The Question is, what is the future of France in Bible prophecy? In the main France is descended from the Israelite tribe of Reuben. In France there are also minorities from the tribes of Simeon and Gad. This is well documented in the book “The Tribes” by Yair Davidy”. To have an understanding of France prophetically it is necessary to understand Reuben. Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob through Leah. Jacob had two wives Leah and Rachel. But Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:31, 32). Reuben means ‘see a son’. It was in the environment when Leah felt unloved by her husband and as a consequence was afflicted that Reuben was born. Reuben was born in the environment of Leah’s emotional turmoil. As a consequence Reuben became an unstable person. According to Genesis 49:4 Reuben is ‘unstable as water’. After Rachel Jacob’s second wife was buried “Israel (Jacob) journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it” (Gen 35:21, 22). This was an abomination before the LORD. This failure by Reuben as the eldest son to properly look after and protect all the remaining members of Jacob’s family while he was away but instead fornicated with his father’s concubine was to later disqualify him from the birthright.

However Reuben was not all bad. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Joseph’s brothers including Reuben however hated him and could not speak peaceably with him. While Joseph was journeying to Dothan to meet his brothers, his brothers who saw him afar off plotted against him. With the exception of Reuben Joseph’s brothers said “Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams” (Gen 37:19b, 20). But “Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him” (37:21, 22). Reuben was instrumental in stopping the slaying of Joseph. He intended to return Joseph to Jacob their father. Nevertheless while Reuben was absent his other brothers sold Joseph into slavery. Despite his turbulent emotions Reuben did have some leadership qualities.

Reuben had four sons 1) Hanoch (Heb initiated, dedicated), 2) Pallu (Heb separated, distinguished), 3) Hezron (Heb enclosed, surrounded by a wall) and 4) Carmi (Heb vinedresser) (Gen 46:9).

It was well after Reuben had begotten his children that his future was declared to him by Jacob. “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch” (Gen 49:1-4). Before Jacob spoke to Reuben, Reuben exercised his leadership as the firstborn son of Jacob. He was the beginning of Jacob’s strength and the excellency of power. He saved Joseph from death. He had four sons. But the trouble was that he did a most disgraceful act when he fornicated with his father’s concubine. Because Reuben defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was t
ken away and given to the sons of Joseph (1 Chron 5:1). The birthright involved the possession of the best blessings. The history and future of Reuben’s descendants in Europe parallels the life of Reuben. The Reubenite Franks and Gauls were the beginning of Jacob’s strength in Europe after the death of Christ. Even before the death of Christ the Gauls of the Reubenite line were a powerful people. The Franks that settled France came from Reuben. The Franks that settled parts of Germany came from Dedan. The kingdom of the Franks became the most powerful kingdom in Europe. France became a very powerful nation before England did.

In 476 BC Augustulus the last Roman emperor was deposed. Later in 486 Clovis the pagan leader of the Salian Franks became very powerful in Gaul. In 496 he became a convert to Roman Catholic church. Clovis became the first king of the Merovingian dynasty. During his reign Clovis eventually ruled most of what is today France and large parts of Germany etc. Let their be no doubt Reuben was then the strongest Israelite tribe in Europe. After Clovis died his kingdom was divided between his 4 sons (comp Gen 46:9). During the time of the Merovingian dynasty the Western Franks began to assimilate the Gallic latin based language while the Eastern Franks continued to speak their native Germanic language. Eventually the land dominated by the Western Franks became what is today known as France while the Eastern Franks became part of what is today known as Germany. The financial capital of Germany is today Frankfurt a city named after the Eastern Franks. Most of the Western Franks were Reubenites while most of the Eastern Franks were Dedanites.

In about 751 AD Pepin the powerful Mayor of the Palace deposed the last king of the Merovingian dynasty and became the king himself. He assumed the kingship with the blessing of the Pope. Pepin began the Carolingian dynasty of kings. In 768 AD Pepin’s son Charlemagne became the king of the powerful Frankish kingdom. During his reign Charlemagne conquered a large part of Continental Europe and forcibly converted many people to Roman Catholicism. His empire included most of the German lands and France. In reward for his services, the Pope crowned Charlemagne as the Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD. This began the Holy Roman empire which lasted from 800 to 1806. Charlemagne made Aachen now in Germany his capital. It appeared that Charlemagne had more rapport with the Dedanite Eastern Franks. Charlemagne died in 814. His successor Louis I was an inept ruler. After Louis died in 840 the empire was divided up between his 3 sons. For a few years the 3 sons could not agree to how the empire should be divided. These 3 sons fought each other for 3 years. The treaty of Verdun later put an end to the conflict. By the terms of this treaty, Charles the Bald received a region which approximates to modern France, Louis II received a region which roughly approximates to modern Germany, and Lothair I received a region between the other two regions and received the title of Holy Roman emperor. Afterwards all the Holy Roman Emperors with the exception of Wenceslaus (Bohemia 1378-1400) came from Continental European Germanic States like Saxony, Austria, Luxembourg etc. None afterwards ever came from France. Eventually the Western Franks in France lost the use of their of their native Frankish tongue and spoke the Celtic Gallic tongue and absorbed many Gallic customs. The Western Reubenite Franks intermingled and intermarried with the Reubenite Gauls. The name France is derived from the Franks. The other Franks kept their Germanic speech. The divisions between the French Reubenite Franks and the Dedanite Franks of Germany became permanent.

