I do not know for sure if this Biblical passage is related, but I think it a excellent possibility. Judges 9: 8-15 is the parable of the trees. It seems to be an end time parable of the nations. (I think it is specifically speaking to the leaders of the nations.)

Vs 15, " And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon."

Matthew 7:15-20 gives us a closer look at how the thorns and thistles (tares associated with the bush) are likened to false prophets which come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Good trees bring forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Vs 19, "Every tree that bring not forth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." Vs 20, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

If anyone still has any doubts about the bush, turn to Job 30:1-10. Job is speaking as a righteous and good man surrounded by evil men. It is a passage in which Job speaks to the children of fathers his age which he would have disdained. Note (KJV) particularly verses 4 & 7-8 that vile, base men dwell in the bushes (note plural). Job says of these children that they abhor him and spare not to spit in his face. He laments that he has become their song, their byword. (I would think this has great application to the Christian people in both the US and world today....and it will get worse. These vile, base children are our political and other leaders.)

I do believe this is why the bush is a sign of the rapture, i.e. the division or separation, even from the time of Moses when the angel's appearance as a flame in the bush set in motion the deliverance of the Israelite children from bondage. (Note: it was the fact that the flame did not harm the bush which caught Moses' attention, Exodus 3:2-3)

In Deuteronomy 33, we see Moses' blessing to the tribes of Israel. Moses takes the blessing of Jacob on the tribes (Genesis 49) and further expounds upon it. (Note: Genesis 49:1 says these blessings are for the last days, therefore so was Moses' blessing.)

In Deuteronomy 33:16, we see the bush is found in the house of end time Joseph. It mentions the blessing falling to him of goodwill that dwelt in the bush. Then it mentions the blessing which shall fall on the head of Joseph because he lived separate. Go back to Jacob's blessing on Joseph in Genesis 49: 26 and we see that Joseph is to wear a crown on his head because he lived separate.

Jesus commands his followers to live separate. Those who do will receive a crown. We see Joseph's coat of many colors around the throne as the bride in Revelations 5:9 and as the tribulation saints in Revelations 7:9. This coat is their make-up, i.e. those redeemed of every kindred, tongue, people and nation. The fruitful part of Joseph's blessing is not just agricultural, but more so spiritual. Joseph's blessing to the gentile nations was not just economic, but spiritual. The gospel began in the house of Judah, but it was carried to the gentile world through Joseph and others of the lost tribes (Matthew 10:6 & 15:24).

Back to Deuteronomy 33:16. Him of goodwill that dwelt in the bush and is then separated and given a crown is the bride at the point of the rapture. This is the parable of the good seed and tares in Matthew 13: 24-30 & 37-50. The enemy sowed the tares in the field with the good seed that the Son of man sowed. Jesus says to let them grow up together, lest we accidentally hew down some of the good. At harvest time, the good seed will be separated into the barn and the tares (includes the bush, thorns etc) will be bundled together and thrown in the fire. (Note: this time the flame will consume the bush/tares.)

I just cannot see how the Lord could have painted a more clear picture to alert His children. Along with the Fig tree sign, He points to Ephraim, the most dominant commercial, military, agricultural and spiritual (but falling away) nation in the world. He gives us two bush presidents and tells us the Secrets of Wisdom are double to that which is (Job 11:6). He gives us the deaths of Joseph and Joshua (an Ephraimite) at 110 to coincide with our 110th Congress (which happens to coincide with Bush # 2, second term). On top of all that He gives us the 400 year blessing which ends this May at the 401st stripe. All of this falls exactly to the time of the sign of the Fig Tree + 40 which ends at the 41st stripe this June.

For any who wish a further look/study: I will write more on the subject of the house of Joseph later, examining several passages which speak to Ephraim's demise and final destruction. This is just a little overview for those who would like to examine what happens to Ephraim after the blessing ends. Ephraim will enter a 7 year period of cursing which steadily increases. It is designed to bring repentance. If Ephraim does not repent during these 7 years, she will be suddenly and utterly destroyed by fire. Ephraim will not repent. The rapture of the bride and the final death and resurrection of the tribulation saints bracket this 7 year period.

Beginning the same time, the seals of Revelations will open. This is separate from the curse though related. It is a different count as well. The seals are a period of 10.5 years divided into 3 sets of 3.5 years. The two beasts reign the last 7 years beginning at the end of the 4th seal, following the 4th horse (Rev 6:8). It too is a series of steadily increasing stresses. These fall on the world, but Ephraim is a major player in the world events. Ephraim will taste the sting of both. Ephraim is said to be drunk with pride. God hates the pride of man. Pride goes before destruction. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, was abased 7 years because of pride (Daniel 4: 30-31 & 37). We can see his foreshadow to prideful Ephraim in that he grew hair as eagle's feathers and nails as eagle's claws (Daniel 4:33).

In Leviticus 26 we see God's laws of blessing and cursing. These were specifically for the Israelite Hebrew children, the tribes of Jacob. For those who are blessed and fall away and keep not God's commandments they shall enter a period of cursing. (It is applicable for individuals and nations/tribes). The cursing is a series of afflictions meant to bring repentance. If one will not repent they will be cursed up to 7 times. This is both a multiple and a specific number of years. (See Daniel 4: 16,23 & 32 concerning Nebuchadnezzar's 7 year abasement. See also Daniel 12:7, times, time and half a time is 3.5 years).

