USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses

By COGwriter

Can the United States of America be found in Bible prophecy?

Might it be gone by 2028?

While there are various views amongst those considered to be Protestants, the following view held by Greg Laurie seems to represent the basic view of many Protestants:

When I look at Bible prophecy, one thing that is of great interest to me, and of great concern, is the absence of the United States. (Laurie G. Where is the United States in the End-Times Scenario? July 13th, 2013. viewed http://blog.greglaurie.com/?p=8931 07/17/13)

While this article addresses where the USA is mentioned in biblical prophecy later, Greg Laurie gives his own explanation of why he feels that it is not mentioned:

Where is the United States? Why are we not in the last-days scenario? Why is it that we can read of nations like Iraq and Iran and Libya and that we possibly can find China and Russia mentioned, but we cannot find the United States?

I would like to offer three plausible answers.

One, perhaps the United States may not be mentioned in Scripture because it might be devastated by a nuclear war. It is a horrible scenario and one that none of us would want to see, but we cannot rule it out as a possibility. There is no guarantee this could not happen ...

The second possible reason our nation may not be mentioned in Scripture is that perhaps we will simply decline as a world power. As our country becomes more and more secular, systematically eliminating God and the Bible from our education system, courts, and the arts we will begin to reap the inevitable results of sin. We will begin to rot from the inside ...

But there is a third possibility, which I find a lot more hopeful: a great revival takes place in the United States. That is not to say a revival would eliminate us as a world power. But if our nation had a revival, it would affect us. Think about this. Let’s say, for example, that one-fourth of all Americans are believers. This would mean that we have approximately 78 million true believers in our country today.

When the Rapture of the church takes place, don’t you think there would be an impact on the United States if 78 million people disappeared? If people in every level of government, the military, the economic sector, business, agriculture, medicine and communications suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth, it undoubtedly would have a crippling effect on our infrastructure as a nation. (Laurie G. Where is the United States in the End-Times Scenario? July 13th, 2013. viewed http://blog.greglaurie.com/?p=8931 07/17/13)

Although the article did not cite scriptures, let me state that nuclear (or similar) destruction (cf. Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 29:23; Isaiah 10:5-11; Hosea 8:14) will likely befall the USA and the USA is in decline as a world power (some of the reasons why this will happen are in the article Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

That being said, the Bible does not teach a pre-tribulation rapture. Jesus specifically taught He would return after the great tribulation:

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted)

More information on the Bible and the pre-tribulation rapture hypothesis can be found in the article Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? and the YouTube video Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?.

Ed Mlynar seems to have a similar, though not identical, view to Greg Laurie as he wrote:

Exactly where is America in the prophecies concerning the tribulation? The political spheres of influence are clearly defined in the Book of Revelation, however, America is not mentioned. There are three schools of thought for those keeping an eye on world events and how they relate to prophecy.

The first school of thought is that the United States is mentioned either directly or indirectly in the Book of Revelation. It takes a little mental gymnastics or the following of the Jewish people throughout history to make this work ...

The second school of thought is that the rapture of the church will cause so many people to be removed from the United States that the country will simply collapse. Millions of people vanishing would absolutely devastate the economy and render this country useless.

While I cannot dismiss this option as Jesus said that no man will know the hour in which He comes, I find it rather unlikely that the rapture will be the catalyst that destroys America ...

The third school of thought is that the United States is either destroyed or at minimum marginalized and is subservient to a ruling world power. It is this school of thought that is difficult for Americans to accept, even though it occurring before their eyes.

America has already been destroyed. It is only a matter of time before the effects are felt by every man, woman, and child living in this country. One characteristic of an American is their ability to deny the simplest of truths. That seems to be the state in which this country is in...

The economy of the United States will continually be challenged by the European Union. The dollar is losing its appeal around the would as countries such as China and Russia are preferring to deal in Euros...

God has never allowed a country that turned against Him to go unpunished forever.

The United States is actively and aggressively pushing God out of its collective existence. It is in the papers every day, it is in the courts every week. While the majority of the population claims to belive in God, the country itself is trying to remove every vestige of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from existence.

Does this sound like a person who preaching doom and gloom? It is a message that you, as an American, do not want to hear? Do you find yourself rejecting it this message? (Mlynar E. How The West Was Lost. The Christian's role in the declining superpower. Omega Letter Commentary, November 3, 2003. http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=1993 viewed 07/17/13)

Now Ed Mlynar is correct looking at history can help identify the USA in prophecy. He is also correct that the Europeans will increasingly be a threat to the USA's economic dominance. That is consistent with biblical prophecies.

Yet, like Greg Laurie's article, I saw no scripture directly cited in Ed Mlynar's article that attempted to identify the USA in particular in the Bible.

Before going further, it should be pointed out that some (Irvin Baxter and Paul Wild come to mind) claim that the first beast of Daniel 7 is a reference to the USA:

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. (Daniel 7:4)

However, the above prophecy was fulfilled by the Chaldean empire (per Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, as well as Herbert W. Armstrong).

In the end times, it is a beast that comes out of the fourth one, with ten horns, that is the threat (Daniel 7:19-20). And that beast (which is European) is the one mentioned in Revelation 17:3,7. That is NOT the USA.

Nor is the USA the two-horned Beast of the Earth of Revelation 13, like Seventh-day Adventists teach (see SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666) as that Beast is the final Antichrist.

Here is a link to the sermon video: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy.

What About Daniel 11:39?

Back in 2009, when I did my first radio interview following the release of my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect (which taught that the world would NOT end in 2012), the interviewer challenged me to point to where the USA is mentioned in the Bible as he did not believe there were any such verses. (A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?)

The answer I gave him was Daniel 11:39, which I then paraphrased over the air.

As far as when that will happen, that will be at the start of Great Tribulation.

Shortly before the time Daniel 11:39 is fulfilled, the King of the North will realize that the United States and its British-descended allies are not supportive of its Middle East actions (cf. Daniel 11:29-30 and related explanation in the article Who is the King of the North?). Thus, it seems that some type of surprise pre-emptive strike will be launched under the direction of the King of the North to eliminate them. This "surprise attack" approach has been used by German and other armies throughout history.

Specifically notice that the Bible shows that this King of the North will destroy those who are perceived to have the strongest military might and then somehow divide up their land:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39, NKJV).

Daniel 11:24 seems to parallel this as it teaches that the King of the North has plans against the strongholds and succeeds against the prosperous.

Many other Protestant translations of Daniel 11:39, plus one COG one, plus one or more Roman Catholic-accepted ones, and at least one Jewish one teach that the King of the North goes against the strongest fortresses:

39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (ESV)

39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whosoever acknowledgeth him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. (ASV)

39 With the help of this foreign god, he will capture the strongest fortresses. Everyone who worships this god will be put in a position of power and rewarded with wealth and land. (CEV)

39 He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.. (NASB)

39 He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward. (HCSB)

39 Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. (NLT)

39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. (NIV)

39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god; those who acknowledge him he shall magnify with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (RSV)

39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god; those who acknowledge him he shall magnify with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (RSV, Catholic Edition)

39 He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he’ll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he’ll parcel out the land for a profit. (ISB of 2012)

39. So he shall deal against the fortresses of the strongest with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge; and shall increase with glory. He shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the land for a price. (AFV)

39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god; whom he shall acknowledge, shall increase glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price. (Jewish Publication Society of 1917)

Who has the strongest fortresses?

In the 21st century, the strongest fortresses in the world belong to the USA and to a much lessor extent, its English-speaking allies (for a more detailed explanation of why the USA and its Anglo-allies are involved, as well as the dividing of their lands, please see Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

The Associated Press reported the following:

September 29, 2016

Obama reflected on his nearly eight years as president, saying that of all the privileges of the Oval Office, there's none greater than serving as commander in chief of the finest military in the world.

"We have the strongest military..." he said. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/29/obama-best-people-make-us-military-world-strongest.html

Barak Obama was correct in his assessment that the USA currently has the stongest military in the world. US President Donald Trump has also put forth that position:

August 20, 2019

“We have the strongest military in the world right now,” Mr. Trump said. “Right now there’s nobody that’s even close to us militarily — not even close. ..." https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/20/china-could-crush-us-military-pacific-report/

Right now, he is correct.

However, in WWIII, the Bible shows that the strongest military will be defeated and the USA conquered during the Great Tribulation. Some would call this attack in Daniel 11:39 World War III (WWIII; see also World War III: Steps in Progress).

Some overlook that and think that the USA will be a safe place. For example, Irvin Baxter of the End of the Age telecast, essentially said the following on a program titled Jews say, NEVER AGAIN (11/28/19 date):

The Great Tribulation … The United States and Israel will be places of safety from the coming holocaust.

That is NOT the case--the Bible says that the place of safety would be in the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-17; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra) and that is simply not a direct reference to the USA. Besides, the USA will be destroyed.