In 987 the French nobles rejected the rightful Carolingian claimant to the French crown and gave the crown to Hugh Capet, the Duke of France who founded the Capetian dynasty. Later the Capetian kings made Paris the capital of France. This is significant because there is a parallel between Reuben’s history and the story of Paris the Trojan. When Troy was said to be a powerful kingdom in ancient Asia Minor, Paris a Trojan prince took Helen the wife of Menelaus the king of Sparta away from Greece to Troy. Paris committed fornication with Helen Menelaus’s wife. This was a disgraceful thing. Just as Paris fornicated with someone else’s wife and Troy was later destroyed Reuben fornicated with his father’s concubine and lost his birthright. Later there were also other dynasties. The kingdom of France through the centuries waxed and waned a number of times. Through the centuries there was quite a bit of contention between France and England. After Reuben lost his birthright, the descendants of Reuben became jealous of the descendants of Joseph who received the birthright in Reuben’s place.

From about 1690 to 1760 there was hostile rivalry between France and Britain over who would colonise and control North America. From 1690 to 1760 Great Britain and France fought each other many times in Eastern Canada. In 1759 Quebec surrendered to the British. In 1760 the British captured Montreal. By the treaty of Paris, France ceded North America to Great Britain in 1763. Because God gave the birthright to the sons of Joseph Great Britain rather than France became the pre-eminent Israelite colonial power.

The French revolution began in 1789 and lasted until 1799. Many people lost their lives during this blood thirsty revolution. During the revolution the French National Assembly made the declaration of the rights of Man. This is summarised by the popular slogan Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood. From the ideals of the French revolution came the godless ideals of secular humanism. Before the French revolution there was at least a widespread vague general belief in God. But after the revolution the ideals of humanism and godless philosophies became widespread. The French revolution was the forerunner of the even more blood thirsty communist revolution.

Reuben has a number of symbols. On an Israeli postage stamp the symbol of Reuben was a mandrake flower (p340 Davidy) (comp Gen 30:14-18). The Mandrake flower was known to be either purple or white. This flower may have been what was behind the use of the fleur de lis (white lily) symbol by the French monarchy in the past. In the book of Numbers the tribes of Israel were divided into four camps. The first camp was the camp of Judah in the east which included the tribes of Judah, Zebulon and Issachar. The symbol of this camp was the lion. The second camp was the camp of Reuben in the south which included the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad. The symbol of this camp was a man. The third camp was the camp of Ephraim in the west which included the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. The symbol of this camp was the bull/calf. The fourth camp was the camp of Dan in the north which included the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali. The symbol of this camp was the eagle (Num 2:1-34, Ez 1:10, 10:14, Rev 4:6-9). The 4 camps have reference to the distribution and location of the tribes of Israel in Europe. The camp of Reuben refers to modern France dominated by the tribe of Reuben. The standard for the camp of Reuben (France) is a man or a man’s face. Reuben means see a son. Reuben’s man standard is strongly liked to the humanism (manism) that came out of the French revolution. Humanism is the worship of man and of man’s capabilities instead of God. The man standard of Reuben is also heavily linked to the revolutionary declaration of the rights of man. The Godless ideals of the French revolution have had a very strong influence on world history and have spread to many nations.

