The Coming Downfall of America

“Timber!” shouts the woodcutter. And immediately the forest reverberates with a loud crackling sound, followed by an earth-jolting thud – as the most majestic cedar in the forest comes crashing to the ground.

The felling of a once proud, sky-scraping tree is how a prophecy of Ezekiel portrays the sudden downfall of the greatest nation on earth.

What should be of interest now is that even though the prophecy in the 31st chapter of Ezekiel is directed against the ancient nation of the Pharaohs – Egypt – it really presages a judgment against the leading nation of our modern age. How can that be determined with certainty?

Ezekiel 31:16-17 foretells that not only will the nation of Egypt be cut down by the woodcutting “tyrant of the nations,” but all of the trees in the symbolic garden of Eden will also be laid low in Sheol, the grave, as the scripture says: “At the sound of its downfall I shall certainly cause nations to rock when I bring it down to Sheol with those going down into the pit, and in the land down below all the trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, all those drinking water, will be comforted. With him they themselves also have gone down to Sheol, to those slain by the sword, and those who as his seed have dwelt in his shadow in the midst of nations.’”

Reasoning on the verses above, “all the trees of Eden” is a reference to all the nations of the world; but of course, Nebuchadnezzar’s overthrow of Egypt was not the end of the system of nations. There have been many great nations and empires that have grown up since Egypt’s fall.

The preceding verses of the prophecy are even more emphatic; foretelling that Egypt will have no successor. Depicting the nation as fallen timber, Ezekiel 31:13-14 reads: “Upon its fallen trunk all the flying creatures of the heavens will reside, and upon its branches there will certainly come to be all the wild beasts of the field; to the end that none of the watered trees may become high in their stature, or put their treetops even among the clouds, and that none drinking water may stand up against them in their height, for they will certainly all of them be given to death, to the land down below, in the midst of the sons of mankind, to those going down into the pit.’”

To emphasize the point by stating the obvious, many nations and empires have “put their treetops even among the clouds,” so-to-speak, since the time of Egypt’s downfall over two and a half millennia ago – leading to the conclusion that the fall of Egypt is merely a pattern of Jehovah’s future judgments.

Since all prophecy is harmonious, the book of Revelation provides the key to unlock the secret of Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding Egypt. The 13th chapter of Revelation foretells the downfall of the leading nations of Satan’s political system by depicting a seven-headed wild beast that suffers a devastating death-stroke to one of its heads.

Harmonizing with the succession of beast-like empires in the prophecy of Daniel, the seven heads of the beast each symbolize an empire dating back to the first power of Bible times – Egypt, then Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Alexander’s Grecian Empire, followed by Rome and finally the modern Anglo-American dual world power.

The death-stroke upon the head of the beast is destined to befall the seventh head – the presently ruling Anglo-American dyad in the very near future. How can that be determined? According to what we read at Revelation 13:5 the death-stroke (also called the sword-stroke) immediately precedes an important period designated in prophecy amounting to three and one-half years. That period of time is variously expressed in the 11th, 12th and 13th chapters of Revelation, as well as in the Hebrew prophecy of Daniel, as a time, times and half time (amounting to three and one-half times), 1,260 days and forty-two months, or in other words – 3 ½ years.

The 12th chapter of Revelation indicates that Satan knows “he has a short period of time” following his ouster from heaven, during which time he successfully wages war against Jehovah’s people for 1,260 days. The 13th chapter concurs that after the beast revives from its mortal wound it is granted a period of forty-two months to exercise authority and conquer the remaining holy ones of the kingdom.

Logically, Satan’s “short period of time” also amounts to three and one half years. Expressed another way – The 3 ½ year interval is the time allotted Satan and his world after Jesus comes to power. The 3 ½ years is the prophetic period designated in Scripture as the time of “the time of the end” and “the conclusion of the system of things.”

It may rightly be concluded, therefore, that the death-stroke upon the head of the beast coincides with the Devil and his demons being banished from Jehovah’s heavens and confined to the spirit dimension in the region of our earth, as a prelude to the decisive confrontation at Armageddon.

The prophecies of Isaiah and Ezekiel both contain Jehovah’s judgments issued against the Devil and his earthly political apparatus. That is evident in the fact that the king of Tyre is also called “the anointed cherub that is covering” – a clear reference to Satan the Devil in Eden.

