The United States in Prophecy - Part One
Plain Truth Magazine
August-September 1940
Volume: Vol V, No.3
Issue:
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The United States in Prophecy - Part One

   THE Prophecies of the Bible have been grievously misunderstood. And no wonder! For the vital KEY, needed to unlock prophetic doors to understanding, had become lost. That KEY is a definite knowledge of the true identity of the American and British peoples in biblical prophecy.
   Here, condensed in a nut-shell, is the most fascinating story ever told. Whether skeptic, atheist, church member, or Spirit-filled Christian, you will find here an amazing TRUTH, long hidden. It is startling revelation. While condensed and brief, it is plain, simple, understandable, and a truth that stands PROVED.
   No story of fiction ever was so strange, so absorbing, so packed with suspense, as this gripping story of the Bible.    WHERE is the UNITED STATES mentioned in Bible prophecies? Or is it mentioned at all?
   We are the wealthiest of nations. And, potentially at least, the most powerful.
   We are the same people as the British, and, with them we possess more than two-thirds of all the wealth and resources of the world. All other nations, combined, have little more than a fourth divided between them all. And we have acquired nearly all of it since 1800.
   Never has there been anything like it in history. Never did a nation or people spread out and grow so rapidly to wealth and power. Never was a nation or people rich. WHY?

Could Prophecy Ignore Us?

   Consider, too, our people today constitute the HOME — the last defense, of Christianity. It is our people who have sent missionaries into every land on earth — our people who have printed and distributed the Bible by unbelievable millions of copies in the language of all peoples.
   We know Bible prophecies definitely refer to the Russia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Ethiopia, Libya, Egypt, of today. Could they then, ignore modern kingdoms like Britain and America? Is it reasonable?
   Assuredly it is not. Nor are we ignored. The fact is, we are mentioned more often than any other race. Yet our prophetic identity has remained hidden to the many. Modern nations are not spoken of in t heir modern names, except in few cases. Usually they are referred to by the names of the ancient ancestor from which they sprang. Thus Turkey is referred to in prophecy as Esau or Edom, because the Turks are the descendants of Esau. In like manner, the Arabs are spoken of as Ishmael, the Russians are Magog.
   The Bible story of our ancestry, and our modern prophetic identity, is the most amazing — yes, astounding — the most fascinating and interesting story ever told. It is really the story-thread of the Bible itself, from Genesis to Revelation.

Our Wealth Promised Abraham

   Centuries ago, this same wealth and power and national greatness was promised by the Almighty to Abraham. Yet few have ever noticed this astonishing fact of Scripture.
   The promise of the Messiah, and of salvation thru Him is well known by the most superficial Bible student. But God made also another, entirely different, most amazing promise to Abraham. Notice how God called Abraham, and the two-fold nature of His promise:
   "Now the Lord 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 in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:1)
   Notice the TWO-fold nature of the promises:
   1) the promise his flesh-born children should become a GREAT NATION — a promise of RACE;
   2) the spiritual promise of GRACE: "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed," or, as the same promise is repeated in Gen. 22:18, "in thy seed shall all the nations of earth be blessed" This promise refers to GRACE, thru Christ, the "one seed," as clearly explained in Galatians 3:8. And Jesus of Nazareth was a son of ham.

RACE, as well as Grace

   But that the "great nation" promise refers alone to race — not to the one seed, Christ, but to the plural, multiple seed of natural fleshly birth, is made certain by God's repetition of His promise in greater detail later.
   "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... thou shalt be a father of MANY 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." (Gen. 17:1-5).
   Notice, the promise is now CONDITIONAL upon Abraham's obedience and perfect living. Notice, the "great nation" now becomes MANY NATIONS — more than one nation. This cannot refer to the "one seed," Christ. The following verses prove that.
   "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make NATIONS of thee, and KINGS" (more than one) "shall come out of thee." (Verse 6). Notice, these nations and kings shall come out of Abraham — generation — multiple seed, not just one descendent thru whom scattered individuals may become Abraham's children, by adoption (Gal. 3:29). The scattered, individual Christians do not form NATIONS. This is speaking of RACE, not grace.
   "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in THEIR generations." (Verse 7). The "seed" is PLURAL — "in their generations "
   "And I will give unto thee, and to my seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan (Palestine) for an everlasting possession: and I will be THEIR God." (Verse 8).
   Notice, the LAND — material possession — is promised to the PLURAL seed, of whom He is THEIR, not his, God. The plural pronoun "their" is used again in the 9th verse — "and thy seed after thee in their generations."

