Your Allies Will Forsake You!

In June 2007, Professor Lawrence Mead gave the annual John Bonython lecture at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, Australia. Mead, a well-respected professor of American government and public policy at New York University, noted that what he called the "Anglo nations"—the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand—"stand supreme\ in the world today. In his presentation, titled \America Will Prevail," Mead pointed out that these nations are the "richest of all countries… are the mainstays of international institutions dedicated to peace and development… have a capacity to project power overseas that no other countries can match… they are more or less running the world." Mead concluded: "American primacy is deeply rooted and unlikely to be challenged… I see no end to that any time soon." Yet Bible prophecies reveal that dramatic changes are coming that will impact the American and British-descended nations in sobering and unexpected ways. World events indicate that these ancient prophecies are coming alive today!

National Prophecies

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, God told him to record a number of prophetic warnings for His "chosen" people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Moses told the Israelites that they would be blessed if they obeyed God's instructions (Leviticus 26:1–13), and delivered God's warning: "If you do not obey Me… and if you despise My statutes… you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you… I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:14–19). Moses was not just talking to the Jews; he was speaking to the "children of Israel" (Leviticus 24:2; 25:2; 27:2). The children (or "house") of Israel consisted of twelve tribes (see Numbers 10:11–28). The Jews come from the tribe of Judah, but eleven other tribes—descending from the sons of Jacob—gave rise to other nations (For more on this vital topic, please request our free booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy).

Shortly before the children of Israel entered the "Promised Land," Moses repeated similar instructions to them, warning that "if you do not obey the voice of the Lord… The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies… you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth… you shall become an astonishment [an object of scorn and ridicule]… among all the nations where the Lord will drive you" (Deuteronomy 28:15, 25, 37).

God's prophets centuries later repeated very similar warnings. Jeremiah records: "O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel… you have played the harlot with many lovers [trusting in allies instead of God]… Your lovers will despise you; they will seek your life" (Jeremiah 2:4; 3:1; 4:30). Later, Jeremiah offers this sobering prophecy that looks ahead to the end of the age: "it is the time of Jacob's trouble [trouble for all the nations descended from Jacob]... all your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you… In the latter days you will consider it" (Jeremiah 30:7, 14, 24). Ezekiel records: "I have delivered her [the ten tribes of Israel] into the hand of her lovers… I will stir up your lovers against you [Jews of Jerusalem]" (Ezekiel 23:9, 22). The book of Lamentations describes Jerusalem: "All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies… Her adversaries have become the master… and mocked at her downfall… [she will say] 'I called for my lovers, but they deceived me'" (Lamentations 1:2, 5, 7, 19).

Ancient Prophecies Make Modern News

Many today fail to understand that Bible prophecies are often dual. Many prophecies that had an initial fulfillment in ancient times will have an ultimate fulfillment in the future, particularly as we approach the end of this age.

The U.S. is certainly experiencing trouble abroad—with Iraq, Iran, Russia, China, Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan and other nations—along with weather-related disasters at home, burgeoning deficits and a declining dollar. One former Bush administration official said, "I am hard pressed to think of any other moment in modern times where there have been so many challenges facing this country simultaneously." Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, has commented that her nation is facing a "perfect storm" in foreign policy (The Washington Post, July 6, 2006). Recent polls reveal many citizens in foreign countries feel the United States is playing "a mainly negative role in the world" and "cannot be trusted to act responsibly in the world" (BBC, January 23, 2007; Agence France-Presse, April 17, 2007). The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq—largely supported by Anglo nations, but resisted by Europe, Russia and China—is extremely unpopular both at home and among U.S. allies.

A thought-provoking Newsweek article, The End of Pax Americana, observed that while the unmatched strength of its military has given many nations the stability to experience prosperity and democracy, the U.S. is now losing the power to force others to follow its lead. The article concludes: "Given the rampant anti-Americanism abroad today, the fading of Pax Americana may inspire much glee" (December 13, 2006).

U.S. officials continue to aggravate both allies and adversaries. Turkey—a NATO ally of the U.S.—was offended when the U.S. Congress last year considered labeling as "genocide" the killing of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. If Turkey were to break with the U.S., America would lose vital supply lines to Iraq, which it maintains through air bases in Turkey (Charlotte Observer, October 19, 2007). Chinese leaders were infuriated when U.S. President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal last October to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader who for decades has spoken powerfully against Chinese policies. China holds much of America's foreign debt, and is building the world's largest navy (see WorldTribune.com, September 19, 2007). If the Chinese shift their holdings in American dollars to the euro, the American economy and its over-extended military will be in real trouble. In the Middle East, the current Israeli government has considered appeasing Israel's enemies by dividing Jerusalem with the Palestinians—even while Iran and its Muslim cohorts in Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Territory remain committed to obliterating the Jewish nation of Israel (Charlotte Observer, October 12, 2007; IsraelNN.com, October 24, 2007). Around the world, the once-solid alliances of Israelite nations are turning sour.

Why Troubles?

But why are the nations descended from ancient Israel—which God had "chosen" and blessed—facing so many seemingly intractable problems today? Why are former allies becoming adversaries of the U.S., Britain, Israel and other Anglo-Saxon nations? The answer is recorded in your Bible's prophecies, which foretold that the Israelite nations' allies would turn against them in the latter days. Through Moses, God warned the Israelites that they would lose their allies, "if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes" (Leviticus 26:14–15). Moses also foretold that Israel would stray from God, warning that "after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days" (Deuteronomy 31:29). God thundered: "Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts… I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them" (Jeremiah 9:13–16). He charged: "Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry" (Ezekiel 23:35). But even if the modern descendants of ancient Israel do not change their ways in time to avoid the consequences of their actions, you as an individual can begin to make changes in your life—if you heed the warnings of prophecies that are coming alive today!