In Bible prophecy, statements about Joseph's son Manasseh refer to the USA (more on that later), whereas those related to Joseph's son Ephraim often apply to the United Kingdom and/or its Anglo-Saxon descended allies like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (for biblical details, check out the article Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Another reason to consider that "strongest fortresses" comment in Daniel 11:39 is mainly applying to the USA is that Isaiah warns that "The fortress also will cease from Ephraim" (Isaiah 17:3). Furthermore, unlike Manasseh (USA), Ephraim (UK, etc.) simply does not have the strongest fortresses in the 21st century. However, since the fortresses will cease from Ephraim, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will also be taken over militarily at about the same time (there will likely be delays for Australia and New Zealand to be taken over). But consistent with Daniel 8:24-25, those prosperous nations will also be taken over and conquered.

What about others?

Well, this passage about the "strongest fortresses" in Daniel 11:39 cannot be referring to the continental Europeans as they support the King of the North. It cannot be talking about an Arabic/Middle Eastern power because they get defeated by the King of the North in the next few verses (Daniel 11:40-43). Nor can it be referring to the Russians, Chinese, or other Asians as they do not get mentioned until verse 44 of Daniel 11 (see also The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy).

Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that, in the 21st century, the strongest fortresses, the strongest military, in the world are possessed by the USA and to a much lessor degree its Anglo-Saxon descended allies.

Furthermore, let's look at what comes after Daniel 11:39 and notice also that it is NOT the USA that the King of the North later fears:

40 "At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him. (Daniel 11:40-45)

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the time from Daniel 11:39 through verse 45 last 3 1/2 years (cf. Revelation 13:5).

That reference in Daniel 11:44 to the north and east is to Russia, China, and others in the East.

Russia is NOT the one label the King of the North as it would NOT be troubled by a power north or east of it as it is in the top of the north and as far east as land goes.

To demonstrate this further, notice the following:

50:41 "Behold, a people shall come from the north, And a great nation and many kings Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth. 42 They shall hold the bow and the lance; They are cruel and shall not show mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea; They shall ride on horses, Set in array, like a man for the battle, Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 "The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth..."(Jeremiah 50:41-43).

Thus, the European empire (the "daughter of Babylon") is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian led) and eastern force.

(More related to Russia can be found in the article: Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future.)

The USA is NOT a threat to end time Babylon in Jeremiah 50:41-41 nor Daniel 11:44-45, because the USA is gone!

Of course, many do not believe that the USA can ever be taken over. But all should consider that this type of view is also prophesied:

10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (Amos 9:10)

People who have faith that the USA will continue and get through all of this should ask themselves,“Why?”

They also may wish to ask themselves since the Bible talks about end time kings of the north (Daniel 11:40-45), south (Daniel 11:40), and east (Revelation 16:12), why does it not mention an end time king of the west?

The USA is west of Jerusalem, in a major sense is currently the "King of the West," and apparently is the Western naval power of Daniel 11:30--yet no King of the West seems to exist after the King of the North eliminates those with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39) (for more information, please also see the article Who is the King of the West?).

How might the Europeans be able to do this?

How can the strongest military lose?

Well, a surprise attack by European 'allies' in vulnerable areas could do that. While the USA tries to be the strongest in ALL areas, its defeater only needs to be stronger and/or more sinister in one or just a few.

For years, I have believed it would be because of technological advances as well as the USA trusting Europe too much that will allow for the USA to be defeated.

And Europe has made great strides in areas of military technology that relatively few seem to realize. For details, please check out the article European Technology and the Beast of Revelation as well as a related YouTube video titled Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.

Also, because of Europe's involvement with NATO, as well as its up and coming Galileo (GPS) satellite system (that the USA has declared it will rely on for part of its military defense (see see USA GPS and EU Galileo linking was expected), Europe will be in a unique military position once it chooses to launch an attack. Such an attack could possibly happen under the guise of a NATO exercise, combined with other events (like Islamic terrorism--cf. Daniel 11:27). Thus, disorienting the military of the USA from knowing what to do until it is too late. A 21st century version of the Germany's WWII blitzkrieg.

USA Has Issues, But Can it Really be Defeated?

In view of all of this, let's notice what Time reported:

These Are the 5 Reasons Why the U.S. Remains the World’s Only Superpower

A ‘superpower’ is a country that wields enough military, political and economic might to convince nations in all parts of the world to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. ...

In the key categories of power, the U.S. will remain dominant for the foreseeable future. These facts show why America is still the world’s only superpower, and why that won’t change anytime soon.

1. Economics

China’s economy is growing at an impressive rate. But it’s not just the size of an economy that matters—it’s also the quality. ...

And crucially, the American economy remains the bedrock of the global financial system. Over 80% of all financial transactions worldwide are conducted in dollars, as are 87% of foreign currency market transactions. As long as the world continues to place such faith in America’s currency and overall economic stability, the U.S. economy remains the one to beat.

2. Military

America’s military superiority remains unrivaled—full stop. The US accounts for 37% of global military spending, and spends more than four times what China, the world’s No. 2 spender, does on its military. The U.S. dominates across land, sea, air and space. America’s Middle East misadventures gave the U.S. military a black eye, but the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan speak more to the changing nature of warfare than declining U.S. military superiority. Terrorists and guerilla fighters give conventional military powers fits by design. The U.S. must ultimately learn to scale down to better meet those challenges. Nevertheless, while conventional military strength might not deter terrorists, it still does a terrific job of deterring hostile nations.

3. Political Influence

Political power comes in many dimensions. For the U.S., foreign aid is an effective way to cement its political clout globally. In 2013, the U.S. doled out $32.7 billion in financial assistance; second was the UK at $19 billion. Turns out that money buys strong political cooperation from countries in need. ...

4. Innovation

Of the 9 largest tech companies in the world, 8 are based in the U.S. Give the growing importance of the technology sector, that’s a big deal. ...

5. Culture/Lifestyle

In 2012, Americans spent $370 million on pet costumes. Earlier this year the Fury 325 opened up in North Carolina, claiming the title of world’s tallest rollercoaster—until 2016, when the next ‘giga’ coaster is scheduled to open in Orlando, Florida. In the most recent Charities Aid Foundation survey, Americans ranked #1 internationally when it came to helping strangers. These stats may seem disconnected, but together they point to the fact that Americans continue to enjoy a quality of life unmatched by the rest of the world. (These Are the 5 Reasons Why the U.S. Remains the World’s Only Superpower. Time, May 28, 2015)

Let's look at Time's 5 reasons:

1. Regarding economics, with about $30 trillion in official federal debt, and more in other forms of debt, the USA is the most indebted nation of all time. The Bible warns at the time of the end (Habakkuk 2:2-3), creditors will rise up and take over a highly indebted nation militarily:

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his — how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:6-8)

This cannot be a reference to the nation called Israel today as it does not have enemy creditors. Hence, this looks like a reference to the USA. Therefore, despite Time's positive comment about economics, the USA is more vulnerable here than many think. Of course, even Time said this could be affected if other nations stopped relying on the USA dollar, and this is something that many nations are currently working on (watch America's Day of Reckoning 2017 Dollar Collapse?).

2. Yes, the USA has the most powerful military--the strongest fortresses. But that does not mean that it is ready to win against any and all possible attacks--especially if weakened first (cf. Mark 13:8).

3. Political influence is interesting, but not always a strength. It is at least partially because of this influence that many nations are plotting to dethrone the USA dollar as well as its military. Europe also has political influence, and after it has reorganized as prophesied (Revelation 17:12-13), it will rise to be the most influential political power according to the Bible (see also Revelation 13, 18).

4. Innovation is important, but tech companies like Google are not substantially military tech companies. Also, the largest physics project in the world appears to be Europe's Large Hadron Collider. This, and other projects in Europe, will likely spin off items of massive military technological possibilities (some of which they may have already done). This will mainly benefit the Europeans, not the Americans.

5. Culture. The culture of the USA is degrading morally, and this will not last (cf. Romans 1:18-32).

All superpowers have eventually fallen and the USA will not be an exception to this.

Notice also the following:

Why America could lose its next war

By:

July 9, 2021

The U.S. Department of Defense loves a good buzz phrase: capability over capacity, making the tough choices, taking risk now to reduce future risk. The DoD has used all three to rationalize a fiscal 2022 budget that shrinks the U.S. military’s size in the hope that new technologies will eventually lead to new acquisitions. The truth is the proposed budget is the latest in a series of funding requests that have fallen short of what the DoD needs to rebuild for the future.

The result of 30 years of “building down to build up” is a military that lacks the capacity to fight a single peer aggressor plus defend the U.S. homeland and deter nuclear attacks. Since defense leaders seem reluctant to be forthright and sound the alarm, ...

Take the case of the Air Force. According to the 2018 National Defense Strategy, defeating a peer adversary’s invasion of a U.S. ally or friend is the most stressing requirement for sizing our military. Preventing a Chinese seizure of Taiwan or a Russian invasion of the Baltic states will require U.S. forces that can launch large-scale precision strikes and otherwise go on the offensive within hours. Only air power — bombers, fifth-generation fighters and other air combat systems — can respond over global ranges in time to do this.

Yet, 66 percent of the Air Force’s bombers have been sent to the boneyard since the Cold War, and its fighter force is less than half the size of the force that defeated Iraq’s military in 1991. For context, the Air Force’s 140 B-1s, B-2s and B-52s — its smallest bomber force ever — may be able to generate 30 strike sorties per day. B-52 bombers alone flew an average of 50 sorties per day during Operation Desert Storm.

