"AND THE FOURTH KINGDOM SHALL BE STRONG AS IRON; FOR AS MUCH AS IRON BREAKETH IN PIECES AND SUBDUETH ALL THINGS; AND AS IRON THAT BREAKETH ALL THESE, SHALL IT BREAK IN PIECES AND BRUISE".

I have jumped straight into these verses of 40-43 by-passing the empires of Babylon, Medes/Persians, and Greece at this point of time in unravelling prophecy. Because it is the "iron and clay" of prophecy within these latter verses, that bog down Biblical students into a hotchpotch of many conclusions in world secular history. Daniel's prophecies have only "one" road upon which secular history stands, fulfilling the 2nd spiritual road of prophecy and these 2 roads run together through history at the same time, hand in hand.

The fourth kingdom of v.40 became the iron of Rome, whose strong feet marched through and into the lands of the Chaldeans of Babylon, Assyria, Persia, and Greece. Rome's "name" broke the power and hold over the lands held by these previous notable nations and as the word "subdueth" implies Rome, did many things during its time of power, it conquered, subjugated, disabled or rendered peoples submissive for a much, much, longer period of time in history than the other ancient nations had done. Thus covering Daniel's words of breaking in pieces and bruising all these previous civilisations.

Later in this book we will go to chapter 7 of Daniel which again repeats these verses of 40-43, which takes this story into a much larger context. Daniel 2:41

Verse 41: - "AND WHEREAS THOU SAWEST THE FEET AND TOES, PART OF POTTERS CLAY, AND PART OF IRON, THE KINGDOM SHALL BE DIVIDED; BUT THERE SHALL BE IN IT OF THE STRENGTH OF THE IRON, FOR AS MUCH AS THOU SAWEST THE IRON MIXED WITH MIRY CLAY".

Verse 41, now begins to shunt bible students into unknown territory, which they will begin to shy away from!

The feet and toes of the great image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which stood upon the ground in such fierceness, were part clay and part iron, which automatically made the whole structure undermined with an unstable foundation.

Bible students have already come to the conclusion that the 2 legs of iron which supported the torso and the feet, became the division in secular history of the Roman Empire itself, into Eastern and Western empires, brought about approx; 330 AD by Constantine I. Who set up Constantinople as the capital of the Byzantium Eastern Empire. Rome's role as the geographical and political centre of the earth was on the decline. Verse 41 tells us that this fourth "kingdom" emanating from Rome shall then be divided, not only into 2 legs, but also the 2 feet and 10 toes. These are at the end of the images time span on earth, which will have a peculiar mixture. The 2 feet and 10 toes are also "kingdoms" after the Roman manner, but after Rome's Imperial power has been divided, which has therefore weakened the structure.

These 2 feet and 10 toes are to be another ruling power that of the fifth empire in the earth. This fifth power has to "grow out" of the iron, because it did not arise and conquer, or subdue, as the other 4 powers gone before it. It has now taken into itself 2 classes of people, a dominant Roman people, and a moulding clay people.

Verse 42:- "AND AS THE TOES OF THE FEET WERE PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY, SO THE KINGDOM SHALL BE PARTLY STRONG, AND PARTLY BROKEN".

By the time this prophecy arrives at Verse 42, one must realise that the power of the iron "kingdom" of Rome itself has diminished quite a lot. Because we have Roman power "divided" into 2 parts that of Rome and Byzantium, (west and east). Once a power is divided it can be overcome through weakness and conquered, and it is an historical fact a nation's disunity from within is very destructive. Rome itself crumbled from within at first, which made it an easy target for marauding tribes. Warring factions are emerging in verse 42 out of that "one kingdom" of Rome, into "another kingdom" with a mixture of peoples, which eventually was to become the Roman Britannic Isles, and eventually the United Kingdom. Prophecy speaks here of -"the kingdom"- which is a single thing in itself with a limiting effect, and not many nations of kingdoms within the continent of Europe. The latter result many biblical students would have us believe when trying to fit the 10 toes into this European situation. Soon we shall see very plainly "this one kingdom" of Roman Britain taking shape from Roman iron, and its other people of clay.

This "one kingdom" of the British Isles under Roman rule saw tumultuous times, when the iron marching feet subdued the Celtic tribes therein. Roman rule lasted from AD 43 until approx; AD 409, when the last of the Roman legions were withdrawn from the Island kingdom, returning to Rome for to protect its native land.

The deepening of Roman culture in that "island kingdom" was to bring about 20 years of relative peace amongst the subjugated areas influencing the Britons. They acquired many features of the Roman legal and political systems, and of their architecture and engineering, many excavations by archaeology today have attested to this occupation period, revealing the ruins of fine houses, baths, mosaic pavements, roads, bridges, etc. To look upon 400 years of Roman occupation of Britain through Biblical eyes is to see it also mentioned in secular history, and not to look with an uneducated blindness. We must always remember, God rules in the kingdoms of men, therefore, this history must be noted as an effectual happening. Verse 42 said, that this Roman "kingdom" of the Britannic Isles would be "partly" strong and partly broken - and so it was- as secular history will attest to. The Celtic tribes (with the Picts) who had predominated in Britain before Roman civilisation had taken over. Some of which living in the outlying regions still clung to their native culture. This culture was going to cause problems again and again throughout on going history. The following 400 years from Rome's departure for the British people was to break apart any civilisation they had attained, because the strong Roman influence virtually disappeared overnight with the murderous invasions of the Teutonic tribes of Angles, Saxons, and Norseman.

