"200-Year Anniversary of... What?"

Few Americans can.  Why not? This event was not celebrated—and was barely even noted by most Americans—because it was the anniversary of a defeat.  On August 24, 1814, during the “War of 1812,” British troops invaded Washington, D.C., setting fire to public buildings including the White House and the Capitol.  
 
This year, however, a few Americans were stirred out of the bliss of ignorance by the British Embassy in Washington, which tried to turn the historic event into a subject for humor.  Embassy staff made a cake of the White House with sparklers surrounding it. Then, in classic 21st century fashion, they posted a picture of it to Twitter with the caption: “Only sparklers this time!”
 
While the British clearly intended this to be a bit of good-natured historical joking, many Americans took the joke as an insult. This led to a second tweet to try to clear the air, wherein the British stated: “Apologies for the earlier Tweet. We meant to mark an event in history & celebrate our strong friendship today” (ibid.).
 
Regardless of how one feels about the taste and appropriateness of the British “joke,” their second message should ring true to anyone who has studied the relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. While the two nations warred twice during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, their history overall has been of alliance and brotherhood.
 
In the last century, the U.S. and the U.K., along with their allies, were instrumental in defeating the Central Powers of World War I and the Axis Powers of World War II. Each nation has played an active role in the United Nations and NATO to try to keep peace and preserve free governments. The U.K. and the U.S. have not been perfect in their actions and motivations, but it is very evident that—given the opportunity—they work together!
 
Students of the Bible are not surprised to see this attitude of brotherhood between the British and the Americans. The book of Genesis reveals that these nations’ patriarchs were brothers! Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh were allowed to inherit full shares among the tribes of Israel. As such, Jacob gave special and specific blessings to his grandsons. Jacob blessed them both to be “fruitful boughs” and to receive “blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb” (Genesis 49:22–26). Jacob also gave specific blessings to Ephraim and Manasseh in the previous chapter: “I know, my son, I know. He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19).
 
The Bible foretold that Manasseh would become a great nation and Ephraim would become a great company of nations. Nowhere else in history have we seen two nations that have worked so well together as brothers as the single great nation of the U.S., and the great company of nations (including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and others) that formed the British Commonwealth.
 
Truly, as the British Embassy noted, these countries continue to enjoy “strong friendship today.” Yet your Bible shows that it is more than just friendship; it is the bond of brotherhood.
 
Understanding the ancestry of the U.K. and the U.S. is more than just an interesting example of fulfilled Bible promises. It is also the crucial key to understanding end-time Bible prophecies that will impact the end of this age! To learn more, please order our free booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy to study what God says will happen to the descendants of Joseph. Order today so you can understand this vital topic that will soon have an impact on this national brotherhood—and on you personally!