The lack of an immediate, overwhelming response to such an invasion would have a devastating impact on the United States. Failing to prevent China from seizing Taiwan or completing its dominance over the South China Sea would risk demoting the United States to a second-tier military power in the Western Pacific. Similarly, a successful Russian invasion of the Baltics could fracture NATO — a long-term goal of President Vladimir Putin’s regime. https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/09/why-america-could-lose-its-next-war/

So, there are already cracks in the USA' ability to put together an immediate overwhelming military response. This will make it easier for the Europeans to one day succeed.

Now getting back to Daniel 11:39, here is some of what the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, which is a commentary (the portion about Daniel was by S. R. Driver in 1900), teaches about it:

39. And he will do to the fortresses of strongholds with (the help of) a foreign god] i.e. will conquer them by his aid. ...

strange] i.e. (from Lat. ‘extraneus’) foreign, as regularly in A.V.

he whom he recognizes, will increase glory] his favourites will be loaded by him with honours. ‘Recognize’ (הִכִּיר), as Ruth 2:10 (‘take knowledge of’); Jeremiah 24:5 (‘regard’).

shall cause them to rule over the many, and shall divide land for a price
] he will give them posts as governors, and grant them estates—seized, probably, from their rightful owners—for a bribe.

The comment about 'extraneus' is of interest as it seems likely that the King of the North will establish some type of religious order while also claiming Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholic prophecy claims that their Great Monarch will do that and upset Roman Catholic clergy that way.

Furthermore getting back to the latter part of Daniel 11:39, yes, we can expect that the European Beast power will give estates/lands to his supporters. And this also would seem to include foreign governments, like Mexico for example, that have many citizens that wants lands back that the USA ended up with. Maybe a governorship or other arrangement with the King of the North would seem likely. More on the land being divided can be found in the article Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?

Addtionally, notice the following: Roman Catholic prophecy:

St. Francis de Paul (1470): ... the Great Monarch… By force of arms he shall take possession of a great kingdom. (Culleton R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, pp. 157-161).

The "great kingdom" that the Francis de Paul said would be conquered also sounds like the United States--the greatest military power in the world.

Here are some more Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies related to this Great Monarch and the 'English':

Werdin d' Otrante (13th century): "The Great Monarch and the Great Pope will precede Antichrist...All the sects will vanish. The capital of the world will fall...The Great Monarch will come and restore peace and the Pope will share in the victory." (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 33).

Saint Cataldus of Tarentino (c. 500): "The Great Monarch will be in war till he is forty years of age .... he will assemble great armies and expel tyrants from his empire. He will conquer England and other island empires" (Connor, p.30).

St. Columbine (d. 597): The enemies of the English shall be aroused in battle--they who reside in the eastern and western parts of the world ... the English shall be defeated ... After the English shall be defeated in this battle, they shall be harassed by every quarter; like a fawn surrounded by a pack of voracious hounds, shall be the position of the English amidst their enemies. The English afterwards shall dwindle down to a disreputable people (Culleton, R. Gerald.  The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin.  Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941.  Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 131,132).

Note: it is possible that the "capital of the world" above being referred to is Washington D.C. or the United States of America. Also note that England was not known by that name in the 500s, hence the prophecy that mentions it would have used a different term in its original language that the Roman Catholic translator apparently has concluded is modern England or those who are/speak English.

Anyway, yes, there are numerous Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies that point to a European leader who will destroy a strong English-speaking power that sounds like the USA. As far as popes go, I believe that the final pontiff, which I also consider will be a type of antipope as well as the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:11-15), will be the final Antichrist and will approve the battle that will end up conquering the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39; Revelation chapter 13).

Now, you might ask, "Why are any of the Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies of relevance to Christians?"

Because, as the Apostle Paul wrote, we are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

The old Radio Church of God saw aspects of Satan's Plan in the Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies (see Christ or Antichrist? and Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist?), as did the old Worldwide Church of God (see Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions). The old Radio Church of God also cited Mayan, Indian, and Chinese prophecies as well (see History Documents Jesus Christ!) and the old Worldwide Church of God also cited the 'prophetic' Mayan Popol Vuh (Freibergs G. How Many Creators? Tomorrow's World, April 1971), which is something I cited in one of my books.

The Church of God wants people to be warned about what will happen.

In 21st century, the Continuing Church of God points these predictions out to warn people because the time of greater deception that the Apostle Paul warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4.

When various events occur and the Beast leader arises, many will be deceived and conclude that he is not warned against in the Bible, but instead is one that their demonically-influenced prophets has said will rise up to lead them.

Because of internal problems, trade issues with the Anglo-Americans, mistrust, USA misinformation on many matters (including COVID), and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12), Europe will decide it needs to eliminate the Anglo-American nations. And the Bible shows that this will happen, despite USA military strength.

Hebrew Scriptures

Now other than the fact that the USA currently possesses the strongest military in the world, are there are scriptural indications that this prophecy involves the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies?

Yes.

But first let's look at the Hebrew words involved in Daniel 11:39 that are translated as the "strongest fortresses" in the NKJV and various other translations:

Strong's Word ........................................4581  4013
Hebrew transliteration: .................... maa'uziym  l'mibts'reey

(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.)

The Bible ties destruction of fortresses related to Ephraim (UK, etc.) and Manasseh (USA)--which is sometimes referred to as Samaria in prophecy (see also Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel and Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New):

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 'The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down,But we will replace them with cedars." 11 Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. ... 21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah. (Isaiah 9:8-13,21)

Isaiah essentially used the terms Samaria and Manasseh interchangeably--this supports the view that the USA is sometimes identified as Samaria in Bible prophecy.

A Midrash (midrash is the genre of rabbinic literature which contains early interpretations and commentaries on the Written Torah and Oral Torah, etc.) from A.D. 300-500 (Genesis Rabbah Sect. 94) relates about an encounter between a Jewish rabbi and a Samaritan. The story that developed includes the following dialogue:

R. Meir asks the Samaritan: What tribe are you from?

The Samaritan answers: From Joseph.

R. Meir : No!
(RABIN MISHNAH STUDY GROUP Mishnah study in the religious climate of Masorti (Conservative) Judaism by Rabbi Simchah Roth. BET MIDRASH VIRTUALI of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel. February 27th 2003 / I Adar 25th 5763 [Sotah 083] http://www.bmv.org.il/shiurim/sotah/sot083.html accessed 01/20/17)

Rabbi Meir apparently considered the Samaritans to be Gentiles or a melting pot mixture. Notice more from a Jewish source,

[Obadiah 1:19] AND THEY OF THE SOUTH SHALL POSSESS THE MOUNT OF ESAU; AND THEY OF THE PLAIN THE PHILISTINES: AND THEY SHALL POSSESS THE FIELDS OF EPHRAIM, AND THE FIELDS OF SAMARIA: AND BENJAMIN SHALL POSSESS GILEAD.

Samaria means Menasseh (says Daat Sofrim) who according to Rashi (Davidy Y. Commentary on the book of Obadiah. http://britam.org/obadiah.html

So, at least one Jewish source also identifies Samaria with Manasseh (that same source identifies the USA as Manasseh (Davidiy, p. 384).

Notice also the following:

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off Like a twig on the water. 8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, Shall be destroyed. The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars; They shall say to the mountains, "Cover us!"And to the hills, "Fall on us!"
9 "O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah; There they stood. The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity Did not overtake them. 10 When it is My desire, I will chasten them. Peoples shall be gathered against them When I bind them for their two transgressions. 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer That loves to thresh grain; But I harnessed her fair neck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow; Jacob shall break his clods."
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
13 You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men. 14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people, And all your fortresses shall be plundered (Hosea 10:7-14)

The above is a prophecy that the USA and UK will have their fortresses (Strong's word 4013, l'mibts'reey) plundered. This is consistent with what happens in Daniel 11:39.

In Genesis 48, notice something that happened:

14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 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." (Genesis 48:14-16)

So, Israel said his name should be on Ephraim and Manasseh. That is an identification. So, consider that means that sometimes when prophesies are mentioned concerning "Israel," that they referring to the USA and/or it British-descended allies.

In light of that, notice also the following:

5 The Lord was like an enemy.
He has swallowed up Israel,
He has swallowed up all her palaces;
He has destroyed her strongholds, (Lamentations 2:5, NKJV)

5 The Lord is become as an enemy, He hath swallowed up Israel; He hath swallowed up all her palaces, He hath destroyed his strongholds; (Lamentations 2:5, Jewish Publication Society of 1917)

5 The Lord behaved like an enemy; he engulfed Israel, he engulfed all its citadels, he destroyed its fortresses (Lamentations 2:5, New Jerusalem Bible)

Lamentations 2:5 also uses Strong's word 4013, which is translated as strongholds and fortresses in the above versions of the Bible.

It may be of interest to note that while the final King of the North will gain power while promoting a version of 'peace,' he will be deceitful and will have plans to eliminate those with the strongholds:

23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24)

Daniel 11:24 also uses Strong's word 4013, translated as strongholds.

This leads me to believe that he is targeting not just the USA in verse 39 (as it has the STRONGEST fortresses in the 21st century), but also the UK and perhaps its Anglo-Saxon allies who have their own strongholds/fortresses.