Not Fulfilled in Jews

   Again, notice carefully, — the JEWS have never been more than one nation. They are not, and never have been, MANY nations.
   So here is an amazing prophecy — a solemn promise from Almighty God, that could not be fulfilled in Christ, in Christians, nor in the Jews. We must look for a number of NATIONS apart from either the Christians or the Jews. Amazing as it is, we must do it or deny God's promise!
   God put Abraham to the test, and Abraham, thru faith, OBEYED — even to being willing to sacrifice his only son, if need be. And after that the covenant no longer was conditional. Now it became UNCONDITIONAL.
   "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for BECAUSE thou hast done this thing, and has 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 sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;" (so far the material, national promises of RACE.); "and in thy seed" (Christ) "shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" (this promise spiritual, of GRACE); "BECAUSE thou hast obeyed my voice." (Gen. 22:16-18).
   The promise now is UN-conditional. God has SWORN to make it good. Abraham already has performed his part of the agreement. Now God MUST perform His part, without fail.
   Notice an additional detail of the promise — the nations who are Abraham's racial descendants are to "possess the gate of his enemies." A gate is a narrow passage of entrance or exit. When speaking nationally, a "gate" would be such a pass as the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar. This promise is repeated in Gen. 24:60.

A Nation and a Company of Nations

   These tremendous promises were re-promised to Isaac and to Jacob. Ishmael, and Abraham's other sons were rejected from this birthright. Esau, Isaac's son and Jacob's twin brother, sold it and was rejected. The promise, as confirmed to Isaac is recorded in Gen. 26:1-5. To Jacob in Gen. 27:26-29, where MATERIAL blessing of wealth in the things of the ground is added, with the prophecy that heathen nations shall be ruled by the birthright nations of Israel. And again in Gen. 28:13-14, where the still added detail that these nations of Israel shall eventually spread around the world is added.
   Still later, God appeared unto Jacob, whose name was changed to ISRAEL, still further defining the make — up of these "many nations" thus: "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 shall come out of thy loins." (Gen. 35:9-12).
   So the "many nations" are eventually to take shape as A NATION — one great, wealthy, powerful nation; and another COMPANY OF NATIONS — a group, or commonwealth of nations allied.
   This promise never has been fulfilled in the Jews. It could not pertain to the Church, for there is but ONE true Church acknowledged in the Bible, and it is not a nation, or a group of nations, but a collection of called-out individuals scattered thru ALL nations. Yet this amazing promise MUST stand fulfilled, unless we are to deny the Bible and God's sacred Word!

The BIRTHRIGHT and the Sceptre

   Now we come to a most vital distinction, and a bit of Bible truth, known to but very few. Note it carefully.
   The spiritual promises, — the promise of the "one seed," Christ, and of salvation through Him — the Bible calls "the SCEPTRE." This promise as nearly everybody knows, was handed down through the Jews. Jesus Christ was of the tribe of Judah, and the House of David. "Salvation," Jesus said, "is of the JEWS." (John 4:22). "To the JEW first," explained Paul, "and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16).
   This fact is confirmed in Genesis 49:10: "The SCEPTRE shall not depart from Judah."
   BUT — and here is the astonishing vital fact so few ever seem to have noticed " but the BIRTHRIGHT was Joseph's." Yes, Joseph who was sold by his brothers down into Egypt, where he became food administrator and prime minister — Joseph who was called "a prosperous man," even as his descendants were destined to become. "For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler" (Sceptre promise). "BUT, the birthright was Joseph's." (I Chronicles 5:2).
   The birthright which Esau sold to Jacob — the promise of national greatness and material wealth — never was handed to the Jews who are of the tribe of JUDAH. So naturally we should not expect to find this promise fulfilled in the Jews today.

