A Family Squabble

As we come to the end of another year, it is good to look back and see where we have been. The year 2026 saw at least two notable North American milestones: the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Britain, and the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As we will see, these events converge in a surprising way.

The United States’ decision to declare independence contributed to the creation of not one but two nations. Not all colonists were in favor of breaking with the British Crown. Estimates vary, but somewhere around 20 percent of the colonists were openly declared Loyalists. Many more hid their sentiments, as Patriots were not always inclined to treat Loyalists by the lofty ideals of freedom they espoused.

Before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, more than 100,000 Loyalists fled into exile. “[M]ost ordinary loyalists went to Canada where they would come to play a large role in the development of Canadian society and government. In this way, the American Revolution played a central role shaping the future of two North American countries” (“The Loyalists,” USHistory.org, accessed August 17, 2026).

Echoing the War of 1812

The colonies’ war for independence would not be the last war fought between American Patriots and British Loyalists. Competition, treaties, violations of treaties, foreign wars, national honor, and other acts of self-interest—too numerous and complicated to explain here—led to a second major conflict between Britain and America. Britannica.org sums it up this way: “The tensions that caused the War of 1812 arose from the French revolutionary (1792–99) and Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815). During this nearly constant conflict between France and Britain, American interests were injured by each of the two countries’ endeavours to block the United States from trading with the other” (“War of 1812,” Encyclopedia Britannica, August 2, 2026).

The result was that War Hawks, such as Kentucky’s Henry Clay, persuaded the United States Congress to declare war against Britain. Canada was the nearest British outpost, so in June of 1812—mostly to defend its honor rather than incorporate new territory—the U.S. invaded its northern neighbor. But, in the end, the border between Canada and the U.S. remained the same in almost all respects.

Many on both sides did not want the war, and it ended two-and-a-half years later with negotiations held in the Belgian city of Ghent. The issues that started the war were never resolved, but the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814. However, as in most wars, everyone was a loser. As highly regarded Canadian author Pierre Berton pointed out, “War is not a cricket match. The three nations that celebrated peace were beggared by the conflict, their people bereaved, their treasuries emptied, their graveyards crowded. In North America, the charred houses, the untended farms, the ravaged fields along the border left a legacy of bitterness and distrust” (Flames Across the Border, p. 424).

And according to Britannica.org, “The most enduring international consequence of the war was in the arbitration clauses of Ghent, perhaps the treaty’s most important feature. Its arrangements to settle outstanding disagreements established methods that could adapt to changing U.S. administrations, British ministries, and world events. There lay the seeds of an Anglo-American comity that would weather future disagreements to sustain the longest unfortified border in the world” (“War of 1812”).

Considering the last two years of tariffs and trade disputes, will that comity last? There have been many disputes over trade and honor between the two countries since the War of 1812 and the treaty signed in Ghent, yet most squabbles are of relatively minor interest to the average citizen of either country. Each country vigorously defends its farms, industries, and intellectual and artistic property. Nevertheless, the integration of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico goes beyond dairy products, oil, timber, and aluminum. Yet it is sadly evident that relations between the U.S. and Canada are at a very low point. As with the War of 1812, there are many complicating factors, and such disputes are rarely one-sided. As a citizen of both countries, I recognize that each has legitimate grievances, but the way those grievances have come about seems unnecessary and foolish.

Brothers, Not Cousins

The U.S. and the British-descended nations are often called cousins, but this is not accurate. Even those who claim to be students of the Bible fail to understand some of the basics of Scripture, ignorant as to how to connect the dots between the Bible’s clear descriptions and the prophecies that are unfolding before our eyes. Most do not realize that end-time prophecy involves not only the descendants of Judah, but also those of another son of Israel: “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:1–2).

Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, had twelve sons, among whom were Judah and Joseph. As the passage above explains, the Messiah would come from the Jews, as He did in the person of Jesus Christ, but the birthright promises—of great agricultural, mineral, military, and economic wealth—would go to Joseph. You can read Genesis 49 to see for yourself what was prophesied in “the last days” for the descendants of each brother (v. 1).

The birthright blessings promised to Joseph were also prophesied to be divided between Joseph’s two sons. Manasseh, the older, would become a single great nation, while Ephraim would be a multitude—company or commonwealth—of nations (Genesis 48:8–20). This promise to Ephraim is fulfilled in Great Britain and the British-descended nations, and the U.S. fulfills the prophecy of Manasseh as a single great nation. There are no other nations in the world today that can reasonably be seen as fulfilling those God-inspired prophecies.

As Canada and the U.S. trade insults and tariffs and Canada turns to Europe, we wonder whether the Treaty of Ghent will hold. And what does September 11, 2001, have to do with this?

The U.S. and the British-descended nations have long been the Jews’ strongest supporters. Why? Is it not because Joseph is a brother of Judah? But 25 years after 9/11, that relationship is being tested and support is waning.

Brothers occasionally brawl with one another, and so it is with the descendants of Joseph’s sons. Nevertheless, they stick together when threatened by an outsider, as they did in two twentieth-century world wars. Yet Bible prophecy tells of a coming squabble within the family of Israel—because of our collective sins. “Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they shall be against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 9:21).

One must wonder whether we are seeing the beginning of this end-time struggle. For greater insight into this subject, read our resource that spells this out in clear detail from the Bible: The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. It can be ordered free of charge from our Regional Office closest to you, and you can also read it in full right here at TomorrowsWorld.org.