Britain was "partly" strong under Rome, and became "partly" broken with the Celts fighting these incoming surges of aggressive peoples. The ebb and flow over the years of these Germanic tribes within Britain brought that kingdom to its knees, indeed at times almost breaking it apart. As the word "partly" in verse 42 implies, it was not wholly "strong" even under the Romans because of the intransigence of the outlying Celtic peoples, and it was not wholly "broken" because of the Teutonic invasions. Because in some measure or degree many parts of Britain escaped these ravages. The kingdom of Britain's history is full of this "partly strong" and "partly broken" episodes; Yet! All the while it was building into an empire of great importance. The weakness and strengths in the British kingdom were put to the test most graphically, when Rome's iron hand under the guise of its church had periods of dominating its people; From its sovereigns to the lowly person until the undercurrent of rebellion broke forth, against Rome.

-Ten Toes- These "10 toes" of the feet of the image, have been translated wrongly into many versions by many different denominations, and each of these people have stuck by their own interpretations no matter how ludicrous they sound. Two particular versions stand out the most; Some churches waiting, and expecting the 10 nations of the Economic European Community to fulfil this prophecy. Though as the years roll on more and more European nations will join this community, but that doesn't matter it seems, so, this version continues to be used. An update of the last count, there are 12 nations who have joined. The other version of the "10 toes" is said to represent a multiplicity of nations to fulfil this role. When the Roman Empire as such disintegrated, and in the process of time 10 smaller nations, answering to the 10 toes of the image quarrelled over the Roman corpse, which laid the foundation for modern Europe, some strong, some weak. The "iron and clay" which is partly strong, partly broken, is therefore Imperialism and Communism. This version also continues with other peoples having attempting to bring unity to Europe, which are organisations as the League of Nations, and the United Nations Organisation. But failure has underlined them. Both these versions from churches of the 10 toes of "iron and clay" are grabbing at situations amongst nations during a specific time in secular history, and they do not list the names of the 10 toes. When I was young I remember one denomination emphatically teaching that there will remain 10 kings on 10 thrones within Europe at the end days, counting at that time King Farouk of Egypt amongst these kings, but he was dethroned, and so there were 9. Biblical prophecy does "not" rely upon the changing fortunes of nations at the "given time" or of "where" we find ourselves in history, whether it be the first century or the twentieth. What prophecy "does" rely on in secular history is a continual cross checking from one prophet's story to the other, and a complete "repeating" result in that history, giving dates, times, and personalities filling in a "line here", and a "precept there", which then makes a sure picture!

The Oracles of Daniel show one how a line upon line from one chapter to the next, and a precept (which is a rule of action or doctrine) upon precept, finally builds within his written chapters an absolute truth which cannot be altered to any other satisfaction. The translation of the "10 toes" keeps to its own pattern, and is an unalterable point in question because it is set, and lived, in secular history, over and over again. The "10 toes" is another way that biblical prophecy hides its secrets into the last days, making us all rethink, and relearn the facts we are to face towards our salvation. These "10 toes" are another name for the British Isles or Greater Britain, so let us examine that unbelievable statement. A very good, quick, handy book, on the state of Celtic Britain when the Romans invaded is, Leonard Cottrell's book called, "The Great Invasion" which has excellent maps showing how the Romans conquered Britain from AD 43. During the advance of the Roman generals and their legions into the "Isles", Cottrell explains and maps how Britain was divided up between the "greater" tribes of Celts. From south to north they read as the tribes:- Dumnonii,- Durotriges,- Regnenses,- Cantiaci,- Atrebates,- Dobunni,- Catuvellauni,- Trinovantes,- Iceni,- Silures,- Demetae,- Ordovices,- Deceangli,- Cornovii,- Coritani,- Parisi,- Brigantes,- Selgovae,- Novantae,- Votadini,- Damnonii,- (far north) Venicones. This list making 22 tribes in all. Other written secular history of Roman Britain, also goes on to tell us when and how the "iron" of Rome finally pushed on and through the "Isles" setting up a Roman kingdom, and we find that the Romans separated this land into 10 sections of tribes. (Or 10 toes of iron). 1:- Dumnonii, 2:- Belgae, 3:- Atrebates, 4:- Cantii,
5:- Trinovantes, 6:- Iceni, 7:- Coritani, 8:- Brigantes, 9:- Ordovices, 10:- Silures.