As expounded upon in the essay The Death of a God, the judgment against the Devil will have an immediate, knock-on effect upon that which is presently represented by ancient Tyre. In actuality, the prophecies pertain to the debasing of Satan and the subsequent downfall of the Anglo-American dual world power.

“ALL THE OTHER TREES OF EDEN”

The treelike felling of the leading nation of the world will unquestionably send shockwaves around the globe. Ezekiel 31:15-16 foretells this very thing: “…on its account the trees of the field will all swoon away. At the sound of its downfall I shall certainly cause nations to rock when I bring it down to Sheol with those going down into the pit, and in the land down below all the trees of Eden…”

The prophecy in the 31st chapter of Ezekiel likens the nation of Egypt to a towering cedar of Lebanon, which put its top into the very clouds. Verses 1-5 read: “And it occurred further that in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of Jehovah occurred to me, saying: ‘Son of man, say to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to his crowd, ‘Whom have you come to resemble in your greatness? Look! An Assyrian, a cedar in Lebanon, pretty in bough, with a woody thicket offering shadow, and high in stature, so that among the clouds its treetop proved to be. Waters were what made it get big; the watery deep caused it to grow high. With its streams it was going all around its planting place; and its channels it sent forth to all the trees of the field. That is why it grew higher in its stature than all the other trees of the field.’”

At the time the prophecy was related to Ezekiel, the Babylonian kingdom was beginning to challenge Egypt for supremacy. After the fall of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, and Pharaoh Necho's defeat by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 629 BCE, Babylon fully established itself as the newly ascendant imperial power. Nevertheless, because of its great wealth the surrounding nations, including Judah, looked to Egypt for their security—as if it were a luxuriant shade tree.

Because of the apocalyptic language of the prophecies against Egypt, it should be obvious that there is a much greater application than to merely the ancient land of the Nile. That is also apparent due to the fact that Daniel 11:42-43, a prophecy for the time of the end, makes reference to “Egypt” in connection with the overwhelming expansion of the king of the north.

According to the Watchtower's interpretation, though, the giant cedar does not symbolize any single nation; instead, it represents Satan's entire political system. But, if that is the correct interpretation, how is the prophecy to be understood that says that no other tree could compare with the Egyptian cedar? If the cedar represents the entire political system, of which all nations are part, there would be no other treelike entity to stand in comparison.

The Watchtower tries to address this obvious discrepancy in the May 15th, 1977, Watchtower, saying: “This worldwide political system of things has produced many boughs to carry its abundance of shade-giving foliage, so as to cover and protect the political needs of all worldly nations. Each treelike nation would like to be a world power to dominate all else, thus being an enviable organization.”

The Society’s explanation does not really address the fact that the prophecy compares the Egyptian cedar to the other trees and that no other treelike nation can compare to it. Ezekiel 31:8-9 strongly emphasizes the point that all other nations stand relative to, but are incomparable in relation to the majesty of the towering Egyptian cedar, saying of it: "Other cedars were no match for it in the garden of God. As for juniper trees, they bore no resemblance as respects its boughs. And plane trees themselves did not prove to be like it in branches. No other tree in the garden of God resembled it in its prettiness. Pretty is the way that I made it in the abundance of its foliage, and all the other trees of Eden that were in the garden of the true God kept envying it."

Again, if no other nation could compare to Egypt, it is evident that Egypt does not symbolize the entire political system. It should be apparent that the description of the Egyptian cedar applies even more especially to the United States. Truthfully, what other nation in the world can compare with America? Who can successfully argue that America is not the greatest nation that has ever existed? It is a fact of modern history that many peoples have envied the freedom and prosperity of the United States and have looked to it for leadership, inspiration, protection and financial assistance.

That is what the scripture says: "all the other trees of Eden that were in the garden of the true God kept envying it."

Since its founding millions of individuals fleeing oppression and poverty have flocked to America's shores in order to avail themselves of a better way of life. Numerous nations in Europe, Asia and South America have since tried to adopt the American model and emulate the American system of economy. The 19th century belonged to the British Empire, but the 20th century has been called “the American Century,” for good reason. For better of for worse, all nations have lived under the shadow cast by the antitypical Egyptian cedar.

Because of empowering and educating the common man and tapping into that vast reservoir of human creativity, the American system unleashed the greater human potential and brought about astounding discoveries and inventions that have benefited all of mankind. By elevating its citizens from the level of serfs, and attracting ambitious and brilliant emigrants from around the globe; by fostering development, research, and an entrepreneurial spirit; and by building an extensive infrastructure, the American system has developed into the most successful and prosperous economic system ever devised. That apparently is what is meant by the water source that feeds the Egyptian cedar—waters being a biblical symbol for peoples and nations. Hence: “Waters were what made it get big; the watery deep caused it to grow high.”

