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Vol 16. Issue No.1. Winter 2002

“Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare itin the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel willgather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”

Jeremiah 31:10.

THE BIBLE MAGAZINETHE BIBLE MAGAZINEWinter 2002/3 Vol. 16. Issue No.1.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”— John 17:17.

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Doctrine

PAGE 3. Teaching our children in the environment of a godly home is a responsibility.

PAGE 8. A young boy of six years answers questions on the Truth over a century ago.

Editorial

PAGE 19. News & events of interest to readers.

Prophecy Fulfilling

BACK PAGE. Meet a bird that heats up on solar power!

Notice Board

PAGE 14. The Heritage & Mission of the United States of America is explained by PaulBillington from a Biblical perspective. Today’s superpower has the task of protecting Israel.

Creation

PAGE 24. Brian Luke gives an Australian perspective in this article about how the ANZACSwere involved with Great Britain in the restoration of a national Jewish home in Palestine.

Editorial & Subscriptions

A WITNESS OF BIBLE TRUTH FOR OUR TIMES

Cover Story

PAGE 10. Another Milestones Update by Don Pearce looks at recent events behind the news

PAGE 4. John Ramsden considers the new European currency in the light of prophecy.

Our Front Cover brings together many of the themes contained in this issue, forthey are all connected by THE VOICE OF THE PROPHETS. Europe, dominatedby Prodi (the E.U. president) and Putin of Russia, is increasingly at odds with the Englishspeaking nations led by U.S. President Bush, and Tony Blair of Britain. At the centre of allthese forces and conflicting interests is Israel. It is God’s purpose —in harmony with theGospel— to restore this nation, and eventually its kingdom under Christ. The opposingforces that we see in the world today will ultimately lead to Armageddon, a final battle that isspoken of by all the prophets (see Ezekiel 38:17). As the article by Ron Kidd shows Page20, the prophets speak with one harmonious voice. John Thomas (above) was an earlyexponent of this, bringing together many prophecies to form one complete vision.

PLEASE NOTE! Books or videos purchased from The Bible Magazine will be replaced ifreceived in a damaged or unsatisfactory condition

AN EXTRA 4 PAGES IN THIS ISSUE MARKS OUR GROWTH

THE BIBLE MAGAZINE VOL.16 ISSUE No. 1

For the Sake of Our ChildrenEDITORIAL

rom a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are ableto make thee wise unto salvation through the faith that is inChrist Jesus.” The words were those of the apostle Paul to

Timothy (2 Tim. 3:15), and it would seem quite clear how the childTimothy came to have this Bible knowledge—for earlier in this sameletter Paul wrote:

“...I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, whichdwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and Iam persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim. 1:5).

Grandma Lois and her daughter Eunice had obviously gone out oftheir way to equip young Timothy with a knowledge of the holyScriptures which would lead him to the Faith. As anyone who has—orhas had young children will know, such a task involves a lot of patienceand hard work! “Thou hast known the holy Scriptures” said Paul. Itmust be obvious to all that Timothy had been taught and schooled inBible matters, for he had faith—and as Paul wrote elsewhere, “Faithcometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

Now why did sisters Lois and Eunice go to this effort? The answeris that they loved their children. They cared, realising that theseScriptures were able to make young Timothy “wise unto salvation.” Thealternative to salvation is death—and while providing the lad with hissupper they had no intention of allowing him to starve to death for wantof “food for thought” (that is, spiritual food).

Which Method?We find similar instances in the Old Testament and can read there—

“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him”(Proverbs 31:1).

There is a philosophy abroad today that would be extremely criticalof Lois, Eunice and Lemuel’s Mum. This philosophy would suggestthat instead of passing on knowledge and values, the kiddies should beleft to discover them through “discussion” and (if so moved) somepersonal project research. The idea of telling the children anything is tobe avoided at all costs! Rather leave them to re-invent the wheel forthemselves.

This approach to teaching (if that is what we can call it) is not foundin the Bible. In fact, a survey of the Hebrew and Greek words translated‘teach’ shows that the idea involves both instruction and discipline,even “using the rod as an incentive.” These are what we may todayconsider old-fashioned methods—but if that is what God is telling us inHis inspired word, then it would be our wisdom to hear what He has tosay.

The philosophy behind education today owes its origin to the valuesof Humanism. A main objective is that of social (and democratic)levelling which reduces everyone to the lowest common denominator.It became enshrined into the education establishment after World WarTwo and was formerly expressed (in Britain at least), in the 1967Plowden Report. It was seen as a reformation in education. In his bookThe Abolition of Britain the journalist and author Peter Hitchenscomments:

“In the years since Bridget Plowden’s report encouraged the spreadof discovery learning, and began a bonfire of old-fashioned desksand blackboards, children in this country have changed completely.Many cannot read, write, or count. Many more can only do thesethings badly. Standards of behaviour, of self-control, of ability torespond to authority or concentrate on any task, have sunk.”

In other words, that writer is saying that the new methods have notworked— in Britain or elsewhere.

God’s WayThose who love their children and who say that they believe the

Bible, will not be influenced by the world’s philosophies on teachingmethods. When it comes to teaching children they will want to knowGod’s way—they will want to stand in the counsel of the LORD,knowing that for them this is not just a matter of academic achievement,

but the issues of life and death.The Bible, which is the word of God, not only tells us what to do—

but also how to do it. Listen then to His words:“... these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thineheart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, andshalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thouwalkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thourisest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, andthey shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt writethem upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates” (Deut. 6:6-9).

The word “teach” here carries the ideas of pointing, of sharpening,and to “impress persistently” (c/p Gesenius). No mention here of“discovering,” but rather of being told over and over again (see alsoDeut. 11:18-20).

The Psalmist (78:1-6) confesses that “our fathers have told us” and“we will not hide them from their children, showing the generation tocome the praises of the LORD... that the generation to come might knowthem... who should arise and declare them to their children...” This is acase of passing on the knowledge of the Truth, as did Lois andEunice—it is certainly not leaving them to find out the hard way.

Father and MotherIt will be noted above that God told Israel through Moses, that His

words should be in their hearts. They were to have an affection for it.As Jesus himself said: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouthspeaketh” (Matt. 12:34-35; Luke 6:45). Parents can only pass on totheir children what they themselves possess and care about. Any teachermust first be taught himself (or herself). It is when parents “desire thesincere milk of the word” that they may grow by it themselves, that theyare likely to make a priority of teaching it to their offspring Asenthusiasm begets enthusiasm, so also disinterest spreads apathy andindifference. Parents who want to help their children must first helpthemselves; “These words... shall be in thine heart: and (then) thoushalt teach them diligently unto thy children.”

Teach them DiligentlyThis phrase can be rendered “impress persistently.” Where this is

carried out faithfully the results can be quite astounding—as witnessthe case of the six-year old boy reported by John Thomas on pages 8and 9 of this issue of The Bible Magazine. This of course was over acentury ago—and long before modern techniques in education beganexperimenting with the minds of our children. This was accomplishedit may be noted, by following the concept advocated in the Bible:

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to knowunderstanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not mylaw. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sightof my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heartretain my words: keep my commandments, and live” (Prov. 4:1-4).

Here is instruction that is carried out with persuasion, with love, andwith an appeal to common sense. No one is more fitted for this than acaring parent—father and mother are the teachers here. Others can givevaluable and effective help in the work of course—but the primaryresponsibility is with the parents.

This approach and these methods have worked well in the past andthey will work just as well today when they are applied. Children todayare just as intelligent and capable as those of Timothy’s generation(whether the Biblical Timothy, or the lad to whom John Thomas makesreference). Timothy had known the holy Scriptures from a childbecause he was brought up in a home where the Book of the LORD washonoured and its contents discussed frequently—see for example Psalm14:11,12; Malachi 3:16. May our homes be like his, not one thatfollows the hit-and-miss approach of the world. Let us appreciate theissues:

“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she isthy life” (Proverbs 4:13).

“F


he arrival of the new European Single Currencyearlier this year provides an astonishingconfirmation of our understanding of Bibleprophecy concerning Europe today.

As regular readers of The Bible Magazinewill know, both the prophecies of Daniel andRevelation provide clear signs of what to lookfor in Europe in the 21st Century. But toappreciate these prophecies let us review thebackground to recent developments.

The European Single CurrencyThe creation of this new multi-national

currency represents the greatest single act ofconsolidation of the 15 existing (and potentially25) countries of the European Union into onemajor confederacy. It has been an evolutionaryprocess for over 40 years stemming from theoriginal European common Market created bythe Treaty of Rome in 1957. Various economiccrises —cold war situations, Middle East oilcrises in the 1960’s and 1970’s— impededprogress for some years, but it was in 1978 thata secret meeting between German ChancellorHelmut Schmidt and French Premier ValeryGiscard d’Estaing in the crypt of AachenCathedral (right under the very tomb ofCharlemagne!) resulted in the production of theprototype European Monetary System.

Ten years later in 1988, a meeting of theEuropean Council in Hanover Germany,commissioned a report from the President ofthe European Commission on how to achieve asingle currency for what, at that time, was theEuropean Economic Community—essentiallya customs-free trading area.

The report’s proposals were incorporatedinto the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht (again not

Central Bank. Thingswere now movingquickly thanks, in part,to the end of the ColdWar and the collapseof Communism, anachievement that hasbeen attributed,humanly speaking, toPope John Paul II.

By 1995 designsfor the new Europeanbank notes had beenput out to competitionand the winningdesigns chosen.

With the establishment of the EuropeanCentral Bank (E.C.B.) on June 1st 1998, planswere laid for the introduction of the Euro inJanuary 2002, following which theDeutschmark and Drachma, the Franc and Lirawould be things of the past. The principal statedclaims for its introduction were that it wouldfacilitate trade in a stable economicenvironment, avoiding exchange risks andbanking costs— bearing in mind 60% of theparticipating nations’ trade was done within theboundaries of the European Union.Membership of the System was to beirrevocable.

There were, however, those of a morecynical—some would say more realistic—turnof mind who could see the relevance in this ofthe words spoken by Mayer AmschelRothschild (1744-1812) who said, “Give mecontrol over a nation’s economy and I care notwho makes the laws.” In short, getting controlof the money of 15 nations would be the surestway of achieving full political federation of thecountries concerned. Indeed, no sooner is therea common currency than plans are now afoot,with some urgency, to create a formal

constitution for the whole of Europe.

The Historical PerspectiveLest anyone think that an interstate

common currency is a new idea, it is worthnoting earlier attempts to create such systems.The Roman Empire had its 4-gramme silverDenarius in circulation across the countries ofnorthern Europe as well as in Jerusalem at thetime of Jesus (see Matthew 22:20). Around AD800 Charlemagne (a German otherwise knownas Emperor Charles 1st of the holy RomanEmpire and who was also based at Aachen)introduced a trans-European currency with theostensible motive of promoting trade across anenormous market which stretched fromBarcelona to the Baltic and down to theBalkans.

Faced with a shortage of gold, he promotedsilver as the base of his European currency.The coins (one of which is shown right) carriedeither a monogram or a portrait of himselfusing his Latinised name of “Carolus” andwreathed with the laurel leaves used by theCaesars of the Roman Empire. Images ofGateways and Temples were also used—apoint worth recalling when we come to The

By John Ramsden. London, U.K.

Europe’s new currency, the Euro, is revealing to all of us that the EuropeanUnion desires superpower status. It also reveals that prophecy is fulfilling!

Eurobabel & the Beast

Eurobab & the Beast

T

The new Greek Euro coin: a woman rides the Beast!


Euro. Meanwhile, King Offa of the Saxonsover in England stood firmly watching from thesidelines. Not only that, for the story goes ofhow he responded by making his own silvercoins heavier than those of Charlemagne, thusmaking any form of interchange impossiblebetween Britain and Europe!

Much later on, it was yet again the Germanswho in 1834 attempted to unify financial andtrading arrangements between the manydisparate states of Central Europe by launchinga customs Union known as the Zollverein—which within 45 years had attracted supportfrom some 25 formerly independent mini-states.

In 1865 there came the Latin MonetaryUnion formed by France, Belgium, Italy andSwitzerland and which involved, in varyingdegrees, no fewer than 35 associated membercountries. But unlike today, there was nocentral political control: it did not last, andfaded out within 40 years.

Adolf Hitler too, had plans ready for acommon currency when he would haveconquered the whole of Europe. In 1941 theReichsbank decreed that all currencies wouldbe linked to the Reichsmark—a situation whichsubsequent German Chancellors would love tohave achieved. Indeed, when Frankfurt wasnominated as the site of the European CentralBank, Catholic Chancellor Kohl exclaimed“European monetary policy will be Germanmonetary policy!”

But the French Wanted the ECU!The French also had ambitions to promote

their currency as a means of increasing theirinternational influence. In 1643, Louis XIII, aspart of his attempt to make France one of theleading powers in Europe, issued his famoussilver coin, the “Louis d’argent,” a sample ofwhich is in the British Museum. Imprinted onthis coin was the shield (or the “ecu”) of Cloviswho became the first French King to bebaptised into the Roman Catholic Faith. So, notsurprisingly, the French took good care topromote the ECU as a possible Europeancurrency—pointing out to such Englishspeaking friends as they had at the time, that“ECU” was the acronym for EuropeanCurrency Unit—and they nearly got away withit! But in no way would their rivals, theGermans, agree. Thus it was at the MadridSummit in December 1995 that the neutral andmeaningless word “EURO” was adopted.1

What is the EURO Currency?It comprises 7 notes and 8 coins. When the

European Monetary Institute originallycommissioned competitive designs for thenotes, they wished to see anonymous,unidentifiable symbols used which would be inkeeping with the “bold new spirit of Europe.”But, significantly, things turned out verydifferently indeed!

As The European newspaper pointed out in1997, the 5E note bears an uncannyresemblance to the Coliseum in Rome, whereasthe 10E note is very similar to the Abbey nearPoitiers in France, (where Charlemagne’s

grandfather, Charles Martell, defeated theIslamic invaders who arrived there in fulfilmentof the prophecy in Revelation chapter 8!).Equally interesting is the 50E note which isstrikingly similar to the Palazzo Farnese inRome. Russel Swan, a British expert on bridgeswrote in the magazine Bridge Design andEngineering that: “We can say with certaintythat the 100E note is the 1772 Pont Nauilly inParis.” So much for making anonymousbridges between the nations of Europe in the21st Century!

However, the more perspicacious observerof the Euro notes sees the all-pervadingpresence of a circle of 12 stars based on theEuropean flag (a symbol noted in Revelation12:1). Again, we discover that the Latin forbridge maker is “Pontifex,” the title given to amember of the Pontifical College or Curia inRome.2 The windows and door ways on thenotes, too are very significantly of churchdesign. In short, it is impossible to overlook theheavy influence of the Roman Catholic systemwhich, as in the days of Charlemagne’scurrency, also featured Temples and Gatewaysso redolent of features of the Roman Empire.