Through the years and the instability in the "Isles" made it always partly "broken" under the "iron" Roman backed church of the Saxon kingdom, against the Celtic peoples. It again retained its 10 separate princedoms in the one kingdom, namely:-

1:- Sussex, 2:- Wessex, 3:- Kent, 4:- Essex, 5:- Northumbria, 6:- Mercia, 7:- Strathclyde, 8:- Wales, 9:- Anglia, 10:- East Sussex.

The invasions of the Norseman or Vikings continued and before the invasion of the Danes in 835 AD the kingdom was reorganised into 10 sections again.

1:- East Anglia, 2:- Mercia, 3:- Northumbria, 4:- Strathclyde, 5:- North Welsh, 6:- West Welsh,
7:- Sussex, 8:- Essex, 9:- Wessex, 10:- Kent.

When the Normans under William the Conqueror from France, south of Britain entered this British kingdom, with the backing of the "iron" church of Rome, so began another set of 10 toes but this time the "clay" began to mould itself, -and away from the iron,- into 10 princes of the "House of Israel," (who this "clay" represents). Here we must remember reader that the 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom or House of Israel had been lost into the nations after its destruction by Assyria. Then, over the remaining centuries each Israelite prince was put in place in this kingdom. From which the royal house today in the 20th century takes its secular genetic lineage and its spiritual lineage.

The "10 toes of clay" are:-
1:- William of Normandy 1066 AD and his descendants, (Reuben).
2:- Henry II Anjou-Plantagenet, 1154 AD and descendants, (Simeon).
3:- Henry IV Bolingbroke, Lancaster 1399 AD and descendants, (Zebulun).
4:- Edward IV York 1461 AD and descendants, (Issachar).
5:- Henry VII Tudor 1485 AD and descendants,(Dan).
6:- James I Stuart 1603 AD and descendants, (Gad).
7:- George I 1714 AD to Victoria 1819 AD. Hanover, (Asher).
8:- Edward VII Saxony 1901 AD. (Naphtali).
9:- George V 1910 AD to Elizabeth II and descendants, Windsor, (Ephraim).
10:- Presidents of the United States of America from George Washington 1732 AD.
(Manasseh) or 9 and 10 are Joseph's children.

The division and power in the 2 ruling feet took place and became the British Empire and the United States of America, approximately growing at the same time. -British Empire arose AD 1749-63 and the rise of the United States AD 1764-88.

The "house of Judah" is counted with their fleshly father Jacob, and not Israel, (though they are surnamed Israel and part of the nation of Israel). The "House of Judah/Jacob" contains Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Later in another chapter I will explain the deeper meanings of both these houses, and shall also explain the "10 toes" of the "House of Israel" within the royal lineage.

Daniel 2:43:

Verse 43:-"AND WHEREAS THOU SAWEST IRON MIXED WITH MIRY CLAY, THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MEN; BUT THEY SHALL NOT CLEAVE ONE TO ANOTHER, EVEN AS IRON IS NOT MIXED WITH CLAY".

Verse 43 is telling us that, considering these things prophesied are so, -implying an admission of facts in the word "whereas",- Secular history is now condensed into a few lines representing many centuries, nevertheless two things predominate, the power of the Romans and the moulding of the Gentile clay of Israel. The "iron" power of Rome would shift from Imperial Rome in the Isles, to the power of the Roman Church, which went into this British Kingdom and took a strangle hold on its people. The "clay", representing the seed of Israel, which shall mingle or mix up and confuse, will join in with this new coat of Roman power. The "seed of men" is an expression used to denote Gentile powers, or men without the genetic lineage of Israel's children running in their veins, and "some" of those nations of men in the earth, we see represented in Nebuchadnezzar's dream idol. There are many verses in the Bible giving us the expression, "daughters of men", or "sons of men", which always mean that they are "not" counted in the spiritual history set for the children of Israel through the ages. Because, the "sons and daughters of men" inherit only according to fleshly secular possessions. Otherwise the spiritual/secular promises written at the beginning of the Bible for the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel's children could not be seen to be fulfilled in this seemingly chaotic world. All lineages being carried out into and towards our last days, and the close of this age. Many Biblical students will say Ah! But Jesus was called the "Son of man", and "He" inherited after the spiritual lineage!

The usage of the "Son of man" towards Jesus was for the purpose to explain that "He" was the man, Jesus, (not the Christ) born under the law of the flesh from Eve, and through Mary; out of the genetic line of the nation of the "House of Judah", -who also had other nations in its blood,- and for "this" reason He was the "Son of man". As the "Son of God" (which was the second half of Him) Jesus inherited after the Law of God and became Christ. "His" flesh also belonged to the promises set for the larger nation of Israel, but "He" never inherited anything from it. Because He "redeemed" them instead as a nation chastised of God and sold to the pawnshop of nations. Today, many people don't believe in God nor that His promises were ever kept, which were made so long ago, because there is no prophet -or guru- in the world it seems, to guide and prove to us that the promises "were" kept. They have indeed been "strongly" kept and in a detailed manner, without any doubt! The blindness not to see and understand is ours reader, and not the chaos which seems to surround God's promises!

