Chapter 1: A Chosen Nation
The transition of Nelson Mandela from terrorist to most favored political prisoner, thence in 1994 to president of his country of birth, honored by heads of state worldwide, finally taking a seat of honor beside Queen Elizabeth as they rode through the cheering masses in London in July 1996, is one that has few parallels in modern history.
At the new president’s inauguration the world erupted into euphoria at the perceived triumph of the majority Black South African population winning government from its former Caucasian overseers of apartheid.
Was it a portent of things to come, that the introductory words to the presidential inauguration ceremony were changed from “in the presence of Almighty God” to “in the presence of those assembled here”? It seemed rather ironic that immediately following this inaugural declaration, several prayers were offered to the various “gods” of the principal religions of the main ethnic groups in multi-cultural South Africa—Hindu, Islam, Jewish and Christian. This was, indeed, a far cry from the imperial ceremony and religious rites surrounding the founding of the union of South Africa (later to become the republic of South Africa) in 1910 by the descendants of the largely British and Dutch communities. The previous rulers of South Africa could hardly have foreseen this transition of power from white minority to black majority rule that would take place eighty-four years later on that sunny morning in Cape Town, May 9, 1994.
South Africa and Bible Prophecy
South Africa is part of God’s chosen nation Israel, as explained in The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert Armstrong. He wrote, “God gave Abraham promises of physical race as well as spiritual grace.”
Mr. Armstrong was referring to God’s statement contained in Genesis 17:1-5: “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”
Abraham’s son, Isaac, passed on God’s promises when he prayed over his son Jacob: “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine [Fenton’s translation: ‘increase and possession’]: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee” (Gen. 27:28-29). These were promises of great material wealth, national in nature, given by the great God! God even gave promises that other people would serve Jacob’s descendants.
As Jacob reached old age, he in turn called his grandsons (the sons of Joseph) to his side and stated, “let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth” (Gen. 48:16). Again, Mr. Armstrong states in The United States and Britain in Prophecy: “Hence it is they—the descendants of Ephraim (the British) and Manasseh (America)—not the Jews, who are referred to in prophecy under the names of Jacob or Israel.” The promises to the older son, Manasseh, were that “he also shall become a people [nation], and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude [a company or commonwealth] of nations” (Gen. 48:19). This was prophesied to happen “in the last days” (Gen. 49:1). Those students of the Bible who allow God’s Spirit to reveal this knowledge to them know that Manasseh is the progenitor of the peoples who founded the United States of America and that Ephraim is the “father” of the British peoples.
Mr. Armstrong continued, “Beginning in 1800 these two little nations [the United Kingdom and the United States of America] began to sprout and to grow into vast national riches and power such as no people ever possessed. Soon Britain’s Empire spread around the world, until the sun never set upon her possessions. Canada, Australia, and South Africa were given dominion status—made free and independent nations, ruling themselves independent of England—a company, or commonwealth of nations joined together, not by legal government but solely by the throne of David!”
Thus the Bible reveals that South Africa’s considerable national blessings were the direct result of promises which God Almighty gave to the descendants of Abraham because of his obedience to God’s directions. (For a free copy of The United States and Britain in Prophecy, write to the mailing address nearest you on the final page of this booklet.)
Jealous Eyes Fixed Upon Wealth
South Africa was colonised and settled largely by people of Ephraimitish (British) stock, in addition to those of the tribe of Zebulon (Dutch), Reuben (French Hugenots) and a mixture from Assyria (Germany). This country has been particularly blessed with national riches resulting largely from the extraction, processing and export of vast mineral wealth—gold, diamonds and heavy metals. South Africa dominates the primary gold market and is among the top ten coal producers in the world. Only in recent years has her industrial diamond production been eclipsed by Australia, another country descended from Ephraim. Platinum, vanadium and chromate figure high in South Africa’s resource inventory. Indeed, it is on this vast mineral wealth, with which God has blessed South Africa, that for many decades the jealous eyes of the Soviet Union were fixed.
However, even as the republic of South Africa, until recent times, has enjoyed the best of the bounty which Western nations of the “new world” have reaped over the past two centuries, it cannot be denied that this richly blessed nation has endured a significant share of curses increasingly over the past three decades.
The United Nations
A well-orchestrated campaign of disinformation, propaganda and scurrilous slander has been waged against the South African nation by the combined forces of government officials (both within and without South Africa), the liberal press, leftist church authorities and the United Nations. The catch phrase used by all has been apartheid—the policy of separate development pursued by the South African government since 1948. What escapes most commentators’ attention is the reality that the whole world has been hoodwinked by this disinformation campaign. Most have expressed a great, global, emotive, self-righteous outcry against the imputed unfairness of the apartheid system. Many people are gullibly being led by the nose to endorse a power transfer that portends a future mineral and metals blackmail against the combined Western economies at least equivalent to that imposed by the opec oil cartel in a previous decade!
Joseph de Courcey, editor of the well-respected Gloucester UK-based Intelligence Digest, comments in his lead article in the December 3, 1993 edition: “A recurring nightmare of the Cold War for Western military strategists was the possibility that a revolutionary government in South Africa could combine with the Soviet Union to deprive the West of vital raw materials. It may now surprise some to learn that the Russian security services have been discussing this very possibility with the anc-South African Communist Party alliance on the eve of its likely victory in the first all-race South African elections….
“Russia and South Africa together possess over 90 percent of the world’s strategic minerals. The Russian security services believe that a Russian-South African metals and minerals cartel could wield enormous influence over the industrialised world and that this could be used to enable Russia to catch up with the West economically.
“Should such a cartel ever be established, the potential effect on the industrialised world cannot be exaggerated. South Africa is a geological freak of nature. It is the largest gold producer in the world; it also has the world’s largest known deposits of chrome, manganese, vanadium, fluorspar, andalusite and platinum.
“Talks with the ANC about future co-operation over the supply of strategic minerals and metals is very much a part of Kremlin understanding of where Russia’s future as a world power lies.”
Has South Africa Sold its Birthright for a Bowl of Pottage?
As some astute Western analysts have suggested, if an African National Congress (anc)-South African Communist Party (sacp)-dominated government in South Africa forges links with the Islamic-Arab crescent in consortium with Russia, only those who bow to radical Islam and a Communist-led anc may get their raw materials!
How could such a giant miscalculation have been perpetrated while seemingly aided and abetted by the governments of those nations who would stand to lose the most under such a horrific scenario? How could the nation of South Africa, inheritor of some of the greatest blessings ever bestowed by a benevolent God on the house of Israel, reach the unbelievable state of potentially handing her birthright on a silver platter to those who for decades were her sworn enemies?
Ezekiel the prophet was commissioned by God to go to the house of Israel (Ezek. 3:1-4). The prophecy that Ezekiel was inspired to record for Israel was a warning of dire events to befall them because of their gross abominations, greed, selfishness and great sins which they flaunt in the face of their Maker! And he prophesied that they, the Israelitish nations, would not listen. “But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted” (Ezek. 3:7).
Nevertheless, God describes their condition as it will be in these latter days: “Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled. [Remember the attack in South Africa on the multi-racial St. James Church of England during an evening worship service, February 25, 1993?] Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek. 7:23-27). Disaster looms huge on the horizon of South Africa, as godless communism has its day bringing an anc-dominated government to power with the apparent full endorsement of Western society! Write for a free copy of our booklet, The Ezekiel Watchman, for further study on this subject.