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Excerpt on Americaas Mentioned in Isaiah 18:UNITED STATES IN BIBLE PROPHECYfrom Our Great Seal: The Symbols of our Heritage & our Destiny by Raymond Capt., (c) 1979, p.71ff. updated language by the editor.
The Hebrew word "hoi erets" with which chapter 18 opens is a mistranslation. It is not an exclamation of woe, but hailing for attention, i.e., "Ho!" or "All Hail!" It is the same word used in the same sense as Isaiah 55, "Ho, everyone that thirsteth," and the whole tenor of chapter 18 shoes that it should be translated in the above in the same manner there. The nation described is not one that is "meted out and trodden down." The tense is wrong. It is more accurately translated, "that meteth out and treadeth down." It is not "scattered and peeled" or "spread out and polished" but "tall and smooth." Its land and rivers have not "spoiled" or "divided," but "quartered."
1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the
rivers of Ethiopia: Let us give attention to the specific points of description and see if Isaiah does not clearly designate America and the government of the United States.
ONE: "Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: " In this first verse of Isaiah 18 we find two words which identify the land in question. Since the chapter is not addressed to any land by name, while the other chapters in the Book are specifically addressed, we can conclude the land in question to be a land unknown to Isaiah's time and general territory. This land will be "beyond the rivers of Ethiopia." The "rivers" referred to would be the Nile and its tributaries. However, the word "beyond" in Hebrew means "west." When we look today, at a map, the top is north, the bottom south, the right is east and the left in the west. Not so in Biblical times! The Hebrews faced the sunrise. They looked eastward. "Before" meant east, "behind" or "beyond" meant west, his right arm pointed south and his left to the north. "Beyond" the rivers of Ethiopia (land of Cush) meant over his shoulder west. Let Isaiah stand in Jerusalem, face the sunrise and describe the land beyond (west) the rivers of Ethiopia. Following that line of latitude from Jerusalem, west, and you will see no country till you strike America; the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia.
The second identification, found in the first verse of Isaiah 18 is the expression "shadowing with wings" which may be rendered "over-shadowing wings" or "outstretched" (wings). Several inferences can be drawn from this expression: 1. It referred to the geographical conformation of the new continent; for a large map of North and South America very much resembles the expanded wings of a great eagle. 2. It is suggestive of the fact that it was a country shadowed or concealed till <Ělohim> was ready for its discovery. 3. It foretold the "spread eagle," the symbol of Americanism. While other countries have the eagle as their national emblem, no other country has the eagle with outstretched wings. Mexico has an eagle with closed wings; Germany has an eagle with closed wings; Russia has an eagle grasping a round globe representing the whole earth and an arrow to conquer the earth with war. The United States has an eagle with spread wings and, therefore, it is actually a "land of out-stretched wings.'
It was Divine province that the bald eagle was selected as the "And to the woman (Israel) was given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, unto her place where she is nourished..." (Rev. 12:14). The prophet Micah describes the idolatry of Israel and the incurable wound of Judah, but speaks of a time when "Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitants of Mareshah; he shall come unto Adullam (resting place) the glory of Israel. Make thee bald (repent), and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness (baldness is the symbol for repentance) as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee" (Micah 1:15,16). The outstretched wings, like a mother bird protecting her brood under her wings also foreshadowed a nation that would serve as a refuge for all oppressed people of the earth. Since the world began there has never been any country that from it's beginning offered a welcome and hospitality to the downtrodden and suffering people of every part of the world for the purpose of giving them religious freedom and civil liberty except America.