Of course, America has in the past also oppressed its own native and African populations. And America is guilty of many other wicked things. But to put things in perspective, ancient Egypt also utilized slavery and oppressed other peoples, yet the prophecy speaks of Egypt as the envy of all the other nations. So, it is in a relative sense that any nation stands above the others.

But why does God refer to the political nations under Satan's control as if they were trees in the Garden of Eden? Did God actually establish the present system of nations? Yes, indirectly. When Jehovah confused mankind’s languages to thwart the building of the Tower of Babel, Jehovah, in effect, created the basis for the various national groups that have since evolved. Furthermore, Paul stated at Romans 13:1 that “the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.” So, it is only by God’s authority that the present ordering of nations exists.

When the Devil was tempting Jesus by offering him all of the kingdoms of the earth, even he admitted that the glory and authority of those kingdoms had been delivered to him by God's grant. So, ever since mankind was expelled from Eden, God has allowed for various authorities to exist and exercise power to serve as an alternative to tribalism, anarchy or absolutism, until such time as Jehovah hands over the kingdom to Christ. Since “there is no authority except by God,” it is as if the nations were "planted" by God in the sense that they only exist by his permission and ultimately they serve his purpose.

On numerous occasions in the past, God has intervened in the affairs of nations in order to accomplish his will with respects to his people. For example, because of Jehovah's intervention, Joseph, a lowly shepherd son of Jacob, was elevated to the high office of Prime Minister of all of Egypt. Daniel was likewise elevated from the status of a captive to the third ranking ruler of the Babylonian Empire. Similarly, although similarly enslaved, Esther became the queen of the vast Persian Empire. As the Proverb says: “A king's heart is as streams of water in the hand of Jehovah. Everywhere he delights to, he turns it.” So, we may be sure that Jehovah has used the nations in order to facilitate his own purpose. That's why Paul asked the brothers of Christ to pray “concerning kings and all those who are in high station; in order that we may go on leading a quiet and calm life with full godly devotion and seriousness.”

The downfall of the leading nation of the world will signal the end of the calm and quiet life Westerners have become accustomed to.

“TYRANTS OF THE NATIONS WILL CUT IT DOWN”

It is a fitting illustration that the various trees in Eden should symbolize all the nations on earth up until the time Jehovah himself becomes king; whereas Egypt represents the leading nation—as if the grandest tree in the entire garden of God's planting. But when God's work nears completion the nations are to be cut down—felled just like timber—beginning with the grandest tree in Eden! Ezekiel 31:10-14 foretells:

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘For the reason that you became high in stature, so that it put its treetop even among the clouds and its heart became exalted because of its height, I shall also give it into the hand of the despot of the nations. Without fail he will act against it. According to its wickedness I will drive it out. And strangers, the tyrants of the nations, will cut it down, and people will abandon it upon the mountains; and in all the valleys its foliage will certainly fall, and its branches will be broken among all the streambeds of the earth. And out from its shade all the peoples of the earth will come down and abandon it. Upon its fallen trunk all the flying creatures of the heavens will reside, and upon its branches there will certainly come to be all the wild beasts of the field.”

The prophecy goes on to state that although the greatest tree goes down first, all the national trees are destined for “the land down below”— Sheol, the pit of death: “To the end that none of the watered trees may become high in their stature, or put their treetops even among the clouds, and that none drinking water may stand up against them in their height, for they will certainly all of them be given to death, to the land down below, in the midst of the sons of mankind, to those going down into the pit.”

As noted at the onset, the prophecy definitely speaks beyond the affairs of the ancient world. That is evident from the fact that God’s judgment includes all the nations and kings—“all of them being given in death.” It should be noted, too, the Babylonian conquest of Egypt did not spell death for the nation. So, it is evident that the prophecy foreshadows something on a much larger scale.

