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We began this book by asking, “Where in the Bible is America to be found? What about Great Britain?” We noted that their apparent absence from Scripture has long puzzled scholars. But as we have shown, these two great nations—which have profoundly changed the world in innumerable ways—are descended from the so-called “lost” ten tribes of ancient Israel. As recipients of the Abrahamic “birthright” blessings, the Anglo-America nations are, in fact, discussed in scores of biblical prophecies addressed to Israel.
The rise of the British Empire and the United States of America to world prominence has been phenomenal. But their accelerating demise is also proving exceptional. Today, our nations stand at a crossroad: if the Anglo-American peoples continue on their present course, the end will be disastrous. Unfortunately, prophecy indicates that this is precisely what will happen. Through the prophet Hosea, God says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” He goes on to say that we have “rejected [true] knowledge” and “forgotten the law of [our] God” (Hosea 4:6). Of course, God is referring to spiritual knowledge—the Word of God.
Foretelling of our times, the prophet Isaiah was inspired to write that “none calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for truth; [instead, your leaders] trust in vanity and speak lies…. They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity… [and] their works are works of iniquity…. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. They have not known the way of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made crooked paths for themselves; whoever goes therein shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us; nor does righteousness overtake us” (Isa. 59:4-9).
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God laments, “For My people are foolish [and] have not known Me; they are stupid children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge…. To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are not circumcised, and they cannot hearken. Behold, the Word of the LORD is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it” (Jer. 4.22; 6:10).
Indeed, we have rejected the knowledge of God and His ways. The more our peoples have prospered, the more our sins have increased (Hosea 4:7-8). As indicated by verse 11, immorality and substance abuse have sapped and destroyed our national spirit. As nations, we look to our “lovers” (alliances with other nations) instead of God (Hosea 2:5, 13; etc.). We have “thrown off” what is good, and counted God’s ways as a “strange thing” (Hosea 8:3, 12). In our pride we will not seek God—until we are forced to do so (Hosea 7:10).
America’s lack of conscience was made apparent in the aftermath of 9-11. Immediately following the terrorist attacks, church attendance spiked; Americans everywhere were moved to seek God. But within a few months, it was back to life as usual. There was no revival of American Christianity, no humbling of the nation before God, no introspective look into how we might have brought God’s judgment on ourselves. Clearly, however, God was sending a warning to America—a warning that has gone unheeded.
In his intriguing book The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn draws a striking parallel between America’s response to the 9-11 attacks and ancient Israel’s response to initial Assyrian attacks. He bases his analogy on Isaiah chapter nine, in which the people of Israel—with “pride and arrogance of heart”—say: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will [re]build with cut stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will [plant] cedars instead” (verses 9-10). The nation of Israel was under divine judgment. But rather than acknowledge their sin and return to God, they defiantly vowed to rebuild “bigger and stronger” so that they could withstand future attacks. By foolishly ignoring God’s warning, they eventually fell to Assyria.
Likewise, after the 9-11 attacks, no one acknowledged that America was under judgment; no one called for national repentance or fundamental change; no one asked, “What is God trying to tell us?” To be sure, our politicians cried “God bless America”—but nothing was done to secure God’s blessing. On 9-11, America’s territorial integrity was breached; God had removed His “hedge” of protection. And our response—defiance. Like Israel of old, we said, “We will rebuild”—we will be stronger, invincible.1
At the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, Cahn spoke on this very subject. Citing Isaiah nine, he warned that America’s response to 9-11 was as good as saying, “God, you won’t humble us, you won’t cause us to return. We will continue on our course. We will continue to abandon your ways. We will defy you even more than before. By our own efforts, we will rebuild and come back stronger than before.”2 Indeed, it is as verse 13 says, “The people do not turn to Him Who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts.”
The fact that America is of Israelite origin makes Cahn’s assessment all the more astounding. We have driven God out of our institutions, our churches, even our lives. What will happen to America and Britain if our peoples continue down this path?
In His mercy, perhaps God will yet give America and Britain time to repent—to “put away the evil” and “learn to do good”—to “seek judgment” and “reprove the oppressor” (see Isa. 1:16-19). As God says through the prophet Jeremiah, “If at any time I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck it up and to pull it down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have spoken, will turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them” (Jer. 18:7-8). As individuals and nations, God sets before us “life and death, blessing and cursing”—and commands us to “choose life” (Deut. 30:19).
What will you do? As Cahn rightly proclaims, “the signs of warning and judgment are manifesting in the land. The shadow of judgment is upon us.”3 Will you hear and answer God in heartfelt repentance?
“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
NOTES ON EPILOGUE
1. Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger, pp. 51-55. While Cahn’s central message is most appropriate, this author does not endorse all of his conclusions.
2. Jonathan Cahn, “Message to America,” p. 6. Cahn, a messianic Jewish rabbi, gave the keynote address at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast (Jan. 21, Washington, DC). Until recently, the entire text of Cahn’s address was available on his site, www.hopeoftheworld.org. Currently, it may be found at www.patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/how-dowe- pray-for-our-nation.
3. Cahn, “Message to America,” p. 12
