The "special relationship" between America and Great Britain has been a great benefit to the world. But could it have been much more? What if the two had never divided? Will history correct this great event of modern times?
by Darris McNeely
Every year America pauses on the Fourth of July to celebrate its independence, the event in 1776 when the 13 colonies separated from England to form the United States of America. It is a day of fireworks, picnics and parades. One person I know reads the Declaration of Independence each year to be reminded of the ideas that led to the country's founding.
Most Americans today little understand the daring step taken by those 56 men who signed the Declaration and set the fledgling nation on a course for war with the world's then-strongest nation.
There was no standing army, no money and certainly no support from allied nations. It was a "David vs. Goliath" situation. The outcome was not certain and there was every reason to believe the rebellion would be quickly put down and the men who signed the document hanged as traitors.
We believe this fulfilled a prophecy in Genesis 48 in which Jacob placed his hands on the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, pronouncing a blessing for the ages.
"God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 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...
"He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations" (Genesis 48:15-16,19). For more information on this story see our booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.
