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Globalism (Part Three): America Runs Over the Wall
'Prophecy Watch' by Charles WhitakerToday, globalization is made in America, with the epicenter of current globalism rooted in Israel, specifically Manasseh. God is orchestrating His detailed plan to institute globalism in these last days, having planned from the beginning that Ephraim and Manasseh would drive this movement. He promised them great national wealth as the foundation for globalization, delaying this bestowal until about AD 1800. Around this time, the first stage of globalization began as Ephraim pushed the nations toward a one-world government, an empire upon which the sun never set. From a modern perspective, America remains within her walls when adhering to a policy of isolationism, staying detached from foreign nations. However, when America pursues internationalism, intervening in other nations' affairs, she overclimbs the walls God established for her. American history reflects a slow march from isolationism to internationalism, starting as a nation purposefully distinct from others, but gradually becoming entangled in the military and economic affairs of the world. Early American Puritans were staunch isolationists, desiring separation from Europe and the secular world. This isolationist mindset influenced American thought for decades, though it was slowly forsaken as even the Founding Fathers began building bridges across the Atlantic. George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, strategic realists, advised the young Republic to exploit its detached situation, expecting that as the country grew stronger and distances shortened, America would join the ranks of world powers. God ensured America did not quickly extend her influence outside North America by involving her in the crossfire of the Napoleonic wars, including the War of 1812, forcing her to look inward and develop continental resources under the concept of Manifest Destiny. Isolationism and nation-building dominated much of the nineteenth century. Statesmen like John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay advocated for America to remain uninvolved in European conflicts, seeing her influence as an example rather than through intervention. They believed America should be a light to the nations through passive exemplarism. However, globalists later transformed this concept into a call for active leadership and military intervention in world affairs. Revisionist historians label America's westward expansion as imperialism, but many American leaders of the period distinguished between naked aggression and Manifest Destiny. The annexation of Texas, the Southwest, and California was seen as fulfilling a destined spread into largely empty lands contiguous to the existing United States, not as colonization or subjugation of peoples. Throughout the 1800s, America maintained relationships with other nations at arm's length, adhering to a fairly strict isolationism, exemplified by the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which aimed to defend the American homeland rather than assert hegemony. By the early 1900s, America's foreign policy shifted toward internationalism, with assertive exemplarism—being an example through force if necessary—gaining ascendancy over the passive exemplarism of earlier leaders, marking Manasseh's assertive overclimbing of walls.
Destroying America From Within (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)In the history of mankind, never has there been a nation with such a vast, golden opportunity to develop the leadership possibilities that God has so generously made available as in the United States of America. Two hundred and fifty years ago, this vast gift of land from God to the Israelitish people was virtually empty, virgin territory, offering potential wealth of all kinds far greater than the Promised Land given to the ancient Israelites. God has placed the various nations where He desires them to be, setting His chosen people in Central and Northwest Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa for the times of the end. Among these, the descendants of Joseph—Britain and the United States—should be providing leadership for the other families as their forefather Joseph did, but they are not, as their attentions are almost entirely consumed without the presence of God. In America, there is a destructive din on the streets, unified for no purpose but destruction, a confounding that God allows to continue until it destroys the nation. This confusion, driven by satan, is pushing the United States toward profound disunity, approaching open warfare. Spiritual apostasy is dominating the morality of this nation, evident in declarations from groups like the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which suggest that faith in Christ is not uniquely necessary and that other faiths are on the same level. This syncretism and liberal thinking contribute to the anger and confusion among Americans, as the peaceful spirit of God is absent. True Christian obedience is being squeezed from American life, leaving American Christianity virtually dead in the water, with Americans admiring Christ but not following Him step-for-step.
