to the modem identity of the many tribes of the "House of Israel."

       In the preceding chapter (Genesis 48) is the vitally important account of how the name of Israel passed upon Ephraim and Manassseh, Joseph's two sons!

       But the most important verse is verse 16. Read it again!

       "The angel [messenger] which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lad; 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."

       Which tribes, then, according to your Bible, should wear the name of Israel? Judah? No. Simeon or Levi? No.

       The name of the House of ISRAEL was very clearly passed down to the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, in that order!

       Ephraim was prophesied to become a company of nations, and his brother, Manasseh, a great single nation!

       These two brothers were to possess the names of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or ISRAEL!

       They, uniquely among the other children of Jacob, were to have the name of "ISRAEL" upon them!

       Yet millions of professing Christians remain blissfully ignorant of these vitally important scriptures which clearly identify the "lost ten tribes," or the "covenant people," prophesied to inherit the national greatness promised the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

How Could the Jews Go to War Against Israel?

       As mentioned previously, the term "Jew" is merely a nickname for a person of the House of Judah. The term never appears in the Bible until II Kings 16:6.

       Turn to and read this important scripture: "At that time, Rezin King of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." Read the whole chapter in its correct context.

       Ahaz, who was 20 when he began to reign (verse 2), was accused of causing the southern kingdom of the House of Judah to sin in the same way as did the kings of Israel (verse 3), causing his own son to "pass through the fire," and descending into idolatry.

       Pekah, the son of Remaliah, was the king of Israel.

       As a result of Judah's idolatry, God used Israel, together with its ally, Syria, to attack Judah, the Jews.

       Note verse 5, "Then Rezin King of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him."

       In this account. the 10-tribed nation of Israel, allied with the Syrians, is waging war against the "House of Judah" under King Ahaz in Jerusalem.

       Here, then, is a clear account of war between Israel and the Jews!

       This is sure biblical proof that the term "Jew" and the term "Israelite" are absolutely not synonymous.

       Any reading of the four historical books of I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles will convince even a casual student of the Bible that these four books of the Old Testament are devoted to the separate national histories of the 10-tribed "House of Israel" to the north, and the "House of Judah" (the Jews) to the south.

       For generations this situation prevailed.

God's Covenant With David

       A vitally important thread of the story of the national identity of the American and British peoples is found in God's promise to David.

       Why? Remember! God promised "the sceptre shall not depart from Judah." David, as the grandfather of Rehoboam, the first king in a long line of rulers over the southern kingdom, was given an unconditional promise from God.

       The covenant with David had nothing to do with the birthright promise; the promise of RACE. Instead, it concerned the sceptre promise, the promise of GRACE; the lineage through which Christ would be born.

       For a full understanding of the covenant God made with David, turn to and read all of II Samuel the seventh chapter.

       Notice particularly verses 12 through 17: "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

       "He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

       "I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity. I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

       "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

       "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.

       "According to all these words, and according to this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."

       The genealogy of Jesus Christ proves how God kept this promise to David. Read Luke 3:23 to the end of the chapter and you will read of Jesus' "legal" genealogy through His foster father, Joseph, back to Adam. Verses 31 and 32 include Jesse, David's father, and David himself.

       Each year, at "Christmas" time, little children are schooled in repeating the angelic enunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Millions hear these words repeated each year, yet none seem to understand what they mean.

       The angel said to Mary, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

       "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS.

       "He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom        there shall be no end" (Luke 1:30-33).

What does this scripture tell you?

       It tells you, in incontrovertible and plain language from the inspired Word of God, that the throne of David will still remain as a viable throne—meaning a position of rulership over a nation—right up until the second coming of Christ!

       Notice! "Behold the days come, saith the Eternal, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

       "In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel [a different nation] shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE ETERNAL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5, 6).

       Jeremiah's prophecy depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ to rule for 1,000 years over the earth. The language is unmistakably concerned with Jesus inheriting the throne of His father David. It emphasizes the lineage from David until Jesus Christ, and speaks of the fulfillment of Paul's prophecies concerning the salvation of the Jews (Romans 11), which will only occur after the second coming of Christ!

       Read Jeremiah 30, verse 7 through 11!