After the French revolution, Napolean became the dictator of France. In !801 Napolean was formally crowned as the emperor by the Pope. This came about after Napolean had restored some of the privileges of the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the changes that came out of the French revolution were formalised by the Code of Napolean which became the basis of modern France’s legal system. As is well known much of Continental Europe was conquered by Napolean including the Germanic states. At this point Reuben was at the peak of his power. Nevertheless this was not to last. As far as God is concerned Ephraim is his firstborn not Reuben. A coalition of the four major powers Great Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1815 put an end to Napoleon’s imperialistic dreams once and for all. The British forces were particularly prominent in defeating Napolean in the battle of Waterloo in 1815. After this time France was never to become pre-eminent ever again. France (Reuben) will never ever become pre-eminent again. From this time the descendants of Joseph (England, North America etc) exercised the pre-eminence of the birthright blessing among the 12 tribes of Israel. Just as Reuben was told that he would lose his pre-eminence after he had begotten his four sons and had become advanced in years, France lost her pre-eminence after she had begotten some of her spiritual sons during the French revolution and became advanced in years (many centuries old). France is jealous of the English speaking world’s birthright blessing. The French want this birthright for themselves. English is the most important language in the world today. Many Reubenite French would love to see the French language displace English from it’s world dominance. After World War II France was jealous of America’s pre-eminence. France displayed her bitter jealousy when she withdrew from the military structure of NATO in 1966.

Instead of making the fostering of further links with the other Israelite European powers her priority, France is making her partnership with Germany her priority. This is very foolish. Just as iron does not mix with brittle baked clay the German-French partnership shall not last in Europe (see Daniel 2:42, 43). In the last days French will even take a lead in the future Yankee go home movement in Europe. France’s jealous anti American attitude will be instrumental in getting US troops sent home from Europe. This will hasten the rise of an anti God United States of Europe. France will pay dearly for her sins. I believe that in future Germany shall be involved in smashing brittle baked clay France with instruments of iron (comp II Kings 8:7-15; 10:32, 33; Amos 1:3). Just as Bismarck the German chancellor was called the iron chancellor in the 19th century, a German iron chancellor shall arise who shall oppress France. Bismarck the iron chancellor quickly defeated France in 1871. Adolf Hitler quickly defeated France in 1940. Hitler thought that the humiliation of France was one of the greatest moments of his life. Hitler even danced in jubilation. O France O France why do you pursue such stupid policies? Don’t you know that these policies will lead you to ruin? You must except that the birthright was given to the sons of Joseph. Repent from your sins and turn to God. Co-operate with the Jews and the English speaking world. Then God would bless you bountifully. Otherwise there will be terrifyingly devastating judgement.

God through Jacob said to Reuben “thou shall not excel”. The Hebrew behind this phrase can also be translated as “thou shall not remain”. France shall be just nothing. Reuben shall be in dire straights. Moses prayed “Let Reuben live, and not die and let his men be few” (Deut 33:6 KJV amended). Reuben as a people shall be in danger of being wiped out in the last days. God got Moses to pray the above prayer so that Reuben would not be wiped out and that atleast a small remnant shall survive. The Terrifying beast of Daniel 7 with bronze claws and large iron teeth shall rip Reuben to shreds. The human little horn shall uproot three of the ten horns on the head of the beast and make them low (Daniel 7:8, 24). Who will these three people be? The precedents have been set in 1) II Kings 16:5-9, 2) 1 Chron 5:6 and 3) II Kings 17:1-4. I believe that the future beast dictator shall uproot the ruler of Reuben (France) by the roots and make him low. He will be the second of the three horns to be uprooted. Sometimes some ancient Assyrian kings talked about how they uprooted people and sent them into captivity. Israelites of Europe! be warned ! The terrifying Assyrian beast shall bring back the ancient practice of ripping people up by the roots and deporting them into captivity. Many Reubenites shall die. Others shall be deported. Some will survive as a small remnant.

So why is France pursuing a partnership with Germany in Europe? Why does France pursue a policy of military strength in Europe? France is a proud nation with a proud history. She likes to have power and prestige on the world stage. She was deeply wounded and humiliated in 1871 when Prussia quickly crushed France and imposed on her a large indemnity. Her pride and feelings were so hurt that she wanted revenge against Germany at all costs. After Germany was defeated in World War I France got her revenge when she got harsh treaty terms imposed on Germany. In 1940 Nazi Germany quickly defeated France. France was humiliated again. After World War II France was determined at all costs to be strong and never be humiliated again. In late 1995 and early 1996 France did a number of nuclear tests in the south Pacific which have provoked outrage in a number of nations worldwide. Behind the French nuclear testing program is the subconscious determination that France must be strong at all costs; that she shall never be humiliated again like in 1871 and 1940. At the moment France is one of the most heavily armed nations in Western Europe.

The French partnership with Germany is a throw back to the Charlemagne era when Charlemagne ruled both the French and the German lands in Europe; when the Franks of France were one with the Franks in Germany. The French people are fond of looking back to the past. After World War II France had two alternatives; one to pursue links with Britain, the US and other Israelite countries and two to pursue links with the continental powers including Germany. She pursued the second option because Reuben’s friction with Joseph over the birthright is more deep rooted than France’s humiliation at the hands of Germany. Reuben’s friction with Joseph over the birthright has lasted for thousands of years. Reuben has more bitterness at losing his birthright than he had when he was defeated and humiliated by Germany. At one time France even tried to stop Britain from joining the European Common market.