The Coming Anglo-American Crisis
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe history of the Anglo-American peoples, identified as the descendants of Joseph, reveals a recurring cycle of societal phases as chronicled by authors William Strauss and Neil Howe. Their work traces nearly 600 years of a definitive pattern through Highs of civic order, Awakenings of spiritual restlessness, Unravelings of cultural breakdown, and Crises of existential threats, each phase lasting about 20 years. Currently, at the tail end of the seventh cycle, the Anglo-American nations face what is termed the Millennial Crisis. Historically, these peoples have overcome massive economic hardships and total wars in six previous crises, ensuring national and cultural survival. However, this seventh crisis, potentially beginning around September 11, 2001, or soon to come, presents a stark difference with God largely unwelcome on the Anglo-American side. In Britain, secularization is so profound that God and Christianity were omitted from the proposed constitution, and more people attend mosques weekly than Christian churches. Christian leaders there fear political correctness more than divine laws. Similarly, in the United States, God has been systematically barred from public mention since the 1960s, leading to dire consequences. The Creator, who blessed this nation immensely due to His promises to Abraham, has been shunned, and those trusting in Him are scorned. Compared to the past, when there was at least a common acknowledgment of God and the Bible as His Word, this basic foundation is now absent in both nations. Without God on their side, the chances of Britain and America emerging intact from this crisis are slim, especially if they view Him as an adversary.
The Wise Shall Understand
Commentary by Mark SchindlerDuring a visit to Great Britain in April 2016, President Obama addressed America's oldest ally, suggesting that a UK-US trade agreement was not imminent due to the focus on negotiating with the European Union, placing the UK at the back of the queue. This statement was perceived as a threat to push the British to remain in the EU, contrary to the desire of many for Brexit and the restoration of UK sovereignty. The reaction from the British public was strong, with many feeling disrespected by the comment from a nation they have fought alongside, ultimately influencing some to vote for Brexit. Two months later, on June 23, 2016, nearly three-quarters of UK citizens voted to leave the EU by a margin of 51.9% to 49.1%, with England and Wales supporting Brexit, while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain. Fast forward to 2019, during the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, the historic alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom was highlighted as they stood shoulder to shoulder in the largest sea invasion in history to liberate Europe and restore national sovereignty. Despite past tensions from President Obama's remarks, President Trump reaffirmed the special bond and trading status with the UK, emphasizing solidarity during events at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth expressed confidence in the enduring alliance, united by common values and shared interests, while President Trump praised Her Majesty as a symbol of dignity, duty, and patriotism, toasting to the eternal friendship and shared victory over tyranny. The British press, often critical of Trump, acknowledged the reaffirmation of this vital bond between the two nations. Historically, the shift of naval dominance from Spain to England, marked by events like the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, enabled Great Britain to rule the seas and expand into a company of nations. This transition was repeatedly influenced by adverse weather conditions thwarting Spanish invasions, positioning England to become the British Empire. On June 6, 1944, the allied forces of the US and UK landed on Normandy's beaches under challenging weather, echoing past divine interventions like the rescue at Dunkirk in 1940, where fog and a calm English Channel aided the British expeditionary force's escape from Nazi forces. These events underscore the profound historical and ongoing partnership between America and Britain in shaping world events.
Sorry, I Forgot
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Anglosphere, comprising Britain, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, is believed to descend from the biblical patriarch Joseph. America is seen as deriving from Joseph's firstborn, Manasseh, while the other nations descend from his second son, Ephraim. Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 48:19 foresees two major world powers, with Manasseh as a single great nation and Ephraim as a multitude of nations. The United States of America stands as the greatest single nation in wealth and power the world has ever seen, while the British Empire, in its time, was even greater in scope and control of global political and economic affairs. These brother nations, united by common ancestry and language, have collaborated for nearly two centuries to dominate world affairs. The names of Joseph's sons, as explained in Genesis 41:50-52, carry significant meaning. Manasseh, meaning forgetful or making forgetful, reflects a national character in America of leaving the past behind and focusing on the future. From its colonial beginnings, Americans sought to escape religious and governmental persecution and economic hardship, forging a new life while disregarding old ways and European origins. This forgetfulness is evident in America's founding documents, which reject European forms of government for a unique American republicanism, and in policies like the Monroe Doctrine, which further isolated the nation from European affairs. However, this trait has a downside, as America tends to repeat historical mistakes by failing to remember lessons learned by previous generations, resulting in cyclical patterns in its history and persistent unresolved national issues. Ephraim, meaning fruitful or productive, characterizes the British and related nations, who, from the small isle of England, built a vast trade and industrial empire. They governed far-flung lands and peoples, using resources to create an enviable global presence, living up to their prophetic naming through remarkable productivity and influence disproportionate to their homeland's size.