Two points need to be noted here. First, the ambassadors are sent "by sea." The word "ambassadors" means men who travel on business for the government, not those who travel for pleasure or profit. For over 150 years all our ambassadors went by water to Europe, Asia, Australia, even to South America, and Central America. Only in two countries, Canada and Mexico, did our representatives not have to cross the sea to arrive at their assignments. Second, when the translators of the King James Version (1611) came to a Hebrew compound word "water-drinking-vessels," they had no idea what it meant so they looked around for something that grew out of the water and guessed "bulrushes, cattails, flags, papyrus"; hence the words "vessels of Bullrushes." There were Hebrew words for each of those plants, but none was used or meant. However, "vessels that drink" is a perfect description of our modern day steamship (and nuclear-powered vessels, ed.), which was not even dreamed of in Isaiah's time or perceived by the King James translators. But the words "water drinking vessels upon the waters" is a picture of the ocean liners, pumping up water, distilling it, turning it into steam to propel its crew, passengers and cargo unto all lands. Isaiah was looking down the ages and seeing the time when America was exercising a controlling power throughout the world by sending all its ambassadors, its soldiers and its sailors by vessels that "drinks up water" and makes steam to propel it on all the waters of the world.
THREE : "Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto ...." The word "scattered" is from the Hebrew "mashak" meaning "drawn out" or tall. The word "peeled" is from the Hebrew "marat" meaning "to pluck off hair" or "smooth-shaven." It is evident that the Prophet had a vision of a land wherein the men were tall like trees with the bark peeled off and the best translation available is "tall and clean-shaven." The year 1000 was the first discovery of America by the Norsemen who came over to Canada and Massachusetts from Greenland. They found a race inhabiting this continent; "tall and smooth." The Indians were taller than the Asians or Europeans and were without beards. The description of this land possessed, originally, by a people "terrible from their beginning" is a true description of the fierce and warlike Indians tribes found in this new world; broken up into numerous tribes, dispersed without order over the whole country and wasted by continued tribal wars. It is noteworthy Isaiah's description of a. "people tall and smooth" and "terrible from their beginning" not only fits the original inhabitants of America, but its later people as well. In the World War of 1914 America mobilized an army of three million soldiers that averaged five feet, eleven inches in height. This was the tallest army the world ever saw and there was not a full beard to be seen. Convinced they were fighting a "just war" they were a "terror" unto the enemy. Even in the process of being born, our nation whipped the mightiest nation of the known world ("terrible from their beginning") and fought victorious with Mexico, Spain, Germany and Japan. We have never been defeated in the defense of our own lands or the freedom of the seas. The word "onward" in the prophecy suggests that America will never be conquered from without down to the end of the ages.
FOUR : "... a nation meted out and trodden under foot... ." The word "meteth" out is from the Hebrew "qav-qav" meaning "line-line." "Treadeth down" (or trodden down King James) is from the Hebrew "Mebusoh" which may be rendered "trodden under foot." Putting them together, a literal translation would be a land "measured out under the treading" that is a land measured out by lines under feet. This is descriptive of our process of surveying which we began in 1800 and in which our land is literally a checkerboard of sections. About the time that Florida and Louisiana were taken into the Union, and Ohio taken in as a state, the Government passed a law that all public lands should be surveyed by the north star, and a base line run east and west and all this land marked up into mile square sections. These sections are subdivided into quarter sections of half a mile squares. No nation was ever so "meted" out in blocks before. All the countries of the earth, as in the division of the land under Joshua, surveyed and marked their land by local boundaries.
The Revised Version translates "whose land the rivers divide." However, the world "spoiled" is from the Hebrew "baza" meaning "to cleave," a term used in the ritual of sacrifice where an animal is hung up and divided into four quarters. The word should be rendered, literally, "quartered." An examination of all nations of the world, shows only one, The United States, that is quartered by rivers.
The Mississippi River takes its rise near the Canadian border and
cuts right down to the Gulf of Mexico dividing our land into halves.
In the Pacific Coast side is the Columbia River. Follow it upward
to
its junction with the Snake River, follow that upward into close
proximity with the source of the Missouri River which starts in Montana
and
meanders eastward into the Mississippi, dividing the west into
halves.