The coins are equally interesting. Again, toquote the E.C.B.: “The common face of theEuro coin represents a map of the EuropeanUnion against a background of transverse linesto which are attached the stars of the Europeanflag.” The reverse side however can be asymbol chosen by each nation. Thus, quiteobviously, the Vatican coins feature the Pope.Strikingly, the German coin carries the eaglewhich was the symbol—also used in theBible— of the Roman Empire. But even moreamazing is the way the Greek 2E coin depicts awoman riding the beast. This is but arepresentation of the old Greco-Roman legendof Princess Europa being seduced by Zeus(known as Jupiter to the Romans) and takenhome to Crete where he was born. As mucharchaeological evidence shows, this symbolwas well known in John’s day when he used itin Revelation chapter 17:3-6 to depict thefigure of a harlot riding the beast of Europe.

“Give me control overa nation’s economyand I care not whomakes the laws.”

Mayer Amschel Rothschild(1744-1812)

Coin of“Carolus” or

Charles 1st of the

Holy Roman

Empire.Otherwiseknown as

Charlemagne


Which Brings us to Bible ProphecyWe have seen on previous occasions how

some of the symbols from Revelation apply toEurope and have already manifestedthemselves in recent years —such as the 12stars of the European flag, and the dedication ofa Woman to Europe as seen in the Window ofStrasbourg Cathedral—a symbol found inRevelation chapter 12. We have also seen howthe woman riding the beast of Revelation 17 isnot only incorporated in some Euro coins (andstamps, compare page 13—Ed.). This symbolis proudly displayed as sculptures both in theEuropean Parliament building and on theforecourt of the European Council in Brussels.Indeed, as shown in the last edition of The Biblemagazine, “Europe” has even adopted the styleof the Tower of Babel itself for its ownParliament building and uses an illustration ofit on its own promotional material.

Now let us return to the prophecy of Daniel.First, we recall from chapter 2 the sequence ofworld empires which would follow on from theheadship of Babylon. Verse 32 tells us that the“belly and thighs” of the image were made ofbrass which represented Greece. From thatempire eventually came the empire of Romeportrayed in iron.

Daniel chapter 8 confirms how this cameabout. Verse 9 records the fact that after thedeath of Alexander the Great his “brass”empire split into four parts, or “horns,” and outof one of these sprang a “little horn”symbolising the emergence of iron Rome. Weknow this to be historically correct.

Next, we turn back to Daniel chapter 7 anddiscover from the first 7 verses much the samestory about the sequence of world empires as inthe vision of the image in chapter 2. This time,however, the nations are represented not bymetals but rather as beasts which Ecclesiastes3:18 tells us is the way God sees the nations ofmen. In this chapter, the Roman power,originally stemming from Greece, is shown asan indescribable wild beast with iron teeth andbrass claws. This combination of features givesrise to the very fitting description of its being asort of “Greco-Roman dragon1”

Finally, we go to Daniel chapter 4 and learnwhat happened to the old Babylonian Empire.This time it is portrayed in vision as a Treewhich, after a time of splendid glory, would becut down just as the actual city was destroyedby Cyrus in BC 538. With a certain beautifulsymbology (rather too complex to explain inthis article), the roots of the Tree-empire wereto be preserved so that in the last days, theessential ideology and religious philosophies ofthe Greeks and Romans could be revived in adifferent context. The means of preservingthese ideas were two bands of iron and brass!Thus were the essential spirits of iron Romeand brasen Greece to emerge once again— andin the very days in which Daniel envisaged theStone striking the Image on its feet; similarlythat is, in the days when his Fourth “Greco-Roman beast” would begin to appear on theEuropean scene. This is a symbol which, as we

have already seen, John picks up in Revelation.

Now Look Again at the Euro NotesBut why Greek, when not only was Greece

two years late coming reluctantly on streamwith the Euro currency itself, but it is the onlyone of the 15 countries within the EuropeanUnion using that language? It is hard to resistthe thought that it looks forward to the timewhen certain East European countries withtheir Greek Orthodox origins and originalCyrillic or Slavic languages will join this grandconfederacy of nations.3

If that is not enough, is it not strange thatthe European Central Bank— the languages ofwhose founding countries all came from Latin,should decide on the actual EURO symbol inthe way they did? To quote the E.C.B.: “It wasinspired by the Greek letter Epsilon, inreference to the cradle of European civilisationand the first letter of Europe. The parallel linesrepresent the stability of the Euro.” Never in the46 years since the founding Treaty of Romehas there been such an obvious connectionbetween everyday activities in Europe and theinspired word of prophecy. This symbolindicates the emergence of a latter day Greco-Roman Empire — or as one 19th Century Biblestudent called it, “A Russian Latino-Greek

Confederacy.”4

So Where does this Leave Britain?Roughly where it was 1200 years ago when

the Saxon kings of Britain stood firmly on thesidelines of Europe not participating in the firstEuropean currency system! Furthermore it isdifficult for the Bible reader, when taking intoconsideration other aspects of prophecy relatingto the future roles of Europe, to see how Britainwill ever join the system. The prophet Ezekiel(ch. 38) makes it quite clear that Britain andAmerica have a task to fulfil as the BiblicalTarshish in opposing a Euro-Russianconfederacy which will descend on Israel at thetime of Armageddon. So even if there is areferendum and Britain does join (albeit about70% of the population are currently not keen todo so), it can only be for a limited time.

Despite Tony Blair’s many words aboutwanting to be at the heart of Europe, his actionsare currently all in the other direction—towardsAmerica which itself is steadily becoming moreand more isolated from Europe as the currentIraq crisis clearly exemplifies.

Although The Bible Magazine does notspeculate about what politicians may do next, itis just worth noting that in a survey of 19 major

The European Central Bank has stated:“It was inspired by the Greek letter Epsilon,

in reference to the cradle of Europeancivilisation and the first letter of Europe. The

parallel lines represent the stability of theEuro.” It is therefore a symbol for East and

West Europe— a fully united Europe.

THE EURO SYMBOL


An Economic Babylon the Great!

UNITED EUROPE as we knowit today was formed as a“common market” by the 1957Treaty of Rome (top left). Fromthe outset the agenda was aEurope that would be unitedboth politically and econom-ically, and one which eventuallywould involve both eastern andwestern Europe.The idea had been around sincethe collapse of the old RomanEmpire and had been attemptedby Charlemagne (left), Napoleonand Hitler. Today it is beingachieved by treaties and byeconomic control (see cartoon).

In the eighteenth chapter of the book ofRevelation a latter day power is describedunder the name of “Babylon the Great.” Whilstthis system is clearly linked to the subject of thepreceding chapter (17) and has a religiousaspect to it, the great city of chapter 18 has verydefinite economic and trading activities that itis involved in. For example: “The merchandiseof gold, and silver, and precious stones, and ofpearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, andscarlet, and all thyine wood, and all mannervessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of mostprecious wood, and of brass, and iron, andmarble, and cinnamon, and odours, andointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil,and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, andsheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, andsouls of men.” (verses 12 and 13). The primary meaning here is symbolic (forRevelation was “signified” that is, given bysign— Rev 1:1), but the literal ideas do havetheir place. The Roman Church itself is knownfor its wealth, but this expands beyond that tothe “great City” or society that is CatholicEurope.

A NEW ROMETREATY?

It was reported in the LondonTimes newspaper (Fri, Dec 13, 02)that: “Italy is pressing for the nextbig advance in European integrationto be brought forward a year to2003, so that it can be sealed byanother Treaty of Rome.

“Silvio Berluscone, the ItalianPrime Minister, wants work insubsequent inter-governmentalconference brought forward, so thatthe final summit can happen duringItaly’s presidency of the EU in thesecond half of next year.

“The Italian capital gave itsname to the treaty that in 1957inaugurated the original six-memberCommon Market.

“Signor Berluscone was arguingto fellow leaders last night that itwould be appropriate for Rome tohost the next landmark summit.Britain is understood to beunenthusiastic.

banks and financial institutions carried out in London in November, 15 ofthem said that Britain did not meet the essential criteria for joining thesystem. And if Britain does not join? Then under article 59 of the MaastrichtTreaty it could fall victim to adverse exchange controls being imposed onit— and quite explicitly upon the US dollar. Clearly there are difficult timesahead for the Anglo-American Biblical Tarshish power.5 Finally, it is in anycase very hard to see how the European Central Bank would ever permitEuro coins from the U.K. to circulate around Europe bearing the image of anominally Protestant Queen, not wreathed in Roman laurel leaves, orencircled by 12 stars, but instead bearing the letters “DEI GRATIA: REG:FID DEF.” or “By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.”Defender of which faith? And whose faith?

Footnotes1 Our Australian readers may be permitted a wry smile: a “euro” in their country is

another name for a wallaroo, “a robust kangaroo.”2. Collins Dictionary also tells us: “Pontiff: the title of a pagan priest at Tome, now

confined exclusively to the Pope.” Also, doors and gates have hinges by which accessthrough the portals is controlled. Collins Dictionary again tells us that the Latin forhinge is “cardus” which is the word from which “Cardinals” is derived. However, thewriter has in his possession a number of other possible designs originally produced in1995 when the ECU was expected to be the chosen name.

3. Perceptive students of prophecy also realise that it is in Russia and Eastern Europe thatthe Greek Orthodox Church is growing more powerful. Difficult though it may seemat present, it may not be long before we see some sort of accommodation between theRoman and Greek sections of the same apostate “Greco-Roman” church.

4. John Thomas: “Anatolia” published 1854. He used the expression to describe theultimate expansion of Europe to include co-operation with Russia, an idea which manywould have dismissed as unthinkable only 30 years ago. It is worth noting that sincethe fall of Communism, the Russian coins now bear the double headed eagle—thesymbol of the former Byzantine, or Eastern Roman Empire!

5. For a further review of the way the Bible identifies Britain and America with the Biblicalpower of Tarshish please read The Cry of the Prophets by Paul Billington or the fulllength Bible Magazine video, The Lions of Tarshish available via Bible Magazineagents.

SourcesThese include several publications of the E.U. and E.C.B. Many libraries are obliged

to have a European Information section. More particularly, there is a large bibliographyrevealing the true nature of what is going on in Europe. The following are particularlyrelevant and are available from the Milestones Office in Rugby, U.K.: email:“[email protected]”The Rotten Heart of Europe, Bernard ConnollyBritain held Hostage, Lindsay JenkinsThe Tainted Source, John Laughland The Principality and Power of Europe, Adrian Hilton.

WRITTEN OVER 100 YEARS AGO

“Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures,Timothy, from a child.”—Paul

n one of our visits to Washington, D.C.we spent a very agreeable day withbrother Little, who resides upon his

farm, about three miles from the city. The daywas spent in talking about the things of thekingdom, asking questions, and answeringthem. It was quite a holiday; for several of thebrethren suspended work and companied withus at the same place. In the course of the day,brother Little introduced his little boy, who wasthen not six years old, to tell us what he hadlearned from the Scriptures. He was placed ona chair before us, when brother Little proceededto question him. The questions were many, andall of them very scripturally answered; besideswhich he repeated the first and second psalms,and another we have forgotten. We were allvery much gratified, both at the child’sproficiency, and at brother Little’s perseveranceand scriptural intelligence, reflected from hispupil. If all true believers would take the sametrouble with their children, we should havemany Timothies, and a rising generation thatwould take care of the truth when we are goneinto sheol.

Brother Little’s son has been taught to thinkscripturally; so that no clergyman hereafter willbe able to spoil him with philosophy and vaindeceit. Timothy knew the Scriptures of theprophets from a child, and so might any oneelse, if due pains were bestowed upon theirinstruction. If friends Joseph Marsh, NathanielField, and others of their type, had only thescriptural intelligence of this child of less thansix years old, they would never have becomeMillerites, and would not now be deceivingthemselves with fables, vainly supposing theyhad obeyed the Gospel, when manifestly theyknew nothing about the subject as they ought tohave known it.

We were so much pleased with theexamination, that we requested brother Little tolet us have a copy of the questions and answersfor publication in the Herald, that our readersmight see what could be done with theirchildren by a little pains. A few days since wereceived the following questions, with the littleboy’s answers annexed to each. They are aselection which, we hope, will put to shame theignorance of every clergyman, editor,president, and “evangelist” to whom they may

come greeting, and induce them to throw awaytheir foolishness, and become as the little child,in whom is much wisdom and knowledge incomparison of them.

John Thomas.

Questions Scripturally AnsweredBY WILLIAM LITTLE

AGED SIX YEARS

Q. Who was it that called Abraham out from hisFather’s house?

A. JehovahWhat did Jehovah say to Abraham?He told him to go into a land that he would

show him; to walk through the land in the lengthand the breadth of it.

When Jehovah met with Abraham, what did hesay to him?

He said he would give that land to him and hischildren for ever and ever.

Who are Abraham’s children?They that believe what Abraham believed.What did Abraham believe?He believed what Jehovah said.What did Jehovah say?He said that he should have that land; and in

him and his seed should all the nations of the earthbe blessed.

What did Jehovah do for Abraham because he

“Thou hast Known the Holy Scriptures...”

believed him?He counted his faith unto him for

righteousness.Did Abraham ever have the land?No, not so much as to set his foot on.Who has the land now?The wicked.Where is Abraham now?Down in the ground where his Fathers are.When will Abraham have the land?When the Lord comes.What will the Lord do for Abraham when he

comes?He will take him out of the ground, and give

him life again.What will the Lord do to the wicked who have

the land?He will drive them out of the land, and destroy

them.Who is the Lord?Jehovah’s Son.What has Jehovah promised his Son when he

comes again?David’s throne.Where was David’s Throne?In Jerusalem.Is it in Jerusalem now?No, it is overturned and thrown down.Will it ever be built again?

How a six year-old answered questions over a century ago.

The article below is from The Herald of The Kingdom and Age to Come byJohn Thomas in 1859 This is what diligent instruction can accomplish.


O

Yes, when the Lord comes he will build againthe tabernacle of David that has fallen down, andset up the ruins thereof.

When will all the nations of the earth be blessedin Abraham and his Seed?

When the Lord sits upon David’s Throne inJerusalem reigning over the children of Israel andthe nations at large; then all the nations will beblessed in Abraham and his Seed.

