by Leonard V Johnson
John Tamny of Real Clear Markets writes ──
Andy Kessler writes in his latest Wall Street Journal column that the U.S. “is strong precisely because we don’t all think the same way. New ideas come from new ways of thinking.” Kessler puts it so well. We individuals generally see the present and future very differently, and it’s this very division praised by Kessler that powers so much advance. …At the same time, the desire among the world’s producers to know about us Americans is something to celebrate, not legislate against: they want to know about us because we’re the most productive people on earth. The better they understand us, the better their ability to meet and lead our needs.What’s important is that the prosperity of the American people is, per Kessler, borne of freedom; of Americans disagreeing about everything and getting to vivify their discordant viewpoints in the marketplace. …The main thing is that disagreement about what will meet and lead the needs of the consumer is what puts the past and present out to pasture, not protectionism. Protectionism is about limiting and disfiguring the choices of people, not allowing an endless debate within the marketplace to sort out what the future will look like. …Better to rely on freedom.
Now, while it is true that economic freedom tends to improve economic outcomes, the idea that the United States of America has been blessed mainly because of our own efforts of “pushing” economic freedom is not correct. Notice the LORD God’s following words concerning the children of Israel, who would later be the scattered house of Israel ──
“’ When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. 11) Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by NOT KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12) lest ── when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13) and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14) when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15) who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16) who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end ── 17) then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18) And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
19) Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20) As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.’” – Deuteronomy 8:10-20.
Often called “the greatest nation on earth,” the United States of America is the greatest in economic power, innovation, technology, and opportunity. The US is indeed “full” and has been blessed by the LORD God! Yet, the US is continuing to drift away from its founding principles, which were based upon God’s living word ── the Holy Bible!
Sadly, relatively few understand that the LORD God had promised blessings to the descendants of Joseph that have come to pass.
Patriarch Jacob’s name was changed by the Lord God (the One we now call Jesus Christ!), renaming him Israel ── ISRAEL means “struggle with God” #3478 – However, many other Bible help books (and I realize that the Strong’s Concordance isn’t the most accurate, or maybe the most extensive word study help you can use; my hardback states “struggle with God” – the Online Strong’s states “He will rule as God” ── and he would go on to pass on his name, giving great blessings to his son Joseph’s two sons ──
“And Israel said to Joseph, ‘I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!’ …
15) And he blessed Joseph, and said: ‘God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16) The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’
17) Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18) And Joseph said to his father, ‘Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’
19) But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know. He also SHALL BECOME A PEOPLE, and HE ALSO SHALL BE GREAT; but truly his younger brother SHALL BE GREATER than he, and his descendants SHALL BECOME A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS.’
20) So he blessed them that day, saying, ‘By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” – Genesis 48:11, 15-20.
So, having Israel’s name placed upon the two lads makes them prophetically “Israel”. As we teach, Manasseh represents the founding stock of the people of the United States of America. And Ephraim represents the founding stock of the people of the United Kingdom – see also Judah’s Scepter and Joseph’s Birthright by J.H. Allen, 1943.
Yes, the great blessings that the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth Nations, and the United States of America have received are from the LORD God!
And as far as “freedom,” this present evil age is not truly free. This is Satan the Devil’s world!
In our free online PDF booklet “Satan’s World,” we wrote about the fact that Satan the Devil is very much real, and that he sits upon the throne of his kingdom ──
But – going back to Ezekiel chapter 28 –Verse 15 – “’ You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.’”Verse 16 – “’ By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God [the kingdom of God]; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.’”Verse 17 – “’ Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; ...’”So, this ‘covering cherub,’ this enchanting whisperer was pleasing to look upon.“ ... ‘You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.’” – Certainly, here is a reference to the Book of Revelation 20.We can certainly turn to the Book of Isaiah, the 14th chapter, and ask a profound question – how was it possible that Satan the devil fall from such a prominent position in the kingdom of God!?The LORD God asks, “’ How [or why] you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, ...’” – or rather, Hêlēl – meaning “shining one.” “ ... ‘ son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!’”And he is truly the power behind the thrones of many kingdoms of this world, in which these great and powerful nations have come to power, placing multiple millions of people under bondage, with genocides, with atrocities, under the authoritarian regime of the evil hand of some man possessed by this evil and vile cherub! So here we are reading the power behind these individuals.
Joseph’s son Manasseh was the firstborn. Yet, the LORD God had Israel intentionally place his “right hand” upon Ephraim’s head to bless him ──
“And Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13) And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s LEFT HAND, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s RIGHT HAND, and brought them near to him. 14) Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, WHO WAS THE YOUNGER, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands KNOWINGLY, for Manasseh WAS THE FIRSTBORN.” – Genesis 48:12-114.
Ephraim became the firstborn through the LORD God ──
“ … ‘For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.’” – Jeremiah 31:9.
So, it was the LORD God who decided that Ephraim was to receive firstborn blessings. Ephraim was born last, after the 12 sons of Israel and after his brother Manasseh.
The Prophet Moses, inspired by God’s Spirit, wrote the following blessings concerning the descendants of Joseph ──
“Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. …
13) And of Joseph he said:
‘Blessed of the LORD is his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And the deep lying beneath, 14) With the precious fruits of the sun, With the precious produce of the months, 15) With the best things of the ancient mountains, With the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16) With the precious things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come ‘on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.’
17) His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; Together with them He shall push the peoples To the ends of the earth; They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.’” – Deuteronomy 33:1, 13-17.
Both Ephraim and Manasseh were promised many great blessings. And those of us, brethren, who believe God’s living word do understand that some peoples received those great blessings.
The United Kingdom had colonies (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Falkland Islands), as well as other large outposts (Rhodesia, India, Hong Kong, and South Africa), he “SHALL BECOME A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS.” And the United States of America was established as “HE ALSO SHALL BE GREAT.”
The Return of our Lord!
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will return, and Satan the Devil will be bound ── though there will be ‘great tribulation’ upon the nations before this occurs.
“’ Now I saw heaven [meaning here the atmosphere] opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness HE JUDGES AND MAKES WAR. 12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13) He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. 14) And the armies in heaven [the atmosphere], clothed in fine linen, white and clean [symbolic of righteousness], followed Him ON WHITE HORSES. 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And HE HIMSELF will rule them with a rod of iron. HE HIMSELF treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” – Revelation 19:11-15.
In the Book of Revelation chapter 20, we are told that an angel of the LORD our God will have the ‘key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand, and will lay hold of Satan the devil and his minions and will bind them for A THOUSAND YEARS!’ – Revelation 20:1-3.
Also, our Lord Jesus was prophesied to proclaim liberty ──
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me. Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners. 2) To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, …’” – Isaiah 61:1-2.
And our Lord Jesus announced that He fulfilled that prophecy. He actually quoted the previous passage when He stood up in the temple on the last day of the feast, unrolling the scroll of Isaiah and read this very passage ──
“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue ON THE SABBATHS DAY, and stood up to read. 17) And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18) ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’” – Luke 4:16-19.
“Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21) And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” – Luke 4:20-21.
We, brethren, who know God’s truth, are already free.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” – John 8:31-32.
The Apostle Paul wrote, under divine inspiration ──
“DO YOU NOT KNOW that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17) But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18) And having BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN, you became slaves of righteousness.” – Romans 6:16-18.
True Christians are not slaves to sin.
As for proclaiming liberty to the captives, that is one reason that the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries has had our English PDF booklet, “What is the Kingdom of God?” translated also into Spanish, with many other languages coming soon.
Let us continue to pray as our Lord Jesus instructed us ──
“’ Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.’” – Matthew 6:10. □
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