In the Atlantic Coast side begin with the Ohio River and follow it eastward to Pittsburgh and its junction with the Monongahela River that
runs by McKeesport, then follow eastward the Younghiogheny
River
where at Glenco, Pennsylvania, it becomes the Castleman River,
go on up stream till Wills Creek branches off and takes its source
SIX : "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth,see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and whenhe bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.'' In this prophetic third verse we find use of the words "ensign" and "trumpet" which are symbols of war. Isaiah saw America lift up its ensign on the mountain (nation) and blow the trumpet a declaration of war. Twice when America has "declared" war, most of the nations of the world "took heed" and became involved. In each case our nation took leadership in making the terms and the regulations for managing and adjusting the varied claims of the nations.
These words of Isaiah 18:4-6 are so highly figurative (Eastern) that it is difficult for the Western mind to understand their meaning. A possible interpretation is that the Prophet is speaking of a nation blessed with fertile soil, sunshine and shower (clouds of dew), favorable for cultivation and bountiful harvest; and natural resources favorable to national productivity. But in verse 5, branches of ill omen {"sprigs") will spring up with the luxurious prosperity that comes to the country. But a time of cleansing (for our nation) is indicated as "before the harvest." Matt. 13:39 tells us that the harvest is the consummation of the age. So, at the close of the age, those worthless evil branches are to be pulled off and exposed, and left for the predatory external forces, here called "fowls" and "beasts" to destroy.
In this closing verse we are shown the outcome of the cleansing. As in the parable of the wheat and the tares the removal of the wicked forces is shown to precede the time that the people turn to <Ělohim>. Also in verse 7 we find that this Christian land, the "place of the name of YHWH of hosts," bears one name in the passage, the name of "the mount Zion."
Going to the 40s Beginning with the 40th chapter of Isaiah, we again find prophecies concerning America-Israel. Chapter 40 is an acknowledgment that <Ělohim> is keeping an eye on our forefathers, according to His covenant, although they had been scattered into far distant countries; to the West, to the East, to the North and to the South (Gen. 28:14). The essence of the chapter is expressed in the lines: "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your <Ělohim>...Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning?...It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth." This text was the theme of Handel's wonderful oratorio "The Messiah," which would mean a great deal more to the listener if they recognized its comforting stanzas are actually addressed to Israel's race. If one studies carefully Israel's words he will discover that <Ělohim> is speaking to Israel in New Testament times, far away from Old Palestine. From the 41st chapter onward. <Ělohim> addresses His people in the "appointed place"; in the Islands of the West and in America: "Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength; let them come near, then let them speak: let us come together to judgment. Who raised up the righteous man from the East, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow...But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend...Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith YHWH, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." In the 42nd chapter of Isaiah, <Ělohim> asks the question "Who is blind but my servant?" yet is pleased for His righteousness sake:
"Behold My servant, Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I
have
put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the
Gentiles
(nations)...! YHWH have called thee in righteousness, and will
hold
thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the
people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring
out prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of
the
prison house.. .Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Who
is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent?
Who
is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as YHWH's servant?
Seeing
many things, but thou observes! not; opening the ears, but he
hearest
not. YHWH is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will
magnify the law, and make it honourable." In the 43rd chapter we read: But now thus saith YHWH that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee...Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears...Ye are My witnesses, saith YHWH, and My servant whom I have chosen: This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise.''
Chapter 49 addresses Israel as having been appointed by
<Ělohim>
as His stewards and witness; to be a servant nation unto Him; to
colonize the earth, and be a channel of blessing to all nations of "Listen O isles, unto Me; and hearken, ye people, from far; ... Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified... I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles (nations), that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth... Thus saith YHWH, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant (Brith) of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages (America); That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places... Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.'' Isaiah makes it clear that <Ělohim> is speaking to the "Lost Tribes of Israel" in these words: "Thus saith YHWH, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. "(Isaiah 50:1)
Israel,
Yahweh's wife of the Old
Testament
had sold herself, was divorced from Him, and is to be brought
under the influence of the New Covenant.
During the Christian dispensation
(sic), Lost Israel was to possess
certain "marks" of identification. These <Ělohim>-given marks are very
many, and while the following list is not exhaustive, they constitute
a
chain of evidence utterly impossible to ignore. |
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