-Miry Clay- Let us look at the words of God to enlighten us and prove "who" the "miry clay" is:- Jeremiah 18:1-13, tells us that the Lord told Jeremiah the prophet to go to the potter's house where 2 vessels of "clay" were made, and one was marred.

Verse 6:- "O HOUSE OF ISRAEL CANNOT I DO WITH YOU AS THIS POTTER? SAITH THE LORD. BEHOLD, AS THE CLAY IS IN THE POTTERS HAND, SO ARE YE IN MINE HAND. O HOUSE OF ISRAEL".

The mistake that is made with Biblical students to understand prophecy, is to misrepresent the words "House of Israel", because, 90 times out of a hundred it is "not" referring to the whole nation of Israel, -That of 12 tribes of 2 separate kingdoms (houses). -But, it would refer only to the Northern Kingdom of the "House of Israel" whose trust was in their city of Samaria, and not Jerusalem. Jeremiah's chapter 18, is a point in question. Verse 4 of that same chapter says:-

Verse 4:- "AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER SO HE MADE IT AGAIN ANOTHER VESSEL, AS SEEMED TO THE POTTER TO MAKE IT".

The potter (God) made a vessel (house of Israel of verse 6) who were taken away by the Assyrians and into oblivion, with its 10 tribes, within which contained beloved Joseph's children. "He" who had found grace in the sight of God and is always remembered! This first "vessel" of the 10 tribes of the "House of Israel" was marred, (or injured, damaged, and hurt) and because of the "special place" in God's scheme of things for Joseph and his sons Ephraim and Manasseh's seed within the 10 tribes of Israel, they were to inherit many things. That vessel of the "House of Israel" (10 tribes) they had to be made again. The House of Judah- was called correcting the injury and damage that was done at first. That "House of Israel" as a nation -separate from Judah,- had been made a kingdom; Yet! It was torn up by the roots and rejected. It was demolished from its glory, it was subverted, overthrown, laid waste, and put an end to. Jeremiah's verses 6 - 10, tell us all this and more. The lament in the verses concerning the second Israelite nation, -the vessel of the House of Judah,- were being warned, from verses 11 - 23 by Jeremiah, what shall befall them also, because of their evil ways, when, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was poised to destroy them and their much loved city Jerusalem.

Let us also go to Isaiah 64: 8-12.

Verse 8:- "BUT NOW, O LORD, THOU ART OUR FATHER; WE ARE THE CLAY, AND THOU OUR POTTER; AND WE ALL ARE THE WORK OF THY HAND".
Verse 9:- "BE NOT WROTH VERY SORE, O LORD, NEITHER REMEMBER INIQUITY FOR EVER; BEHOLD, SEE, WE BESEECH THEE, WE ARE ALL THY PEOPLE".
Verse 10:- "THY HOLY CITIES ARE A WILDERNESS, ZION IS A WILDERNESS, JERUSALEM A DESOLATION".
Verse 11:- "OUR HOLY AND OUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, WHERE OUR FATHERS PRAISED THEE, IS BURNED UP WITH FIRE; AND ALL OUR PLEASANT THINGS ARE LAID WASTE".
Verse 12:- "WILT THOU REFRAIN THYSELF FOR THESE THINGS, O LORD? WILT THOU HOLD THY PEACE, AND AFFLICT US VERY SORE"?

In these verses we see the 2 remnants of Israel, -Zion/Jerusalem- acknowledge God as the Potter and Father of this whole nation (of 12 tribes), and they, are the "clay" to be moulded into something better. Because of their iniquity in the past they beg for forgiveness, because they are still His people, a nation cut out from other nations to fulfil something great. Some biblical teachers say that this reference in Isaiah 64 is towards the relationship of the creation when God made man out of "clay". I'm afraid one can't take a verse out of context and use it in an unlearned manner just to prove how clever one is. Verse 10 explains "who" is spoken of in Isaiah 64, "Zion" the remnant -or holy seed- from out of the House of Israel. "Jerusalem" the remnant -or holy seed- from out of the House of Judah. All Isaiah's latter chapters are written with these 2 houses in mind, because both of them "will" return to God -on their knees-, when the last approaching days of men's ruling on earth has been accomplished, and all men will know how excellent are the Holy One of Israel's ways. (I will explain the question of Zion and Jerusalem in another chapter). Remember reader, the Bible is first and foremost the secular and spiritual history of the Hebrew nation, who are known as Israelites, other nations in the earth were, and are, secondary to this nation, until we reach the era of Jesus Christ. When we should have realised that Israel/Judah had been driven through other nations, having to learn hard lessons within them. They, picking up other nations genetic lineages also, which they, then, through the years will fulfil 2 roads in that same history. On the face of it all this seems rather complicated, but the simple flower of majesty dealing with reason, opens out into exquisite accomplishment by a Creator, God!