What will be the blessing to the nations?A Good government.How will they get this good government?When the Lord is King over all the earth he will

judge or rule this world in righteousness and peace.Then the law shall go forth from Zion, and the wordof the Lord from Jerusalem. Then all the kingdomsof this world shall become the kingdom of the Lordand his Christ. Then will be the time that everyknee shall bow and every tongue confess to theglory of God, that he is Lord of all.

What will be the blessings to Abraham’schildren?

They will have eternal life given them; theywill be made Kings and Priests unto God; and theywill reign with Christ a thousand years upon theearth. They will be made inheritors of God and jointinheritors with Jesus Christ of an everlastinginheritance.

What will be the condition of man then?Man will be at peace with man; he will learn

war no more; he can sit in safety under his own vineand fig-tree, and be afraid of no one.

What will become of those war implements manhas to kill man with?

They will be made into plowshares to plow theland with, and pruning hooks to trim the fruit treeswith.

When all the families of the earth are blessed inAbraham and his Seed, will that affect the animalcreation?

Yes.How?The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the

lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shallbe the serpent’s meat; they shall not hurt nordestroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.

Are all these blessings to come upon thefamilies of the earth through Abraham and hisSeed?

Yes.Who is the Seed?The Christ.Who is the Christ?The one that was anointed of the Father.What was he anointed for?To fill three offices.What three offices?Prophet, Priest, and King.How was he anointed?The Holy Spirit came down from the Father in

the form of a dove and rested upon him.Was there any thing said then?

Yes; there was a voice heard from the Father,saying, “This is my beloved son in whom I am wellpleased.”

When was he anointed?At his baptism.Where was he baptised?In the river Jordan.Who baptised him?John the baptiser.Abraham was called out from his Father’s

house; from what country?From the land that was called Ur.From among what people?The Chaldees.Was Abraham’s name always Abraham?No, it was Abram.What was Abraham’s wife’s name?Sarah.Did Sarah ever have a son?Yes; one.What was his name?Isaac.Did Isaac ever have any sons?Yes; two.What were their names?Esau and Jacob.Did Jacob ever have any sons?Yes, twelve.What were they called?Patriarchs; and from these twelve Patriarchs

sprung the twelve tribes of Israel, which constituteda nation, which Jehovah called his First-born Son.

Was that nation ever in bondage?Yes.Where?In Egypt.Under what King?King Pharaoh.How long were they in bondage?Four hundred years.Were they delivered after that?Yes.How?Jehovah sent a man down to Egypt to deliver

them.What was his name?Moses.What was Moses to be to them?Their Lawgiver, Governor or Ruler.Where was Moses to take them to when he

delivered them?To the land of Canaan.What land was that?The land that Jehovah promised to Abraham.Where was that land?All that land lying between the river of Egypt

and the great river Euphrates.

In the second chapter of Judges weread about a particular generation thatarose in Israel at that time. The wordsare:

“And also all that generation weregathered unto their fathers: andthere arose another generation afterthem, which knew not the LORD, noryet the works which he had done forIsrael” (Judges 2:10).

Now why was this? Why was it thatthis rising generation “knew not theLORD, nor yet the works which he haddone for Israel?” The context suggeststhat the Truth was lost within just twogenerations—and one reason for it seemsto be that Israel did not obey God inthrowing down the altars of the otherreligions of the time. There was norecognition of the real dangers present inthe apostate systems around them—andthese became a snare unto them (verses 2and 3). Although Israel had been warnedabout this threat many times, it was atrap into which they fell headlong!

The same problem in a different guisetroubled first century Christians. Notthat they should throw down literalaltars, but that a part of their duty was tocombat falsehood. The apostle wrote (2Corinthians 10:4,5):

“...the weapons of our warfare arenot carnal, but mighty through Godto the pulling down of strong holds;Casting down imaginations, andevery high thing that exalteth itselfagainst the knowledge of God, andbringing into captivity every thoughtto the obedience of Christ.”

This would apply even within theassemblies themselves. False teachingswere a snare and a trap that could not betolerated. The Lord told the believers atThyatira:

“I have a few things against thee,because thou sufferest that womanJezebel, which calleth herself aprophetess, to teach and to seducemy servants to commit fornication,and to eat things sacrificed untoidols” (Rev 2:20).

What we have to understand from allthese cases is that false teaching is akiller! It has been so ever since theserpent beguiled Eve in the garden ofEden. It presents a way of thinking that isat “enmity” with saving truth (Gen.3:15). It is hostile to the people of God,and even though presented with a smilingface it lies in wait to destroy. It is when wefail to grasp that there is a war beingfought that we and our children are atour most vulnerable.

BEWARE OF THEFRIENDLY ENEMY!

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nd there shall be signs in the sun,and in the moon, and in thestars; and upon the earthdistress of nations, with

perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;Men’s hearts failing them for fear,and for looking after those thingswhich are coming on the earth: forthe powers of heaven shall beshaken. And then shall they see theSon of man coming in a cloud withpower and great glory. And whenthese things begin to come to pass,then look up, and lift up your heads;for your redemption draweth nigh”(Luke 21:25-28).

The past two and a half monthssince our last update have been aperiod of continued terrorist activity.200 killed in Bali, numerous attacks inIsrael, and now Nairobi. This wasplanned as a devastating attack uponIsrael outside her borders and couldhave had far higher fatalities thanactually took place.

Meanwhile America makes her finalarrangements for what would seems to be atthis stage an inevitable assault upon SaddamHussein.

Our prayers for the “Peace of Jerusalem”take on a new urgency. The very existence ofIsrael is under threat. Yasser Arafat has nowmade it quite clear that his aim is theobliteration of the nation of Israel.

Israel now faces Al QaedaOne headline on the Debka web site (4th

Dec 2002) was Al Qaeda, Palestinians PrepareMega-terror for Israel. It revealed that Arafathas brought in a number of Al Qaeda terroristsduring the early part of the year to help him inthis task and that having quietly organisedthemselves ready for action, the time had nowarrived for their deadly work.

“...the first attack in this cycle was thecrafty ambush laid in Hebron on Fridaynight, November 15, in which 12 Israeliofficers, troops and security men weregunned down. “Next came the bombing-attack at theMombasa Paradise Hotel on November 28,together with the missile strike that missedan Israeli airliner carrying 260 passengersaboard. Later that day, gunmen went on a

MILESTONESUPDATE

By Don Pearce RUGBY, UK.

Terror against Israel and the growing rift betweenEurope and America are mounting pressures

“A


shooting-grenade assault on a Likudpolling station in the northern town of BeitShean, killing six Israelis. “That night, a mega-terror strike wasrumored to have been thwarted in

Jerusalem, although a court gag orderprevented its publication.”

It took several days before Al Qaedaadmitted responsibility for the attack in Kenya.

“This is the second time we strike fromKenya — after the US embassiesbombings — but this time we hit the Jewsin revenge for Israeli actions in Palestinianterritories. Your women for ours, your oldfor ours, your children for ours. You havecast a siege of hunger around thePalestinians, we shall cast a siege of fearover you.” “The message goes on to crow: “In theface of international persecution, we areable to carry out operations against theJewish-Crusader Front.” The Mombasaattacks were held up as “a slap in the facefor the CIA and the Mossad in this part ofAfrica.” “Al Qaeda never dignifies the Jewish statewith its name — only “the Jews” inkeeping with its all-round objectives.”

The Debka article concluded that Israelwas facing an acute situation:

“This penultimate stage for the year 2002is viewed by our experts as the prelude toa mega-terror offensive already in the

works. External and Palestinian terroristsare expected to combine for an escalatingcycle of attacks to culminate in one suchmega-strike staged by Al Qaeda orHizbullah terrorist cells.”

The head of Israel’s Mossad, EfraimHalevy spoke of: “...the mega-terror menacehanging over Israel is essentially one of“genocide” with the aim of destroying Israel toits very foundations. “To meet a threat on thisscale,” he said, “Israel possesses a broad anddiverse array of capabilities, some of them notyet revealed.” Inherent in Israel’s nationalsecurity balance, he explained, is the ability tocountervail menaces of this kind. Should thedanger come to pass, that ability will take theconflict to a new plane which, Halevy was sure,would be understood and accepted by world

opinion.Israel has been shaken by the

level of violence levelled at her. Thechart below shows quite dramaticallythat far from finding peace in hermany years of negotiations, she hasonly found death and terror. It hasbeen a shock, even to the Israelis tofind the hand of Al Qaeda turneddirectly against them. Israeliintelligence offices have said that ifthe Mombasa attack on the aircrafthad succeeded, Sharon’s governmentwould have fallen. It is now reportedthat the pilot took evasive actionwhen he saw the missiles being fired.They missed their target by “scantinches.” The past scale of attacks hasstretched Israeli security forces; tonow have to guard against Al Qaedamakes it a much greater task. If more

Israeli reserves have to be mobilised, it willincrease pressure on Israel’s economy (Debka6th Dec. 2002).

Israel faces a grim and fearful future. Andwe know that worse is to come when theGogian armies sweep down and succeed indestroying the might of Israel—sweeping itaway, for the State of Israel as we now know itwill play no part in the coming Kingdom Age.Israel at the moment is trusting in her ownmight. What is happening, what has yet tohappen, is part of God’s testing and humblingof the nation. Eventually there will emergefrom the terrible trials that lie ahead, achastened nation, obedient to their Messiah,reflecting glory to their God.

Meanwhile Israel continues to trust in hersuperior technology. As the Mossad chief

The cruel fruits of terrorism: another Israeli funeral.

Israelis killed per yearThe 15 yrs before Oslo talks 17 av.The 7 yrs up to Sept 2000 43 av.Jewish year to Sept 2001 138Jewish year to Sept 2002 481


hinted, Israel has secret weapons that she maybe forced to use in self defence. It surely is nocoincidence that the upsurge in terrorism iscoinciding with increasing pressure on Iraq.Saddam would like to see Israel obliteratedfrom the Middle East. Palestinian maps still donot acknowledge Israel’s existence — theterritory is still shown as all Palestinian. WithBush planning to deal with Iraq, and Israelhaving to respond more positively againstterrorists, we may shortly see considerablechanges in the area that can set the scene forIsrael dwelling at peace and securely, prior tothe coming invasion.

The Middle East Newsline reported 2-12-02

“Israel’s military is preparing for anoffensive war against its Arab adversariesthat would involve the capture of territoryto ensure victory in any future regionalconflict. “Israeli military planners have beendiscussing and drafting strategies for aregional war that could take place in 2003.They said such a war is likely to beginwith a Hizbullah rocket barrage fromsouthern Lebanon in an attack supportedby Syria. “Such a war, military officials said, wouldbe fought differently from the more thantwo-year-old campaign against Palestinianinsurgents in the West Bank and GazaStrip. They said Israeli aircraft, armor andtroops would move rapidly to establish thebattlefield outside of the Jewish state andcapture territory required to achievevictory. “‘In the next war, we will be required to bedecisive in a way that will include thecapture of territory,’ Maj. Gen. YiftahRon-Tal, head of the Ground ForcesCommand, said. ‘So, we must preserveour offensive capability in the IsraeliDefense Forces. Our manoeuvres musttake place outside the border of Israel andthe ingredients of a decisive victory willbe the ground forces. The burden will beplaced on them.’”

Israel and Russia — a possible co-operationThe Stratfor Intelligence 2-11-02 carried

an interesting item on a matter which wouldhave the potential to greatly profit Israel. In theSoviet days there was little cooperationbetween the two countries. With the big influxof Russian Jews — now comprising some 15%of Israel’s population — there have beenincreasing links between Russia and Israel.There are many direct flights between the twocountries. Another “common cause” is havingto deal with Muslim opposition. Both regardSaudi Arabia as an enemy, not an ally.

“Now a new deal between the Russian andIsraeli governments is likely to inject acombination of economics and securityinto their growing relationship. The

proposed plan focuses on an Israeli oil-transit pipeline known as Tipline. Built in1968, Tipline was part of an Iranian-Israelieffort to bypass the Suez Canal, but withthe Shah’s overthrow in 1979, it fell intorelative disuse — rarely pumping morethan a fraction of its 900,000 barrel-per-day design capacity.“For Israel, cultivating a non-Arab oilsource is always important. Furthermore,with the Israeli budget in chronic deficit,the transit income is a welcome injectionof cash into both the economy and statebudget.“But in the case of Russia and Israel, thelogic of the plan goes beyond a simplepipeline deal. Moscow’s real interest iswhat lies on the other side of Israel: Asia.“The existing trans-Sinai transit pipelines,particularly Egypt’s Sumed line, flow fromthe south to the north, sending MiddleEastern oil to the Mediterranean. Egyptalso restricts oil tankers’ ability to traversethe Suez Canal for safety andenvironmental reasons. Reversing theTipline will allow up to 1 million barrels ofRussian and Central Asian crude a day toslip into Asia. “Israel’s interest in the deal is similarlycomplex. Once Russian crude beginstransiting Tipline, Israel will becomeresponsible for the security of Russian oilon its territory. Since Arab shippers as ageneral rule tend to boycott Israeli ports, itis almost certain that the Jewish state willbecome involved in the shipping ofRussian crude through the Red Sea. Thatwould add economic rationale to Israel’salready growing naval presence and justifythe Israel Defense Force’s power-projection capability throughout the RedSea, the Bab el Mandab and into theArabian Sea.”

Although we know that Russia is part of theenemy that invades Israel, we should not besurprised to find her working with Israel priorto this. Ezekiel 38:10 would suggest that as thisinvasion follows “an evil thought.” Before this,Russia could have been working with Israel.

Another little snippet of Israeli news — anIsraeli company is poised to sell 2 million gasmasks to Kuwait under an $82m deal accordingto the Israeli newspaper Haaretz!(www.albawaba.com 29-11-02)

A moment for celebration and an historic day for Europe

Let’s now turn and look at recent events inEurope. Last month was an historic landmark inthe development of the New Europe. TheIndependent 10-11-02 carried the aboveheadline

“The European Union yesterday took anhistoric step towards the ultimate goal it setitself in the Treaty of Rome of 1957 of “anever closer union among the peoples ofEurope.” The original six will by 2004become 25, stretching from Portugal toEstonia.“Even figures as visionary as Jean Monnetand Robert Schuman, pioneers of theEuropean adventure 50 years ago, cannothave imagined that one day their projectwould be enthusiastically joined not just byformer Communist states in the east, butby former republics of the USSR itself.“This progressive reunification of Europeis a time for celebration. It is a testament tothe power of the European dream. Ofcourse, these mostly poorer economieswant to join the rich man’s club to share inits prosperity, as did we (ie. Britain— Ed),after much hesitation, in 1973. But, havinglived under Communism or occupation,

Oil for Israel from Russia!!The map shows the Tipline route.