Consider also:

1 Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. Its victim never departs. ... 12 All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs: If they are shaken, They fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Surely, your people in your midst are women! The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies; Fire shall devour the bars of your gates. (Nahum 3:1, 12-13)

The above is of interest, not just because it uses Strong's word 4013, translated as strongholds, but because it states that the land shall be set wide open for their enemies.

Why is that of interest?

While various people will claim that the Europeans are the friends and allies of America and Britain, the Bible has the following warning:

1 How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!
How like a widow is she,
Who was great among the nations!
The princess among the provinces
Has become a slave!

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. (Lamentations 1:1-2)

That passage in Lamentations has long brought to my mind an attack against the USA by its European allies in NATO. The USA and Great Britain (including its Anglo-Commonwealth members, like Australia and Canada) were “great among the nations” and this was basically prophesied to Abraham’s descendants (see Genesis 12:1-2; see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).  The Bible is clear that betrayal is coming from allies, national FRIENDS! And the US and UK do not consider Russia to be a friend.

It has long been my view that the USA and/or UK may be attacked under the guise of some type of NATO training exercise. NATO gives the Europeans cover for publicly preparing for a military event, while being able to publicly state that the preparation is only part of an exercise to assist the USA, UK, and Canada (who is also a member of NATO). If that is so, then it would be consistent with Nahum 3:13 which tells of the land being open to enemies. The "gates of" the "land are wide open for" "enemies," because the Europeans are considered to be allies.

Now what about Strong's word 4581, maa'uziym?

Consider the following:

1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah 4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6 The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness." (Psalms 52:1-7)

While the above likely has multiple applications, consider that the above did not make God his strength in verse 7 (Strong's word 4581). The evil mighty man will lose his land and be uprooted (vs. 6)--this is prophesied to happen to the USA and it Anglo-Saxon descended allies (cf. Joel 3:2-3, Amos 7:17, Ezekiel 5:12, 22:13-15; for more details, check out the article Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Now, there is only one place that Strong's words 4581 and 4013 are used together. That is Daniel 11:39. A passage of scripture because of translation and other errors, many have not understood. Yet, unless the English-speaking peoples repent of their sins the Bible teaches that their nations will be destroyed (see also Hosea 8:1-13).

It should also be pointed out that the Bible shows that the Beast that is also the final King of the North will destroy many in their prosperity:

24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 "Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:24-25a)

Is not the USA mighty?

Are not many in the USA prosperous?

Well, the one that Daniel 8:24-25 is foretelling is the same one that Daniel 11:29-39 is foretelling.

Promises Given To Joseph's Descendants

Perhaps we should also consider that promises were made the the descendants of Israel's son Joseph.

Even though he was not the oldest son, the Bible shows that Joseph received the birthright:

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel--he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 2 yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's-- (1 Chronicles 5:1-2)

In this case, the birthright had to do with future national greatness, consistent with what was first promised to Abraham. That was then passed down to Abraham's son Isaac, then to Isaac's son Jacob.

Now, before Jacob's death in Egypt, Joseph took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh to visited his ailing father.

1 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, "Indeed your father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you"; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.' 5 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. (Genesis 48:1-5)

So, Jacob asked more or less adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons. When he saw them there, he then called to bless them:

8 Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?" 9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place." And he said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them." (Genesis 48:8-9)

12 So 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 him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on 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 48:12-14)

Now, Joseph had directed Ephraim, the youngest son, toward Jacob's left hand and Manasseh, the eldest, toward Jacob's right hand (verse 13), so the firstborn would receive the greater blessing. But notice that Jacob crossed his arms and laid his right hand on the younger Ephraim, "guiding his hands wittingly" (verse 14).

Joseph thought this was a mistake, but it wasn't:

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 48:18-20)

Ephraim was thus blessed so that his descendants would become a company of nations and share the staggering birthright blessings with his brother Manasseh.

The late evangelist John Ogwyn wrote:

There is no record of Ephraim and Manasseh ever becoming a great nation and company of nations prior to Israel’s captivity. They never became a blessing to all the nations of the world before they went into Assyrian captivity in the eighth century before Christ. Clearly, the fulfillment of the promises that God made to Abraham and reconfirmed to his descendants did not occur before ten-tribed Israel disappeared from the pages of your Bible and then from the pages of secular history (Ogwyn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Charlotte, 2006, p. 17).

Since God recorded those promises for us, they had to be fulfilled sometime. Looking throughout history only the British Empire and the USA fit these prophecies.

Ephraim represents the British descended peoples. We see them in the British Isles, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, with some also in lands like South Africa.

The descendants of Manasseh ended up settling what became the USA--prophesied to be great (verse 18).

Yet, few Protestants tend to accept that (see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from most Protestants).

Here is a view from a Jewish source:

The Malbim interprets the blessing of Jacob (Genesis 48) to Ephraim would become great before Manasseh. Ephraim would become great through his own merits and self-assertion almost from the beginning. Manasseh would wait until the vast numbers of his population and the weight of his blessing would of itself result in greatness. We identify Ephraim with the British and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the whites of South Africa. The USA is Manasseh. The interpretation of the Malbim concerning Ephraim and Manasseh fits historic reality. (Davidiy, p. 384)

Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser, better known as the Malbim, was a rabbi, master of Hebrew grammar, and died in 1879.

In a speech given by Winston Churchill on March 5, 1946, he said:

Now, while still pursuing the method of realising our overall strategic concept, I come to the crux of what I have travelled here to Say. Neither the sure prevention of war, nor the continuous rise of world organisation will be gained without what I have called the fraternal association of the English-speaking peoples. This means a special relationship between the British Commonwealth and Empire and the United States. This is no time for generalities, and I will venture to be precise. Fraternal association requires not only the growing friendship and mutual understanding between our two vast but kindred Systems of society, but the continuance of the intimate relationship between our military advisers, leading to common study of potential dangers, the similarity of weapons and manuals of instructions, and to the interchange of officers and cadets at technical colleges. (Churchill W.  The Sinews of Peace (“Iron Curtain Speech”). March 5, 1946. Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Accessed on March 11, 2016 from http://www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/235-1946-1963-elder-statesman/120-the-sinews-of-peace)

So, a fraternal, meaning brotherly, relationship existed. And on that, while he did not understand all of it, that point is correct.

Interestingly, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited with US President Barack Obama, he noted that the USA and Canada were siblings:

March 11, 2016

US President Barack Obama and Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have lavished praise on each other during the first official visit by a Canadian leader in nearly 20 years.

Mr Trudeau toasted the two nations as “siblings” at a state dinner. …

Mr Obama said …  that the US and Canada were “blessed to be neighbours”.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35772329

The Bible tells of two siblings, the brothers Ephraim and Manasseh, who were the sons of Joseph.  And they received blessings from Joseph’s father Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel (Genesis 48:13-16).

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau probably does not fully understand how the USA and Canada actually are siblings–not because of a shared border–but because their ancestors were brothers. But his observation, like the late Winston Churchill's, is consistent with scripture.

Ephraim and Manasseh were brothers and a fraternal/sibling relationship between the USA and British-descended nations has been considered brotherly by various leaders.

Now, notice the following related to Joseph's sons:

1 And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: 2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father ... 22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. 24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers (Genesis 49:1-2,22-26).

The USA has became a great nation and prosperous. Notice something from the Encyclopædia Britannica:

The United States is the world’s greatest economic power, measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). …  The United States is relatively young by world standards, being less than 250 years old; it achieved its current size only in the mid-20th century. … Probably no other country has a wider range of racial, ethnic, and cultural types than does the United States.  … Annually, the U.S. spends more on its military than the next seven highest-ranking countries in military spending combined. (Harris, JT, et al. United States. Encyclopædia Britannica. Last updated December 22, 2019)

More on this and related prophecies are in the article Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel.

An 'Assyrian' is the King of the North

These English-speaking peoples are becoming the most indebted nations of all time--the USA currently is. A chart showing the most indebted nations per capita had the USA, Canada, and UK in the top ten.

The Bible shows that those who load themselves with pledges will have their creditors rise up against them suddenly and destroyed them (see Habakkuk 2:6-7). For those who disbelieve that the Europeans can do this, I will add that the Bible states that the Assyrians (whose descendants are in Europe) will not intend to destroy, but will do it anyway:

5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
'Are not my princes altogether kings?
9 Is not Calno like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria like Damascus?
10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'"

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."

13 For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” (Isaiah 10:1-14, NKJV)

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:6, KJV)

Promoting abortion, the LGBT agenda, pornography, and other sins and abominations, the USA has become an hypcritical nation.

Perhaps I should add here that some additional reasons that the King of the North is the King of Assyria.

We in the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God (like the late Herbert W. Armstrong) believe that the Assyrian peoples migrated into central Europe in ancient times (see Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History and Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy). Many scholars believe that the descendants of the biblical Asshur (Genesis 10:22) seem to have become Assyria (Radmacher  Concordance in. Nelson Study Bible, p. 11).

Even Jerome indicated that the descendants of the biblical Asshur ended up in Europe (Jerome. Letter CXXIII to Ageruchia, Chapter 16.  Translated by W.H. Fremantle, G. Lewis and W.G. Martley. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1893).