Although wrongly identifying Egypt as the entire political system, at least the Watchtower has recognized that the fall of the “trees of Eden” presages an awesome judgment yet to come. But, how will the greater Egypt be brought down? Jehovah answers through Ezekiel: “I shall also give it into the hand of the despot of the nations. Without fail he will act against it…And strangers, the tyrants of the nations, will cut it down…”

In Ezekiel’s day the nation-destroying despot proved to be Nebuchadnezzar. But who might serve in the role of the modern tyrannical despot of the nations? As shocking as it may seem, the Watchtower claims Jesus Christ is the modern-day tyrant prefigured by Nebuchadnezzar. The 1977 Watchtower previously quoted, states:

“Who is the modern ‘despot of the nations,’ and who are the “strangers, the tyrants of the nations”? They are the fear-inspiring Communist bloc of nations, are they not? To this we flatly answer, No! For the Communist nations dwell under the spreading boughs of the symbolic “cedar in Lebanon” as much as the liberal, democratic nations do. They are a part of this world and operate according to the man-made political structure of this system of things…

So, then, for cutting down the symbolic “cedar in Lebanon” that still dominates the earth, who will be Jehovah’s instrument that will do a work like that of the “despot of the nations,” or the “strangers, the tyrants of the nations,” back in the prophet Ezekiel’s day? It will not be Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, who today number just some two million scattered among 210 lands around the globe. They are not despotic, not tyrannical, and strike no terror in people’s hearts, for which reason they are openly persecuted as a helpless, defenseless religious minority. Not a puny earthly instrument, but a mighty heavenly instrument is what Jehovah will use. Jehovah’s instrument is the glorified Jesus Christ and his armies of heavenly angels. Hardheaded politicians of today may laugh at such a thought.”

The Watchtower offers no valid explanation for assigning Christ the unflattering role of the modern “despot of the nations.” The article states that Jehovah’s Witnesses are not tyrannical or despotic, yet they assign that role to Jesus! But reasoning on the matter, if the ancient “despot of the nations” prefigures Christ at Armageddon, what is foreshadowed by the fact that the Babylonian kingdom was also “cut down” by Cyrus, whom Jehovah referred to as “my anointed one”? Obviously, the Watchtower does not quite have things in proper focus.

According to prophecy, Jehovah God has an imperial “woodcutter” who has been assigned that task of cutting down the nations prior to Armageddon. Afterwards, then the tyrant of the nations himself is destroyed by Christ. That is apparent from the 14th chapter of Isaiah, where the nations are said to rejoice when the “woodcutter” is cut down. The prophet Isaiah was told to raise up a proverbial saying against the king of Babylon in view of his own demise at Jehovah’s hand.

Isaiah 14:5-8 reads: “ Jehovah has broken the rod of the wicked ones, the staff of the ruling ones, the one striking peoples in fury with a stroke incessantly, the one subduing nations in sheer anger with a persecution without restraint. The whole earth has come to rest, has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries. Even the juniper trees have also rejoiced at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Ever since you have lain down, no woodcutter comes up against us.’” Verse 12 says of Babylon: “How you have been cut down to the earth, you who were disabling the nations!”

Clearly, the “despot of the nations” does not foreshadow Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ could hardly be described as persecuting nations “without restraint.”

The felling of the nations at the hands of the tyrant occurs as a result of the opening of the 6th seal of Revelation, which results in the political luminaries being darkened. Ezekiel uses apocalyptic language very similar to Revelation in describing the earth-wide ramifications of the fall of Egypt. The prophet says: “And when you get extinguished I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. As for the sun, with clouds I shall cover it, and the moon itself will not let its light shine. All the luminaries of light in the heavens—I shall darken them on your account, and I will put darkness upon your land.”

Bible students will immediately recognize that Jesus also used the exact same illustration when he was foretelling the earth-shaking events that would occur during his presence. At Matthew 24:29 Jesus said: “Immediately after the tribulation in those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

Just imagine the horror and sickening dread the nations will feel when the greatest nation in the world is slain by Jehovah’s tyrannical executioner! Jehovah's prophet goes on to depict the reaction to Egypt’s downfall: “And at you I shall certainly cause many peoples to be awestruck, and their kings themselves will shudder in horror at you when I brandish my sword in their faces, and they will have to tremble every moment, each one for his own soul, on the day of your downfall.” – Ezekiel 32:9-10

“ITS FOUNDATIONS ARE TORN DOWN”

As regards the prophecy of the king of the north and south, Daniel 11:42-43 says, in part: "And as regards the land of Egypt, she will not prove to be an escapee. And he will rule over the hidden treasures of the gold and the silver and over all the desirable things of Egypt."