If then reader you have understood "who" the "miry clay" spoken of by Daniel is? - That of the House of Israel!- we then find they are residing in many Gentile nations. From verse 43 of Daniel 2, the "miry clay" is counted from Roman Imperial times, then on through History these people having been gradually entering into that Roman Kingdom of the British Isles.

My Scofield Bible reference, notes the meaning of the words "miry clay" as "baked or brittle", this translation is utterly incorrect and misleading.

If one notes well these 2 words "miry clay" it is the opposite to "brittle". Let us analyse the word "clay", we will find it is a tenacious kind of earth which forms a plastic pastry mixture with water. "Miry clay", is wet muddy soil, which when used to try and daub iron -a hard substance- with this almost impossible mud, it is difficult.

A "mire" is a swamp or marsh.

"Iron" the most common and a useful metal used for Rome (metaphorically) hence the meaning for them being, harsh, rude, severe, firm, robust, and not easily broken. If for example one used an upright bar of iron and tried to daub it with muddy clay it would slide down the iron, or fall off in lumps, or come away in one's hands.

So, the verse 43 of Daniel 2 is showing us that the seed of Israel "shall mingle" themselves with the seed amongst men in a genetic manner. Yet! "They" shall also keep themselves separate from them in another manner, -which will be spiritual- because within them God has placed another "call" and another "road" for them to fulfil, "they" coming out and seen upon that road in the "last days". So, because "miry clay" is wet and muddy for moulding purposes, and "iron" hard and inflexible "they" will remain separate, for their own inner reasons, which throughout the years secular history has shown us.

One must not take offence in any way at my words when I say "other nations" are secondary to all Israel's position in the earth. This is an historical and Biblical fact, when God has set them to be so. By the same token the Israelites have suffered for their position, because they did not measure up to the standard set for them by God. Other nations inherit according to the flesh, and if they sin in this situation they are forgiven more so than the tribes of Israel. Whereas, Israel's sins must be taken into account historically and spiritually. It is the case of "noblesse oblige", or persons of noble rank should set an example and much is expected of them, therefore, are laid under obligation, and answerable to God!

The "miry clay" or the Israelite people who were being moulded by God, were "mingled" in many nations and they were gradually being pushed westwards, and into the "Isles". We must go to other prophets to visualise this knowledge.

The whole book of Hosea the prophet gives us a terrible picture of the rise, fall, scattering and punishments of the "House of Israel", headed by Ephraim within the Gentiles, in the latter days. Hosea goes into great detail to explain the character of the Greater British nation, or the "House of Israel". Hosea tells us this "house" has had sovereigns and princes, priests and pride, throughout its history, and with that "pride" they have transgressed every law of God to this day. One thing they have not got is "knowledge" from God's words that will set them on the right path to truth about themselves. Knowledge, that will free them from their own vain captivity and their treachery against God, brought about by the traditions of men, which are hollow ramblings of nothingness!

Hosea 4:6,7.

Verse 6:- "MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE; BECAUSE THOU HAST REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I WILL ALSO REJECT THEE, THAT THOU SHALL BE NO PRIEST TO ME; SEEING THOU
HAST FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF THY GOD; I WILL ALSO FORGET THY CHILDREN".
Verse 7:- "AS THEY WERE INCREASED, SO THEY SINNED AGAINST ME; THEREFORE WILL I CHANGE THEIR GLORY INTO SHAME".

Every church within the countries that the "House of Israel" have found rest and set up nations, -who once all resided in the British Isles,- feel secure in their various ideas of God and His purposes with us all. But very few people within those churches question what they have been learning, because of untruths building strong habits and nothing more! Hosea tells us what is wrong with the "House of Israel" today.

Hosea 8:11-14.

