The story of Joseph and of Ephraim is the story of Western Civilisation. It is the chronicle of the 10 northern tribes of Israel in diaspora, scattered throughout the world. If we are to understand why the West is collapsing today, we must understand something of the negative temprement of Ephraim - his strengths and his weaknesses.

"Ephraim, he mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he doesn't realise it. Indeed, grey hairs are here and there on him, and he doesn't realise it. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; they they haven't returned to Yahweh their Elohim (God), nor sought Him for all this. Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria" (Hos.7:8-11, ATOT).

On the positive side, Ephraim is compared to a dove, which is the symbol of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). He is kind, gentle, merciful, just, diligent and very agreeable, like his father Joseph. That is no small compliment - it is what Yahweh loves about him. But he has a major weakness too - he is easily deceived, "like a >silly dove" (v.11, NKJV). He's only half-cooked, like "a pancake not turned over", because he exalts his gentleness at the expense of Torah - he thinks his heart will see him right without the need for rules or laws, unlike his brother Judah who is zealous for Torah but lacking in Ephraim's virtues, preferring the war-like spirit of the Hasmoneans. Ephraim in the churches thinks the Ruach (Spirit) is enough and doesn't understand that the Torah is the vessel that the Ruach (Spirit) fills. He is rather too independent-minded.

When he mixes himself with the nations, he imitates them and falls. Look how the Josephite nations, Britain (Ephraim), America (West Manasseh) and Germany (East Manasseh) have risen and fallen following their disasterous experiments with fascism (Germany) and liberalism (UK and USA). You only have to look at their histories to see their greatness and then their foolishness.

"When they go [to Egypt and Assyria], I will spread My net on them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard. Woe to them! For they have wandered from Me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against Me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against Me" (Hos.7:12-13, ATOT).

We are watching America and Europe in their death throes. They are, for the most part, continuing their business with 'Egypt' and 'Assyria', the houses of bondage, as normal. They don't realise they are being devoured because of their silliness.

"They haven't cried to Me with their heart, but they howl on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and new wine (materialism). They turn away from Me. Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me (war against Christianity). They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt" (Hos.7:14-16, ATOT).

The whole of the Book of Hosea is about Israel-Ephraim, the 10 Tribes, modern and ancient. He's doing again what he did before when he was taken into captivity by Assyria. Judah, too, has fallen, taken captive by Babylon and Rome, and has mixed with the nations.

Ephraim came to Messiah but rejected the Torah, as Hosea prophesied:

"Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of Yahweh, because they have transgressed My b'rit (covenant) and rebelled against My Torah (Law). Israel will cry to Me, 'My Elohim (God), we know You!' Israel has rejected the tov (good); the enemy will pursue him" (Hos.8:1-3, NKJV).

Ephraim is being sifted today and will be enslaved again by a modern 'Assyria', but a remnant will be preserved and is even now seeding the Besorah (Gospel) and Torah in all the nations, singing the Song of Moses and Yah'shua (Jesus) together (Rev.15:3). That remnant is the Messianic Evangelicals, organised last year after a long preparation period as the New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh. If you'd like to know more, please see Our Threefold Vision and Mission: Reformation, Restoration and Completion and Vision of the Blue Altar: The Three Tasks of Messianic Israel.