The rapture of the bride will be this spring, coinciding with the 41st stripe of the Fig Tree sign and as well with the 401st stripe of the blessing which fell to Joseph (specifically Ephraim). Ephraim has fallen away from God and will enter a 7 year period of cursing. The opening of this period coincides with the opening of the seals of Revelations, but these are two different things with two different sets of counts. They are related because of Ephraim's role in pushing the peoples of the world together (Deut 33:17) and in the agreement/covenant with Death and Hell (Isaiah 28:15 & 18), but they are separate things. The blessing and cursing is designed for the children (tribes) of Jacob. The seals of Revelations are for the whole world. Ephraim will get a taste of both.

After the rapture of the bride, Ephraim will be known to God as the cursed commercial Babylon (also called the daughter of Babylon). The curse is a steadily increasing series of events, much as are the seals of Revelations. They increase each time the nation fails to repent. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, Ephraim will not repent. Nebuchadnezzar repented and recognized the authority of God. He was restored.

There are several Biblical passages which gives the picture of Ephraim as a great commercial power in the midst of the seas (plural) and/or located in great waters, but I will speak to these later. Also there are passages which speak to this escalating curse. It seems to speak of 3 major catastrophes, each progressively worse. The curse is double, then double to the double and then doubled again. In another the Lord says I brandish the sword, I double it a second time and then double a third time. After all, Ephraim got a double blessing, a double curse is appropriate. At the end of 7 years, if Ephraim does not repent, Leviticus 26 requires she be suddenly and utterly destroyed by fire. Numerous scriptures testify to this fiery destruction, even in one hour's time.

Here I will show you two passages in which the rapture of the bride and the final death and resurrection of the tribulation saints are seen to clearly bracket this 7 year curse period. Examine Revelations 18, the destruction of commercial Babylon. The rapture is clearly seen in vs 4, the curse in vs 6 and finally the death and resurrection (departure) of the tribulation saints in vs 23. Examine Isaiah 28, which speaks directly to last days Ephraim, drunk with pride (as was Nebuchadnezzar). You will clearly see the rapture of the bride in vs 4 & 5 and the bride and tribulation saints gathered into their appropriate places in the barn/ark/heaven in vs 25. (Note vs 4 in both passages pointing to the rapture of the bride. Remember day 4, it's relationship with dividing & right to rule.) We rule over the people of Jerusalem in vs 14 and are in agreement with the covenant of Death and Hell in vs 15 & 18 (same covenant as Daniel 9:27 concerning the disputed lands of Judah/Israel in which the antichrist (Death) confirms a 7 year false peace treaty.

The confirming of this false peace treaty (covenant with Death and Hell) by the antichrist with many ensures the give away of the disputed lands of Judah/Israel and also the dividing of the city of Jerusalem into sectors for the 3 faiths (Jewish, Muslim & Christian). Ephraim is said to be in agreement with this in the Isaiah passage and in other passages we are noted to say to Judah/Israel, Peace, Peace when there is no Peace. We are a power ruling over the peoples of Jerusalem (Isaiah 28:14). This confirming of the 7 year false peace treaty by the antichrist takes place at the midpoint of the 7 year curse (fall of 2011). Look at the name Jer - usa - lem. We are behind it's division. My bet would be Ephraim can expect a rebuke from the Lord near this time. I would expect the land of Ephraim to also be divided by the hand of God. Maybe Yellowstone explodes with fault lines running NW & SW. Maybe the great earthquake fault lines in SE Missouri come back to life and split the US from the gulf to the great lakes. Just a guess.

Ephraim's sudden and utter fiery destruction follows shortly after the 7 years of curse. It happens shortly after Satan is thrown from heaven, comes down and embodies the false prophet (Second Beast). He is called Hell, because he ascends from the bottomless pit. He takes over from the First Beast (antichrist). This would be in the spring of 2015 at the transition point from the end of second 3.5 years of the seals and the beginning of the final 3.5 years. It is at the end of the 4th trumpet. When the Second Beast takes over, he kills the two witnesses (Rev 11:7). When they are resurrected after 3.5 days, they ascend with the tribulation saints (Rev 11:12). Then the Second Beast subdues (makes fall) 3 kings/horns (Daniel 7:20 & 24). This would be about the time as the sudden destruction prophecy concerning Ephraim. I do believe they may be the same event. It likely concerns the North American Union (NAU) and maybe some other allies. This would seem to be in the summer or fall of 2015.

This fiery destruction upon Ephraim will result in 1/3 killed by fire and brimstone, 1/3 by famine and pestilence and finally 1/3 (remnant) carried away (captives) into foreign lands. I suppose there is a UN rescue, salvage and pilferage effort. This surviving remnant will be scattered among the nations for the remainder of the last 3.5 year period until Jesus returns. They will then be gathered and restored into the Promised Land along with the remnant of all the 12 tribes. The 144,000 mortal men sealed in Rev 7:2-8 and hidden in the wilderness (Rev 12:6) will be the mortal government leaders of these 12 tribes.

Isaiah, Ezekial and Jeremiah are loaded with passages concerning end time Ephraim. So is Hosea and Amos. Micah 5 beginning in vs 5 is Ephraim and Manasseh (Remnant of Jacob) beginning at Desert Storm. We will examine some of these later.