       Here you see God promising to "break the yoke" of Israel's captors from Israel's neck, and a prophecy of the resurrection.

       "I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

       "But they shalt serve the Eternal their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

       "Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Eternal; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob [Israel] shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

       "For I am with thee, saith the Eternal, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee..."

       David's throne will still be extant at the time of the second coming of Christ. David himself will be resurrected at that time, and sit on a throne over the 12 tribes of Israel, yet under authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

       Jesus Christ is prophesied to come to "inherit the throne of His father David," proving that throne still exists.

The Ten Tribes of Israel Removed

       For generations, God pled with stiff-necked, rebellious ten-tribed Israel. God had given them His weekly Sabbath day as a perpetual sign between Himself and His people (Exodus 31). He had revealed His annual Sabbaths (Leviticus 23) to them, commencing with the solemn Passover, which was instituted at the time Israel was constituted as a nation; brought out of Egyptian slavery, sent into their own land.

       God shows the Sabbath was made for MAN, not "the Jews" (Mark 2:26, 27). The Sabbath was created when God rested on the seventh day, and hallowed (sanctified, set apart for holy use and purpose) it (Genesis 2:1-3). It was the great TEST commandment (Exodus 16:28), revealed, enforced upon the Israelites long before the giving of the decalogue at Sinai!

       That's why God said, "REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to KEEP it holy..." (Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath was holy time. God MADE it holy when He rested upon that day; gave it to Israel as a great blessing; a day of complete REST out of every seven; a day of rejoicing, prayer, study, worship of God, relaxing, rejuvenation—a day where one ceased from his workaday job; acknowledged God as Creator!

       God shows the Sabbath day looks back at Creation, and looks forward, to the millennial reign of Christ. It is a picture of the seven-thousand year plan of God, wherein six thousand years are given to man, to write the lesson in human suffering, sickness, squalor, poverty, disease and war; to etch the indelible lesson in human blood that man is utterly incapable of governing himself apart from his God! God will show sinning mankind how God will rule and govern in the seventh one-thousand year period, a type of the Sabbath rest; the millennial rule of Christ! (Revelation 20:4).

       Typically, the first thing evil rulers did was to reject God's Sabbath; to ignore His annual holy days—the annual Sabbaths, numbering seven in all, which portray the great PLAN of God; the great PURPOSE He is working out here below!

       When God revealed the Passover to Israel, He did so amid great plagues upon Egypt! He broke the back of the greatest nation on earth financially and militarily—Egypt has never been a great nation since those days in antiquity—to demonstrate what happens to any nation who turns to idolatry; away from God toward Satan and his evil hosts; drifts into infant sacrifice, every form of perversion.

       God's laws, if obeyed, would guarantee His people remained free from disease; free from debt! They would have successful businesses; good jobs, healthy, happy marriages, good crops, rain in due season, healthy babies! They would have PEACE in their lands; free from fear and worry about voracious neighbors; would-be attackers! Study Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26, where the two opposites; great blessings for obedience to God, and great cursings for disobedience, are plainly listed!

       The history of God's new nation is unfolded in the books of Joshua when they entered into the promised land; Judges; the period under God's system of Judges, like a theocracy under God, culminated in the rebellious call for a KING to rule over them in I and II Samuel, like other nations. That king was Saul.

       Under Saul, Israel found itself heavily taxed; military conscription of young men occurred, warfare ensued, and the people had no real peace.

       The books of I and II Samuel detail the reign of Saul; his evil character. While issuing a royal decree that any witch was to he put to death or expelled from the land, Saul sought to the infamous Witch of Endor in an attempt to receive a message from Samuel, then dead. He continually tried to kill David, becoming jealous of him because of his military prowess; his popularity.

       Then comes David's accession to the throne, and the enlargement of the kingdom. David is followed by his son, Solomon, and the temple is built; the kingdom further expanded, until it reached its zenith; a prosperous, wealthy, vibrant nation which was the greatest known on earth at that time.

       Under Solomon metals were mined from far away England; Solomon's ships sailed into the Atlantic; circumnavigated Africa. They brought strange and exotic birds, like peacocks; strange animals from India, and from Africa. The Queen of Sheba, probably Hatshepsut of Egypt, was overwhelmed at Jerusalem, with its terraced gardens, fountains, magnificent temple and buildings; splendid homes, great treasuries of gold, silver, and precious stones.

