Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Mr. Gerald Weston has asked me to write to you, as he and his wife are currently working with our young people at our two-weeks-long teen summer camp in Athens, Texas. Athens is about 300 miles from the devastating floods that occurred two weeks ago, along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Tragically, 134 people perished—and 101 are still missing—from the tragic flash flooding that occurred in the early morning hours of July 4. As we read reports of the tragedy, it’s astonishing how quickly the water levels rose, and the awesome power it unleashed on hundreds of unsuspecting victims. Be sure to remember the victims and their families in your prayers in their time of need. And we must all pray daily for God’s protection, as these types of natural disasters are only a foretaste of what the Bible says will come in the times ahead.
In his last co-worker letter, on June 18, Mr. Weston wrote to you all about the Israeli attacks that began on June 13. He explained the significance of the identity of the nation of Israel—coming from the ancient tribe of Judah, one of the sons of the patriarch Jacob. In light of the subsequent events, I thought it would be worth discussing another significant part of this issue—that is, the special relationship between Israel and the United States.
Israel and the U.S. have long enjoyed an unusually close relationship, even while other nations are condemning Israel for protecting itself. And recent events have again borne that out. After Israel and Iran had been at war for more than a week, the U.S. staged an overnight attack, on June 22, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer. Its goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities at three key sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. American Air Force B2 bombers used 14 “bunker buster” Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs to reach the facilities buried deep underground. How effective the raid was in slowing down Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains to be seen.
Once again, America sided with Israel. But why? Why do these two nations stand shoulder to shoulder, almost as brothers?
It’s because they are brothers! Just as Judah was the ancestor of the Jews, we can trace the roots of the U.S. (as well as other British-descended nations) to the ancient tribe of Joseph. (For more information and to study this topic for yourself, order our free booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.) Joseph and Judah were brothers—both were sons of Jacob. And just as Judah was prophesied to have a surprising rise to military power in the end-times, so was Joseph—and even more so.
Just before his death, Jacob prophesied what would happen to the descendants of all of his sons in the last days. Notice one of the things he said about Joseph: “The archers have bitterly grieved him [Joseph], 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” (Genesis 49:23-24).
And truly, the U.S. has been catapulted to worldwide military preeminence—economic and political as well—since the end of World War II. Like Israel, the U.S. has enjoyed the blessings that were prophesied long ago to these sons of Jacob.
But at the same time, the descendants of Judah and Joseph have squandered the overwhelming material blessings they both inherited as sons of Jacob. God intended the descendants of Jacob to become model nations of decency and integrity, showing the rest of the world how to obey God’s laws (Deuteronomy 4:6). Instead, both the U.S. and Israel today are known around the world for their promotion of immorality and sexual deviance.
God is not mocked. Just as He has blessed our nations remarkably, He can also bring us down, with breathtaking speed, because of pride. And Bible prophecy shows it will happen. The book of Hosea details a prophecy of Joseph and Judah that seems to have dual application. In ancient times, the northern House of Israel (led by Ephraim, one of Joseph’s sons) collapsed, overthrown by the Assyrians in 721 BC. The southern House of Judah followed after, conquered by the Babylonians, in 586 BC. Hosea writes, “The pride of Israel testifies to his face; therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them” (Hosea 5:5).
Because much of prophecy is dual, will we see a replay of this happening again in the future? In the last days? Bible prophecy shows that before Christ’s return, God will raise up the modern-day descendants of Assyria—the Germans—to lead a resurgent European superpower. The result will be the downfall of both the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph (typified by his son, Ephraim). Through the prophet, God says in Hosea 5:14, “For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.”
This is speaking of the Great Tribulation, a time Christ prophesied of, which will be like no other in human history (Matthew 24:21). It will be a time when nations that should have known better will be punished for their refusal to follow God’s laws, as revealed in the Bible.
But if you read on, you see the context also shows that this time of national chastisement will be followed by a widespread and profound national repentance. Notice the next verse: “I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me” (Hosea 5:15).
Joseph and Judah will together acknowledge their sin and seek the true God, in sincere repentance and worship. How can this be speaking of any time other than the coming millennial reign of Christ? Jesus Christ will have returned to earth to set up His glorious Kingdom, and there will be a time of prosperity and peace like the world has never known. Just as the sons of Jacob will fall together because of their sins, so they will also earnestly repent together and finally seek God.
You who are reading this letter are part of a Work that is boldly proclaiming these events to the descendants of Jacob and to the world. Your support of this Work helps our dear friends and neighbors understand the why behind today’s news. And it gives them vitally important information about what is to come and what they can do about it now.
Thank you for your sincere efforts to support this great Work God has given us to do. Thank you for helping us warn our peoples—and the whole world—before it’s too late.
In Christ’s service,
Rod McNair