The king of the north is to rule over "all the desirable things of Egypt." As the Watchtower has noted, since Egypt was the first power of Bible prophecy it is a fitting symbol for subsequent powers. But since America's wealth was never ruled over by the Soviet Union, as the Watchtower contends, the prophecy must await a future fulfillment.

Ezekiel 30:4b verifies that Egypt's wealth will be confiscated. It reads: "And they actually take its wealth and its foundations are torn down." Not only its great wealth and resources, but the very foundations of the United States, which is the Constitution and various institutions that regulate industry and the economy, are to be “torn down” — destroyed. So, the prophecy has forecasted the complete end of the constitutional republic of the United States. (See essay: King of the North comes to His End)

The 32nd chapter of Ezekiel is even more graphic as to what is to occur. There it depicts Egypt as the gutted carcass of a marine monster that becomes mere carrion for the beasts of all the earth to feast on. "And I must abandon you on the land. Upon the surface of the field I shall hurl you. And on you I will cause all the flying creatures of the heavens to reside, and off you I will satisfy the wild beasts of the whole earth. And I will put your flesh upon the mountains and fill the valleys with the refuse of you. And I will cause the land to drink up your discharged matter, from your blood, upon the mountains; and streambeds themselves will be filled up from you."

What does this grisly imagery signify? The above prophecy certainly seems to be overstating the fall of the ancient land of Egypt. Indeed, how is it that "the wild beasts of all the earth" could feed upon the fallen pharaoh? Yet, considering what would happen to the United States in the event of a catastrophic financial blowout of the Dollar, it would seem to be an apt illustration. Such a disaster would render the United States into a Third World nation literally overnight. Instead of dominating other nations as before, the world’s greatest nation would bear little distinction from them, as if the other beast-like nations literally consumed its flesh! And instead of towering over lesser nations like a mountain, the valleys being filled with the refuse of the fallen king would indicate a leveling of the playing field, as the saying goes.

It is well known that the United States has an enormous budget and trade deficit. As of the beginning of the year 2005, the U.S. trade deficit topped an astounding 60 billion dollars per month! That is an annualized imbalance of nearly three-quarters of a trillion dollars. The U.S. government’s own budget deficit is comparable. As it stands, the world’s sole superpower is totally dependent upon attracting foreign investors to continue to finance its massive deficits. All sober economists admit that the situation is unsustainable—but no one has a solution. Just recently Chinese officials intimated that they may begin liquidating their trillion-dollar U.S. treasury holdings. Unquestionably, the sudden withdrawal of foreign capital from U.S. treasuries and other investment instruments would have a disastrous impact upon not only American institutions but the entire dollar-denominated global financial system would also unravel.

The 19th chapter of Isaiah also foretells economic doom is in store for Egypt. In verses 5-7, Jehovah says that he will dry up the Nile River and all its canals. The Nile was, of course, the lifeblood of Egypt. The Egyptians had devised an ingenious system of irrigation canals; whereby the entire region was watered and thus produced abundantly. It would unquestionably be a national calamity if the Nile were to dry up. Of course, enemy engineers did not literally cause Egypt’s great Nile River to run dry. God's prophet merely portrayed the utter ruin that would come upon the once-thriving breadbasket of the Mediterranean, when Jehovah would “deliver up Egypt into the hand of a hard master.”

The 9th and 10th verses indicate the extent of that economic collapse by saying: "And the workers in carded flax must become ashamed; also the loom workers on white fabrics. And her weavers must become crushed, all wage workers grieved in soul."

It would seem that Jehovah’s prophet has, by extension, forecasted a great economic depression that will destroy the working class, and from which, the American Pharaoh will never recover.

“THE PRINCES OF ZOAN HAVE ACTED FOOLISHLY”

According to the prophecy recorded in the 19th chapter of Isaiah, internal strife and political ineptitude was also a determining factor that doomed Egypt. What might this portend for the Greater Egypt?

In order to appreciate where we stand today, it is necessary to take a broader look at modern history. Until the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 ended decades of religious warfare in Europe, there was no such thing as a sovereign nation-state. Since that time history can only be fully understood in the light of the antagonism and struggle between the two incompatible systems of the empire and the sovereign nation-state. The long-range goal of the procurators of the British Empire is to eventually eliminate the nation-state altogether and revert to imperial rule—using the United Nations in New York as the administrative and judicial capital of the New World Order. The call for an end to the Treaty of Westphalia is growing louder and louder.

