We have written before that the establishment of Israel in 1948 was a remarkable fulfillment of Bible prophecy. “The Jews are prophesied to lose Jerusalem and the rest of their land in the latter days,” Gerald Flurry wrote in March 2006. For the Jews to lose their land shortly before the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth, they first had to become an established state, he explained.

Long before that happened in 1948, the United States and Britain were not only established as sovereign states, they rose to a level of power and prominence the likes of which this world has never seen beginning about two centuries ago. This too was God’s doing, in order that He might fulfill the birthright promises made to Abraham and his descendents—specifically Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

These two world powers, as Winston Churchill noted in his famous “Iron Curtain” speech, have had a very “special relationship.” Midway through the 20th century, that special relationship helped forge the existence of a new Jewish state. Early on, according to Martin Gilbert, the Israelis even expressed a desire to join the British Commonwealth. In 1955, Churchill wrote, “Israel is a force in the world and a link with the usa.” In 1962, President John F. Kennedy told Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, “The United States has a special relationship with Israel in the Middle East really comparable only to what it has with Britain over a wide range of affairs.”

This brotherhood among three nations—America, Britain and Israel—has been especially close the last two centuries because of the historical ties that are rooted in the very first book of the Old Testament—and because of God’s hand in establishing these end-time nations and raising them to unprecedented heights of world power.

Yet, even those who don’t follow the Trumpet can see from the headlines that these three nations are, even now, in the midst of an astonishing free fall from their former positions of world dominance. That’s because, just as God prophesied of our rise to power, He also prophesies of our simultaneous fall.

Notice Hosea 5:5: “And the pride of Israel [America] doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim [Britain] fall in their iniquity; Judah [Jewish Israel today] also shall fall with them.” America, Britain and Judah all fall together.

Immediately prior to this event, the Jewish state—because of a “wound” brought about by the “peace” process—will turn to Germany for help (verse 13). And why would Israel, in this end-time crisis, turn to its historic and most notorious enemy instead of to America? It’s because, by that point, America’s weakened state will be even worse than its own.

It’s also because the historical tie that once bound these brothers together is prophesied to completely unravel. God says in Zechariah 11:14, “Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.” That has happened. That’s why this magazine asked seven years ago, “As the U.S. war against terrorism continues to yield high bills, a steady body count and a booming crop of anti-Americanism worldwide, is it possible that Americans will begin to think, Why are we making ourselves such a target over that little country [Israel]?” (March-April 2004).

God has broken the pride that Israel and Judah once had in their power (Leviticus 26:19). He has severed the ties between these long-time brothers to the point where we have become more wary of our friends than of our enemies. In the end, as it did anciently, this deep division will end in the loss of our land and captivity for our peoples.

A New State of Israel

After that, God prophesies of a new state to be established in the land of Israel that will include even those tribes that became “lost” in the midst of Assyrian captivity.

The Prophet Jeremiah, who warned the nation of Judah long after ancient Israel had gone into captivity, wrote, “At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. … Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock” (Jeremiah 31:1, 10). The prophet also wrote, “My people hath been lost sheep,” but in the latter days, “the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judahtogether, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God” (Jeremiah 50:4, 6).

By that point, the whole world will understand why the historic relationship between these brother nations, until very recently, was so special and unique. All will know that while the Jews were indeed Israelites, most Israelites were not Jews. More important still, everyone will know who the other Israelitish tribes are!

Many are familiar with the biblical account of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers and how he later became prime minister of Egypt, next in line under pharaoh. During seven years of prosperity and plenty in Egypt, Joseph responsibly planned ahead, storing large quantities of grain and other foodstuffs to be used during seven years of famine. During the drought, his brothers traveled to Egypt in search of food, where they encountered Joseph—not recognizing him at first. After inducing his brothers to bring Benjamin to Egypt, even against his father Jacob’s wishes, the story culminates in the dramatic revelation of Joseph’s true identity, which prompted the brothers to spontaneously erupt in tears of joy and celebration.

How prophetic this was, Mr. Armstrong wrote in The United States and Britain in Prophecy. “As we shall see, Joseph, in his descendents, shall soon once again have his true identity revealed to his brothers—and to the world.”