The Birthright is JOSEPH'S

   And just what is a birthright?" It is that which comes by right of birth. The term "grace" means UN-deserved UN-merited favor — something that is NOT one's right, NOT inherited by birth, but bestowed as a free gift. But a "birthright" is inherited, by birth, as one's RIGHT. Consequently, the term "birthright" includes only the inheritance of MATERIAL blessings, passed on from father to son — those blessings one cannot take with him, when he dies.
   And what is a "Sceptre?" It is the badge of royal power, kingly office. The Sceptre was God's promise of a continuous dynasty of KINGS, culminating in Jesus Christ who shall be King of kings; and therefore the Sceptre included the promise of eternal salvation THRU Christ.
   So notice carefully, please! The Sceptre, which is the spiritual promise of GRACE, thru which ALL nations may be blessed, went to JUDAH, while the BIRTHRIGHT went to JOSEPH. And the birthright includes possession of the land, Palestine, possessing the material "gate" of material enemies, inheriting the heathen for a possession and ruling over heathen peoples, spreading and colonizing around the world! The two phases of the promises to Abraham now are separated into two different tribes of Israel!
   The interesting story of the passing on of this Birthright from the aged Israel to the two sons of Joseph is found in the 48th chapter of Genesis. You should read it there, entirely.
   Notice, Jacob adopted these two lads, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own legal sons because they had an Egyptian mother Notice, verse 16, he says, "let my name be named on them." Hence, THEY were to be called "The House of Israel." It is THEY who rightfully own the name of ISRAEL, not the Jews!"... and let THEM grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth" continues Jacob, administering the blessing. Let WHO grow into that promised multitude? Notice it, — NOT Judah, not the Jews, — but the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh and THEIR descendants.
   Together they were to grow to a multitude. But eventually, as indicated by another prophecy, Isaiah 49:20, to be explained later, the descendants of these two lads were to separate, and Ephraim would lose Manesseh, then to become a separate nation. So, continuing, speaking of Manasseh, Jacob said, "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 (or a company or commonwealth) of nations." (Verse 19).
   And so EPHRAIM, the son of Joseph became the BIRTHRIGHT holder.
   WHO, today, are the descendants of Ephraim, and of Manasseh? Somewhere, Ephraim must be a group, or Commonwealth of nations, while Manasseh must be the greatest single nation on earth! Either it is so, or the BIBLE is not true!

David Takes the Throne

   After the death of Jacob and his twelve sons in Egypt, their children grew in four hundred odd years to a population probably between three and six million in that land. Then God raised up MOSES, fitted him in a special way to lead these children of Israel out of the bondage that had come to them in Egypt.
   When they reached Mt. Sinai, in the peninsula wilderness, God made a covenant with them establishing them as a NATION — His nation — among the kingdoms of the world. Their government was theocratic, with the civil, as well as the spiritual and religious laws, given direct from God. God Himself was their king and He ruled them by a system of Judges.
   But soon the Israelites demanded a man for king, even as the Gentile nations around them. And so God gave them Saul as their first human king. Saul, however, was not a good king, nor was his heart right with God.
   Saul was dethroned. His dynasty ended with him. Then God placed DAVID, a man after His own heart, of no relationship to Saul, upon the throne of Israel.
   Because of his obedience and sincerity and honesty of heart, David, like Abraham received a most astonishing UNCONDITIONAL promise from God, as little known as the Birthright promised to Abraham.