And there is additional scriptural support. Check out the following which ties Assyria in with the north and the end time Babylonian power (cf. Revelation 17 & 18 to Zephaniah 2:15):

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness. 14 The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart,"I am it, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist. (Zephaniah 2:13-15)

Notice that God, who will punish Assyria (as also confirmed in Isaiah 10:12) is stretching His hand against a power of the north. That this northern power is Assyria. The King of the North will rule over end-time Assyria. And how do we know that the above is an end time prophecy? Well, check out the following:

5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day — death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 9 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' (Revelation 18:5-10)

13 Because of the wrath of the Lord She shall not be inhabited, But she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified And hiss at all her plagues. (Jeremiah 50:13)

The description of the end time destruction of Mystery Babylon and the Beast and that of Assyria in Zephaniah seem to be referring to the same series of events. The King of the North is Assyrian. Furthermore, the Old Testament refers to a northern power as “the daughter of Babylon” (cf. Jeremiah 50:41-43; Zechariah 2:6-7) that resembles the Babylon of Revelation—thus a different type of Babylon is prophesied to exist in the end times (ancient Babylon was not a northern power).

It should also be understood that when the European power succeeds in destroying the USA that the world will marvel:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:3-4)

The world will marvel because it did not believe that this was possible, especially by the Europeans. Yet, the world's supposedly greatest superpower, the one with the strongest fortresses, will be taken over and destroyed.

It should also be noted that there is a prophecy in Psalms that shows that Assyria will work with Arabs and Turks to destroy end time 'Israel'--which includes the USA.

Psalm 83:4-8 states:

4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.

Note that this passage of scripture is suggesting that the descendants of Israel (which not only includes the modern state of Israel, but also much of the English-speaking world, cf. Genesis 48:13-16--see a discussion of this in Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel) will be bothered by a confederation of basically Arabic/Islamic peoples from the Middle East (not Ethiopians), who will also somewhat align with a European power (see Germany's Assyrian Roots Throughout History and Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy).

As far as the identification of these peoples, notice items from the old Radio and Worldwide Church of God:

Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8. ... the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe...Egypt...will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the "king of the north" in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the "glorious land" of Palestine (verse 41). "And the land of Egypt shall not escape"(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)

King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations--a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name "Israel" from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned "king of the south"--a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.

"They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]" (Psalm 83:4-8)...

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the "king of the north" of Daniel 11--the leader of the German-led European union--will ultimately turn against the Arab "king of the south,"...Daniel 11:40-41: And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]...The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)

Various Arab and Turkish peoples will support the Assyrian dominated Beast power destroy the USA.

Are You Teaching Something Different than the Old Radio Church of God?

Some may have wondered if this teaching about the 'strongest fortresses' in Daniel 11:39 is a change from that held by the old Radio Church of God.

Well, the old Radio Church of God had one position, then changed it.

Originally, it taught that Daniel 11, through verse 39, was for relatively ancient times. Notice something from 1956:

11th chapter ... of ... Daniel: ...

Verse 38 — The Roman Emperors honored the god of forces, or (margin) munitions, and developed the greatest war-making power the world ever knew. "And a god whom his fathers knew not, shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things." After setting themselves up as gods, prior to 476 A.D. the Emperors who followed, beginning with Justinian, 554, A.D., began to honor a god never known to their father — the head of the professing Christian Church — with gold, silver, and power. (Compare this prophecy of Daniel with Rev. 17:4, 5, and 18:3, 16).

Verse 39 — The Emperors did ACKNOWLEDGE the supremacy of the religious hierarchy and increase the Church with material glory, and caused it to rule over many.

The Prophecy Skips to the PRESENT

Now we come to the very PRESENT CENTURY!

Verse 40 — And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him:" (Armstrong HW. The SUEZ Crisis in Prophecy! Plain Truth, October 1956).

But that position changed.

Notice what was taught by the Radio Church of God in 1966:

4. In final fulfillment of this prophecy, will a mighty king arise who recognizes no God nor any power superior to his own? Dan. 11:36, 37. Does he subscribe to a militaristic axiom that "might makes right"? Verse 38. But will he, for mutual gain, share rule with and load riches and public honor on a new and unusual "god"? Verses 38-39.

COMMENT: These two personages are none other than the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" mentioned in Rev. 19:20!

5. Will this UNHOLY ALLIANCE transfer its headquarters to Palestine? Dan. 11:41, 45. Will it meet its doom there? Verse 45. Note that one of the "strongholds" they shall conquer, and the very "land" they will "divide" (verse 39) is Palestine, God's land, and focal point of all prophecy. (Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, Lesson 44. 1966)

The change to include verses 36 - 39 for end time prophetic times that the Radio Church of God made was correct.

It was also consistent with other Radio Church of God writings, such as in 1967, which showed an end time fulfilment for Daniel 11 beginning no later than verse 21 (Armstrong HW. Personal, Plain Truth magazine, June 1967) and that scriptures such as Daniel 11:30-31 were just a little prior to the start of the Great Tribulation of Matthew 24:21-22 (Armstrong HW. Times and Seasons. Sermon: March 15, 1980). But the comment that verse 39 referred to Palestine was an error.

In 1968, the Radio Church of God was renamed the Worldwide Church of God.

In 1979, its then leader, the late Herbert W. Armstrong, recognized that the church had misunderstood various aspects of Daniel and the start of the Great Tribulation:

Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming... We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. (Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General's Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).

And while the above did not mention Daniel 11:39 (for reasons I will get to), it showed that changes in understanding about how to look at Daniel and the Great Tribulation was going on in the old Worldwide Church of God.

Sadly, at least two large groups whose leaders were once part of the old Radio and/or Worldwide Church of God (PCG and LCG) have seemingly failed to grasp these changes and other matters as they both teach that the Great Tribulation begins with Daniel 11:40, not Daniel 11:39 (this is despite the fact that the then three top evangelists in the Living Church of God all told me I was correct about Daniel 11:39--they seemed to reverse their views and harden their wrong positions on this and other matters after I was essentially forced out because of their lack of integrity. See also Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God). This also seems to be because they relied on an error in the teachings the Radio Church of God it produced in the 1950s.

But why was the error that vs. 39 referred to Palestine originally taught by the old Radio Church of God?

Well, one of the reasons was the Herbert W. Armstrong had misunderstood certain aspects of World War II and tied some prophecies to it that he should not have. And this affected his writings into the 1950s and seems to be why Palestine was mentioned.

But it also seems that one of main reasons was that the old Radio Church of God relied on the old King James Version (KJV) of the Bible for most of its scriptures. Here is how the KJV translates Daniel 11:39:

39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39, KJV)

The Radio Church of God tended to rely on the KJV, but that translation above is misleading as it does not seem to properly convey something that the prophecy is referring to.

Which is?

That the King of the North will go against the STRONGEST FORTRESSES!

There is no way that the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God considered that Palestine had the "strongest fortresses" in the latter portion of the 20th century.

But it did realize, no later than 1980 (this was NOT in the 1954 edition of the booklet with the same titled I checked with) that the most powerful people, mainly meaning the USA, but also including the then remaining members of the British Commonwealth, would suddenly get destroyed:

God identifies the GREAT peoples of the earth who are the most wealthy and beneficent, the most POWERFUL - yet at the very time their power reaches its zenith, He suddenly "breaks" the pride of their power (see Leviticus 26:19), cuts off their implements of war and destroys their cities! Why?

Because, as the prophet continues to explain, we have too much "witchcraft" and too many "soothsayers" - false ministers - in our lands who refuse to preach with authority the commandments and ways of the living God!

Therefore, God will punish and destroy us - unless we repent - just before and leading up to the utter destruction to come "upon the heathen" (verse 15), which will take place at the very END of this age and at the second return of Jesus Christ as King of kings!

There is no other people that even remotely fulfills this great prophecy! But the American and British Commonwealth peoples fulfill it precisely! (Armstrong HW. THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN PROPHECY. 1967, 1972, 1975, 1980 Worldwide Church of God. Also in Armstrong HW. THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY. Plain Truth, August 1979, p. 8)

So, the most powerful would lose their military according to the old Worldwide Church of God in 1979 & 1980. In the 21st century, that would have to be the USA.

Now consider also that the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible did not come out until 1982. Though there were other translations of the Bible in English out prior to the NKJV, the old Worldwide Church of God often had concerns that some were not intended to be literal translations like the KJV was (Which Bible Translations Are Best? Worldwide Church of God, 1980).

However, by 1984, the old Worldwide Church of God recognized that in various instances that the New King James Version of the Bible was often superior to the KJV and began to recommend that for use (Which Bible Translations Are Best? Worldwide Church of God, 1984).

Yet, because of priorities, combined with the ill health and death of Herbert Armstrong in January 1986, that church never got back to updating certain understandings of Daniel 11:39. While Herbert W. Armstrong restored many truths to the Church of God (see 18 Truths Restored to the Churches of God), he never claimed to have restored ALL things (Matthew 17:11, see also The Elijah Heresies), and he often grew in his understanding (cf. 2 Peter 3:18), and was right about the prophetic sequence of the destruction of the USA/UK (Daniel 11:39) before the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) before his death.

