For many years now, we have aimed our trumpet-blowing work mostly in the direction of America, Britain (including the former British Commonwealth nations) and Israel. The reason for this focus is grounded in Bible prophecy. In Hosea 5:4, God speaks to the latter-day descendants of biblical Israel: “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of harlotry is within them, and they know not the Lord” (Revised Standard Version).
Israel’s descendants today, as we have proven before, are the American, British and Jewish peoples. (If you haven’t already, request a free copy of The United States and Britain in Prophecy. For more information about that book, see the two-page spread in the middle of this magazine.) Continue with verse 5: “And the pride of Israel [America] doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim [Britain] fall in their iniquity; Judah [Jewish Israel today] also shall fall with them.” The Bible assures us that America, Britain and Judah will all fall together. That’s what makes the present events in those three nations so disturbing.
All three are deeply divided along ideological lines. This chasm is clearly seen among the general populous and within government.
The United States election crisis revealed two Americas. The Republicans represent geography—rural America. The Democrats represent demography—urban America. One side is more religious, the other more secular. Both sides view each other as becoming increasingly more evil. (See “Good vs. Evil” on page 16.) The representatives of both sides in government are equally fractious, with both houses of Congress virtually split down the middle of party lines. And thanks to Vice President Gore’s “win at all cost” mentality, the judicial system has now been forced to expose its own ideological divide. Added to this mess is the dark cloud hanging over America’s executive branch. It’s one thing for a president to bring shame upon himself—it’s quite another for a presidential candidate to denigrate the office itself.
Across the Atlantic, the British have their own crisis of division. They too are divided along moral lines, both sides viewing the other as evil. Tony Blair has even publicly stated his desire to destroy conservative thought in Britain. British parliamentary opposition leader William Hague, on the other hand, cites liberal leadership as a primary cause of Britain’s post-empire identity crisis. He is also extremely critical of Mr. Blair’s push for EU membership, seeing it as a loss of British sovereignty. British membership in the EU now looms large as a hotly disputed issue in the next election.
In tiny Israel, Ehud Barak’s “resignation” in December thrust that nation into further political turmoil even while it is coping with a civil war within its borders. Barak, who said he would seek re-election, apparently made the move to keep his political rival, Benjamin Netanyahu, from running against him. According to Israeli law, if the prime minister resigns, his successor must be chosen from among those in the parliament. Initially, however, Barak’s maneuver appeared to backfire, as the Knesset amended the law, clearing the way for Netanyahu to run. But in the end, Netanyahu backed out when the Knesset refused to dissolve itself and hold concurrent elections. He attributed his dropout to division: “I could be prime minister, but I do not just want to be elected, I have to have a stable government and coalition. This is not possible with the current paralyzed Knesset. We would just go round and round.”
Thus we see, as we enter the year 2001, three nations deeply divided. Instead of loving democracy and their constituents above self, most politicians lust for power. We have seen examples in our day—this modern, high-tech, intellectually advanced age—where politicians will do virtually anything just to get elected.
As a consequence, people in America, Britain and Israel have less confidence in their governments than ever before! It’s been said that the American electorate was split in half, which is true—half the people didn’t even bother to vote. In Britain, most people are overwhelmingly opposed to giving up the pound and joining a European monetary union. Yet Tony Blair forces his way forward against the will of the people, intent on joining the European superstate. And in Israel, the man most people would like to elect prime minister isn’t even in the upcoming election!
Everywhere you turn in these three nations, there is division and strife! Jesus said a nation divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:24). All three nations are prophesied to fall together—and hard—if we do not wake up and turn to our God.
In this, our first Trumpet issue of 2001, we examine the increasingly divided political, social and geographical landscape of America, Britain and Israel.