Searching for Israel (Part Eleven): Manasseh Found
Article by Charles WhitakerFor centuries, the two tribes of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, dwelt together in the British Isles. In the early 1600s, God took action to separate Manasseh from Ephraim, leading the people of Manasseh to move from England to the coastlands of Jamestown in AD 1607. Fleeing religious persecution, others followed, founding Plymouth thirteen years later, and over time, these early Manassite settlers and their descendants grew into the great peoples of the United States of America. The United States became the single nation God promised would descend from Jacob, fulfilling the prophecy that Joseph would push the peoples to the ends of the earth. Rallying to the cry of manifest destiny, America moved west, pushing back the French, Spaniards, Russians, Dutch, and even the Ephraimites of Britain to their island confines and north into Canada, while confining native Indians to reservations. They pushed past the Appalachians, across the Mississippi River, over the Rockies, beyond the Pacific, to the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, the Philippine Islands, and the Japanese Islands. Like her brother Ephraim, America developed a thalassocracy, with vast naval power enforcing economic interests as far as the Arabian Desert, surpassing even Solomon's military presence in Arabia. To the early American settlers, the land was a magnificent, multicolored tapestry—green with primeval forests full of fur-bearing animals, black with rich soil for farming, blue with lakes and rivers teeming with fish, golden with vast fields of grain, and glimmering with gold, silver, copper, iron, coal, and oil. Using these resources provided by God, the folk of Manasseh built the American phenomenon, a rich and powerful nation, greater in scope than Solomon's Kingdom, exemplified by industrial strength in steel manufacturing and vast economic power. America and Britain, as modern-day Ephraim and Manasseh, share a common language, traditions, laws, culture, and political and economic institutions. Britain has been America's truest ally, and together they act as leaders of Western civilization, collaborating to push their transportation, education, food-processing, medical technology, instruments of war, government, economics, information, and entertainment on the world. London and New York remain key financial centers, and their primary telecommunication companies dominate global media. Though separate nations, America and Britain often act in concert, recognizing common national interests and pushing their culture and lifestyle to the ends of the earth. Scholars note the deeply-rooted nexus between the British and American nations, with some suggesting a natural unity among English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, contrasting with the artificial agglomeration of the European Union. This connection is evident in shared economic and cultural dynamics, with cities like London and New York acting as Siamese twins in finance and leisure, and a transatlantic talent pool dominating cinema and popular entertainment.