Perhaps, it should be mentioned that those who took over after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong ended up going into apostasy and also expressed disdain for various prophecies (they considered that many in WCG have 'prediction addiction' and they despised prophecies, even thought the New Testament warns:

20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)

Now, it should be noted that well prior to the death of Herbert Armstrong, the old Worldwide Church of God did teach that portions of Lamentations either applied to or may be applied to the USA. Notice a few of them:

An ancient warning was applied to the biblical nation of Judah that could be a solemn warning to modern America:

"How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers [allies] she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies" (Lamentations 1:1-2). (Armstrong HW. Modern Romans. Ambassador College Press, 1975)

America's decline ... And eventually—as the editors of this magazine have repeatedly warned from the pages of the Bible—national captivity. "She that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the cities has become a vassal" (Lamentations 1:1). (Hogberg GH. America - A Paper Tiger? Plain Truth, January 1980)

The fact is, contemporary U.S. society is fundamentally sick "from the sole of the foot even to the head [with] wounds and bruises and putrefying sores" (Isa. 1:6).

But there is no one to bind up these afflictions, which are moral and spiritual in nature (verse 7). God takes the "shepherds of Israel" — the self-appointed modern ministers of the land — to task because "the weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick" (Ezek. 34:2, 4).

"Who can heal you?" God asks in Lamentations 2:13. Apparently not most of the spiritual guides of today. "Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions," God thunders. "They have not uncovered your iniquity" — exposed sinful practices to the light of God's Word (verse 14). The false shepherds have not done as God's true servants have done in this age (Hogberg GH. The Truth Behind AMERICA'S MORAL CRISIS. Plain Truth, February-March 1985)

The old Worldwide Church of God did teach that the descendants of Joseph would be removed from their lands and taken into other lands as slaves:

The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of "Jacob's Trouble," spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. And Jacob's name was named on Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:16). At that time a third of the people in our nations will die, or shall have died, by famine and disease epidemics; another third will dies of the war--our cities being destroyed (Ezek. 6:6), and the remaining third will be carried to the land of our enemies as slaves (Ezek. 5:12). Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General's Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).

A third of our people—white English-speaking people and minorities with us—will die in a disease epidemic such as the world never experienced ... The third of our peoples left alive will be taken away from our country as slaves to enemy lands overseas! (Armstrong HW. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - AMERICA THE CONDEMNED. Plain Truth, June-July 1980)

As Moses delivered the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, so CHRIST is coming to deliver modern Britain and America from the now-impending Babylonish slavery. (Armstrong HW. The United States And Britain In Prophecy. Everest House, 1980)

"A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence [disease epidemics], and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them" (Ezekiel 5:12). One third of the peoples of America and Britain are — yet in the future — to die of famine and disease! Another third will perish in military attack! The remaining third will be taken captive as slaves into all parts of the earth! This is the terrifying future in store for the English-speaking peoples if events continue in the direction they are now headed and if our peoples do not repent of their sins! (Stump K. Uncovering a 2500 Year Old TIME CAPSULE. Plain Truth, February 1981)

It also taught that Samaria was a prophetic reference to Israel, not the Jews:

Whoever the lost ten tribes of ISRAEL are today, they are not Jews! Wherever you see the name "Israel," or "House of Israel," or "Samaria," or "Ephraim," used in prophecy, remember this — IT NEVER REFERS TO THE JEWS, but to Israel ... (Armstrong HW. The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy - Publication Date: 1967)

It also taught that the Beast power would prosper, and part of that prosperity was related to plunder and prisoners:

In verse 11, Europe's coming economic wealth and scope is described as John sees it, shortly before the final crisis (to occur at Christ's coming) takes place. "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood and all manner vessels or ivory and all manner vessels of most precious wood...

"And cinnamon and odours and ointments and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots and slaves and souls [remember, this pictures a time after the fall of the United States and other Israelitish nations], and the fruits that thy soul lusted after. are departed from thee... for in one hour is so great riches [the future wealth of Europe] come to nought.

"And every shipmaster and all the company in ships [the import-export people, the leaders of world trade and commerce] and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city... Alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by reason of her costliness" (Rev. 18:1-19). (Catherwood C. Europe and Our Prophetic Message. Good News, October-November 1979)

"And his power shall be mighty," Daniel continues, "but not by his own power...." This is clearly a reference to the 10 rulers giving their power over to the Beast.

"And he shall corrupt and destroy astonishingly, and shall prosper, and do his own pleasure, and he shall corrupt and destroy the mighty men and the holy people..." the prophecy continues. "And through his policy he shall cause trickery to prosper in his hand; he shall magnify himself in his heart and mind, and in their security he will corrupt and destroy many." (Stump K. Just What Do You Mean... ANTICHRIST? Plain Truth, September 1981)

Ancient Babylon was the splendor of the world, and I tell you this thing when it comes up again my friends, it's only going to last a very, very short time. It's already being plotted and planned underground and under cover, it's coming up in Europe my friends. And it's going to be a thing that will have carnal and material and national glory. And they're going to have great splendor, but all that splendor and all that glory is going to be dashed down and quickly; because Christ is coming to do it:

"What horror in the world at Babylon's fate! A sea has burst on Babylon, she sinks below the roaring tides of water; {2} her towns lie desolate [or her cities] unpeopled, waterless, a waste where no man lives [you see, drought, absolute desert it will become] none passes through. And I will punish Bel in Babylon, forcing him to disgorge his plunder; prisoners shall stream from {3} him no more, for Babylon's walls are down." (Jeremiah 51: 41-44, Moffatt) (Armstrong HW. Outline of Prophecy 15 - Punishment of Modern Babylon. World Tomorrow radio broadcast. http://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1332706424)

Now, I mentioned before that there were changes to the prophetic sequence that the old Worldwide Church of God taught.

Originally, it taught that the King of the North would invade the Middle East prior to invading the USA. But that changed and the old Ambassador College also changed the prophetic order.

When I told three evangelists of LCG about this over a decade ago, they were in disbelief.

I reminded them that they had published a booklet by the late evangelist John Ogwyn that said:

A period of growing peace and prosperity will ensue. A great worldwide trading combine will seem to offer incredible profits to international cartels. Later, responding to crises involving both the Middle East and the English-speaking nations, this leader will move with lightning speed and iron determination. Annulling a treaty previously made with the Jewish state, his armies will overwhelm Jerusalem and will take half of the city into captivity (Zechariah 14:2). At the same time, an attack of overwhelming force will be launched on America, Britain, Canada and related nations ...

The intensifying problems of global fracturing will be countered by a scheme designed to impose both political and religious unity on a worldwide scale. The coming European superpower may actually co-opt existing global institutions to use as a political structure for its own ends. Though important developments will occur in the political sphere, it is in the area of religion that we will see events unprecedented in modern times. Religion will be considered the key to bringing about the common identity required for political unity.

By this time, millions all over the globe will have been caught up in a religious frenzy fed by a charismatic leader working what are apparently great signs and wonders. More concerned with "feeling good" than with true doctrines, they will respond to this leader's false promise that he is ushering in a golden age.

A powerful war-making apparatus marshaled by the coming European superpower will be billed as the cornerstone of world peace and security. Modern technology will be used to create a police-state that Hitler and Stalin could only have dreamed about. People will be induced to accept such draconian measures as the price of getting rid of terrorism and violent crime.

At first, this system will bring an upsurge in the world economy. A worldwide trading combine, prophesied in Ezekiel 27 and Revelation 18, will be hailed as the key to universal prosperity. Those at the helm of this system will, for a short time, enjoy unparalleled wealth.

Yet fatal flaws in this system, inherent from its beginning, will in time produce widening disparities. The Arab world will be displeased by attempts to coerce it into religious unity with Europe. A powerful leader—called in Daniel 11 the "king of the South"—will then arise, able to bring about temporary unity of much of the Islamic world. Provoked by this leader, Europe will launch a "blitzkrieg" resulting in European occupation of much of the Arab world (Daniel 11:40–43).

This European occupation will deepen suspicion among the eastern nations—already wary of the German-led Europeans. Rumors from the eastern capitals will ultimately cause the Europeans to launch what is intended as a preemptive attack to intimidate the East into submission (Daniel 11:44). (Ogwyn J. The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality? LCG Booklet, 2007 edition)

Even though LCG edited it after John Ogwyn's death in 2005, it (as of 7/13/16 as that is the day I accessed the above for this article), LCG does not actually teach the same order of events in Daniel 11 in its booklet titled "Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return."

Now, when I discussed this matter with John Ogwyn originally (around 2004), he told me that this was the sequence he was taught in Ambassador College. And when I sent him a version of this with scriptures added (as he left several out here), like Daniel 11:39 for the attack against the USA, Britain, Canada, etc., he agreed with that.

So in 2009, in addition to telling the LCG evangelists that, pointing out what John Ogwyn said, and showing them what they published, I also asked the former Dean of Ambassador College (Michael Germano) to confirm that this was the sequence that was taught--and he concurred in a meeting with myself and those three evangelist.