In the last thirty years, the ongoing rivalry between the American system and the British system is reflected in policies such as the British free trade versus American protectionism. Whereas formerly, the American system built the nation through investment in industry, infrastructure development, and education, thereby empowering all citizens to most effectively transmit the power of their labors into the physical economy, decades of neglect and looting the world through usury and financial gimmickry has now brought the United States and the entire financial system it dominates to the brink of collapse. Obviously, this situation did not just happen. It is the result of gross mismanagement and corruption over many years. (See essays: The King of the North Conspires for World Domination)

Accordingly, at Isaiah 18:11-13, Jehovah ridicules Pharaoh's counselors for their incompetence, saying in verse 13 reads: "The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly, the princes of Noph have been deceived, and the key men of her tribes have caused Egypt to wander about."

With amazing acumen the prophecy describes the present political situation within the United States. The princes of Noph and Zoan may well represent the cabinet members and other advisers of the modern-day Pharaoh. "The key men of her tribes" appropriately depicts the elected representatives of the American people. Foolishly, the very leaders have allowed themselves to be deceived into adopting policies and initiatives that were are intended to destroy their own nation! No wonder Jehovah derides the nation’s wise men as mere fools!

Many American patriots have voiced their concern that their once-prosperous nation is being run into the ground; but in spite of all the talk by well-meaning political leaders and business men, the downward spiral relentlessly continues. How true, the prophet's following words: "Jehovah himself has mingled in her the spirit of disconcertedness; and they have caused Egypt to wander about in all its work, just as someone drunk is made to wander about in his vomit. And Egypt will not come to have any work that the head or tail, the shoot or the rush, can do." (Isaiah 19:14-15)

It doesn't matter which political party has control, no modern-day Egyptian leader can lead their doomed nation back from the precipice of catastrophe. Jehovah has, in effect, weighed the nation in the balance and found it lacking.

“THE CITY OF TEARING DOWN”

One of the most intriguing aspects of Isaiah's prophecy against Egypt is what we read in the 18th verse. There it says: "In that day there will prove to be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing to Jehovah of armies. The City of Tearing Down will one city be called."

At the time the prophecy was given, the language of Canaan was Hebrew. So, in the modern application, the “language of Canaan” is the spiritual dialect spoken by the Israel of God; with a “vast mixed company” of non-Israelites also being fluent in speaking the language of the Scriptures. And just as ancient Egypt was at various times a haven for Jehovah's people during times of affliction, including the infant Jesus, the United States has also provided an environment that has allowed Jehovah's Witnesses to thrive and flourish. As evidence of that fact, approximately one million souls, both spiritual Israelites, as well as a vast mixed company of “Egyptians,” are "swearing to Jehovah of armies" by their public ministry.

The United States is often called a melting pot because of its ethnically diverse population. Because the work of Jehovah's Witnesses originated in America in the late 1800's, immigrants from various nations took the message back to their native homelands, thus proving a blessing to them. The United States has also served as a fertile seedbed for thousands of missionaries, who have in turn gone to the far corners of the earth with the message of Jehovah's kingdom. And, because of the relative prosperity of the States, compared with less affluent nations, the worldwide work of Jehovah's Witnesses has advanced because of the many material contributions and support of generous American contributors.

That is why the last verse of the 19th chapter of Isaiah says: “Blessed be my people, Egypt.”

But, what about the one city called "The City of Tearing Down"?

Since ancient Egypt was invaded and torn down by hostile forces that came from outside the nation, it is interesting that one of Egypt's own cities would bear the prophetic designation as "The City of Tearing Down."

Significantly, Assyria and Babylon were each Jehovah's instruments for tearing down the nations at different times. And as such, in prophecy Jehovah specifically calls his destructive agent the "ruinous man." Isaiah 54:16 says: “I myself, too, have created the ruinous man for wrecking work.” Isaiah 13:5 outlines the nature and extent of the work of Jehovah's executioner saying: “They are coming from far away, from the extremity of the heavens, Jehovah and the weapons of his denunciation, to wreck all the earth.”

In the modern fulfillment, the 8th king will ultimately become Jehovah's imperial executioner. The Watchtower long ago recognized that fact, but no longer seems to emphasize it. At any rate, if America is eventually supplanted by the United Nations Organization and the present nation-state system is torn down, as is the intention of the globalist cabal and the oligarchy’s Synarchist International, then New York City would eventually replace Washington D.C. as the primary world capital.