       But Solomon became corrupted in his old age; he built temples to the pagan gods of his many wives and concubines, neglected the affairs of government, allowed other forces to prevail. As a result, one of Solomon's servants, Jereboam, brought the northern ten tribes to the brink of civil war with Judah, and those associated with the Jews in and around Jerusalem, including Levi, Simeon, and portions of Benjamin, who had contiguous borders.

       The kingdom was divided; Jereboam set up a provisional government in Samaria, to the north, and Rehoboam, Solomon's son, continued on the throne in Jerusalem, as the king of Judah.

       Now, there were two distinct nations; The House of Israel, to the north, with capital city of Samaria, under Jereboam, and the House of Judah, consisting mostly of those of the tribe of Judah, together with many Levites and Simeonites, with their capital city of Jerusalem. Never were those of the ten tribes to the north called Jews! The "Jews" were of Judah, from which the term "Jew" derives.

       Now, notice what happened immediately after Israel rebelled against Rehoboam's wicked reign: "And Jereboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David [the lineage God promised through the sceptre covenant; the promise of GRACE, not race]: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Eternal at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam King of Judah" (1 Kings 12:26-27).

       Jerusalem was the cultural, financial, spiritual capital of the former nation! The temple was there—the most magnificent structure in all the world! Hundreds of thousands of these people counted it the trip of a lifetime; a veritable pilgrimage, to he able to visit the temple; to offer sacrifice, and to worship God. And, WHEN did they make such pilgrimages? ON THE ANNUAL SABBATHS, when they could use their festival tithe (like a "second tithe" which the people saved FOR THEMSELVES: FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES—TEN PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME WHICH THEY WERE COMMANDED TO SAVE FOR THAT SPECIFIC PURPOSE!) (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).

       Jereboam realized the spiritual, social, cultural and economic ties of the people were in Jerusalem. So what did he do? He purposely turned to IDOLATRY! Like a charlatan "spiritual" leader, "...the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: for behold your gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

       "And he set one up in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

       "And this thing became a SIN: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places [these were to worship beneath the symbols of Astarte and Ishtar (pronounced, "Easter"); phallic symbols arranged in "groves," usually utilizing upright trunks of trees, or stone or metal obelisks] and made priests of the LOWEST of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

       "And Jereboam ordained a feast in the eighth month" (I Kings 12:26-32).

       Whatever Jereboam did, he did for political expedience. Here was a cynical man; a man who did not for one instant believe in or wish to obey the true God! Why?

       In the beginning, Jereboam was singled out because of Solomon's sins; told he would inherit the ten northern tribes! Read it, in I Kings the 11th chapter. After God's prophet rent his garment twelve ways, giving Jereboam ten pieces, he said, "...behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth [Ishtar; Astarte—pronounced "Easter"; the pagan goddess of sexual reproduction and fertility]...and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father...I will take the kingdom out of his son's [Solomon's] hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes... and it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did: that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee (I Kings 11:30-38).

       Here was, once again, a conditional covenant. If Jereboam would remain true to God's laws; setting the right example for God's chosen peoples of Israel, he would receive God's blessings! His progeny could continue on the throne.

       Instead, he resorted to politics, human reasoning. He didn't truly believe God, as had Abraham. He thought only of power, position, money—material things! His mind was on the SELF; on his ego and vanity!

       Like all would-be despots, he was paranoid! Fearful of placing anyone of real intelligence in positions of potential "power" because of a possible threat to him and his office, he set up the very least intelligent: the least qualified in the land as his priests!

       Now, the northern ten-tribed Israel was securely in the hands of a power-mad, dishonest, egocentric politician! Now, their leaders were "his men," specially chosen for their banality; their brutish lack of education, character, or qualifications. Realizing he would lose power if the people remained spiritually attached to Jerusalem, he sought to negate any possible reason for their pilgrimages. He set up golden calves: idols—abominations in God's sight, in both Dan and Beersheba. But still, he was not satisfied. Reasoning that the people were accustomed to the great Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month, he sought to alter even this commandment of God—he set up an alternate festival, one dedicated to Ashteroth, not to the living God, in the eighth month.

