Perspective

   By L. Jim Tuck

   June 22, 2023

Times of the Gentiles

            Nations rise and fall, but why? How have Britain and the United States prospered so much since the beginning of the nineteenth century until now? Most do not know the two nations stem from the same father, Joseph. Joseph, the son of Rachel, received the birthright promise as the firstborn of Jacob, also known as Israel.

            Britain and the United States descended from Jacob through Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph respectively. Before Jacob died, he gathered his twelve sons together and prophesied to each of them the future of their descendants in the latter days. He said this about Joseph in Genesis 49:22-26: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), by the God of your father who will help you, and by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.”

            God promised incredible prosperity to Joseph chiefly because of the faithfulness of Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. Abraham bestowed those blessing on Isaac and Isaac passed them on to Jacob. God blessed modern day Joseph abundantly. Great Britain became a world power in the 19th century after the defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars. Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century and expanded its imperial holdings. By 1950, Britain and the United States possessed nearly two-thirds of the world’s wealth.

 

            There is little doubt, the greatness of the West is now waning, and the Eastern nations are now emerging. Many economists predict China’s economy will eventually overtake the U.S. economy. There is disagreement when it will be; some economists say by 2024, while others believe it could be 2030, and still others think it will be as far out as 2060.

            What is the determining factor? The determining factor is based on the morality of the people of Britain and America. Why is this important? Because with great blessings come great responsibility.

 

            The modern descendants, despite the great affluence God has given, have drifted farther from God and right values with each passing year. It appears that there will be no going back. In ancient times God judged the unrighteous ways of the Kingdom of Judah and said through Isaiah the prophet, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’ Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters!  They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward.” (Isaiah 1:2-4)

            It was because of these social conditions of immorality that God allowed Israel and Judah to be taken into captivity, and God ceased blessing them. After all, why would God continue blessing a people who really did not care for Him or His ways? God’s desire by punishing them was to bring them to a repentance.

            History is repeating itself because this describes our modern peoples.  It also signals a time coming soon when the birthright promises will cease. The time of the dominance of modern-day Israel will come to an abrupt end. Already the world is realigning to de-dollarize the world and move toward other currencies. Saudi Arabia recently opened relations with Iran, and they agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions between these Mideast rivals. Incidentally, China was instrumental in this diplomatic change. The Saudis have done the same thing with Syria after more than a decade. It is clear, nations of this world are now banding together to rid themselves of “Yankee Imperialism.”

            Bible prophecy indicates that Gentile nations will succeed. As an aside, the word “Gentile” by definition is simply a non-Israelite nation.

            The disciples had asked Jesus what would be the signs of the end of the age. He gave several things to watch.  One sign He specifically highlighted: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-24)

            In the last days, the West will decrease and the Gentile nations of the world will increase. This is now happening before our eyes! The 7th and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire will embolden the emergence of the East as well as the Islamic nations.

            Open threats continue to come regularly from the enemies of Israel. Eventually, nations like Iran and other Islamic nations, seeing the weakness of Western powers, will be emboldened to invade Israel. Then, as Jesus said, Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.  We have been privileged to have advance knowledge of these prophesied events. Whatever may come in future, we must always look to Our Father and Jesus Christ, and remain steadfast in the faith.

 

            Have a happy Sabbath and a restful weekend.