So, “The City of Tearing Down” would be a most-apt title for New York City at that time. Perhaps, even more astoundingly accurate, the 19th chapter of Isaiah goes on to say: “In that day there will prove to be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Jehovah beside its boundary. And it must prove to be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry out to Jehovah because of the oppressors, and he will send them a savior, even a grand one, who will actually deliver them.”

Located in the same “City of Tearing Down,” on the coastal boundary of modern Egypt, is the Bethel headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. While most people of the world do not attach any special importance to the name of Jehovah, Jehovah's Witnesses do. So does God. Despite various opinions as to the exact pronunciation of God’s name, Jehovah’s Witnesses have spearheaded the effort to have the name of Jehovah recognized as the Creator's distinctive and sacred name. Just as Jehovah acknowledged the crude stone altars his true worshippers erected in his honor during Bible times, from God's vantage point the Bethel headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses stands before him as an altar and monument to his name. The grand savior, whom Jehovah will send to his oppressed people during that time, can be none other than Jesus Christ, when he is fully empowered as earth's new king.

SHEOL’S ROLL CALL OF NATIONS

As the last aspect of Ezekiel's prophecy against Egypt, Jehovah commands the prophet to raise a lament over the fallen nation and for the prophet to give the command to "drag her away" to Sheol. Upon arriving at her final burial place, Egypt is comforted to find other nations already there in the pit. Ezekiel 32:31 says: These are the ones that Pharaoh will see, and he will certainly be comforted over all his crowd." What are the other nations that precede Pharaoh into the burial place? They are none other than the previous world powers that came before the Anglo-American king – represented in the prophecies as composing the seven-headed beast.

Since Egypt was the first world power and as espoused here also represents the United States, it is appropriately depicted as arriving in gravedom last. So, the prophecy begins in the 22nd verse with the second world power of prophecy – Assyria: “There is where Assyria and all her congregation are. His burial places are round about him. All of them are slain, those falling by the sword. For her burial places have been put in the innermost parts of a pit, and her congregation proves to be round about her grave, all of them slain, falling by the sword, because they had caused terror in the land of those alive.”

Babylon was the 3rd world power after Egypt and Assyria, but since it will be acting as the executioner, it is not mentioned in this particular role call of dead kings.

Interestingly, though, Isaiah relates a macabre scene, as if all the kings in gravedom sit up in astonishment that Babylon has finally joined them in death. Isaiah 14:9 refers to all of earth's dead kings, saying of them: "At you it has awakened those impotent in death, all the goatlike leaders of the earth. It has made all the kings of the nations get up from their thrones."

Babylon is representative of the 8th and final king that displaces all others and exalts himself above the kingdom of God. So, while all the other nations fall victim to Jehovah's human executioner, God himself lastly destroys the Babylonian king and he is left to rot like a carcass on Armageddon's battlefield.

Because the 8th king is destined to carry out a ghastly, global genocide, Isaiah depicts the other kings as having received an honorable burial, but not so the last king. Isaiah 14:18-20 says of him: "All other kings of the nations, yes all of them, have lain down in glory, each one in his own house. But as for you, like a detested sprout, clothed with killed men stabbed with the sword that are going down to the stones of a pit, like a carcass trodden down. You will not become united with them in a grave, because you brought your own land to ruin, you killed your own people. To time indefinite the offspring of evildoers will not be named."

Returning to Ezekiel, in the 24th verse the prophet next names "Elam and all her crowd about her grave." Elam is recognized as being one of the principle parts of the Persian Empire. So, Elam symbolizes that 4th world power of prophecy.

Next on the roll call comes "Meshech and Tubal and all her crowd." Meshech and Tubal were sons of Japheth and are thought to have established their territory in Asia Minor. Their brother, Javan, is recognized as the Father of the Greeks. So those sons of Japheth may symbolize Alexander's Grecian Empire – the 5th king of prophecy.

Next, Edom: “There is where Edom, her kings and all her chieftains are, who, in their mightiness, were put with those slain by the sword; they themselves will lie down even with the uncircumcised ones and with those going down into the pit.”