       Shortly thereafter, God sent a powerful witness to Jereboam of his enormous sins. He sent his prophet to warn Jereboam, whom he found standing at his pagan altar of incense. When the prophet spoke against Jereboam and the altar, saying, "...O altar, altar, thus saith the Eternal; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee" (Kings 13:1-9).

       Read the account in these verses! When Jereboam imperiously stretched out his hand against the prophet, pointing toward him, commanding his servants to arrest him, his hand withered up like a dried stick! He shrieked in dismay! Suddenly, the altar disintegrated; ashes flew everywhere! The altar had been supernaturally destroyed!

       Jereboam was shocked, cowed, frightened! He pled, "Intreat now the face of the Eternal thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me again" (verse 6).

       Like many sinners, he knew about God! When he was in trouble from his own sins, he desperately called out to God! He was perfectly capable of SELF pity! Notice he did not say, "the Eternal MY God," but "thy" God, referring to the prophet.

       His hand was restored. Yet, even after the prophet was killed by a lion after the lying subterfuge which caused him to disobey the voice of God, the Bible says, "After this thing Jereboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jereboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth!" (1 Kings 13:19-34).

       Imagine it! Though God had allowed the near civil war to develop; had prophesied Jereboam would be given the northern ten tribes; had cautioned him to obey God, and walk in His commandments; though God had sent a prophet to warn him of his perfidy—still, he refused to repent!

       Now, God determined he would be removed. Instead, God would fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! He would fulfill His promise to David! Never would there fail an heir of King David who would be available to sit on the throne of Israel!

       Jereboam's calloused politics caused him to appoint wastrels; drifters, vagabonds; the dregs of society to the ranks of the priesthood! Now, the people of Israel had a wholly corrupt leadership!

       Jereboam reigned twenty-two years, and was succeeded by Nadab, his son, who continued in his idolatrous ways. The history of Israel is replete with continual pleadings from God to return to His laws; to keep His commandments, that it might be well with them, and with their children. There were a few righteous rulers along the way; Jehu destroyed the prophets of Baal, and was congratulated for it by the Eternal, but he did not destroy the golden calves from Dan and Beersheeba.

       Time and time again, God would have totally destroyed the sinning, stiff-necked Israelites! Why did He not do so?

       Listen! "But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

       "And the Eternal was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them. and had respect unto them, BECAUSE OF HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence AS YET!" (II Kings 13:22).

       God had made His promises to Abraham UNCONDITIONAL! His mercy in sparing Israel from removal from their land "as yet" was NOT because of any righteousness on their part; it was because God would not go back on His word to Abraham!

       But ultimately, God carried out His judgments against sinning, rebellious, stiff-necked Israel—judgments He had repeatedly pronounced to them through His prophets for literally many generations.

       God had warned, "But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments [which were given for their good]; and if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgements, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

       "I will also do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, [anxiety, fear, worry—a lack of mental peace and tranquillity] consumption [diseases like pneumonia, flu, tuberculosis, emphysema, lung cancer], and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes [various diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, and especially measles, which can cause loss of eyesight], and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

       "And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

       "And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins" (Leviticus 26:14-18). Four times, God repeated this solemn warning—that He would punish Israel seven times for their national crimes and sins! Read the whole chapter! The companion account, in Deuteronomy 28, is worth-while reading, as well. God first details the marvelous blessings He will lavish upon His people Israel if they will but live in the ways which will reap every RIGHT RESULT; the way of God's law, which is GOOD for them!

       He promises bounteous crops; the plowman overtaking the reaper in the fields; healthy, happy babies, sound, loving marriages, good, successful employment; an absence of taxation and military conscription—and PEACE; no fear from enemies, no war!

       God showed His people that His laws CAUSE all these marvelous things to happen, for they are living laws, vital principles which, if applied, bring about the result of all those wondrous blessings! In a sense, they are AUTOMATIC. Yet, God promised to intervene actively—directly bringing about the great blessings He had promised for obedience!

       What does every human being want but success, prosperity; happiness, fulfillment, a sense of well-being; contentment—LOVE, joy, excitement, GOOD HEALTH and a long life to enjoy it? To Israel, God promised all these things—the things every sensible human being REALLY WANTS.