Russia's United Nations AmbassadorSergey Lavrov, left, and United States

United Nations Ambassador JohnNegroponte talk following a SecurityCouncil resolution condemning lastmonth’s “acts of terror” in Kenya

against Israel and deploring theclaims of responsibility by the Al-

Qaeda terror network.


they also yearn to be anchored in a bodywith democratic values at its core. For allits flaws, the EU provides that security.”

The European Commissioners had agreedthat there should be a mass admission of newmembers. The cost and scale of this proposedenlargement is enormous. The EU at present hasa population of 450 million. If all 10 states dojoin that number will be swelled by 73 million.From an economic point of view these are thepoor relations of Europe. The present GDP ofthe EU is $22,675, whilst the majority of theapplicants are down at $3-4,000! It will open upa much larger market, but not of big spenders.Already jobs are being lost in Britain as firmstransfer production to these much cheapermarkets.

“Romani Prodi, the commission’spresident, said enlargement was Europe’s“political masterpiece,” a bold move thatwould prevent the Continent ever fallingback into fratricidal conflicts.“‘Thirteen years ago, Berlin was stilldivided by a wall of shame. The wall hasfallen and we have rediscovered a historicunity between all our peoples,’ he said.”Daily Telegraph 10-10-02

The venture is fraught with many dangers.The Independent ran a second article.

“This will be a big bang, which in terms ofits scale, political ambition and dangerdwarfs the three previous enlargements ofthe EU. If it succeeds, the European Unionwill have fulfilled its self-appointedmission to bring together the peoples ofEurope.“If it fails, as it might, the achievements ofthe existing EU — including the singlemarket — could be destroyed.“A more likely danger is that the 25-nationEU will become incapable of takingdecisions and that a hard core of states,based on membership of the euro, willemerge as a union within the Union, fromwhich Britain might yet be excluded.”

This last sentence was interesting. As eventsunfolded over the next few weeks, Britain’srelations with the rest of Europe grewincreasingly stained. A summit meeting inBrussels for the EU leaders to negotiate thefinancial arrangements for this expansionfollowed the announcement by the EUCommissioners. It proved to be a fiery summit!There was a lot at stake. Britain was pressing forthe long over-due reform of the CAP system ofsubsidies for farmers, before the enlargement ofthe EU eastwards into countries full of smallfarmers. — Poland alone has more farmers thanthe whole of the EU put together. France isfirmly set against any reform, because shebenefits greatly from this system. Argumentsover the British proposals lead to Pres. Chiracexploding in rage against Mr. Blair’s bluntlanguage. “You have been very rude and I havenever been spoken to like this before,” he isalleged to have said. He promptly cancelled aplanned Franco-British summit meeting due to

be held in December. What had particularlyupset Mr. Blair was that France and Germanystitched up a secret deal just before the summit,totally ignoring and outmanoeuvring Britain.

Tony Blair’s desire to be the leader ofEurope was once more shown to be an emptydream. The real power in Europe continues tobe France and Germany. It is often a stormypartnership, but one that has endured for manydecades.

Britain’s troubles weren’t over. On the 5thDec she was being outmanoeuvred again.France and Germany agreed a timetable forentry talks with Turkey at their latest bilateraltalks, without reference to Britain!

“Commentators said a Franco-Germandeal would reinforce British suspicionsthat they were again setting the agenda inEurope.” Daily Telegraph 6th Dec 2002.

Britain could face expulsion from EU under Prodi plan

Dec 5th proved to be a day of confusion inBrussels! On this day was unveiled theEuropean Commission’s proposals for theConvention on the Future of Europe. It wascontained in a 22—page draft entitled “Peace,Freedom, Solidarity” — an echo of “Liberty,Equality, Fraternity” perhaps? All 20Commissioners had approved it.

However the Commission president,Romano Prodi astounded even his own toplieutenants by unveiling an 145 page documentcoded “Operation Penelope,” drawn up insecret by a 5-man cell. Billed as the“Constitution of Europe,” it proposed sweeping

changes, calling for the abolition of thenational veto in every area of policy and thesetting of “European taxes.” It proposed a“Secretary of the European Union” who wouldrepresent the EU at the UN “in an attempt toturn the EU into a world power.”

Under the above headline, the DailyTelegraph 6th Dec, commented:

“Britain could be expelled from theEuropean Union if it refuses to accept afully-fledged European government withpowers to launch military or police actionson British soil, according to a draftconstitution unveiled by Brusselsyesterday.”

It concluded with this comment:“EU diplomats suspected that a hard-coregroup of federalists around Mr Prodi wastrying to force the pace. While they areunlikely to win many of their keydemands, there are signs that theConvention is moving much further in thefederalist direction than Britain hadoriginally predicted.”

Thus has it ever been!Europe and America

Another difficulty for Britain is herisolation in Europe over support for the waragainst Saddam. France and Germany areopposed to such a war and are doing their bestto prevent it. This week’s Stratfor Intelligencereport (4th Dec 2002) carries the headline Warin Iraq: What’s at stake for Europe? It pointedout that for the EU, war in Iraq could seriouslyharm Europe’s economy, security andinternational influence.

“Europe’s ultimate goal is to become asuperpower; an objective that is as naturalas the United States’ drive to prevent theemergence of any other superpowers.Diplomatic niceties aside, this struggle hasshaped U.S.-European relations since theend of the Cold War.“This long-term strategic contest is notlikely to become a military conflict; it willbe fought through diplomacy andeconomic competition... Europe’sresistance to Washington’s plans for Iraqshould be considered in the context of thisstruggle for global influence.“...European leaders fear that a war againstIraq would deal a blow to both the euroand the European economy, which alreadyis suffering. The German economy, theengine of European growth andintegration, barely grew in the third quarterof 2002, and GDP growth likely will beonly 0.2 percent this year, according toBloomberg. “Like many others, European states fearthe negative effects a war in Iraq wouldhave upon oil prices. The Europeaneconomy is much more dependent uponMiddle Eastern oil than is the UnitedStates. The chief fear of Brussels and othergovernments is that war would bothdisrupt the flow of oil and sharply increase

Romano Prodi, the EuropeanCommission’s president pictured

here with Russian president Putin.


oil prices, hitting Europe’s economy muchharder than that of the United States. “Middle Eastern states—such as SaudiArabia, Syria and Iran—that fear beingtargeted by the United States because theirpolicies do not suit Washington, and whichin some ways would view a U.S. victory inIraq as their loss, might try to restore thebalance of power in the region.Washington, meanwhile, might try tocapitalize on the momentum and turn itsmilitary victory into additional politicalgains, such as turning the main thrust of itspolitical and military pressure against Iran,Saudi Arabia and Syria. European leadersalso suspect that Israel would use an Iraqwar as a chance to drive the Palestiniansout of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. “The consequences of war, including thepotential redrawing of the Middle Eastmap, could undermine Europe’s influencein that region and other parts of the world....Officials fear that European energymajors such as France’s TotalFinaElf —which, like Russian oil companies, aretreated favorably by the current regime inBaghdad — could expect little in a post-war Iraq. Those favored by Washington aspotential replacements for Saddam

Hussein, such as the Iraqi NationalCongress, have stated publicly that U.S.energy majors would receive preferentialtreatment“U.S. control of the oil industry in Iraq orother Middle Eastern states would impedeEurope’s drive toward superpower status.”

We can see that Britain’s support forAmerica will put her at odds with her Europeanpartners. This week it was announced that 800British troops would take part next week in ajoint war game exercise with the US in Qatar.

“Code named Internal Look, the wargamewill test the effectiveness of the US centralcommand centre (Centcom), which hasbeen set up at the As-Sayliyah army basenear Doha. “The BBC’s defence correspondent PaulAdams says the size of the UK’sparticipation suggests that Britain is ready

to send a substantial number oftroops to the Gulf if a politicaldecision is taken to go to war.”BBC News 4th Dec 2002

The Pope addresses the ItalianParliament

The Pope made historyrecently by visiting the ItalianParliament. The lower housemeets in what were, before 1870,the Vatican’s administrativeoffices.

“For the first time, the Pope hasaddressed the ItalianParliament. Some 800assembled members of theChamber of Deputies andSenate, President Carlo Ciampiand Prime Minister SilvioBerlusconi gave the Pope a 10-minute standing ovation as he entered andwalked unaided, leaning on a cane, to awhite throne on the speaker’s dais. ThePope urged the State to work to overcome“poverty, deprivation andmarginalisation” — whether the victimswere native-born Italians or newcomersfrom Africa, Asia and Latin America. “‘The genuinely human nature of societyis shown especially in the attention whichit is able to show towards its weakestmembers,’ the Pope said in his address on14 November.”

Good, frog-like words! He also appealedfor Italian help in re-introducing religion intothe heart of Europe. This has been a constantand consistent theme of the Pope this past year.At every meeting with European ambassadorsand on visits to Europe, he has been asking allfor their help in restoring the Roman Church toa position of influence in the unfoldingenlargement of Europe. The L’OsservatoreRomano put this part of the speech toparliament under the heading Europe andChristian patrimony

“A self-confident and internally cohesiveItaly can be a great enrichment for theother nations of Europe and the world. Iwish to share this conviction with you atthis time, when the institutional shape ofthe European Union is being defined andits expansion to include many countries ofCentral and Eastern Europe appearsimminent, as it were sealing the end of anunnatural division. It is my hope that,thanks also to Italy’s support, the newfoundations of the European “commonhouse” will not lack the “cement” of thatextraordinary religious, cultural and civilpatrimony which has given Europe itsgreatness down the centuries.“There is a need to guard against a visionof the Continent which would only takeinto account its economic and politicalaspects, or which would uncritically yieldto lifestyles inspired by a consumerism

indifferent to spiritual values. If lastingstability is to be given to the new unity ofEurope, there must be a commitment toensuring that it is supported on thoseethical foundations which were once itsbasis, while at the same time making roomfor the richness and diversity of thecultures and traditions which characterizeindividual nations. In this noble AssemblyI would like to renew the appeal which inrecent years I have made to the variouspeoples of the Continent: ‘Europe, at thebeginning of the new millennium, openonce again your doors to Christ!’”

At the Summit meeting held in Laeken,Belgium in Dec 2001 the leaders deleted thereference to religion from the draft copy of thenew Constitution. This is still in the process ofbeing drawn up and so the Pope has seizedevery opportunity to press those in authority torestore reference to God and “christianity” asthe basis of the origins of Europe. We viewthese matters with mixed feelings. Europe hasvery much been shaped by a history longdominated by the churches. But it is not ahistory to be proud of, based upon a corruptsystem that persecuted the true believers andGod’s people, the Jews. We know from thepicture of the harlot woman riding the beastdescribed in Rev 17, that in the final scenariothe Roman Church does have a powerfulcontrolling voice in Europe.

Events are moving on a greatly increasingpace. How much longer have we till the LordJesus returns? This is a question that must stirus to redeem the time.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it ishigh time to awake out of sleep: for now isour salvation nearer than when webelieved. The night is far spent, the day isat hand: let us therefore cast off the worksof darkness, and let us put on the armour oflight” (Rom 13:11,12).

Tony Blair & George Bush:unpopular alliance with the E.U.

Two postage stamps (Spain and Cyprus) depict thewoman riding the Beast (Rev. 17).

THE ANNUAL MILESTONESREVIEW IS NOW IN PREPARATION

process of restoring the Jewish people to theirancient homeland. This has been understood byBible students for many years. For example,George Stanley Faber writing in 1806 says:

“Armageddon will in part at least bedirected against Judah and Jerusalem; socertain is it, that the Jews will begin to berestored by the great maritime power of theage...The Isles of the sea, and the ships ofTarshish, must begin the great work of therestoration of the Jews.”

Faber citesIsaiah 60:9, and isclearly workingfrom that texttogether with otherssuch as Isaiah 18:1-3, which he alsomakes reference to.In a footnote hemakes the followingobservation as to thecountry referred to inIsaiah Chapter 18.

“... we know not inwhat quarter of theworld to look forthe countryintended, whetherin the East Indies,or in the westernparts of Africa orEurope, or inAmerica.”

The question as

to what maritime country, or countries areindicated in these prophecies—and just whattheir involvement is to be—is obviously aprominent sign of the times along with theremarkable sign of the restoration of the Jewishnation itself.

“Isles Afar Off”The words of Isaiah 60:9 are:

“Surely the isles shall wait for me, and theships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons

he largest naval base in the world todayis located in Norfolk, Virginia,where it is usual to see the hugeaircraft carriers being prepared for

their mission on the other side of the globe.These carriers, with their planes, missiles andimmense fire-power symbolize the militarystrength of the United States, the world’sundisputed super-power. As we write theselines, these ships are heading for the MiddleEast—as are sophisticated military aircraft,tanks and thousands of troops. While the worldwatches, it is not unreasonable that manyreligious people ask what role the UnitedStates is fulfilling in the purpose of God. HasBible prophecy ignored this nation whichexerts such a powerful influence upon Israeland the Middle East?

Maritime PowersWhilst there is clearly no direct mention of

the United States in Bible prophecy, there areseveral references to Gentile maritime powerswhich certainly do have a great deal to do withIsrael and the events of the latter-days. Acareful study of these references, together withcontemporary history, will show that theUnited States has been, and still is involved inthe outworking of these prophecies, as hasbeen Britain and other English-speakingpeoples.

The Bible directly tells us that certainmaritime powers are to be involved in the

By Paul Billington. Brantford, Ont.

T

THE HERITAGE& MISSION OF THE

UNITEDSTATES OFAMERICA


from far...”Several have written about this passage and

have rightly (we believe) seen a connectionwith the role played by Great Britain in theearly establishment of a Jewish homeland in so-called Palestine as outlined in the BalfourDeclaration of 1917. Certainly it was thatmaritime power which began the restoration ofthe Jews. The details of this identification havebeen published in our booklet entitled Cry ofthe Prophets, and shown in our video Lions of

Tarshish. But if Britaincan be identified withthis “Tarshish”—as wehave shown that it is—who or what are the“isles” also mentionedin this passage?

Faber, referred toearlier, has thefollowing comment onthis word “Isles,”“The word signifiesnot only islands, butany countries thegreater part of whichborders upon the sea.It does not thereforenecessarily followthat the maritimepower, which sendsout these ships,should be an insularone. It may, or it maynot. Common sense

however teachesus, that, as amaritime power, itmust necessarilypossess a veryconsiderable extentof coast; soconsiderable, as toallow its territoryto be properlytermed ‘iy.” (isles or coastlands).