What might this nation represent? Of course, Edom ceased to exist nearly 2,000 years ago but as previously noted, Daniel 11:41 mentions Edom, along with Moab and Ammon, as existing during the time of the end. The distinguishing feature of these three nations is that they were related to the Hebrews. Moab and Ammon were the descendants of Lot from his incestuous relationship with his two daughters after Sodom's destruction. Esau, Jacob's twin brother, was the ancestor of the Edomites. Those three nations had close ties with the Israelites. They had a similar dialect, customs, and heritage, yet they were often jealous enemies of the Jews. Because of that relationship, Moab, Ammon, and Edom symbolize the three main branches of Christendom; namely, Catholicism, Orthodox, and Protestantism as they stand in relation to the true Israel of God. (See Mailbag response of April 25th, 2004 and Prepare to Meet your God)

Because the Catholic Church has been the most dominate of the three main branches of Christendom – dominating Europe for over a thousand years after the Roman Empire collapsed – essentially perpetuating the Roman Empire via the Papacy – and it also originated as an apostate offshoot of spiritual Israel (just as Edom was originally the twin brother of Israel) – Edom is also an appropriate symbol for the 6th king.

Finally, Ezekiel lists the Sidonians and “the dukes of the north” as welcoming the fallen Egyptian king to Sheol. Sidon was one of the principal cities of Phoenicia and a forerunner of the city of Tyre. In fact, the prophets Joel and Zechariah and Jesus mentioned Tyre and Sidon in tandem. Since the case has already been made that Tyre typifies the Empire of the City of London. Sidon would, therefore, appropriately represent the Anglo half of the Anglo-American dual world power. “The dukes of the north” symbolize the oligarchy grouped around The City and the British Crown, who serves in the role of the prophetic king of the north up to the present moment.

“AN APPOINTED TIME OF NATIONS”

According to the prophecy of Ezekiel, the fall of Tyre and Egypt will mark the beginning of Jehovah's Judgment Day upon the entire present wicked system of things. Ezekiel indicates this very thing, where he says: "This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: “Howl, you people, 'Alas for the day!' for a day is near, yes, a day belonging to Jehovah is near. A day of clouds, an appointed time of nations it will prove to be.""

Ultimately the world will be forced to recognize Jehovah’s supremacy. So it is that during the “appointed time of nations” – otherwise known as “the time of the end” and “the conclusion of a system of things” – Jehovah will cause his chastened servants to announce his judgments before the nations. Ezekiel 29:21 foretells: “In that day I shall cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and to you I shall give occasion to open the mouth in the midst of them; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”

Further down at Ezekiel 30:8-9 we read: “And they will have to know that I am Jehovah when I set a fire in Egypt and all its helpers are actually broken. In that day messengers will go forth from before me in the ships, in order to drive self-confident Ethiopia into trembling. And severe pains must occur among them in the day of Egypt, for, look! it must come.”

At the time of Egypt’s overthrow “the house of Israel” had already been destroyed and the surviving Jews had been dragged off to Babylon. They were hardly in a position to serve as God’s messengers in Egypt. And whatever Jewish community may have existed in Egypt at the time of its downfall it is doubtful that they served in any capacity as Jehovah’s messengers either. For that matter, Ezekiel himself was told to issue Jehovah’s denunciation to the king of Tyre and Pharaoh. But, alas, since Ezekiel was also a captive in Babylon it must be assumed that he did not literally deliver God’s proclamations. That being the case, the prophecy surely relates to a much grander, spiritual fulfillment having to do with the downfall of the Anglo-American duo.

Indeed, the 11th chapter of Revelation foretells the appearance of two-anointed witnesses who are put to death in “Egypt” by a beast that dies and then comes back to life. Verses 7-8 read: “And when they have finished their witnessing, the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them. And their corpses will be on the broad way of the great city which is in a spiritual sense called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also impaled.” (For a discussion of the significance of the two witnesses see the essay: The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses)

Of course, Jesus was not impaled in the then-nonexistent city of Sodom, nor was he killed in Egypt. However, he was put to death by a representative of the Roman Empire. And Egypt and Rome are part of the same political system. As already stated, since Egypt was the first kingdom to hold domination over God’s people “in a spiritual sense” Egypt may represent whatever head of the wild beast is dominant at the time. In Jesus’ day Rome was Egypt, due to the fact that Rome exercised power over God’s people, just as Pharaoh had centuries earlier. In that respect the eighth and final king may also be “Egypt,” spiritually speaking.

In the aftermath of the downfall of America, during the brief reign of the last king, the sealed sons of the kingdom will herald God’s judgments against “Egypt” and will be martyred for their doing so. That will be the circumstance by which the scripture quoted above shall be fulfilled: “I shall give occasion to open the mouth in the midst of them; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”

Continued in Part Two: The Death of a God

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