The details are undisputed. . . . .

• Colonel Rall was the commander of one of the German brigades that fought along with the British during the American Revolution.
• Rall’s troops were encamped in Trenton, New Jersey, to defend the line, which included Bordentown, Trenton, Princeton, and Burlington.
• A British loyalist spy arrived at Rall’s headquarters with an urgent message.
• The message was that Washington’s army would cross the Delaware and attack.

It would be Rall’s . . . .

• misreading of a 50-man attack
• false sense of security
• unhealthy disrespect for his enemy

Washington made the gamble against all the odds of success!

He would cross the Delaware and attack.

He would risk his 5,000-man army.

And his decision changed the course of the war!

√ Unknown to Washington, a force of fifty New Jersey militiamen attacked a German outpost, and Colonel Rall misread it as the forewarned impending attack.

√ While the biggest obstacles were the weather and the ice-choked Delaware River, that was also one of Washington’s greatest advantages. Washington, with all of his 5,000 men, could not cross the Delaware River — midst the formidable weather conditions in late December? Colonel Rall believed he was secure! [1]

√  Washington was resolute and courageous.

Washington’s plan . . . .

• Colonel John Cadwalader would cross the river south of Trenton.
• General James Ewing would cross across from Trenton to take the Assunpink Creek Bridge cutting off the major line of retreat.
• And Washington would cross 9 miles north of Trenton.

Unknown to Washington, the ice was being pushed northward, stacked up, and created a wall further south, preventing Ewing and Calwalder from crossing.

Only George Washington’s troops made it across!

Washington’s 5,000 men crossed & defeated the 1,200-1,400 Hessian soldiers who unexpectedly rallied to defend the city.

Rall lost the city of Trenton on December 26, 1776
It was the beginning of the end!

Likewise, the Lord’s crossing to Bethlehem was the beginning of the end!
An urgent message has been delivered to all mankind about our Lord’s sure and certain second coming.

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.”

√ Don’t misread what you see happening!  This is not about things falling apart but about things falling in place — “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

√ Remember, strengths can promote a false confidence in ourselves and in others. Overconfidence can cause us to ignore and/or dismiss what truly lies ahead — “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

√ Never forget that we are not God. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

It might be wise to take the time to read about that day!

— Revelation 11:15 —

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1 -Both sides realized that the snow-dampening weather would make much of the gunpowder unusable. The bayonet would be the weapon of choice.

Washington: “Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton.”

Rall: “Let them come. We will go at them with the bayonet.”

2 -Thomas Paine attempted to encourage the troops during such terrible conditions by sending these words . . . . .

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

3. Independence Day  — the Fourth of July – commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.