This accords with what we have written inthe booklet Cry of the Prophets:

“The word that is translated “isles” in bothJeremiah 31:10 and Isaiah 60:9 has a fairlybroad meaning. Gesenius the well-knownHebrew scholar says that it denotes“maritime land, whether the sea coast of acontinent, or an island.” The CompanionBible renders it “maritime countries.” Theoverall sense is thus perfectly clear—“islesafar off” (Jeremiah 31:10) refers to remotemaritime lands, or lands that are at a greatdistance across the sea.”

That there are such “isles” or coastlandsassociated with Great Britain (Tarshish)through having been former colonies, is nomere coincidence. But there is more to this thana colonial background—These “isles” havesomething else in common. Jeremiah 31:10reads:

“ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations,and declare it in the isles afar off, and say,He that scattered Israel will gather him, andkeep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”

Over 2,500 years ago Jeremiah the prophetaddressed these countries, saying that theword of God concerning the regathering ofIsrael was to be declared to them. Thesenations, isles and coast lands afar off were tobe exposed to the influence of the Bible—thisis the obvious sense of the passage in Jeremiah31:10.

The Bible’s InfluenceThe “isles” and far off continents

(coastlands) that have been associated withTarshish-Britain include many formercolonies such as Australia, New Zealand,Canada—and even the United States ofAmerica. All these countries were exposed tothe influence of the English Bible during theirearly colonial times. In the case of the UnitedStates—which is our focus and concernhere—it is now recognized that the Bible wasone of the most important influences inshaping the nation. Consider the followingremarks make by Benson Bobrick in his bookWide as the Waters:

“Before the advent of the vernacularBible, which was made available to the


U.S. NAVAL FORCES IN NORFOLK VIRGINIA


general public by printing, most people didnot know what the Bible actually said.Thereafter, they could read it forthemselves and decide, for themselves,what it meant. Their free discussions aboutthe authority of Church and state fosteredconcepts of constitutional government inEngland, which in turn were theindispensable prerequisites for theAmerican colonial revolt. Without thevernacular Bible—and the English Bible inparticular, through its impact on thereformation of English politics—therecould not have been democracy as weknow it, or even what today we call the“Free World.”

Again, the Jewish writer Michael Pragai inhis book Faith and Fulfillment says,

“There is no essay on the Puritan Heritagein America which does not emphasize itsdeep roots in the Bible... To understandAmerica one has first to understandPuritanism, which in turn has its origins inthe legends, imagery, morals, legal codesand prophecies of the Hebrew Bible.America’s roots are embedded, as it were,in the fertile soil of the Bible, and fromthere they derive their life-sustaining vitalfluids.”

Not only is this of historical interest. TheBritish writer and M.P. John Redwood,comments in his book Stars and Strife:

“In some ways the US has preservedeighteenth-century Britain rather betterthan Britain herself... They have preservedmore of the vitality and independent spiritof the Protestant and Puritan religion thanwe have succeeded in doing in apatheticBritain.”

Yes, the word of the LORD has been heardand declared in the far off maritime nation thatis the U.S. Not only so, but the messagehighlighted by the prophet—that “He thatscattered Israel will gather him...” is well-known there. TIME magazine (July 1, 2002,Canadian edition) reports: “36% of those polledwho support Israel say they do so because theybelieve in biblical prophecies that Jews mustcontrol Israel before Christ will come again.”

Only in the United States do we see aserious challenge to the theory of evolution byCreationist scientists. In the United States toowe see popular evangelical writers on prophecyactually making waves nationally (even thoughmany of them today misunderstand most of it!).TIME magazine comments: “The election ofRonald Reagan brought “Christian Zionism”deeper into the White House: (Hal) Lindseyserved as a consultant on Middle East affairs tothe Pentagon...” The current tenant in the WhileHouse—President George Bush—barelydisguises his support of Israel either. This is allin the background as we watch those carriersdepart from Norfolk naval base in Virginia, andhead towards the Middle East.

British ConnectionsThe group of maritime nations that Isaiah

60:9 calls the isles and the ships of Tarshish,are those nations and isles afar off whichJeremiah 31:10 says hear the word of the LORD

concerning the Divine purpose to gather Israel,which had previously been scattered. It is justbecause this message has been declared amongthem that they “bring thy sons from far.” Thissame group of nations is identified in Ezekiel38:13 as “the merchants ofTarshish, with all the younglions thereof.” Here they areseen to be protesting againstthe invasion of the Land by agreat military machine fromthe north at the time of the end.

Tarshish, as we have said,relates to Great Britain. Oncethat is appreciated—then whoare these “young lions.” Theterm is an interesting onebecause it emphasizesindependence from the mother.The word kephiyr, saysGesenius, denotes “a younglion, namely, such an one asalready goes abroad for prey.”In other words, the very termused, kephiyr, indicatesautonomy and self-reliance. Inapplying this idea to theEnglish-speaking peoples, itexactly describes free nationsthat were once colonial

powers. As far as most of these nowindependent nations are concerned, they havethemselves elected to become members of theCommonwealth, accepting the British monarchas ‘Head of the Commonwealth.’ This is aunique relationship and was well described bya former British statesman, Clement Atlee, inhis book Empire and Commonwealth:

“There is only one Empirewhere, without externalpressure or weariness ofruling, the ruling people hasvoluntarily surrendered itshegemony over subjectpeoples and given them theirfreedom, where also themajority of the people soliberated has continued inpolitical association withtheir former rulers.”

Yet, as one politicalscientist noted, “theCommonwealth today lacks acommon flag, so far has thetribal fever gone. Perhaps theRoyal Standard supplies theanswer... Perhaps not.”

The Royal Standard ofcourse, with its lions doesseem appropriate in manyways—but as that samepolitical scientist (GeorgeCatlin) rightly observes: “A

A proud heritage: The restored Colonial Governor’s palace inWilliamsburg Virginia as it is today

The Grand Union flagwas the first American

flag to fly inWilliamsburg on

May 15, 1776.


Commonwealth policy which fails totake the United States adequately intoaccount is really not viable.” He furtherstates this (rather obvious) fact:

“...the United States is no longer a newcountry but an old one; and it canregard, unlike others, its colonial past,not with adolescent resentment, butwith historical pride. It is the land of acivilization ‘which from Magna Cartaon has used the fabric of law for thefulfilment of liberty.’ The words arethose of President Johnson.Historically, it is the greatest beyondall measure, of the British colonies aswell as the undisputed leader of theEnglish-speaking world. And although,like them, America is a mixture of allpeoples (and, without muchdiscrimination, most rightly such), theBritish Isles are yet the land to whichGeneral George C. Marshall, thenSecretary of State, speaking before thePilgrims in London, referred as ‘themother country.’ Mothers and daughtersby no means always agree; but it is anindissoluble special relationship registeredin the pages of the centuries.”

In seeking to describe the real basis ofkinship between the U.S. and Britain, oneInternet writer has put it this way:

There is a “congruent force that goesdeeper than World Wars or 9/11. It is ashared epistemology of liberty assumednot requested; of Magna Carta, HabeasCorpus and each to his own. A world viewthat binds at a cellular level and is beddedin the sense of objective rightness thatpower over the individual should vest,ultimately, in that individual and not in thecapricious favour of potentates.“These are the values breathed intoAmerica by the great English and Scottishenlightenment and it is why Americanslike Stephen Green rightly call us TheMother Country for the ‘AmericanRevolution’ was not so much a revolutionas a Civil War between the rebels trying tochampion those ideas and their imperialrulers whose persistent continental warshad so wounded them.”

The other tie (which ironically broughtrevolution) is explained in The Book ofRevolutions by Brian Innes. He writes:

“The American revolution really began in1620, when the ‘Pilgrim Fathers’ landedfrom the Mayflower at Plymouth,Massachusetts. Presbyterian fugitivesfrom Anglican England and CalvinistHolland, ‘they loved argument amongthemselves and, where necessary, battlewith their enemies. No man, but only God,they recognised as their superior...’ Thegrowing English colonies in America werepeopled largely with men of this type, whofound the freedom to believe as theypleased in the virgin lands of the newcontinent.

“...Men who were unwelcome in Englandfor opinions different from those of thegovernment could find peace in America;sometimes they were voluntary exiles,sometimes they were transported.Everything contributed to a strong currentof independent feeling among the colonialsettlers.”

The religious outlook that had been born inEngland by the translation of the Bible intoEnglish, and by theresulting Reformation, haddeveloped into a period ofreligious controversy whichpitted the authorities againsta growing and divergentnon-conformism, led tocivil war and the executionof Charles I says BrianInnes:

“Out of the English CivilWar came a race ofEnglishmen who lastedthree hundred years, whobuilt the British Empireand saw it — notcrumble, as the Romanand Spanish empires haddone, but grow intoseparate nations, aschildren do when theyleave the family; menwho were upright, andGodfearing...”

Such were the breed ofmen who became the Founding Fathers of theUnited States of America—holding the valuesthat they inherited as much from the Bible asfrom their British origins. The famousDeclaration of Independence was presented toCongress on July 4, 1776. Seven years laterBritain recognized the independence of theUnited States by the Treaty of Paris, September3, 1783.

Two other influences were involved in

stirring up the American Revolution—French philosophy and French intrigue. Thephilosophy was articulated by ThomasPaine, and military assistance by theMarquis de Lafayette who commanded aforce under Washington. The Americanshowever never espoused the atheism or theexcesses of the French Revolution (1789).

The U.S. and IsraelIt was Bible-believing statesmen in

Great Britain who initiated the BalfourDeclaration and viewed “with favour theestablishment in Palestine of a nationalhome for the Jewish people.” They did use“their best endeavours to facilitate theachievement of this object” by placing aJew—Herbert Samuel—over the territoryand by encouraging Jewish settlement there.They were “first” in this, as had beenexpected by many on the basis of Isaiah60:9. But if the “ships of Tarshish” werefirst in this work, who would follow up thework when the British became weary of it?

The way ahead could have been seen perhapsby the early response of the United States to theidea. Michael Pragai says in his book Faith andFulfillment:

“One hundred years before the BritishMandate on Palestine an AmericanPresident, John Quincy Adams, hadexpressed his affirmative stand on a JewishRestoration in Judea, and before the end of

the nineteenth century,William Blackstone hadpetitioned another U.S.President, BenjaminHarrison, to lend hissupport to that idea. WhenBritain was about to issuethe Balfour Declaration, thetext was first submitted toPresident Wilson forAmerican approval.Subsequently, a JointResolution of the U.S.Congress endorsedBritain’s policy with regardto the National Home.”

Pragai quotes PresidentWilson in 1919, when hewrote:“As for... Palestine, I haveexpressed my approval ofthe Declaration of theBritish Governmentregarding the aspirationsand historic claims of theJewish People in regard to

Palestine. I am... persuaded that the AlliedNations, with the fullest concurrence ofour own Government and people, areagreed that in Palestine shall be laid thefoundations of a Jewish Commonwealth.”

Tarshish was “first” to undertake the work,but they would be supported and followed bythe “isles” or “young lions.” During the 1920’sthere were no quota regulations for Jewish

The free exercise of religion was and still is afundamental principle in America. From

early times religion was based on the Bible.

U.S. President Wilson:“I have expressed my

approval of theDeclaration of the British

Government...”


entry to British Palestine, but during the1930’s Britain ran into trouble anddiscovered that Jerusalem was “aburdensome stone” (Zech. 12:3). As warwith Germany threatened, Britain sought toprevent the pro-Nazi Arabs from openlysupporting Hitler (which they barely did),and this meant viewing the nationalHomeland with less favour than theirpredecessors had promised 20 years before.It was an impossible balancing act, trying tokeep both Jews and Arabs contented—buthad not Britain pulled back from herobligation, the State of Israel as we see ittoday would probably not have come intobeing.

During the war, as the Nazi brutality toJews became more widely recognized, aDeclaration by Members of the Senate andHouse of Representatives was submitted tothe President of the United States. This wasNovember 2, 1942. The following is anextract:

“Twenty-five years ago the BritishGovernment issued the BalfourDeclaration pledging itself to facilitate theestablishment of a National Home for theJewish People in Palestine. TheDeclaration was published to the worldwith the approval of the other powers alliedwith Great Britain in the World War, andwith the encouragement and support of theGovernment of the United States... It hasthus become the declared and traditionalpolicy of the United States to favor therestoration of the Jewish National Home...“The reasons which, twenty-five years ago,led the American people and theGovernment of the United States to favorthe cause of the Jewish National Homerestoration in Palestine are still valid today.In fact, the case for a Jewish Homeland isoverwhelmingly stronger and the needmore urgent now than ever before...“We therefore, take this occasion, thetwenty-fifth anniversary of the issuance ofthe Balfour Declaration, to record ourcontinued interest in and support of the

purposes and principles which itembodies...“Faced as we are by the fact that the Nazigovernment in its Jewish policy isattempting to exterminate a whole people,we declare that, when the war is over, itshall be the common purpose of civilizedmankind to right this cruel wrong insofaras may lie in our power, and, above all, toenable large numbers of the survivors toreconstruct their lives in Palestine wherethe Jewish people may once more assumea position of dignity and equality amongthe peoples of the earth.“Our Government may be assured that incontinuing the traditional American policyin favor of so just a cause, it can rely uponour individual support and the approbationof the American people.”

When the State of Israel was proclaimed inMay 1948, the United States was the firstcountry in the world to recognize it. Whocannot but recall the words spoken to Abraham,the father of the Jewish people:

“I will bless them that bless thee, and cursehim that curseth thee...” (Genesis 12:3).

Similarly the blessing upon Jacob (Gen.27:29), “cursed be every one that curseth thee,and blessed be he that blesseth thee.”

An Anglo-American AllianceWith the ebb and flow of political forces

and the intrusion of other practicalconsiderations, governments cannot alwaysfollow through upon the noble declarations oftheir statesmen. As Britain grappled with theJewish-Arab problem in Palestine immediatelyafter the war, Winston Churchill lost control toa socialist government which was hostile to theidea of a Jewish State. It was a shamefulepisode in Britain’s history— but this was nowa Britain that was led by men who had largelyabandoned any respect for the teachings of theBible. This did not alter what had beenaccomplished through the Balfour policy

between the wars, but it meant that otherswould have to shoulder the unfulfilledobligations to the Jewish people and theidea of the Return. Even the United Statescould only offer indirect assistance at thattime, and all this threw the Jews upon theirown resources and initiative. The result wasthe birth of the State of Israel.

But the tide turned again—as it alwaysdoes—and in 1956 Britain was fighting asan ally of Israel in the Suez crisis.According to Catlin this was “the ensnaringof British policy in a last moment effort tosafeguard Israel and to rescue the Frenchposition in Algeria.”

