Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The United Kingdom (01/22/09)
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TITLE: United We Stand, Untied We Fall | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tim Pickl
01/27/09 -
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Today’s message is about The United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom is a sovereign state comprising of the nations of Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain, all tied together for mutual benefit. At one point in history the United Kingdom grew to be the greatest empire in the world, colonizing and controlling about one-fourth of the globe.
Over the years, the United Kingdom, or UK, stood united against her enemies. United, the UK faced and endured Napoleon. United, the UK stood against the horrific evils of Nazi Germany.
Yet, the United Kingdom unraveled and became divided over time. At one point, the UK lost the 13 colonies which became the United States. Later, the UK lost other colonies it had established around the world.
Today, the once mighty empire of the UK is a much smaller shadow of itself; and there is a possible break-up looming in the future. Within the next two decades, the United Kingdom is forecast to become the “untied kingdom” and dissolve into separate states. Then--because the UK’s influence will diminish--the smaller nations will look to the growing European Union for security.
Their independence will be short-lived.
And, as prophecies in the Bible tell us, the European Union will soon rise to be the world’s preeminent superpower. Later, the ruler of the European Union—with the United Nations in agreement—will strive to unite and rule the world under the guise of peace.
This is the peace that the world gives; and it’s counterfeit—it’s not the real thing.
The story of the UK reminds me of the ancient nation of Israel. Israel was united by God under King Saul, King David and King Solomon, but was later “untied” and divided into two nations. According to the Bible—Jeroboam planned and led the northern tribes to establish the Kingdom of Israel. The remaining tribes in the south were called the Kingdom of Judah.
Because the nation of Israel was “untied”, it was vulnerable to its enemies.
The tribes fought each other, and, most importantly, they rebelled against God. The kingdoms slipped away from worshipping God and openly worshipped idols.
In the end, the nation of Israel never recovered from the division—and the descendants of the tribes of Israel are still mostly scattered throughout the world to this day.
There is only One who will reunite all of the children of Israel.
Let’s read from Ezekiel 37:21-27—
And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms. They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful backsliding. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
“My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Only Jesus can fulfill this scripture: As God, He will rule and reign as the Prince of true peace and as King of all kings.
It will be God’s United Kingdom!
This is in contrast to the false peace coming to our world via the European Union. As we read in Daniel, the “untied” kingdom of “iron and clay” will ultimately fail.
Finally, a message for The United Kingdom--of God:
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
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Reference:
All Scriptures from the New Living Translation (NLT):
Daniel 7
John 14:26-28
Ezekiel 37:21-27
Daniel 2:24-44
Revelation 20:10
Ephesians 4:2-3
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