Although the evangelists finally agreed in this and subsequent meetings to change their prophetic sequence to, for example, have the Great Tribulation start with Daniel 11:39, instead of Daniel 11:40, they never made the change. So oddly, there is a 'fundamental belief' of that church that still has the Great Tribulation beginning in the wrong verse of Daniel 11. Here is what its Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs was still teaching when I checked on January 29, 2020:

THE "GREAT TRIBULATION"

The Bible speaks of a time of great catastrophe, called the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21–22; Daniel 11:40–45; 12:1; Luke 21:19–36)—also called “Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:3–7).

The above remains odd as notice that LCG teaches that the Great Tribulation is also called the 'time of Jacob's trouble--trouble that begins according to Daniel in chapter 11 verse 39, not verse 40 which tells of the King of the North going against the King of the South (which, according to the Bible and LCG, is not the USA).

Is it Islam?

Oddly, when researching this article, I ran across something that claims Daniel 11:39 has to do with Islam. The author is a former PLO Muslim, now apparently Protestant, named Walid Shoebat. In my view, he gives more reasons for the reference to be to the USA than Islam.

Here is some of what he posted:

Antichrist will be given “authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,” (Revelation 13:7).

This would seem like an ironclad case for the Antichrist ruling the globe, including the United States, which he uses in his march against Jerusalem. It is this dilemma that caused many to believe that the United States will be taken over by Antichrist.

... all “Four Beasts” in Daniel chapter 7 arise out of “the Great Sea” (Daniel 7:2). “The Great Sea” is the Mediterranean region, not the entire globe. That with all the literal nations of end-times encompasses only the Middle East and Asia Minor. If the first beast (Babylon), second beast (Medo-Persia) and third beast (Greece) all were out within the “Great Sea” (Mediterranean) then the fourth beast of Daniel 7 could only pertain to the Mediterranean Sea as well. ...

So where is the United States in the Bible? How many ever think about this, that perhaps in the end, the United States is mentioned fighting against the Antichrist. Daniel 11 tells us that Antichrist “acts against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory” (Daniel 11:39).

Who are these “strongest fortresses” [the strongest military might]”? How could the Antichrist rule the entire globe if we have strongest fortresses that fight against him? Does he truly defeat these strongest fortresses? Does he defeat the United States? Does he rule the entire globe?

The answer to this is “No.”

Why then do so many modern Western prophecy analysts insist that Antichrist hold the most powerful military might in the world? Which nations hold the strongest military might? Is it not the United States?

The text regarding end-times is clearly portraying what we see in Islam today. Even when we read that he declares war “against the strongest fortresses.” What could that mean except what it plainly says—to declare war against the most powerful nations on earth? Jihadists already declared war on Europe and the U.S. And now with the Arab Spring clearly becoming an Islamic storm, we see that what we have said to you years ago in advance; everything is happening in accordance to a plan.

However, the West today seems oblivious to this fact. Who else could be as maniacal as Muslim fundamentalists to declare war on the powerful West? (Shoebat W. Where is America in Bible Prophecy? By Shoebat Foundation on April 18, 2012. http://shoebat.com/2012/04/18/where-is-america-in-bible-prophecy/ accessed 07/15/16)

Since the Bible gives promises of blessings and cursings to the descendants of Israel, the idea that the USA could be taken over, etc. is consistent with many biblical prophecies, such as the following from the Old Testament:

31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas.
32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.
33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you;
your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. (Leviticus 26:31-33)

47 "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47-51)

So, desolation to the children of Israel is prophesied to hit the disobedient. The USA has been disobedient.

Walid Shoebat is correct about the Great Sea being the Mediterranean one as that is what the Bible teaches (see Numbers 34:6-7, Joshua 1:4, 9:1, 15:12, 15:47, 23:4; Ezekiel 47:10, 15, 19, 20, 48:28, see also Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

He is also correct that the USA has the strongest fortresses.

But he fails to understand about who the power with the strongest fortresses that gets defeated in Daniel 11:39 is. He, at least in that post, futhermore, did not refer to Daniel 11:40-43 which show the defeat of an Arabic/Muslim power.

As far as who else but radical Muslims could decide to attack the USA, history shows that Europe had done that in the past. Psalm 83, however, does show Arabic (likely Islamic) involvement.

As cited earlier, Isaiah 10:7 says that the European does not think he would want to do this, but will do it anyway.

We need to look at what the Bible says and not rely on allies or others that have turned against the USA in the past.

Could the USA Be Gone by 2028?

Is there any prophetic reason to believe that the destruction and end of the U.S.A. can come before the completion of the next two presidential terms?

Yes.

There is an old tradition that the prophet Elijah taught that there would be six thousand years for humans to rule under Satan’s kingdom, followed by one thousand years of abundance in the kingdom of God.

That Jewish view is consistent with the views of early Christians and some associated with them. Some believed that since God made/recreated the world in six days and rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-3), that humans would have 6,000 years to live on the earth under Satan’s influence. Humans surviving the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord will have a 1,000 year period to be under Christ’s reign (the original creation of the universe may have been billions of years earlier c.f. Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 45:18; The 6,000 plus 1,000 years equals God’s seven thousand year plan.

There are specific traditions related to this from the Jewish Babylonian Talmud as well as a Jewish Midrash (exposition of the writings):

R. Kattina said: Six thousand years shall the world exist, and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day {Isaiah 2:11}.

Abaye said: it will be desolate two [thousand], as it is said, After two days will he revive us: in the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight {Hosea 6:2}.

It has been taught in accordance with R. Kattina: Just as the seventh year is one year of release in seven {Leviticus 25:1-7}, so is the world: one thousand years out of seven shall be fallow, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day’ {Isaiah 2:17},  and it is further said, A Psalm and song for the Sabbath day {Psalm 92:1}, meaning the day that is altogether Sabbath — and it is also said, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past {Psalm 90:4}.

The Tanna debe Eliyyahu teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation; two thousand years the Torah flourished; and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era … ( Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Sanhedrin Folio 97a)

 Six eons for going in and coming out, for war and peace. The seventh eon is entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting: ( Pirke De Rabbi Eliezer, Gerald Friedlander, Sepher-Hermon Press, New York, 1981, p. 141)

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (a Protestant source), related to Leviticus 25:1-7, states:

In the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, v. 4. Jews collect that vulgar tradition that after the world has stood six thousand years (a thousand years being to God as one day) it shall cease, and the eternal sabbath shall succeed …

Elsewhere, the Bible itself teaches that a thousand years seems to be as one day to God. This is a concept from both the Old and New Testaments:

4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past   … 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:4, 12)

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).

Is it not interesting that after stating a thousand years is as a day, the Psalmist was inspired to write that our own days are limited and we should number our days that we may have the heart of wisdom? Understanding approximately where we are in the 6,000 years, thus, looks to be a wise thing to do.

Notice also the following from the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible) which supports the view of a day being like a thousand years:

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

How long was Adam’s day before he died?

5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. (Genesis 5:5)

So, Adam died “in the day”--a day that was not too much less than 1,000 years long.

A day is to God as 1,000 years and that looks to be part of His plan.

Now, some may say, don’t the Jews say that we are in year 5781 which runs from September 19, 2020 to September 7, 2021?

Yes, the claimed year is 5781 AM (anno mundi) by the Jews.

However, the Jewish year claim confuses many people as the numbers do not add up with scripture.

Many Jewish scholars have recognized this error throughout history, and believe it was intentional. The numbers related to the years were changed in the early 2nd century C.E./A.D. and are now off approximately 210 years. For details, check out the article: Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?

When the proper biblical chronologies are used, both Christians and Jews should realize that the 6,000 years likely will not extend more than a decade from now.

Based upon certain calculations that I am currently aware of, it seems that Adam and Eve were created and/or apparently left the garden of Eden between roughly 3959-3972 B.C. It is most likely that the 6,000 years began once Adam sinned as Adam had not rebelled before then.

This would mean that when Jesus began to preach (roughly 27 A.D., about four thousand years later) He started preaching late in thousand-year day four and then into day five. Day four is the middle of seven prophetic thousand year days, hence the fourth day is not one of the “last days.”

Interestingly, in the German language, the fourth day of the week is Mittwoch which means mid-full or mid-week—what we call in English Wednesday is not one of the last days, but the middle day.
Anyway, it is logical that days five, six, and seven would have been considered as part of the “last days” by the early disciples.

That being so, this helps explain why some New Testament figures indicated that they were in the last days

Notice something related to the Apostle Peter:

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:14-17).

The last days started before Jesus left the earth according to the Book of Hebrews:

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:1-2).

If there is no 6,000 year plan of human rule followed by a 1,000 year millennial reign, then the New Testament statement above, about then being in the last days, make little sense. But, since God does have a 7,000 year plan, these statements do make sense. And that also explains how come the end has not come yet--there is still a little more time in “the last days.”

Since Jesus was preaching into “the last days,” He must have been doing some of that in day five of the seven one thousand year days.

Furthermore, since the events in Acts 2 appear to have happened c. 31 A.D. (or 30 A.D.), this would suggest that the 6,000 years should be up by 2031--if not earlier.

Jesus was, of course, alive before 31 A.D., and perhaps the last days began as early as 28 to 30 A.D.

The Bible teaches that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

God’s word teaches that prophecy is important (cf. Isaiah 46:9-11).