New Fractures in the 'Special Relationship'
'WorldWatch' by Richard T. RitenbaughFor many decades, the United States and Britain have enjoyed what has been called the Special Relationship, marked by a mostly cordial association due to their shared language, history, and political principles. The two English-speaking nations have usually found themselves on the same side of international efforts and disputes. Their bond is seen as a modern iteration of a brotherhood that reaches back almost four millennia. Modern fractures in the Special Relationship have often occurred due to divergent political ideologies between the American president and the British prime minister, while the closest ties have emerged when leaders shared common political philosophies. With President Joseph Biden leading a highly liberal administration, the distinctive bond between the two nations faces testing as he confronts the Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Biden administration's push for left-wing cultural programs has put the two nations at odds with Britain's recent stance against such agendas under Johnson's government. This antagonism has spilled into other matters, notably a diplomatic rebuke from the Biden administration over Britain's handling of the Northern Ireland border dispute concerning EU agro-food standards post-Brexit. The rebuke included a warning about the potential loss of a US/UK free-trade agreement if Britain did not comply with EU mandates, which the British perceived as an arrogant lecture. President Biden's anti-Brexit stance and preference for ties with Brussels over London have further strained relations, especially as both Northern Ireland and the EU have encouraged his pressure on the prime minister. The official British response has been restrained, though signs of displeasure are evident. Prime Minister Johnson, while addressing the issue at the G7 Summit, emphasized protecting the territorial integrity of the UK and hinted at suspending the Northern Ireland protocol if necessary. This tension, exemplified by the so-called Sausage War, has heightened friction between the two governments to levels not seen in years. Though unlikely to cause a substantial break, it reveals cracks that may require significant effort to mend. A strained Special Relationship could hinder the ability of the left-wing American administration to gain support from the right-wing British government on the world stage, especially as global challenges from nations like China, Russia, and Iran test American resolve. For over two centuries, Great Britain and the United States have stood firm against aggressors and tyrants, working best in concert to lead the free world toward relative peace and prosperity while enforcing international treaties and laws. Discord between them may inspire less savory characters to exploit the situation and push the world toward increased conflict.
Searching for Israel (Part Ten): Clues and Answers
Article by Charles WhitakerThe Bible declares where scattered Israel is not, as well as giving clues where the various tribes have settled on the modern map of the world.
Israel: Present
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Bible gives many clues as to the location of the 'lost' Ten Tribes of Israel. With God's Word, along with historical records, only one conclusion is possible.
Which Nations Comprise the Tribes of Israel Today?
Bible Questions & AnswersPutting together biblical and secular history as well as prophecy, we can be reasonably certain as to the locations of the tribes of Israel today.
A Perfect Storm of National Cycles
'WorldWatch' by David C. GrabbeThe societal and generational cycles of America, Europe, and Russia are converging, and the result will prove to be devastating.
The Handwriting is on the Wall (2017): The Fourth Turning
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Steve Bannon embraced The Fourth Turning, a book which explains why many Americans no longer recognize the country they once knew and respected.
The Beast and Babylon (Part Eight): God, Israel, and the Bible
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThough she transgressed every commandment in multiple ways, the sin through which Israel's unfaithfulness is most frequently demonstrated is gross idolatry.
Learning the Right Things (Part One)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The harmful things people learn thoroughly in their youth will sabotage any helpful steps to correct this earlier enslaving conditioning.
Remember When
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamOur previous fellowship was blown apart because of apostasy; we need to solemnly remember that fact and purpose to get back to the old faith once delivered.
Your Land Shall Not Yield Its Produce
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Western world is heavily dependent on its ability to produce food. Bible prophecy predicts that famine will be part of the end-time scenario.
So There Has Been Another Terror Strike
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughOur fight is not the kind the government wages against terrorists, but the martial spirit is no less necessary in our fight against sin, Satan and the world.
Identity Crisis
Sermonette by Joseph B. BaityThe media has succeeded in promoting homosexual, transgender, trans-human, and trans-species movements, encouraging youth to question their gender identity.
Christmas, Syncretism, and Presumption
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughMany think keeping Christmas is fine, yet God never tells us to celebrate His Son's birth. Celebrating such an obvious mix of biblical truth and paganism is presumptuous.
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Thirteen): Jacob's Trouble
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughDuring Jacob's Trouble, a confederacy of gentile peoples (particularly the offspring of Ishmael and Esau) will destroy the nations of modern-day Israel.
The Bethel Stone
Sermon by Kim MyersThe Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny or Bethel Stone) affirms God's Davidic covenant that his offspring would occupy the throne of David perpetually.
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.
Learning the Right Things (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)If parents are not gatekeepers of their children's culture, other philosophies will capture their attention and warp their perception of reality.
The Israel of God
Article by Charles WhitakerPaul refers to the church as 'the Israel of God.' Why not 'the Judah of God'? Why did God not inspire Paul to call the church "the Jacob of God"?