Whatever the reasons, this event was aturning point. British M.P. John Redwoodcomments that, at the time of Suez:“Britain still felt it had the power andauthority to intervene with France in anarea that affected one of its crucialinterests. Britain had always been thetitan of the Middle East. It was the British

and French who had seen through the Suez

Canal in the first place. It was Britishshipping lines more than any others whichwere thought to be at risk. The failure ofthe US to back the British action and theclimbdown which followed causedresentments on this side of the Atlantic butalso summed up the realpolitik of thepower balance. From Suez onwards,Britain was unable to go it alone if the USdisagreed with its actions.”

Russia had threatened Britain with “modernweapons of destruction” which “could bedelivered, not by naval and air forces, but byrocket techniques.” The United States did notwish to see that threat carried out and felt that itcould not support the Suez action. It was now

During the Suez crisis in 1956, Britainfought with Israel against Egypt, but was

threatened by Russia. Britain could not actalone without the support of the U.S.

John Redwood, the British M.P.sees Britain’s future in alliance

with the U.S., not Europe.IS BRITAIN THE

BIBLICALTARSHISH?

READ THEEVIDENCE

INCRY OF

THEPROPHETSAND MAKE

YOUROWN

DECISION!


clear that “Tarshish” could not act decisivelywithout support of her “young lions”—especially the U.S. In fact, as Redwood pointsout, “the defence of our (British) freedom restsupon that special relationship across theAtlantic as surely as it has done for more thansixty years.”

But if Britain must rely upon itsrelationship with the U.S. it has to berecognized that the U.S. also finds partnershipwith Britain more than useful. Redwoodcomments:

“It is important not to underestimate theloneliness of the world’s only superpower.Whilst the US knows that it has themilitary might to do more or less what itwishes, being a democracy it also knowsthat it has to behave to high standards andthat there are moral and political pressuresconstraining its action, as well as militaryones. The US could successfully invadevirtually any country on the planet andtake the country over if it was so minded,and if it was prepared to accept theretaliation, the hatred and the loss of lifethat would entail. Because the US is afreedom-loving democracy whichpractices what it preaches on the self-determination of peoples, this has nevercrossed policy-makers’ minds as an optionin Washington. It is this type ofconsideration that has often meant toWashington that London has a use. It isgood when advancing a strong case in thecouncils of the world for Washington to beable to say that it is not alone in taking thisview. Britain, too, has considerable moralauthority in the world...“... So the US has been able to draw on thatreservoir of contacts, goodwill, skill anddiplomatic understanding that Britain at itsbest has been able to demonstrate.”

This reasoning has now been amplydemonstrated in the valuable support thatBritain has given to the US in its campaign toreplace Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The finaloutcome of this campaign is not the point(there are many anti-American voices inBritain today); the fact is that the two nationswhen working together are not onlycomplimentary, but a force (military anddiplomatic) to be reckoned with.

This is a situation that the Scripturesrequire. In a short phrase— “the merchants ofTarshish, with all the young lions thereof”—this relationship and alliance is foretold by theinspired Scriptures. Such a partnership mustexist at the time of the end. That it will includeall the young lions (the isles afar off), includingthe US, is certain. That is why 150 years agoJohn Thomas could write as follows:

“...unless Britain can form some alliancebeyond the limits of the Kingdom ofBabylon; (i.e. Europe—P.B.) she will haveto fight the battle of freedom andindependence alone, and at the price of herown existence if she fail.” (Exposition of

Daniel).The same writer elsewhere stated:

“It is quite possible, therefore, that analliance will be formed, as much desiredby America as Britain. Be this as it may,Christ will judge them both, and thatpower will fare the best which yields mostpromptly to his commands, and shows the

John Thomas in 1852 wrote:“...an alliance will be formed,as much desired by America

as Britain...”

BIBLE MAGAZINE NOTICE BOARDRUGBY MILESTONES DAY (U.K.)

Saturday February 22nd, 2003 at the Ben Hall, Rugby. Commences at 11:30 am prompt.

First Address: The Sons of Japheth & the Beast.Speaker: Roger Lewis (New Zealand).

Second Address: Bible Prophecy & The Middle East.Speaker: Paul Billington (Canada).

Third Address: Milestones to the Kingdom.Speaker: Don Pearce (Rugby, UK).

For information contact Milestones: 01788 54 2408

Up to date comment oncurrent events as theyrelate to the Bible. Thisvideo-stream programmecovering breaking newscan be viewed on yourcomputer via Realplayer

www.biblemagazine.com

most favour to his people Israel.” Heraldof the Kingdom,1852 p. 135.

It is quite clear that John Thomas was ableto foresee the leading role that the US wouldfulfill in the events of the last days. He saw thatthey would “defend and preserve” the elementsof civilisation until the Kingdom of God wouldbe established. His words, written in 1851,were:

“If... no refuge, no asylum for thecivilization of the age had been provided,the night of ‘the Dark Ages’ would return,and the world be submerged in barbarismas in feudal times. But this calamity hasbeen provided against by the extension ofcivilization and its establishment in theNew World. All that is worth preservationin arts and science, and in social life, hasbecome naturalized in the United States; sothat if Europe with all its appurtenanceswere to be blotted out to-morrow, thesurviving nations would still advance intheir career of social improvement. Hencethe mission of the United States is todefend and preserve the civilization of theage from extinction in the transition of theold world from its present state to the Ageof the Kingdom of God. This transitionperiod is a time of sore trouble—the timeof God’s judgment upon Europe becauseof its superstition, blasphemy, andcrime...” Herald of the Kingdom, 1851,page 246

This is a remarkable prediction—written, itmay be noted, in Richmond, Virginia, and onlya few miles from Norfolk where today theworld’s largest naval base sends forth itsvessels upon the waters (Isa. 18:1,2).

By Ron Kidd. St. John’s, Nfld.


rmageddon has conjured up allkinds of images in the minds ofmoviegoers, cartoonists andpolitical leaders alike.Unfortunately little is known

about God’s mind and His purpose.Armageddon is not some box officeextravaganza, nor is it the end of the world asthe cartoonists depict or as many religionswould have us believe. Having said that,Armageddon is a reality that we cannot affordto ignore.

The word Armageddon occurs once in theBible, in Revelation 16:16; where we read,“And he gathered them together into a placecalled in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” Thefirst point we learn is that it involves agathering of the nations, the purpose for whichis described in verse 14, “to gather them to thebattle of that great day of God Almighty.” Thesecond point arising from this verse is thatArmageddon is of Hebrew origin. Therefore inorder to appreciate its significance we mustlook in the Old Testament scriptures, and whilstArmageddon may not be specificallymentioned by name, the Hebrew prophets makefrequent reference to this event. Let’s considera number of general examples.

The prophet Zephaniah said that God’s“determination is to gather the nations, that Imay assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon themmine indignation” (3:8). Once again we areintroduced to this idea of gathering the nations.The prophet Micah comments, “Now also manynations are gathered against thee, that say, Lether be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion”(4:11). This verse provides us with additionalinformation; we learn that the gathering of thenations involves Israel, and in particularJerusalem. Also in this verse there is strong

evidence of anti-Semitism, and because of thisthe prophet continues, “But they know not thethoughts of the LORD, neither understand theyhis counsel: for he shall gather them as thesheaves into the floor” (verse 12).

The last phrase is significant because itintroduces us to the meaning of Armageddon. Itis a phrase made up of threeHebrew words: Arema,meaning a heap of sheaves;Gi, signifying a valley; andDon, meaning judgment.By connecting the meaningof these words together wefind that Armageddonmeans, “A heap of sheavesin a valley of judgment.”The prophet Joel providesus with our next example,where God says, “I will alsogather the nations, and willbring them down into thevalley of Jehoshaphat”(3:2). And so Micah speaksabout sheaves beinggathered and Joel refers to avalley and the idea ofjudgment is found in themeaning of Jehoshaphat —Jehovah’s or Yahweh’sjudgment.

These quotations are but a few of the manyreferences pointing to the time of Armageddon.There is however one prophet that providesconsiderable detail related to this importantfuture event, and that is the prophet Ezekiel.

There is a significant comment inRevelation 16; we are told that Armageddontakes place under the sixth vial. We don’t wantto concern ourselves with the details of the

vials, sufficient to say that when the sixth vial isconcluded we are introduced to the next phasein God’s plan and purpose, which is describedas the seventh vial. Under the seventh vialperiod a voice from heaven says “It is done”(verse 18). This statement is a quotation fromthe prophet Ezekiel (39:8) and the phrasesummarizes everything that God hasaccomplished in the sixth vial and spoken aboutin Ezekiel 38 — Ezekiel therefore provides thedetails about Armageddon.

Ezekiel and Armageddon Ezekiel prophesied at the

time when Babylon was a greatpower. Babylon had alreadyinvaded the land of Israel twice,and her two kings, Jehoiakimand Jehoiachin had beenremoved from the throne andtaken into captivity (2Chronicles 36:5-10). Ezekielwas taken captive withJehoiachin and eleven yearslater Babylon swooped downonce again upon the land ofIsrael, finally destroying thesouthern kingdom of Judah (2Chronicles 36:11-21). It is inthis atmosphere of rebellionand rejection that Ezekiel ismoved by God to utter theprophecy of chapter 38.However the prophecy looksbeyond Ezekiel’s day to a timeyet future when the land ofIsrael will be overthrown by

nations that have been gathered together, wholook upon Jerusalem with envy and greed.

There are a number of remarkable detailscovered by this prophecy and it will be helpfulto familiarize ourselves with these beforeproceeding further. There are four questionsthat are addressed by Ezekiel: when does thisprophecy take place in the world’s history;where do the events described occur; who is

The Inspired Prophets speak with one voice as theytell us of nations gathering to Armageddon

“Under the seventhvial period a voicefrom heaven says“It is done” (verse18). This statementis a quotation fromthe prophet Ezekiel

(39:8) and thephrase summarizes

...Ezekiel 38 —Ezekiel therefore

provides the detailsabout

Armageddon.”

A


involved in the prophecy and why do theevents take place?

First of all Ezekiel identifies when thisevent will take place: “After many days thoushalt be visited: in the latter years shalt thoucome into the land...” (verse 8). Again we read,“it shall be in the latter days, and I will bringthee against my land” (verse 16). Just in casewe might question what period the latter yearsrefer to, Ezekiel informs us that it is at a timewhen Israel has returned to its homeland; “thoushalt come into the land that is brought backfrom the sword, and is gathered out of manypeople” (verse 8); again, “the people that aregathered out of the nations, which have gottencattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of theland” (verse 12).

Next Ezekiel identifies where the eventwill occur: “In the latter years thou shalt comeinto the land...against the mountains of Israel”(verse 8); we are told that these nations will“come up against my people Israel...against theland of Israel” (verse 16,18).

Ezekiel identifies who will participate inthis great event: “Son of man, set thy faceagainst Gog, of the land of Magog, the princeof Rosh, Meshech and Tubal...Persia, Ethiopia,and Libya with them...Gomer and all hisbands; the house of Togarmah of the northquarters” (verse 2 RV, 5,6). Gog is described ashaving “many people with thee” (verse 6,9,).Verse 15 establishes the geographic location ofthe invader, “And thou shalt come from theuttermost parts of the north...a great company,and mighty army” (quoting from the RevisedVersion). Space does not allow a detailedexplanation of the various nationsaccompanying Gog, but historians are agreedthat this alliance of nations describes countriesfrom western Europe, extending northwardinto Russia and eastward as far as Iran as wellas parts of North Africa (see map above).

Finally Ezekiel identifies why this invasionwill take place: “It shall come to pass, that atthe same time shall things come into thy mind,

and thou shalt think an evil thought” (verse 10).The sinister thoughts are “to take a spoil, and totake a prey...to carry away silver and gold, totake away cattle and goods, to take a greatspoil” (verse 12,13). In other words theconfederacy of people will be intent uponsecuring control of the resources and strategiclocation of this Middle East region.

In summary, Ezekiel describes an invasionof the land of Israel, an event that will occur inthe latter days, at a time when the nation ofIsrael has been re-gathered from the nations oftheir dispersion and re established in their ownland. The aggressor consists of an alliance ofnations gathered together for the expresspurpose of securing for itself military controland the wealth of the entire region. The fact thatIsrael is the focal point of the invasion indicatesthat Israel is a major obstacle to achieving thisgoal and therefore must be suppressed in orderto succeed. There is every indication that the

invader is successful, at least for a short periodof time, for we read in Ezekiel 39:10 thateventually the survivors of the invasion “shallspoil those that spoiled them, and rob those thatrobbed them, saith the Lord GOD.”

What causes the course of events to change?Ezekiel provides the answer, “And it shall cometo pass at the same time when Gog shall comeagainst the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD,that my fury shall come up in my face” (38:18).This language describes divine interventionwith the result that “there shall be a greatshaking in the land of Israel” (verse 19). It willbe a shaking, not caused by the invasion of aconfederacy of nations but one brought aboutby God’s presence (verse 19), when the nationsthat have been gathered into the Middle Eastwill be like a heap of sheaves in a valley ofjudgment and the place where Gog shall fallshall be described as “the valley of Hamon-gog,” or “the valley of the multitude of Gog”(AV margin).

It is at this point that Ezekiel records thecomment quoted in the book of Revelation; weread in Ezekiel 39:8, “Behold it is come, and itis done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the daywhereof I have spoken.” These words will bespoken at the time when the prophecy is finallyfulfilled and the book of Revelation recordsthese words as being spoken after Armageddonor as the record states, after “the battle of thegreat day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14).

Ezekiel’s prophecy is not an isolated one, itis the subject matter of all the Hebrew prophetsand this is confirmed by another commentrecorded by Ezekiel. Speaking to the head ofthe alliance, God will say in the latter years:“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whomI have spoken in old time by my servants theprophets of Israel, which prophesied in thosedays many years that I would bring thee againstthem?” (Ezekiel 38:17).

All of God’s prophets have anticipated thisgreat event as can be seen from considering thesimilarities on the chart below.

Event Ezekiel 38 Habakkuk 3 Joel 3 Zechariah 14

The nations willbe gathered forjudgment

A great companyand a mightyarmy (v.15)

Thou didstthresh thenations in anger(v.12)

I will also gatherthe nations (v.2)

For I will gatherall nations (v.2)

There will be aperiod ofpolitical andgeographicalupheaval

There shall be agreat shaking inthe land (v.19)

He stood andshook the earth(v.6 RV)

The heavens andthe earth shallshake (v.16)

The mount ofOlives shallcleave in themidst thereof(v.4)

God willintervene inhuman affairs

At my presence(v.20)

God came fromTeman (v.3)Thou didst rideupon...thychariots (v.8)

The LORD shallroar out of Zion(v.16)

Then shall theLORD go forth(v.4)

God will bringsalvation toIsrael

So will I makemy holy nameknown in themidst of mypeople Israel(39:7)

Thou wentestforth for thesalvation of thypeople (v.13)

The LORD will bethe hope of hispeople (v.16)

But Jerusalemshall be safelyinhabited (v.11)

ROSH

MESHECHTUBAL

MAGOG

GOMER

PERSIALIBYA

TOGARMAH

The similarities in detail in the versesbefore us suggest that each prophet isdescribing the same event. The propheciesinvolve the nations of the world being gatheredtogether against Israel, but are challenged byGod, who will intervene on behalf of Hispeople.