In the early second century, Church of God leader Papias of Hierapolis (who was a hearer of the Apostle John and a friend of Polycarp of Smyrna) taught:

… there will be a period of a thousand years after the resurrection of the dead, and that the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this very earth ... (Eusebius. The History of the Church, Book III, Chapter XXIX, Verse 12, p. 69)

The idea of a six/seven thousand year plan was taught by early Greco-Roman Catholic saints as well. In the late second century, Irenaeus of Lyon taught:

... that apostasy which has taken place during six thousand years. For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works.” This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year... ( Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book V, Chapter 28:2-3)

But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which kingdom the Lord declared,  ( Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book V, Chapter 30:4)

Hippolytus was, and is still considered to have been, an important Roman Catholic leader and saint:

Hippolytus was the most important theologian and the most prolific religious writer of the Roman Church in the pre-Constantinian era … (Hippolytus. Catholic Encyclopedia )

Hippolytus write:

And 6,000 years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day “on which God rested from all His works.” For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they “shall reign with Christ,” when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse: for “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. “Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that 6, 000 years must be fulfilled. ( ippolytus. On the HexaËmeron, Or Six Days’ Work. From Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture)

The idea of 6,000-7,000 year plan is not unique to just a couple of writerrs. According to even Roman Catholics, parts of this view have long been the belief of those who claim to believe at least part of the Bible:

E. Culligan (20th century): ... the time of the First Resurrection will end ... It is the time when the Seventh Millennium will set in, and will be the day of Sabbath in the plan of creation ... It has been the common opinion among Jews, Gentiles, and Latin and Greek Christians, that the present evil world will last no more than 6,000 years ... Christians and Jews, from the beginning of Christianity, and before, have taught that 6,000 years after the creation of Adam and Eve, the consummation will occur. The period after the consummation is to be the seventh day of creation--the Sabbath ... St. Jerome said, “It is a common belief that the world will last 6,000 years.”  ... I believe that as the last days come to an end so will the sixth day of creation. ( Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 113-115)

Priest G. Rossi (19th century): One day with the Lord, then, is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. It is the common interpretation that each of the six days of creation is equivalent to one thousand years for the future existence of human generations. Now God employed six days in the creation of this world; this world, then, shall last only six thousand years; the Sabbath, or seventh day, representing eternity.

The learned Cornelius A. Lapide, in his erudite commentaries on the Bible, in the second chapter of Genesis and twentieth chapter of the Apocalypse, attests that it is a common opinion among Jews and Gentiles, among Latin and Greek Christians, that this world shall last only six thousand years.

Christian writers have taught the same opinion from the beginning of Christianity ... we learn, then, that the six mystic days of creation are intended to signify the six thousand years of the world’s duration. The seventh day, which, to the exclusion of the other six days, God has in a special manner blessed and sanctified, must be taken for the happy eternity of the blessed saints, for the holy sabbath of everlasting rest, for the blissful duration of perpetual peace, and perfect happiness to the elect of God, who will behold him face to face, praise, love, adore, and glorify him forevermore. Amen!

Our limits do not allow any more extracts. For those who desire to examine many more Fathers and doctors of the Church, we will here supply a pretty long list of them: St. Cyprian, Lib. IV. Epist. 5; St. Ambrose, Comment. 2 Thess. 11; the famous book of St. Hypolitus, De Antichristo; St. Hilary, Can. in 17 Matt.; St. Augustine, De Civit Dei, Lib. XX. chap. 17; Lactautius Firmia- nus, Lib. VII. chaps. 14 and 15; St. Anastatius Sinaita, Lib. XVII. inHexamcr; St. Justin ad ortodox, Quest. 71; St. Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, St. Cyril; the ancient writer, Q. Julius Hilarion; Cassiodorus, St. Isidore, Victorinus, Rabanus, Bellarmine, Genebrardus, etc., and many others, who, to use the words of Q. Julius Ililarion, unanimously affirm: Summa complela annorum sex millium fiet resurrectio. At the end of six thousand years shall take place the general resurrection. Our kind critics will please pay some attention to these numerous and grave authorities before they disapprove what we here state.

From all the above-mentioned authorities we learn, then, that the six mystic days of creation are intended to signify the six thousand years of the world’s duration. …

Assuming now as pretty certain that this world shall last only about six thousand years, because such is the common opinion and expectation of humanity, how many years more, it may be asked, still remain to the end of this world. (Rossi, Gaudentius. The Christian Trumpet: Or, Previsions and Predictions about Impending General Calamities, the Universal Triumph of the Church, the Coming of the Anti-Christ, the Last Judgment, and the End of the World; Divided Into Three Parts, 4th edition.  Patrick Donahoe, 1875, pp. 233-238)

While some Roman Catholics may point out that their church does not currently teach that, the truth is that early leaders it considers to be saints, did. Furthermore, the book by Emmett Culligan (also known as “the Culligan man”) “was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966,” and the book by priest Rossi was approved by his theological superior for publication.

That being said, time is getting short.

Of course, we need to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 about signs to look for, but the end really is near.

Now it has been said that "if" is the biggest two word in the English language.

So, to summarize this:

  1. If as the School of Elijah taught, that God inspired Elijah to state that the world as we have known it would last 6,000 years, to be followed by a thousand year sabbatical time, which Jewish tradition (Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin [97a]) and early Christian traditions records (e.g. Irenaeus, a hearer of Polycarp. Adversus haereses, Book V, Chapter 30:4), then we are getting close to the end of that time.
  2. And if, consistent with scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments, we can apply the concept that a thousand years is as a day to God (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8).
  3. And if, as generally understood in the Church of God that Jesus was killed and resurrected no later than the Spring of 31 A.D. on Passover.
  4. And if we can presume that the "last days" of a 7,000 year prophetic week began AFTER the middle day (day 4), then the last days prior to the "sabbatical" time, which some would refer to as the millennial Kingdom of God would last two thousand years.
  5. And if when Peter referred to being in the last days (Acts 2:17-18) and since Hebrews 1:1-12 teaches that “God ... has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”
  6. Then adding 2,000 years to a period of time leads to the end of the 6,000 years no later than 2031 (and it could be earlier than that).
  7. Since the Great Tribulation is expected to start 3 1/2 years prior to that (cf. Revelation 12:14; 13:5) subtracting 3 1/2 years from the Spring of 2031 would be late in 2027.
  8. Understand that the U.S.A. is prophesied to be taken over near the rise of the Beast and start of the Great Tribulation (cf. Daniel 11:39; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:21-22).
  9. Therefore, since the end of two full U.S.A. presidential terms would end in January of 2029, these prophetic understandings point to the end of the U.S.A. prior to two full presidential terms.
  10. This is also consistent with certain Roman Catholic prophetic writings as well.

It looks like from certain Jewish, biblical, Christian, Roman Catholic, and Hindu perspectives (and yes others associated with those faiths have other opinions), that the end of the U.S.A. will happen before the next two four-year presidential terms end.

The Anglo-American nations need repentance in order to delay what is coming (cf. Daniel 4:26).

However, the Bible points to them not sufficiently doing so:

5 …But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. (Hosea 11:5b)

However, just because your nation will not repent, that does not mean that you cannot.

Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

The end of the USA is coming soon.

Perhaps by 2028.

Summarization

The Bible teaches that a European King of the North will go against the power with the 'strongest fortresses' and divide that land for gain. That is the USA.

Certain prophecies related to Israel and/or Samaria are referring to the USA.

The old Radio and Worldwide Church of God taught that the people of the lands of the USA, UK, and Canada were the most powerful, yet would be taken away and the Babylonian entity that did this would prosper. But initially, it taught that this would happen after the King of the North invaded the King of the South.

In time, the Radio, then Worldwide, Church of God realized the error and made some corrections. The New King James Version of the Bible later came to be commonly used and made verse 39 of Daniel 11 clearer.

Islam is NOT the power that will be defeated in Daniel 11:39, as that looks to happen in Daniel 11:40-43.

Amos 9:10 teaches that sinners, who do not think they can be overtaken, will die by warfare. That seems to be the view of most in the USA.

Daniel 8:24-25 tells of a power that will destroy the mighty and many in their prosperity, like the USA.

After mentioning Samaria in Hosea 10:7, verse 14 tells of the fortresses getting taken over. The fortresses of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies.

Habakkuk 2:6-8 tells of an indebted power that will be taken over. The USA is the most indebted nation of all time.

Lamentations 1:1-2 tells of a great power that will have its 'friends' turn into enemies and destroy it--this will happen to the USA.

Isaiah 10:5-12 says that a European power that does not mean to, will takeover an 'hypocritical nation' (KJV). The USA certainly is a hypocritical nation.

Revelation 13:4 says the world will marvel at the military success the European Beast power will have as the world did not expect this.

Scriptures clearly point to the USA and its destruction.

Perhaps by 2028.

The USA is the power in the 21st century with the 'strongest fortresses' and as we get closer to the end of this age, it is biblically logical to conclude that Daniel 11:39 is a prophecy involving the USA.

Here is a link to the sermon video: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy.

Another related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?

Thiel B. USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses. COGwriter (c) 2016 http://www.cogwriter.com/usa-strongest-fortresses.htm 2016/2017/2018/2019/2020/2021 /2022 1108

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