Verse 11:- "BECAUSE EPHRAIM HATH MADE ALTARS TO SIN, ALTARS SHALL BE UNTO HIM TO SIN". (Or the elevated places of communion with God in high cathedrals and churches, are a weak adaptation of the law of God through thought, actions, and words of men. Men trespass and transgress upon God's words and deeds and call them truth).
Verse 12 :- "I HAVE WRITTEN TO HIM THE GREAT THINGS OF MY LAW, BUT THEY WERE COUNTED AS A STRANGE THING". (Or the Bible which we study today has been gathered together piece by piece through great people, who giving their lives for those words throughout the centuries so that we might read and live forever. Yet! We, of the twentieth century, count the Bible as a small thing with written words that many say are confusion and misunderstood sentences too deep to interpret. To read that "our" ancestors were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel, thus calling ourselves biological factual reality for some people. This sounds queer as if God is incapable of bringing order out of the chaotic nations! Mankind limits the purposes and actions of God down to his own level, calling them outlandish or an odd curiosity).
Verse 13:- "THEY SACRIFICE FLESH FOR THE SACRIFICES OF MINE OFFERINGS, AND EAT IT; BUT THE LORD ACCEPTETH THEM NOT; NOW WILL HE REMEMBER THEIR INIQUITY, AND VISIT THEIR SINS; THEY SHALL RETURN TO EGYPT". (Or the House of Israel to whom was given the knowledge of the law and the Christ, -as a Christian nation,- whose head is Ephraim's lineage - were people who from the very beginning to the end of their days do approach God with strange sacrifices. In Israel's early years they went through periods of immoral worship of other deities and called it consecrated holy. Through the ages of man they bowed to idols and sacrificed their own children. In our modern era the offerings on the high altars of man in wine, wafers and incense are done by ritual, and not much heart. The priests and people alike consume that meat with lowered eyes, hands clasped, not being fully aware of what an awesome thing it is to approach God in this manner! Better to go through life without touching that sacrifice of Christ Jesus than do it with an empty mind and heart! For these shallow things of Israel's people he will remember our unrighteousness and injustice and of these things, sending his angels to be amongst us for evil and not good. The "House of Israel" was returned to "Egypt of the nations", as slaves to the usage of other nations into which they were driven and lost).
Verse 14:- "FOR ISRAEL HATH FORGOTTEN HIS MAKER, AND BUILDETH TEMPLES; AND JUDAH HATH MULTIPLIED FENCED CITIES. BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE UPON HIS CITIES, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES THEREOF". (Or when Hosea wrote these words his ministry to the people was after the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom of the House of Israel, from approx: 728 BC. Eventually that kingdom of 10 tribes ceased to exist most of the people being taken away from their soil and into oblivion. This nation then started their chaotic wanderings. The "House of Israel" assimilated into the western nations and became so called Christians, leaving their "mark" in many countries as well as the British Isles. This Christian British nation assimilated and absorbed many pagan man made customs, foreign from its Hebrew beginnings. They built hundreds of churches of all sorts to worship a God they knew not. They happily and haply (by chance) existed and grew, believing "God was their Right"; Yet! Did not understand their "Maker" was also the Holy One of Israel, and they the "clay" of Israel! The House of Judah (Jew) were constantly on the move, and always hiding from a hand stronger than himself in history and have tried to hide from mankind within the defensive walls of his synagogues, or his traditions and education, forging for himself in the nations defence walls of respectability. Today, in the land of Israel his fortifications are in his ability to defend himself with walls of weaponry and technology. His additional strength is the "right" to his knowledge that he's fortifying and defending his own land against his enemies.

But, as Hosea predicted, because these 2 nations have not understood their Maker, nor humbled themselves to find truth, the cities of Judah's land will be burned- which past history in Daniel 11:15,16 will show during the siege of Jerusalem AD 70.- That it "did happen," and "will happen" again, in our closing days. The palaces of churches, and splendid places of residences built for the so-called humble priests of God, within the House of Israel's Christian nations, will be consumed, destroyed, or wasted with the same fire of destruction. Hosea tells us all so very much towards our understanding of "who" and "what" we are, and gives so much identification upon matters relevant to our knowledge today. Hosea 7:7-16 gives one the picture of the princes and the nation of the House of Israel, during their punishments from the days of Assyrian captivity, through history into our day. We read in verse 13, such gigantic words. "WOE UNTO THEM! (Or the head and sovereign of this second nation of Israel); FOR THEY FLED FROM ME; (Or they all have run away from truth, and have kept their distance for fear of men's mockery); DESTRUCTION UNTO THEM! (Though He has given all the princes of Israel and its people power in the earth from William of Normandy (Reuben), to Elizabeth of Windsor (Ephraim); Yet! Destruction is your only course because of the evil ways of these people). BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME; (Or have violated the law of God and have limited His power), THOUGH I HAVE REDEEMED THEM, (Or, Ephraim head of the House of Israel, with all the 10 tribes were "redeemed" by a Redeemer, their Lord Jesus Christ, who taught them great things out of the Gentile Bible! The Jew of the House of Judah is "not" included in this chapter because they have not accepted Him), -YET THEY HAVE SPOKEN LIES AGAINST ME". (Or, this Christian House of Israel say they are "not" Israelites, and God is just God Almighty. They are not "surnamed" with the Holy One of Israel's name at all, and His promises are not worth the paper they are written on, because they refuse to hear, subject as they are to their numerous churches with numerous ideas! When the prophet Isaiah, for example, writes of the 2 nations of Israel in the last days in chapter 11, he speaks of them as 2 separate nations.

Isaiah 11:13

Verse 13:- "THE ENVY (or sight of another's superiority, which brings a feeling of grudge and malice) ALSO OF EPHRAIM (head of the British throne) SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF; (Or antagonists and enemies of the Jew shall be brought to an untimely end). EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH (Or the Gentile Christian Israelites will stop wishing they could number themselves in secular and biblical history from Abraham etc, just as the Jew does). AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM". (Or, the Jew will not annoy and irritate by little provocations, this Germanic bloodline of Ephraim's children. Which secular history has proved time and time again of the Germanic anger with the Jew. Ending in the Hitler massacres of modern history). There is so very much one can write to prove these 2 separate nations and their 2 roles in the earth. But at this point of writing we must not loose sight of the original point to this chapter which is putting the "miry clay" of Daniel 2/verse 34 into perspective.

