We are in the process of proving that Britain and the United States are the two nations the Almighty promised would become 1) the only commonwealth of nations in mankind’s history and 2) the greatest nation in mankind’s history. One of the characteristics of these nations is that they would either border bodies of water or would be in the midst of a body of water. Let us examine some of the prophecies that address this watery sign.

Psalm 89:25 states that Israel would be “planted” (relocated) in the sea. Jeremiah 3:13 (written while Israel was still in the Holy Land) states that Israel would head NORTH in the future. Jeremiah 31:1,8 notes that Israel would live on the “coasts of the earth” in the latter days. In verse 10 Jeremiah stated that God’s message (to be spoken by Israel) would be declared “in the isles afar off.” Hosea 12:1 notes that Israel would eventually head WEST. In order to understand directional information given in the Bible we must be aware that all Biblical directions have Jerusalem as their starting point. Also, in Hebrew there is no single word for two different directions. For example, one will read Scriptures speaking of going “north and west,” which in English is “northwest.” Therefore when Jeremiah wrote that Israel would go north and Hosea wrote that Israel would go west it means she would go northwest from Jerusalem. Now let us draw a straight line northwest from Jerusalem to the nearest large body of water and we will come to the British Isles, which are “in the sea,” are “isles afar off” (from Jerusalem) and in the “coastlands.” THE BRITISH ISLES ARE SURROUNDED BY WATER.

Secular history records that many of the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh settled in the British Isles following their escape from Assyria. Others of their tribes settled throughout Europe in what today are called “Christian nations” such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, etc. Following the discovery of the “New World” the descendants of Manasseh, seeking religious freedom not allowed in England, came to the shores of what would become the United States of America and formed the 13 colonies which would, over time, become the greatest nation on earth–JUST AS GOD SAID THEY WOULD. Meanwhile England–the land where the descendants of Ephraim settled and remained–was becoming a colonizing nation, gaining power over a number of other nations around the world by possessing their natural resources–JUST AS GOD SAID SHE WOULD. England’s commonwealth status came not as the result of war and territorial takeover. The nations within the commonwealth voluntarily subjugated themselves to her. They remained autonomous national entities. Those nations chose to submit to England’s leadership, which is the distinguishing characteristic of a commonwealth. It is because of her world power that the tiny island became known world-wide as “Great Britain.” Truly, Jacob’s prophecy concerning the sons of Joseph–Ephraim and Manasseh–has come true EXACTLY AS GOD PROMISED ABRAHAM. Through no righteousness of their own, Joseph’s sons rose to unheard-of greatness on the world scene. But, as Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 warned, it would only be through their righteousness that they could retain their exalted status. L.J.