The Great People

This is a very interesting year for both the U.K. and the U.S.A. Brexit is coming and the presidential elections are coming. There has been a movement in each country to return to greatness. In fact, Donald Trump ran on the promise that he would “make America great again”. What most people do not realize is that the prophecies about Ephraim and Manasseh stated that each would be a great people and the prophecies have come true in the past with the British Empire and the United States of America.

However, changing the economy to give people more economic freedom will not in itself restore each country to greatness. The heart of greatness is in the Gospel and Jesus made it very clear to his disciples that the man who follows his teachings will be secure when trouble comes. I believe this teaching can apply to nations as well as individuals. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24-25. The foundations of the Israel nations were Christian. We must not forget that it is the foundation of the worship of Jesus Christ that will keep us safe in the future.

When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh he spoke of their future greatness. He crossed his arms to give Ephraim the greater blessing. Joseph pointed out to his nearly blind father that he was making a mistake by preparing to give Ephraim the greater blessing. Manasseh was the older boy. “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.” Genesis 48:19. When Jacob said, “he also shall be great,” it indicates that both Ephraim and Manasseh would be great. I believe this prophecy was fulfilled in the British Empire (Ephraim) and the United States of America (Manasseh). Today Manasseh is more powerful and influential than Ephraim, but it was not always so.

One critic of Israel Truth mocked this idea saying that nobody has explained how Ephraimites could change to Manassites while sailing across the ocean. This mockery misses the definition of what a member of the house of Manasseh really is. A typical Israelite in the nation of Manasseh (the U.S.A.) is probably not of the tribe of Manasseh. Members of all twelve tribes are in the nation and only a portion of those Israelites are of the tribe of Manasseh. The U.S.A. attracted English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, Dutch, German, Swedish, Norwegian, etc. etc. and nobody is suggesting that all of them are of the tribe of Manasseh. So why do I call America Manasseh? To understand this we must look in scripture to see how the nation of Israel was named.

In the time of King Ahaz of Judah the nation of Israel joined with the nation of Syria to attack Judah. (2 Kings 16:5). It was described in the book of Isaiah. “And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved.” Isaiah 7:1-2. The nation of Israel was called Ephraim even though the tribe of Ephraim was only a portion of that nation. Likewise, the nation of Judah was called Judah even though there were other tribes (Benjamin and Levi) in that nation. The nation of Israel is called Ephraim several times in the book of Hosea.

So, if I call America “Manasseh” I am not saying all Israelites in the nation are from the tribe of Manasseh, just that Manasseh is the most influential tribe. I believe the people of the tribe of Manasseh mostly came from England. They did not all come. Likewise, all English people are not from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The English are made up of many tribes. However, I believe the most influential tribe in England is the tribe of Ephraim. Today both Ephraim and Manasseh desire to return to the greatness they once knew. That greatness can only come about by following Jesus Christ. When the Israelites were in the Promised Land, they were a disoriented people until they got a righteous king. That king was David. Today our people are in a state of confusion. We do not know where we are going. We need a righteous king. That king is Jesus Christ!

The name Manasseh means ‘causing to forget’. The people of Manasseh in the U.S.A. have forgotten that they came from England. They look upon Britain as just another foreign country. Ephraim and Manasseh were always together in the Old Testament. Let us hope they keep the bond of brotherhood in the difficult days ahead. Jacob prophesied of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh together), “The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:).” Genesis 49:23-24. I believe the stone of Israel is Jesus Christ, our shepherd and king. By him we shall have victory according to the prophecy.

What about non-Israelites in the Israel nations? They are now in the majority. If they are Christians, they are accepted by God as part of Israel. If not, I believe a terrible judgement is coming on them when Jesus Christ returns. Let us hope many of them turn to Christ in the difficult days ahead. There is talk in Israel Truth groups about the descendants of Esau in America. What should be our attitude toward them? In the law it is written, “Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation.” Deuteronomy 23:7-8. It is not our business to judge people. Jesus Christ will sort out the confusion when he returns. We must proclaim Jesus as our Lord and obey his commandments. Only in that way can we return to the greatness we once knew.