The two major political parties (Conservative and Labour) are starting to look more and more shaky - particularly the Conservatives. And Nigel Farage along with his reform party, promising to bring a populist revolution, is gaining more and more momentum in the polls. There are huge swathes of country who feel forgotten and mistreated by the globalist elites of the country who live in their wealthy homes in the leafy suburbs of the South of England. The discontent has largely stemmed from government’s policy toward legal and illegal migration.

Migration has become the one issue driving all others in UK politics. 

For those less familiar with UK politics, the dissatisfaction around migration comes from two main things:

1. The last few years have seen a huge rise in the number of small boats crossing the channel and arriving in England, having come from the refugee camps in Calais. These are mostly young men, according to the statistics, who are refugees in a safe country (France) but are still making the trip across the channel to look for a better future. Many have suggested that housing these refugees in hotels is unfair and increases the crime rate of the surrounding area. 
2. Ever since the premiership of Tony Blair (1997-2007), the number of legal migrants has also sky-rocketed, increasing pressure on public services. Many politicians would argue that these migrants have increased the economic productivity of the country. 

The New York Post claims that 1 in every 13 people in London are thought to be there illegally. All of this unrest and dissatisfaction has recently come to be symbolised in the flying of of the English flag on lampposts and spray painting it on roundabouts. Throughout many towns and cities, the flag can now be seen proudly and defiantly lining the streets.

Interesting use of the 'Lion' as an advert for a protest due to be held
in the UK next month (Ezekiel 38:13)

This has been called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’.  It sends a clear message to Parliament, that people have had enough of the two governing parties. Instead, people are turning to leaders such as Nigel Farage, and even figures like Tommy Robinson (who outflanks even Farage in his radical approach to immigration) to provide the country with a new direction. For example, Tommy Robinson has organised a huge protest to be held on the 13th September, which is being promoted as a free speech rally, with hundreds of thousands thought to be attending. Each new flag that appears on a lamppost is a further vote of no confidence in Kemi Badenoch’s conservative party and Kier Starmer’s government. Either the major parties will have to be more serious in how they listen to what the public say about immigration, or a completely different set of political parties will be in government before too long. 

Bible Context

For Bible Students, who have no part in the politics of this world, this shift in the UK is particularly interesting. There is a good case to be made, as many listeners will know, for identifying Britain with the place called “Tarshish” in scripture. Scripture defines Tarshish as a maritime power (Psa 48:7), to the west of Israel (Jonah 1:3) that traded in silver, iron, tin and lead (Eze 27:12), and is a latter-day trading power with independent colonies (Ezekiel 38:13).  When combining all of these characteristics together, Britain is by far the best contender for the Tarnish power described in scripture. The Merchants of Tarshish and her young lions do not join with the gathering of nations that attack the Jewish people in the latter days. Instead, they question the invader, and act as a separate block of nations. Britain’s separation from the European Union reflected the alignment of nations demonstrated in Ezekiel 38. This separation has been shown in different ways throughout the ages. Even in the Middle Ages, when the Holy Roman Empire was in full sway, the English translation of the bible and protestantism resulted in a fault line between Britain and Catholic Europe. The trajectory of the two land masses has always been different. 

The Big Picture

According to Bible prophecy, in the latter days we expect to see Britain as a confident, pro-Israel trading power, with ties to the gulf regions and a collection of independent young lion powers. After Brexit, the trading power of the UK never really took off and continued high levels of immigration has brought more antisemitism into the national conversation - this has been the same across Europe. Additionally, the globalist, technocratic Starmer government has sort for closer ties with Europe rather than moving away. Even after the UK secured a better deal than the EU with the US, because they could operate independently. Now, a similar coalition of voters who voted for Brexit are making their voice heard by backing Nigel Farage’s reform party. Could this rise of support for the populist right in Britain push the country further towards the situation described by the prophets? 

Nigel Farage’s Immigration Policy 

This week Nigel Farage has laid out plans to deport 600,000 illegal migrants over five years if Reform won the next general election. The party have also said they would bar any illegal migrants who crossed the channel on boats from claiming asylum in the country. The plan would allow for illegal migrants to be held at disused RAF bases, and then returned to their countries of origin, including Afghanistan and Eritrea, where a significant number of those on the small boats came from. When this policy is compared with the current government’s stance towards the boat crossings, the difference is enormous. At the very least, it could cause the current government to tighten their stance toward illegal migration, just to stave off the attack from Nigel Farage. 

It is hard to see how Britain can act as a pro-Israel, anti-European power as described in Bible prophecy, if its shores are flooded with unvetted migrants from across the Middle East, the large majority of whom will be very likely to harbour anti-semitic ideologies. For example, earlier this year, an Arab from Gaza arrived in Britain on a small boat and subsequently voiced support for Hamas on Facebook and called for ‘death to the Jews’. The promise of Brexit was that the people could ‘take back control’ of their immigration policy. Almost a decade after Brexit, this might finally be beginning to take place. 

Christian Revival in Britain

The mass protest of the British Public against illegal migration has gone hand in hand with the idea of reclaiming British national identity and culture. This is the reason why the English flag, or Saint George’s flag is being flown in many towns. A major part of Britain’s cultural heritage is its Protestant Christian roots. A couple of months ago, the Spectator released an article called: “A Christian Revival is underway in Britain”. A recent poll suggested that there has been an increase in the number of young people attending Church in this country (Its possible this trend is further afield as well). Again, when thinking about this in terms of Bible prophecy, it would not be surprising to see an increase in enthusiasm for Britain’s religious heritage. This a major factor that led to the establishment of the State of Israel. Many of Britain’s statesmen and political leaders believed in the Jewish ingathering of the exiles because of their religious upbringings. 

Isaiah tells us that, in the Kingdom, the ships of Tarnish will brings the sons of Israel from far, as they return to the land. A cultural revival of Christianity in this country (however small it might be), could allow Britain to grow closer to the Tarshish role laid out in the Bible. 

Things in Britain are changing. And we wait to see how they will perform the role that God has given then, as the Tarshish power described in Ezekiel 38. This has been Daniel Blackburn joining you for this weeks edition of Bible in the news.