Historical information from a biblical perspective in order to better understand the present and the future. If we don’t learn from our past we are doomed to repeat it and where there is no vision, the people perish.
There has been a “special relationship” between these two countries since their birth. They represent the two sons of Joseph, son of Israel, Ephraim and Manasseh. Family ties are hard to be broken. These two were born into Egypt in the years of plenty. Their father provided food for everyone in the time of the famine and was greatly admired. Although they’ve had their differences, like brothers, they always settle them and get along with each other in peace. This relationship is now being threatened to come to an end in hostility. It will be a time of Great Tribulation.
Manasseh and Ephraim – A Special Brotherly Relationship
It is indeed a momentous occasion for America. Four hundred years ago, on November 11, 1620, the Pilgrims came ashore on land. That is now in Provincetown on Cape Cod. The Pilgrims’ story is a central theme in the history and culture of the United States of America. The Pilgrim Fathers were that band of Puritans who founded the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.
A pilgrim is defined a person who journeys a long distance to some sacred place as an act of devotion. They were escaping religious persecution and going to the Promised Land.
The Pilgrims Landing
“PROVINCETOWN – The year 1620 is etched in the annals of world history. It is the year a group of English settlers known as the Pilgrims seeking religious freedom boarded their ship, Mayflower. They braved a hazardous trip across the Atlantic Ocean to establish a new home.”
Plymouth Rock – 1620
Seeing this date etched in Plymouth Rock is like seeing the writing on the Wall. “Mene, mene, teckel, upharsin” in the time of Daniel spelled the end for the Babylonian king and the end of the Babylonian captivity. It marks an especially important date for the people of God.
Question: Why hasn’t God intervened on the tyrants throughout history to prevent far worse atrocities than in the Old Testament days in which He did intervene?
A tyrant is a king or ruler who uses his power oppressively or unjustly. Any despotic person. Tyranny is the arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, despotic abuse of power; oppression
The tyrants in the earth are becoming plainly visible and God has every intention of intervening!
Thus saith the LORD, “To Me belongs vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste… And He shall say, ‘Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted?'”
One thing is certain: As it is impossible for a man to mount two horses, so no man can serve/please two masters, you cannot serve God and the pursuit of wealth. You must choose between one or the other. For if you serve the pursuit of mammon, it will be your master. It will govern every decision you make. It will consume you with all that you have. You will never have enough. On the other hand, if God is master/focus, there won’t be enough room to contain the abundance poured out. It is The Valley of Decision, and a choice to be made. In this so-called ‘time of uncertainty’, it’s time for discernment to make certain. Jesus said to pay attention always so ‘that Day’ doesn’t come upon you in unawareness. That Day? What Day? The Day of the Lord! Just like when Moses required the people to make a choice between God’s servant and a rebellious servant. Making the wrong choice was a bad decision.
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon/pursuit of wealth.
The priests also, who were covetous (that is: fond of money, avaricious or greedy for riches), heard all these things: and they derided/sneered at him. Jesus said to them, ‘You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’”
Jesus – Gospel of Luke 16:13-15
The Love of Money
“…But they that are rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts/desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some covet after, they have erred from the faith/truth and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith/truth, love, patience, meekness.”
Bartholomew was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. And with this story, comes the legend of the children of Israel, that is Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. It highlights a portion in time when the people of God were in transgression and had been scattered throughout the earth, as they are to this day. For their help, He sent them His servants, the Prophets, His own son, Jesus, and his Apostles. In most every instance, they have been met with hostility and persecution because what they had to say was not well received. But they persevered because they had been sent by God Himself to correct His people and turn them back to Him.
August 24, is celebrated and remembered throughout Christendom as the feast day of the Apostle, Bartholomew. He was numbered among the twelve original Apostles who followed Jesus and were witnesses to all that he said and did. Before he died, Jesus sent them out to teach their brethren all things he had taught them. They were all tortured and killed, as Jesus was, for their testimony except one. That one was John who was exiled and from whom we have the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Bible. Jesus had twelve Apostles, one for each of the twelve tribes of the House of Israel/Jacob. Bartholomew was also known in the Gospels as Nathaniel. Jesus pointed to him and said, “Behold! an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47)
According to ancient tradition, Christianity was first preached in Armenia by two Apostles of Christ, Thaddeus and Bartholomew. During the first three centuries of Christianity in Armenia its followers had to remain a hidden congregation because of persecution. Indeed Christ led his followers into being persecuted for his name’s sake, as were the Prophets before him. He had told them before-time to expect it. Even Paul/Saul persecuted followers of Christ before his conversion and then after that he himself was killed. (Acts 7-8)