That perspective takes us into many roads, with the "miry clay" presented with natural dimensions, with positions connected to everything else, and forged into a picture so complete it gives the whole picture a quality and clarity it lacked before!So let us continue with Hosea and into other dimensions to watch that picture take shape.

We must emphatically understand that the "House of Israel" are "not", contained in the Jew of today that we see around us in every country, nor the Jew in the land of Israel to which many Jews have gone. The 10 tribes of the "House of Israel" are in the Gentiles.

Hosea 8:8-10

Verse 8:- "ISRAEL IS SWALLOWED UP; NOW SHALL THEY BE AMONG THE GENTILES AS A VESSEL WHEREIN IS NO PLEASURE".
Verse 9:- "FOR THEY ARE GONE UP TO ASSYRIA, A WILD ASS ALONE BY HIMSELF; EPHRAIM HATH HIRED LOVERS".
Verse 10:- "YEA, THOUGH THEY HAVE HIRED AMONG THE NATIONS NOW WILL I GATHER THEM, AND THEY SHALL SORROW A LITTLE FOR THE BURDEN OF THE KING OF PRINCES".

These verses tell us how Israel became swallowed up as a notable people among the Gentiles, they became assimilated, drawn into an abyss and absorbed within many nations, that they found themselves in. A "clay vessel" made by the great Potter were now amongst the Gentiles, there was no preference or purpose given to them in any way, other than to fulfil prophecy throughout the years. They went into Assyria alone, approx. 140 years before Jerusalem fell and the House of Judah were taken into Babylon. So completely changed was the "House of Israel" that it was without roots, or a place to call its own. It became likened to the animal called the ass, lost within himself, and just living from day to day. The princes of Ephraim compensated their lost identity in temporary measures of service, or wages for some fleeting tender affection to lull his senses. This loss of identity drove them on in the same manner through nation after nation, without purpose or a goal for living. But God being merciful and remembering their fathers of old will now gather them again, as an identifiable people, through their Redeemer, the King of all princes, The Lord Jesus Christ! Because this nation of the "House of Israel" became a so-called Christian nation, the knowledge of the "full story" is the "burden", -or- grievous knowledge of identity we all must face before we are free of guilt! Some churches will say Hosea speaks here of the Jew of the House of Judah, this is sheer guesswork! Ask yourselves reader, since when did the Jew dwell in Assyria alone? Since when has he been swallowed up in the Gentiles without identity? The "strength" of the Jew's life and hope was in being a Jew, seed of Abraham. No matter what nations they found themselves in, their Jewishness made them a marked people. Since when did Ephraim and his princes predominate amongst the latter day Jew? Since when in the latter times did the Jew sorrow a little for Jesus our King? To some of the Jews He was just a Rabbi, to others an illegitimate child of a Jewess, amongst other things!

Don't put words into the mouths of the prophets reader which were not meant to be there, because of your own lack of knowledge or of cussedness, which wants to be right with ones own thoughts!

Let us go to Hosea 9:17.

Verse 17:- "MY GOD WILL CAST THEM AWAY, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HEARKEN UNTO HIM; AND THEY SHALL BE WANDERERS AMONG THE NATIONS".

Hosea 11:9-12.

Verse 9:- "I WILL NOT EXECUTE THE FIERCENESS OF MINE ANGER, I WILL NOT RETURN TO DESTROY EPHRAIM; FOR I AM GOD, AND NOT MAN; THE HOLY ONE IN THE MIDST OF THEE; AND I WILL NOT ENTER INTO THE CITY".
Verse 10:- "THEY SHALL WALK AFTER THE LORD; HE SHALL ROAR LIKE A LION; WHEN HE SHALL ROAR, THEN THE CHILDREN SHALL TREMBLE FROM THE WEST".
Verse 11:- "THEY SHALL TREMBLE AS A BIRD OUT OF EGYPT, AND AS A DOVE OUT OF THE LAND OF ASSYRIA; AND I WILL PLACE THEM IN THEIR HOUSES, SAITH THE LORD".
Verse 12:- "EPHRAIM COMPASSETH ME ABOUT WITH LIES, AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WITH DECEIT; BUT JUDAH YET RULETH WITH GOD, AND IS FAITHFUL WITH THE SAINTS".

In these verses we see Ephraim's (who heads all the tribes that went with him into captivity, and are counted with him), wandering from nation to nation, (as the Jew did). In the last days Ephraim is in the Western nations, and he's afraid because they all will find out the truth about themselves through God's anger. The whole of Hosea 11:1-12 gives one the whole story of the "House of Israel" headed by Ephraim, which nation was "headed" through the love and blood of Jesus. The Assyrian -or the power of the ruling of men, that deals only with men's desires, and not Gods,- shall be king over them. Nevertheless God will not destroy all of Ephraim despite his stubborn and secular ways. Eventually, they all will understand knowledge and tremble from the West, because of the Truth of His words. Hosea 11:12, sums up the latter day situation of the 2 houses of the nation of "all" Israel (12 tribes). "EPHRAIM COMPASSETH ME ABOUT WITH LIES, AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WITH DECEIT; BUT JUDAH YET RULETH WITH GOD, AND IS FAITHFUL WITH THE SAINTS".