Ezekiel and Daniel Daniel was contemporary with the prophet

Ezekiel, having been taken captive intoBabylon in the days of king Jehoiakim duringthe first captivity. And so whilst Ezekiel wasprophesying amongst the captives in Babylon,Daniel spoke God’s word in the palace ofNebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. It is notunreasonable therefore to expect somesimilarity or even overlap in the message thatthey both conveyed.

Daniel 11 is a prophecy about two powersstruggling for supremacy — the king of thenorth and the king of the south. At the centre ofthe conflict is the nation of Israel. Tounderstand the circumstances we must fill in alittle of the background of the prophecy. In theopening verses we are introduced to a conflictbetween the nation of Persia and Greece (verse2). The prophecy describes the emergence of amighty king, whose dominion will be great(verse 3). However at the pinnacle of his powerhis kingdom is to be broken, and divided“towards the four winds of heaven” (verse 4).

Alexander the Great answers to this mightyking, who completed his conquests byoverthrowing Persia in 331BC. But Alexanderthe Great died of malaria shortly thereafter in323BC and because he had no heir his kingdomwas divided between his four generals. Of thefour geographic divisions of Alexander’sempire the southern kingdom of Egypt underGeneral Ptolemy and the northern kingdom ofSyria under General Seleucus played a majorrole in Middle East affairs.

It is these two powers that dominate theprophecy of Daniel 11, being described as theking of the north (the Seleucid empire) and theking of the south (the Ptolemic empire). We areparticularly concerned with verses 40 onwardbecause, like Ezekiel, this section is concernedwith the period identified as “the time of theend” (verse 40). Moreover a carefulexamination of the details reveal a parallel withthe events of Ezekiel 38. We have tabulated thesimilarities (opposite) for convenience.

Daniel is one of the prophets whotestified with Ezekiel about events thatwould overtake the Middle East in thelast days. And those contemporary withboth prophets could not help butconclude that both prophecies describedthe same event.

It may be argued that the territoryoccupied by the king of the north doesnot correspond to that occupied by thealliance of nations in Ezekiel 38,however upon reflection it is evident thatthis conclusion is not true. It is a Biblicalprinciple that any power occupying theterritory of an ancient people assumes the

identity of the power in the prophecy. Thereforewhen Gog and his allies march into the MiddleEast from the north and become confederatewith Persia and Togarmah (Ezekiel 38:5,6), i.e.modern Iran and Turkey, he will assume therole of the king of the north, whose territoryfalls within these boundaries.

We should not leave this section withoutcommenting on Daniel 12:1-3. Daniel says thatat the time when the king of the north movesinto the Middle East and occupies the land ofIsrael, “shall Michael (the name of God’s angel,Daniel 10:13) stand up, the great prince whichstandeth for the children of thy people.” Danielsays it will be “a time of trouble such as neverwas since there was a nation even to that sametime.” The standing up of Michael signalsGod’s intervention in human affairs, andconnected with this event is the resurrectionfrom the dead (verse 3), which according to theapostle Paul will take place at the return of theLord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Ezekiel and Isaiah Another prophet that predicted the events of

Armageddon is Isaiah, he prophesied about 130years before Ezekiel. For the most part hisprophecy covered the period of the reign ofHezekiah, king of Judah, during which time theAssyrian power dominated the world scene. Inthe fourteenth year of Hezekiah, Sennacherib,king of Assyria invaded the kingdom of Judah,

plundering the land (2 Kings 18:13) andeventually laying siege against Jerusalem(verse 17).

King Hezekiah petitioned God saying,“Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech

thee, save thou us out of his hand” (2 Kings19:19). Hezekiah’s prayer was heard and “and

it came to pass that night, that the angel ofthe LORD went out, and smote in the campof the Assyrians an hundred and fourscoreand five thousand...” (2 Kings 19:35).Jerusalem was spared from destruction.Because of this it has been suggested that inview of the fact that the Assyrian neverdestroyed Jerusalem Isaiah’s prophesiesmust apply to a different event.

A close examination of Isaiah’sprophecies reveal that God used thecircumstances of this invasion as a patternfor a future invasion of the land. Thisbecomes clear when we recognize thatmany of the details of Isaiah’s prophecies

Event Ezekiel 38 Daniel 11

Takes place in the latter days Verse 8 Verse 40

Invades from the north Verse 15 Verse 40

Ascends like a storm or whirlwind Verse 9 Verse 40

Comes against the land of Israel Verse 8 Verse 41

Purpose of invasion, to take a spoil Verse 12 Verse 43

Ethiopia and Libya are confederate Verse 5 Verse 43

Israel is overthrown and occupied 39:10 Verse 45

God intervenes on Israel’s behalf Verse 20 12:1

The empire of Alexander the Great was divided up between his fourgenerals as shown above. Seleucus (north) and Ptolemy (south) became

prominent in Middle East affairs.

The TaylorPrism, now

in theBritish

Museum, isa Syrianrecord of

the invasionof

Sennacheribagainst

Jerusalem.The event

foreshadowsa yet futureinvasion of

Israel.


Event Isaiah 29 Isaiah 30 Isaiah 31were never fulfilled by the Assyrian power, andthe similarities between Isaiah’s message andthat of Ezekiel lead us to conclude that they areboth speaking of the same event, Armageddon.

Before we examine Isaiah’s prophecies it isnecessary for us to establish that in the lastdays, when God intervenes in human affairs bythe Lord Jesus Christ, there will be an“Assyrian” power involved in Middle Eastaffairs.

Micah was contemporary with Isaiah, andhe prophesied about the birth of Jesus Christ inBethlehem, saying “out of thee shall come forthhe that shall be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).Matthew confirms that the prophet is speakingabout Jesus’ birth in Matthew 2:5,6 where thisprophecy is cited. However Micah providesadditional information regarding the work ofJesus Christ, saying, “he shall stand and feed inthe strength of the LORD, in the majesty of thename of the LORD his God...and this man shallbe the peace, when the Assyrian shall come intoour land: and when he shall tread in ourpalaces...thus shall he deliver us from theAssyrian, when he cometh into our land, andwhen he treadeth within our borders” (Micah5:4-6).

What do we learn from Micah? (1) thatJesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem, tobecome the king of Israel. (2) at the time whenJesus shall ascend to his throne (i.e. the ancientthrone of David, Luke 1:32), he will be ashepherd to Israel and bring peace to thistroubled nation. (3) The Assyrian power,having conquered the land of Israel, will bedestroyed.

The only part of this prophecy that has beenfulfilled is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.Jesus does not yet sit upon the throne of David,nor have we witnessed any event subsequent tothe birth of Jesus that remotely resembles an“Assyrian” power entering the land of Israeland being overthrown by Jesus Christ. The“Assyrian” is a modern day power that hasassumed the role of the ancient Assyrian nation.

Two references help to place Isaiah’sAssyrian prophecies in their latter day context;the first is in Isaiah 10:12. Isaiah speaks ofAssyria as being, “the rod of mine anger,” anddescribes the invasion of Hezekiah’s day.However in verse 12 God makes this comment,“when the Lord hath performed his whole workupon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I willpunish the stout heart of the Assyrian king.”God’s work with Jerusalem was not completedby the Assyrian nation; the Babylonians, theGreeks and the Romans were all involved inoverthrowing Jerusalem at different stages ofhistory; and as we have already noted Ezekieland Daniel describe a future devastation by analliance of nations.

The second reference is found in Isaiah30:8. Again, in a chapter involving theAssyrian, Isaiah is told “Now go, write it beforein a table, and note it in a book, that it may befor the time to come, for ever and ever.” TheAuthorized Version obscures the real import ofthe language, a fact that was recognized by the

translators because they provide an alternativerendering in the margin which reads, “that itmay be for the latter day.” Young’s Literaltranslation renders the verse in a similarmanner, “and it is for a latter day, for a witnessunto the age.”

Both these references illustrate that Isaiah’sprophecies involving Assyria will have their

final fulfillment in the last days when the“Assyrian” shall come into the land “to take thespoil, and to take the prey” (Isaiah 10:6).

There are three prophecies in Isaiah whichcan be viewed in parallel, each one filling outthe overall picture. Again, it will be helpful topresent the pertinent references in tabular form(see chart at top).

Ezekiel, Daniel and Isaiah, along with allthe prophets have raised their voice in

prophesying about the time of the end. Theapostle Paul declared that God “has appointed aday, in the which he will judge this world inrighteousness” (Acts 17:31); it will be noordinary day, it is described as “the great day ofGod Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) and all theprophets have painted the same dramaticpicture.

God made a promise through the prophetAmos that He will do nothing, but that hewould reveal “his secret unto his servants theprophets” (Amos 3:7) and because of this theapostle Peter described the voice of theprophets as, “a more sure word of prophecy;whereunto ye do well that ye take heed...” (2Peter 1:19).

We are living in unprecedented times,wherever we look we see the nations beinggathered together, with the Middle East as thefocal point of interest. Whatever reasonsprovoke the United States, Britain, the UnitedNations, the Palestinians or Iraq to do what theyare doing, “they know not the thoughts of theLORD, neither understand they his counsel: forHE (God) shall gather them as sheaves into thefloor.” Armageddon will come and the voice ofthe prophets will be fulfilled and God willfinally say, “Behold, it is come, and it is done,saith the LORD; this is the day whereof I havespoken” (Ezekiel 39:8).

Where will we stand in that day?

Isaiah’s propheciesinvolving Assyria will havetheir final fulfillment in the

last days when the“Assyrian” shall come intothe land “to take the spoil,

and to take the prey”(Isaiah 10:6).

Israel enters into analliance with Egypt

“Woe to therebellious children ...that walk to go downto Egypt to trust inthe shadow ofEgypt” verse 1,2

Jerusalem is besiegedby the enemy

“And I will campagainst thee roundabout, and will laysiege against thee”verse 1-3

Jerusalem isoverthrown by theinvader

“And thou shalt bebrought down, andshall speak out ofthe ground,” verse 4

“this iniquity shall beto you as a breachready to fail...he shallnot spare,” verse 13-16

God will have mercyon Israel

“therefore will theLORD wait, that hemay be gracious untoyou,” verse 18-20

God will interveneon behalf of Israel

“the multitude ofstrangers will be likesmall dust...as thechaff that passethaway” verse 5

“Behold the name ofthe LORD comethfrom far...to sift thenations” verses 27-30

The nations opposingJerusalem willbecome destroyed

“And the multitudeof nations that fightagainst Ariel...shallbe as a dream,”verse 7

“Through the voiceof the LORD shall theAssyrian be troddendown,” verse 31-33

“Woe to them that godown to Egypt forhelp”, verse 1

“When the LORD

shall stretch out hishand, both he thathelpeth shall fall, andhe that is holpen shallfall down,” verse 3

“as birds flying, sowill the LORD ofhosts defendJerusalem” verse 5

“Then shall theAssyrian fall with thesword,” verse 8,9

‘

’


“I know not whether the men, who atpresent contrive the foreign policy ofBritain, entertain the idea of assuming thesovereignty of the Holy Land, and ofpromoting its colonization by the Jews;their present intentions, however, are of noimportance one way or the other, becausethey will be compelled, by events soon tohappen, to do what, under existingcircumstances, heaven and earth combinedcould not move them to attempt. Thepresent decisions of statesmen are destituteof stability. A shooting star in the politicalfirmament is sufficient to disturb all theforces of their system; and to stultify all thetheories of their political astronomy. Thefinger of God has indicated a course to bepursued by Britain which cannot beevaded, and which her counsellors will notonly be willing, but eager, to adopt whenthe crisis comes upon them.”

hus wrote Dr John Thomas in 1848. Thestrength of his convictions lay in thefact that the Bible spoke clearly of arestoration of the Jewish people to

their ancient homeland. They lost their hold ofthe Land of Israel in AD70 when the RomanGeneral Titus crushed the revolt of the Jews,destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple anddispersed the Jewish people into manycountries. It was the emperor Hadrian in 133-135 AD who put the final cap on any hope of anearly Jewish return to their land. He was soincensed over Jewish ingratitude to his proposalto rebuild the Temple for them that he sealedtheir exile with a threat of death if any Jew wasfound in Judea and banned their Sabbath andother Jewish laws which they had been hithertoallowed to practice in the Roman Empire.

Napoleon in Egypt That situation prevailed with no significant

change until 1798 when the government ofrevolutionary France built a vast newMediterranean fleet on the south coast atToulon. The undeclared intention was toconquer Egypt and thus to occupy the plug ofthe Mediterranean, for it was considered byNapoleon Bonaparte, France’s brilliant newGeneral of the Army that if you intended toexercise control over Europe then you mustoccupy Egypt. So Napoleon left for Egypt buttraversed the Mediterranean in a zig-zagfashion in order to camouflage the Frenchintention: they finally found safe anchorage onthe north coast of Egypt, in Aboukir Bay andthe 50,000 soldiers went ashore and promptlydefeated the regime of the Egyptian

Mamelukes, in the shadow of the greatpyramids. Thus Napoleon won Egypt forFrance and set his scientists to study andcollect specimens of nature, travel the Nile andother interesting explorations.

Alas, the British Navy was in hot pursuit.They had noted the building of the new Frenchfleet which they perceived as an affront toBritannica’s rulership of the waves! Theyprepared a Mediterranean fleet to overturn thisnew challenge and appointed a short wisp of aman as its commanding Admiral. HoratioNelson was as fearless on the seas asBonaparte was on the land and when finally hediscovered the French fleet on the calm,enclosed waters of Aboukir Bay he made the

General Allenby (wearing pith helmet,

By Brian Luke. Adelaide, Australia.

Napoleon’s forces in Egypt - but Britain was to replace him!


T

astoundingly daring decision to enter the Bayand destroy the ships of Napoleon.

The French returned from their botanylessons and archaeological explorations to findthemselves stranded in Egypt with no wayhome. Never daunted, Napoleon assembled hisarmy and determined that he would liberatePalestine to the north-east from the control ofthe Muslim Turks. France would be the grandliberator of Palestine and to bolster hisinitiatives he prepared, whilst in Galilee, acomprehensive declaration of freedom andelevation of status to Jews of all countries ifthey should respond to his call from Palestine(April 1799). But before he could publish thisdeclaration a fresh contingent of Turkishcavalry swept away his soldiers from the sidesof Mount Tabor to the coast where his wearyand disheartened soldiers had laid siege to thecoastal fortress city of Acre. Here again it wasBritish interference that frustrated the plans ofthe famous French general.