France is pursuing a partnership from a position of military strength. Germany may have superior economic might but at the moment France has the military strength. Jasques Delors the previous French president of the European Commission got the Maastricht treaty approved by the member nations of the European Union which stipulates European economic integration including a timetable for the adoption of a single European currency. Many French think that if Germany gets fully integrated into a united Europe and loses much of her national sovereignty in the process, Germany will no longer pose a threat to France. But things will not turn out as she would wish. For one thing I do not believe that the French proposal for a single currency will succeed. I believe that only the beast’s proposal for a single currency will succeed. Already there are doubts whether many Western European nations will satisfy the strict economic criteria for a single currency. There are signs of cracks in the Franco-German relationship. There were many German people who did not like French nuclear testing in the pacific. For France to make the single currency deadline she must drastically cut her deficit and keep the French franc stable against the stable Deutsch mark. In December 1995 many tens of thousands of French citizen’s protested by strikes and street marches against the proposed cuts in France’s spending. After turbulent massive strikes of over two weeks long the government was forced to come up with a compromise solution to France’s deficit problem. If France is unable to reign in her large fiscal deficits she will not be able to qualify for the French Maastricht treaty program for a single European currency.

France may be militarily strong now but this shall not continue to be the case. France and Germany will split and go their separate ways. France will experience massive economic decline. Islamic terrorists will cause havoc in France. There will come a time when France will be forced to cut back on her military spending. French leaders shall arise who will emphasize social spending over military spending. European alliance agreements will compromise French security. After a great economic downturn France will end up being in a similar mood as she was in, just after the Great Depression just prior to World War II.

Just before World War II France had a fearful fortress mentality. The meaning of the name Hezron Reuben’s third son is “enclosure, enclosed court, surrounded by a wall”. France has always had strong protectionist tendencies. She likes to have tariff barriers. French stubbornness at free trade and tariff GATT talks has often been a sticking point. Just before World War II there were fatal divisions among French politicians which only added to the lack of French morale at the time. Sometimes there was even paralysis in government decision making. The building of the Maginot line to protect France is a testimony to the French fortress mentality of that time. Before World War II the Maginot line was only mostly completed. There were areas not covered by the Maginot line. During World War II the Germans were able to quickly invade and defeat France by going through areas not covered by the Maginot line.

Because Reuben is as turbulent and unstable as the waters, turbulent internal events will make France nearly impossible to govern. There will be many massive outpourings of internal dissent amongst the French population. Reuben’s turbulence shall be one of his worst enemies.

When Deborah and Barak were leading Israelite soldiers against the Canaanite oppressors oppressing Israel the tribe of Reuben rendered no assistance. The song of Deborah and Barak says “For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the folds? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart” (Judges 5:15b, 16). Just before World War II the French people were divided. While Hitler invaded the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland one after the other, there were great searchings of heart in France but no action. From France there was no action until it was too late. And it shall be so again. In future France shall be divided and have great searchings of heart but no decisive action. France shall be paralysed from within. France’s enemies shall know this and take advantage of it. When Hitler invaded Austria etc he knew that France would do nothing. As to exactely how France shall be broken by judgement, time will tell.

It is possible to understand each of Reuben’s sons as a period in Reuben’s history. Hanoch Reuben’s 1st son mean initiated or educated. In the 5th and 6th centuries AD the Reubenite Franks became converts to the Roman Catholic religion. The Franks were initiated and educated in Roman Catholicism. Clovis I (496 AD-) and other later Frankish kings became champions of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pallu Reuben’s 2nd son means separated and distinguished. After Charlemagne the Reubenite Franks through linguistic and other differences were separated from the Dedanite German Franks. Later France became a distinguished exalted Reubenite nation in Europe. She was at the peak of her influence during the Napoleanic era.

Hezron Reuben’s 3rd son means enclosure, enclosed court, enclosed by a wall. The Pallu era finished about 1871 after the fall of Napolean III. Later France was dominated by a Defensive mentality one way or other. Her security concerns dominated her thinking. At the moment France is in the Hezron protectionist era. During this era her enemies will perceive her unwillingness to act and exploit it. France shall be broken from within and without.

Carmi Reuben’s fourth and last son means vinedresser. This refers to a period when Reuben receives his lot with the other eleven tribes in the future Millennial kingdom of Israel in the Middle East. At that time the Messiah shall rule the earth with a rod of iron and peace shall prevail. Reuben will be able to enjoy the fruit of his labours in peace. There will be no more crying or tears. Reuben shall be redeemed.