By John Roberts, March 18, 2003

What is the significance and relevance of this story to last days prophecy?

The United States has been blessed because of our unwavering faith in God, support for Israel, missionary work, and unwavering commitment to liberty and freedom.  America is more than a country.  It is an idea and a dream for millions of immigrants from almost every nation on earth.  You don't see people flocking to immigrate to France, Germany, Russia, or Iraq.   Why is that?   Why is it that these people want to come to America?  

Well, what America has these countries can't offer.  I have been all over the world and I still can't wait to come home to the USA, fast food culture and all.  I just don't get the superior attitude of some Europeans like the French.  What's so cultured about dirty sidewalks, pickpockets, and chocking on car exhaust while eating garden snails at a sidewalk Cafe?  Been there, done that, and I just don't get it.

When my ancestors were building the first roads and concrete bridges in the ancient world and laying the foundation for modern law and government these people were running around the forest butt naked.  After watching the latest antiwar protest I guess not all that much has changed.

Nevertheless America has played a role in prophecy.  We helped defeat the Nazis, we were the first country to recognize the State of Israel, and we continue to look after Israel like a big brother.  And I am glad to see that Britain has come to our aid in an hour when others are taking turns stabbing us in the back.

It is interesting to see just who our friends are at this moment in history, like Great Britain, Australia, Spain and Portugal, because there is an interesting prophecy in the 38th Chapter of Ezekiel.

In the last days Russia, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Ethiopia, Libya, and many other nations will attack Israel.

Ezekiel 38:1-12

  1     And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
  2     Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
  3     And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
  4     And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
  5     Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
  6     Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
  7     Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
  8     After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
  9     Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
  10     Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
  11     And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
  12     To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

And there in the 13the verse we have what I believe to be the only direct reference to the United States in all of scripture.

Ezekiel 38:13

  13     Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

No one knows for sure where Tarshish was located in the ancient world but most agree this is a reference to Spain.  The merchants of Tarshish carried goods by sea.  This is a reference to seafaring people.  I believe this is also a reference to Great Britain, especially when you consider Tarshish in connection with "young lions thereof."  The British Empire incorporated over a fourth of the whole earth.  They were possibly the greatest seafaring nation in history.  Britain's young lions are America, Australia, New Zealand, and many others.

Isn't it interesting that Spain, Britain, Australia and the United States stood together in the war for Iraq and were opposed by Russia, Germany, and other of anti-Semitic nations.

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