The English admiral Hood employed hismany guns to significantly distress the Frencharmy so that Acre became impossible and thedispirited soldiers made a tragic retreat toEgypt, broken by heat, thirst, hunger andshame.

Whilst Napoleon triumphed against thearmies of Catholic Europe he found onlyfrustration and humiliation in Palestine. For theGod of heaven had determined that it would beBritain who would act as the supportive powerin the impending restoration of the Jews to theirland.

The Suez Canal Dominance of the seas allured the British

into ever expanding colonization. Just beforeNapoleon took off for Egypt the first settlementin Australia began in Botany Bay, Sydney. Theyear was 1788 but this was only another in astring of colonies east of Suez, with India theprize jewel in the British crown. Every kind of

commodity was rapidly entering the tradingactivity of England and it was her cargo vesselsthat made this modern-day Tarshish soeffective, a feature that would only grow insignificance for the next 150 years.

With such a large proportion of England’soverseas Empire beyond, it was inevitable thather rulers became increasingly interested in thatbridge of land that separates the Mediterraneanfrom the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, knownas the Isthmus of Suez. It was actuallyNapoleon who first proposed a canal throughthis isthmus to allow ships to go from theMediterranean to the Indian Ocean. But in 1858a French entrepreneur called Ferdinand DeLesseps announced the prospectus of 400,000shares in the Suez Canal Company, whichreceived general European interest andapproval, though opposed by Britain as it soobviously threatened her contact with India andother eastern colonies. Lord Palmerston, soonto be Prime Minister, reflected British concernsin these words: “It is quite clear that thisscheme is founded on ulterior motives hostileto British views and interests and the secretintention no doubt is to lay a foundation for afuture severance of Egypt from Turkey and forplacing it under French protection.”

So France was still in the picture! Workingin co-operation with the semi-autonomousMehemet Ali regime in Egypt, to plant herinfluence in the land of Israel and block orcontrol England’s contact with her distantEmpire.

Interposed on these exciting happeningssouth of Israel had been the dramatic andsignificant Crimean War. The Crimea is thatprotruding peninsular that points southwardsfrom the north shore of the Black Sea. At aplace called Sevastopol, British and Frenchtroops had invaded Russia as a discipline uponher southern advances— to deny Russia theopportunity of expansion into the Holy Land

because of the weak state of the TurkishEmpire. The Anglo-French invasion wassuccessful but at the same time the French werepromoting the Suez Canal concept in the southof the Holy Land and Britain felt her handswere tied despite her grave misgivings.Furthermore, Russia spent the years after theCrimean War establishing her institutions inmany grand buildings in Palestine to ensure herprestigious presence in the Land!

The more the Canal project progressed, theless impressed was England. The new SuezCanal had caught the interest and fascination ofthe world, but Britain was off-sides to thewhole venture!

It certainly looked like France and Russiahad out-manoeuvred England in the quest forthe Holy Land. But would these strongly anti-Semitic Catholic countries ever support thereturn of Jews to their ancestral land of Israel?

Prime Minister DisraeliIn 1870 a Jewish aristocrat, Benjamin

Disraeli, the first Jew to be allowed as amember of the British House of Commons, waselected as Prime Minister. His mind wasexpansive. The Suez Canal Company was introuble and added to this, the Egyptiangovernment that owned almost half of theshares in the company was insolvent andurgently needed to sell her shares. De Lessepsurged the French Government to buy the177,000 shares but at that particular timeGermany was exerting a lot of pressure onFrance, who was therefore reluctant to makethe great expenditure.

As it happened, Disraeli dined each Sundayafternoon with Lord Nathaniel Rothschild, theonly person in England who could think ofpurchasing such a huge investment. The PrimeMinisters determination was matched by thelargesse of the Jewish banker and the two ofthem drove to Buckingham Palace whereQueen Victoria signed the necessary papers toallow the purchase to proceed, despite the

on horseback) inspects officers and men of the Anzac Mounted Division

Benjamin Disraeli: The first Jewishmember of the British Parliament


Sunday closure of the Bank of England! By this quite astonishing confluence of

factors the Suez Canal came under Britishinfluence which led to the governments desirein 1882 to support the Turkish regime in Egypt,giving England virtual occupation of Egypt andabsolute control of the Canal. Thus we beholdthe Hand of God working among thegovernments of men and bringing a result thatno-one could otherwise have envisioned! 84years before Napoleon had the vision of aFrench Egypt, yet now matters had taken a fullcircle and her age-long protagonist Englandwas in Egypt, the Suez was hers and the HolyLand was alongside!

Another Factor About this time Colonel George Gawler,

who accompanied Sir Moses Montifiore on avisit to Jerusalem in 1849, and a formerGovernor of the new colony of South Australia,wrote the following words:

“Britain urgently needs the shortest andsafest lines of communication. Egypt andSyria stand in intimate connection. Aforeign hostile power would soonendanger British trade and it is now forEngland to set her hand hard to therenovation of Syria through the onlypeople whose energies will be extensivelyand permanently in the work—the realchildren of the soil, the sons of Israel.”

George Gawler was representative of manyprominent Englishmen who earnestly believedon the basis of Bible prophecy that there mustbe a return of the Jews to their land. Some ofthese, like Lord Shaftesbury, had held theseviews since the 1840s when Britainexperienced a wave of excitement over thisprospect. In 1840 he had written to LordPalmerston as follows:

“Anxious about the hopes and prospects ofthe Jewish people. Everything seems ripefor their return to Palestine. Should thefive powers of the West be induced toguarantee the security of life andpossessions of the Hebrew race, theywould now flow back in rapidlyaugmenting numbers. Then by the blessingof God I will prepare a document, fortify itby the evidence I can accumulate, and,confiding to the wisdom and mercy of theAlmighty, lay it before the Secretary ofState for Foreign Affairs.”

Interestingly Governor Gawler was acorrespondent with Dr John Thomas whosequotation heads this article. Another famouspassage of Dr Thomas goes as follows:

“There is, then, a partial and primaryrestoration of Jews before themanifestation, which is to serve as thenucleus, or basis, of future operations inthe restoration of the rest of the tribes afterhe has appeared in the kingdom. The pre-adventual colonization of Palestine will beon purely political principles; and theJewish colonists will return in unbelief ofthe Messiahship of Jesus, and of the truthas it is in him. They will emigrate thither as

agriculturists and traders, in the hope ofultimately establishing theircommonwealth, but more immediately ofgetting rich in silver and gold bycommerce with India, and in cattle andgoods by their industry at home under theefficient protection of the British power. ”

The reader may note the amazing detail ofthis statement, all based upon the words andinferences of the Holy Scriptures. Time haspassed sufficiently for us to also note theaccuracy of this forecast, it is beyond doubt thatthe Bible speaks clearly, and specifically aboutthings to come and we can put our trust in itswords.

The German Factor In Europe the balance of power had moved

in favour of the new German nation. TheRussian royal family was adopted by the wholenation of Germany and their brilliant IronChancellor Bismarck greatly elevated theconfidence and prestige of this people. So muchso that Kaiser Wilhelm II in October 1898actually visited Palestine at the invitation of theSultan of Turkey. When war broke out in 1914,alas Turkey sided with Germany, so that British

forces in Egypt and Suez were now inimmediate contact with their new enemyTurkey, who she had thought to bolster andsupport for over 50 years. No chance now of aBritish protectorate over Palestine for theimmigration of Jews; Germany had rupturedthe quiet plans of many.

Gallipoli The British War Cabinet decided upon an

invasion into the very heart of Turkey, to landupon the western side of the DardanelleStraights and move north to capture Istanbul(Constantinople) and thus break off any landconnection between Germany and Turkey.Britain called for soldiers, infantry and cavalryfrom South Africa, Australia, New Zealand andIndia to combine with her own. So for the firsttime in history young men from the utmostends of the earth came together with theirBritish companions to train in Egypt and thenadvance through the Dardanelles to the ancient

capital of Constantinople (Istanbul). After nine tragic months these courageous

young recruits had to evacuate the GallipoliPeninsula and recamp in Egypt (December1915), leaving more than 50,000 of theirfellows buried in the rocky cliffs of theDardanelles.

Yet the disaster had provided grimexperience to these raw recruits from distantlands so that when they should meet theTurkish soldiers again they were powerfullyresolved not to suffer the same grief. A uniqueoutcome of the Gallipoli campaign was thebirth of the Zion Mule Corps, the first Jewishfighting unit in 1800 years! Gallipoli wouldturn out to be the way to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem by Christmas Throughout most of the year 1916 the

Allies plan was simply to defend the value of

Australian and New Zealand troops at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, in 1915.

George Gowler,a formerGovernor of thecolony of SouthAustralia was incorrespondencewith Dr JohnThomas andothers as hepromoted theconcept of aJewish nationalhome inPalestine.


the Suez Canal. In the opening quotation of thisarticle you may remember that John Thomasforesaw that Britain would desire to occupy theHoly Land and to promote Jewish immigration.“The finger of God has indicated a course to bepursued by Britain which her counsellors willnot only be willing, but eager, to adopt whenthe crisis comes upon them.” No army canstand flat footed in the sands of the Sinai desertfor long. Suez was safe and Sinai was nowcontrolled by Empire forces, but the WarCabinet had to make decisions whether to enterthe Promised Land and take Jerusalem.

Many factors came into play in 1917.France was desperately trying to get into the acteven though her forces were locked up inFrance against the Germans! Mr ChaimWeizmann as president of the Zionist Congresswas presenting logical and attractive scenariosof a British invasion into Palestine, to hispersonal friend Lord Balfour who was foreignminister of the British Government. Balfourhimself believed on the basis of the Bible thatthe Jews should be able to return to theirancient land and that it was nothing less than aprivilege for Britain to have this role ear-marked for them, and that the Empire wasstrategically placed to advance this historiccause. Prime Minister Lloyd George sharedmuch of this vision and wrote in April, “Werealised the moral and political advantages tobe expected from an advance on this front, andparticularly from the occupation of Jerusalem.”Others like Herbert Samuel and WinstonChurchill shared the same vision. Theprophecies of the Bible were having theirinfluence right in the centre of the BritishEmpire: Britain’s counsellors were increasinglywilling to pursue the role that the Word of Godhad indicated for them more than 2000 yearsbefore.

To increase the eagerness, Russia wasweakening on the eastern front and soon wouldwithdraw from the War. Germany had taken towooing the Jews world wide by supportingZionism and promising to the Jews that theywould favour their return to the Holy Land.France was doing the same thing. Turkishforces in Palestine were supported byreinforcements of German soldiers. Britain feltthe pressure from all sides. Even the Arabianpeoples had rallied to the leadership ofLawrence of Arabia and were keen to push atTurkey on the East side of Jordan.

So when General Allenby was appointedthe new commanding officer the Britishpresence became a mighty thrust northwards,with young men of England and Wales on footwith Australian and New Zealand mountedforces providing a spearhead of attack.

Beersheba and The Balfour Declaration Many thousands of young men perished in

the battles from Suez to Jerusalem, but the paceof victory quickened when the city ofBeersheba was taken in a remarkable charge ofAustralian Light Horse. This was poignant, forit was in Beersheba that Abraham came to livewhen he received the promise of the Land, to

him and to his seed by an everlasting covenant(Genesis 21:33, 22:17-19).

The capture of Beersheba was on 1November 1917 at the same time that theBritish Cabinet had resolved upon their supportfor Zionist aspirations in providing access forJews to the Holy Land. What an amazingcoincidence! Balfour had moved with alacrityas he saw favourable factors multiplying on allsides. The British Government was moving thisamazing historic policy with great haste. Thenext day, Balfour wrote to Lord Rothschild theCabinets decision:

“His Majesty’s Government views withfavour the establishment in Palestine of anational home for the Jewish people, andwill use its best endeavours to facilitate theachievement of this object, it being clearlyunderstood that nothing shall be donewhich may prejudice the civil and religiousrights of existing non-Jewish communitiesin Palestine, or the rights and politicalstatus enjoyed by Jews in any othercountry.”

Jerusalem Free! General Allenby pursued with singular

determination his northern advance. The battlefor Beersheba seemed to have been a turning

The First World War brought the support of the young nations for the Lion of England.

ANOTHER“YOUNG LION”

point, for the forward progress was relentlessdespite the German element in the Turkishtroops. On 11 November General Allenby inrespect to the past and future alighted from hisstately horse and walked in to the City whichrang with songs and cheers and rejoicings. TheRomans had destroyed the city in AD70 andmore so in AD135, but now it was freed fromMuslim occupation and by a world power whohad declared only a month before that Palestinewas open to a national home for the Jewishpeople.

The British occupation was confirmed bythe Mandate of the League of Nations in 1922and remained in place till 14 May 1948. On thesame day Israel proclaimed her independenceas a nation. At the opening of World War 1 therewere but 85,000 Jews in the Holy Land, but by1948 there were 650,000, just enough to staveoff the combined Arab assault of 1948 andprovide the mechanics of a modern nation.

So the presence of Britain in theestablishment of the nation of Israel was acrucial element.

Napoleon had the idea in 1798, Germany in1898 and Russia was always intriguing, but inthe end it was Britain who took the Holy Landfrom the Turks and opened it to Jewishrestoration.

Dozens of factors and personalities cameinto the decision. Britain, already stretched by aprolonged and vast war in Europe, called uponher young lions, the Anzacs, from the uttermostends of the earth. The finger of God hadmarked out the project two thousand yearsbefore and in this intriguing and wonderful waynations and empires, generals and admirals,infantry and cavalry combined to perform Hiswill.

Israel is now home and this fact is aprofound warning to the whole world that theKing of the Jews and Jerusalem is at the door. The flag of Canada’s Governor General

declares the family ties!


We say:“Stand still, and considerthe wondrous works of God.”

Job 37:14.

Underneath the feathers of the Roadrunnerbirds, Black skin patches soak in the sun’srays— and thus heat and energy. Thissystem accomplishes the same as the roof ofthe solar heated home opposite. Clever stuffeh?But watch this bird of light with a rattle-snake. “Using its wings like a matador’scape, it snaps up a coiled rattlesnake by the tail,cracks it like a whip and repeatedly slams its head against the groundtill dead.” This is an attribute of the sons of light, as designed in Genesis 3:15.

bible magazine - search for truth, bible prophecy and more. - … · 2003-04-27 · the bible...

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