In other words Ephraim, as the sovereign and last representative (from prophecy) in the world today, for the "House of Israel" within British stock. Moves around, continues and encircles God, but not in truth, because they have violated truth for falsehood, and they call it worshipping God! Ephraim's prince (today called Elizabeth II) is called "Defender of the Faith". Which faith is the throne defending and protesting against? Roman pagan Catholicism, or high Protestant mumbo jumbo? It is the "knowledge" of the Israelite faith that Ephraim"should be" affected with, and the search for the holy seed within the tribes through the words of God, and not centuries of historical and spiritual deception! Because of Ephraim's lies the whole nation of the "House of Israel" within British stock -who Ephraim's sovereign represents- also encircled God with fraud, cunning and duplicity. Ephraim's sovereign became "Defender of the Faith" because of the desires of secular power, and not wholly as a result of spiritual purity. Both Ephraim and the rest of the tribes have lived in well planned, habitual lying traditions of men for their own ends, nothing more!

A fine example of this "duplicity" of Ephraim's throne and its people encircling God with lying traditions of men, we see happening in the world today before our very eyes. When one of Ephraim's Archbishops of Canterbury called, Dr. Runcie was preparing to bow the knee to Roman Papal supremacy and to recognise the Pope as primate of the Christian churches. Dr. Runcie as a shallow priest of God might be personally reconciled to this duplicity. But the deep divisions of history within peoples and the undermining of the Queen's position as supreme Governor of the Church of England, are two hurdles not easily surmounted. By some peoples reckoning Dr. Runcie's desires were treachery, and to the prophet Hosea's God, it is also treachery! As for the second house within the nation of Israel -that of Judah- though his sins are scarlet, nevertheless, out of Judah came the Messiah, who exercises the rule of power, who is predominant in government, as the "Redeemer" of both houses. Judah, the Jew, though overawed with his own fables and lies of long standing, remains firmly adhering to his duty as a Jew out of the nation of Israel, which resulted in his life always being in jeopardy. Judah of the Jew, searches for the Messiah, waits for Elijah at his table, remembers the saints Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses etc, adheres to some of the promises and treaties of old, which Ephraim and the "House of Israel" call old fashioned, and not worth the paper those treaties are written on. In comparison between Gentile Israel's disbelief, and Judah's tears at the "wailing wall" -captured from the Arabs during the 1967 war,- there is a gulf. Judah's tears were from the heart, having faith in the words of Psalm 137:5. "IF I FORGET THEE, O JERUSALEM, LET MY RIGHT HAND FORGET HER CUNNING". Other prophets tell us many things about these 2 nations for identification. Let us read Isaiah 2:5,6

Verse 5:- "O HOUSE OF JACOB, (sons of the flesh led by Judah) COME YE, AND LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD".
Verse 6:- "THEREFORE THOU HAST FORSAKEN THY PEOPLE THE HOUSE OF JACOB, (Jew) BECAUSE THEY BE REPLENISHED FROM THE EAST, AND ARE SOOTHSAYERS LIKE THE PHILISTINES, AND THEY PLEASE THEMSELVES IN THE CHILDREN OF STRANGERS". Or, Jacob/Judah found agreeable sensations and emotions, which please, with the children of men -or strangers- away from their own nation. They went through the genetic lineages of the coloured and other eastern nations and races, taking into itself the mysterious doctrine of the Cabala, transmitted by oral tradition. Which is the science containing the occult meaning, and they became -as Isaiah says. (The Cabalists are soothsayers of those who predict and divine the future in this mysterious kind of learning, which the God of Israel didn't teach).

However, Isaiah 11:11-16 tells one how the 2 nations of Israel headed by Ephraim and Judah, will be recovered the "second time" from Assyria, Egypt, upper Egypt, Ethiopia, Central and Southern Arabia, Babylon, to Persia, Northern border of Israel beyond Damascus and into Lebanon, to the "islands of the sea".

v 12 and 13

Verse 12:- "AND HE SHALL SET UP AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND SHALL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER TOGETHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH".
Verse 13:- "THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF; EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM".

Isaiah emphatically states that there are 2 houses of Israel, with 2 heads Judah and Ephraim in the latter days. They will become strong in the last days having been called the "second time" out of "Egypt of the nations". They are called through an "Ensign", which is a sign or signal to assemble yourselves together, as a "flag" to give notice of an impending movement.

There are many signs to take notice of and we shall look to them as we uncover secret prophecy.
I must pause here in going further with unravelling prophecy from Daniel chapter 2. Because out of necessity for your learning "truth" reader, much clarification of "many paths" must be understood to undo years of falsehoods in many churches. Firstly, we will take the path of "how" and "why" there are still 2 nations of Israel in the world today!