The Davidic Covenant

   We have space to quote but briefly from the Scriptures setting forth this amazing Davidic Covenant. Like the covenant with Abraham, God made the Davidic Covenant UN-conditional and unbreakable.
   David wanted to build a great Temple, as God's house in Jerusalem. The Almighty replied, "…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." (II Samuel 7:12). This, of course, was his son Solomon, who succeed David to the throne.
   "He," God continued, "shall build an house for my name." — and it was Solomon who did build the Temple, — "and I will establish the throne of his kingdom FOREVER." (Verse 13)
   Notice it! The throne of David, occupied by Solomon, was to be established FOR EVER! If that throne ever ceased to exist, then God's promise has failed!
   But some say the promise was conditioned upon the obedience of Solomon and the future line of kings or their people. Notice the Scriptural answer to this:
   "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" — yes, notice this BUT — "my mercy shall not depart from him AS I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." (Verses 14-15). Saul's dynasty ceased. God promises He will never take away this throne from David's line in this manner. David's dynasty SHALL NEVER CEASE! Continuing, next verse, "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established FOR EVER before thee: thy throne shall be established FOREVER."

Through ALL Generations

   Not only was that throne established FOREVER, it was to exist continuously forever, — through ALL GENERATIONS!
   "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy Seed" (his dynasty) "will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations." (Psalm 89:3-4). That throne was to stand forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven." (Verses 28-37).
   "For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel." (Jer. 33-17.) So far as is historically known, the last king of David's dynasty to sit upon that throne was King Zedekiah of Judah, who died in 585 B. C., with the Jews a captive people, with all his sons, and all the nobles of Judah killed. There is no historic record of any continuance of that throne from that year. Did David want for a man to sit upon his throne, and continue his dynasty, from that day on?
   Some say Christ took over the throne. But He didn't. Instead He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. He SHALL come, and soon now, to sit upon that throne as the King of kings and Lord of lords. But HOW can Jesus Christ, when He returns again to earth, take over and sit upon a throne that long ago ceased to exist?

Will Christ Come to a Non-existent Throne?

   IF the throne of David ceased with Zedekiah, then it does not exist today. And if it does not exist, how shall Christ sit upon a non-existent throne? See Luke 1:31-32. And, since it was to continue through all generations, how about those many generations between Zedekiah and the birth of Jesus?
   "Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne." (Jer: 33 Verses 19-21). Day and night still continues. Does David's throne?
   But what do the people say? "Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen," (Israel and Judah), "he hath even cast them off? Thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them." (Verses 24). But what does GOD say? "Thus saith the Lord," (verse 25), "If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; THEN will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
   Strong words, those! Unless you can stop this old earth from turning on its axis — unless you can remove the sun and moon and stars from heaven, says the Almighty, you cannot prevent Him from keeping His covenant to maintain continuously, through all generations, FOREVER, from the time of David and Solomon, a descendant of David in one continuous dynasty on that throne!
   Not necessarily ruling over ALL the House of Israel, or of the Jews — but at least some of them, and enough to form a nation.
   Remember again, the SCEPTRE promise, which includes this line of kings until it culminates in CHRIST at His Second coming: "The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver (margin, ruler's staff) from between his feet, UNTIL SHILOH (Christ) COME; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." (Gen. 49:10)

The Test of Bible Truth

   Has the Sceptre departed from Judah?
   Has the throne ceased? Or does it, as God so bindingly promised, exist today so that Christ can take over and sit upon a living, going continuous throne when He comes?
   The infallibility of the Bible is at stake! God's WORD is at stake!
   In the next issue, we shall answer these questions with definite, irrefutable PROOF — and show you just where that throne is, today !
   In the next issue, we shall continue the amazing, intriguing story, showing how the Birthright and the Sceptre became separated into two different nations; showing you the strangest mission ever given a man to perform, the mysterious, secret mission of Jeremiah, almost totally unknown today. We shall give you astonishing Bible proof that the JEWS are not the House of Israel, und never were! And we shall identify the so-called "Lost Tell Tribes" of Israel beyond refute, and establish, beyond my doubt, the astounding ancestry and true identity of the people of the United States of America!

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Plain Truth MagazineAugust-September 1940Vol V, No.3