I want to begin by saying that I do not relish having to write what I am about to write – but feel that we need to be warned and aware of what is possibly lurking around the corner for our nation.  Please read all of this post – because there is a message of hope and encouragement at the end of it. 

In my mind’s eye I am watching a horrific scene – one that terrifies me the more I watch it.  The scene is of a small child who is dancing along with mincing steps along an unguarded precipice that if stepped over will mean certain death for the child.  The child, for his part, is totally unaware of what is going on around him.  He is completely ignorant of what just a few steps can bring about for him and for his safety.  But he is oblivious to any warning because he has chosen to turn a deaf ear to anything that is unpleasant to hear.  Therefore he continues to dance, not grasping the seriousness of his situation – or the growing danger of stepping off the precipice the next time he draws near to it in his dance of joyous ignorance and bliss.

This is a picture of the United States in March of 2012.  We are that child who is dancing on the precipice of disaster – and yet for the most part are ignorant and oblivious of how much danger we are in at the moment.  Let me address this in a number of ways.

Scenario #1 – Israel, Iran, and Nuclear Hide and Go Seek.

For quite a while our leaders (at least in the White House) have pretty much ignored this growing threat.  Iran IS moving toward a weaponized nuclear program – and it is clear from their own press statements that they intend to use these warheads on Israel soon after getting them.

We’ve danced around actually dealing with this situation to the point where Israel is going to have to act.  I fully expect that some kind of response from Israel will happen before the coming election in November.  When that happens – another blind dance of our leaders will be exposed.  We currently have enough natural resources (and yes, I am referring to evil fossil fuels) to become energy independent.  If we were to act NOW – we could stave off much of what is coming our way – but our leaders continue to stick their heads in the ground.  The fact is that WHEN Israel has to defend themselves, the strait of Hormuz will be closed – war will ensue on oil tankers in the Middle Eastern waterways – and gas and oil exportation will be slowed to a bare minimum.  When this happens – we will wish we could have 4-5 dollar gas prices again.  Instead we will have probably 9-12 dollar gas prices for at least several months.  This will send our economy into an immediate tail-spin of “great depression era” statistical proportions.  We will watch inflation hit our economy to the tune of 15-20 percent almost overnight.  Unfortunately, we may even have situations like the Weimar Republic  had in pre-WWII Germany – where you had to pay for a cup of coffee before they made it – because the price would go up by the time they brought it to you later. 

Unfortunately, I also see riots coming if this happens – as gas lines will return to our society.  There will also be an explosion of gas thefts and robbery at stations nationwide.  We may see gas stations become something akin to Fort Knox with the security that will be required to keep them – and their customers safe.

Scenario #2 – Terrorist Attack and Subsequent Cancelation of the November Elections

I can imagine at this point that many of you think I should be put away – or at least relegated to the trash heap of conspiracy theory mongers.  This particular scenario would involve an attack that is “allowed” by some in our government – whose authority and power is threatened by upcoming elections.  I write this with more than a little fear and trembling – because saying such things can get me in a tremendous amount of trouble.  Yet this is what I see in my heart – and tremble over when I know that history will not be made – but repeated if this happens.

Such an attack – especially if it comes in the Fall of this year (2012) will be used to cancel our elections for the near future.  We will be told that we need to establish order before an election can proceed.  If you are thinking an attack of 9/11 proportions – think again.  The Islamic radicals who are planning such things always seek something MORE spectacular than their last attack.  This one will come close to shutting the nation down because of its intensity – and possible multiple locations. 

You might want to be ready for such a thing especially if the election looks like it is radically turning toward those who respect and honor our constitution.  If our current president is looking like he is going to lose power – I fear that this may even be more likely.  Remember that the Reichstag fire  was used as a ploy to shut down government opposition in Hitler’s day – and was quite effective as an impetus for the current government of that day to strike its enemies as they scapegoated them as responsible for the fire in the first place.

As we see the political discourse turning more vitriolic, we need to see that lines are being drawn – enemies are being named – and hatred is being fueled at multiple levels.  What is truly frightening is how the News Networks are becoming more and more clear of who and what they want out of the upcoming elections.  It is also somewhat disconcerting that conservatives and conservative news organizations are also being targeted for destruction – now by attacking their advertisers – and possibly in the future by attacking their very locations with violence and protest. 

If this happens, the possibility of fair and free elections will be out the window.  By the time order and the opportunity of a free election come around again – much of the opposition will have been removed from the equation.  Our elections will pretty much look like those of any other puppet government in the world.

Scenario #3 – Riots Based on Race, Religion,  and Socio-Economic Lines

This scenario has its genesis in the current political climate in our country.  There are things being said and being reported (or said by commentators) that are pouring gas on the fire of already strained relationships between various polarized groups in America.  The rich are being pitted against the poor.  People of Color and different Nationality are being pitted against each other.  Certain religious views are being openly denigrated and lied about on network news shows – as well as in print.  There are very specific lines that are being drawn on the basis of race, religion, sexual preference, socio-economic views and politics.  These things are being exacerbated more and more by the rhetoric being used  in the lead-up to this election. 

As this reaches a fever pitch – we may watch as election day turns into a day of rioting and rage at polling places.  In the previous election – people were openly intimidated in Philadelphia by those who did not want them to vote against their chosen candidate.  This time – with a greater possibility of their person being defeated – we are going to watch these intimidation tactics turn violent. 

Occupy Wall Street and the shenanigans of some of our Unions have already broken new ground in the erection of political, religious, and socio-economic walls that are seriously dividing us in this nation.  We are dancing around the precipice of serious rioting in the streets – and even more serious violence against those who dare vote against our current administration.  This will not be pretty – but it will be violent – and will be used to intimidate people into compliance with politically correct views of our day.

When this happens – I also fear a backlash from those who are more conservative – if out of nothing more than years of pent-up frustration.  The danger is that such reactions to existing violence will most likely be used to “outlaw” certain views as well as certain groups.  The South and the mid-states of our union will be particularly hit by such reactionary anger to the prevailing tyranny.  This will ultimately be to harden the lines that have tried to be drawn for many years.  Again – races, religions, and classes will be turned upon each other – as they are painted as more extreme and reactionary to others.  I fear that literally thousands will die in these clashes.

OK, Let’s Breathe – and Listen for a Moment for Some Hope

Yes . . . I know . . . either I am crazy – too reactionary – or just plain scary in what I’ve just written.  But I want you to know that there is hope.  What I have written, by the way, is really not too terribly different than what Old Testament prophets wrote to Israel and Judah.  Please understand, though, that I do not for one minute claim to be a prophet in any way shape or form.  If you must know – I write these things for a couple of reasons.  First, because I am a historian.  What we are seeing is nothing terribly new – it is simply a repeat of Biblical history – and the history of the past hundred or more years.  Second, I am a Bible nerd.  What we are seeing is not the fault of Democrats or Republicans - of Obama-care or Liberal politics.  What we are experiencing is not the fault of atheists or pornographers or abortionists.  Dear precious saints - these are symptoms only - they are judgments released upon us for what has happened in the church - long before the world manifested these things.  What we are seeing is the inevitable consequences of a nation that once served God – turning from Him to serve other gods.  When this happens – God removes His hand of blessing and begins to oppose that nation – in hope that the nation (or the church within such a nation) will repent and return to Him. Third, I am a pastor – who loves my congregation, my city, and my nation – and wants to see it return to God in nation-shaking revival – so – that these things DON’T happen in our future.  I know that God is angry with our nation for how we have turned away from Him – from His Word – from His gospel – and from His warnings.  I also know that our God is also MERCIFUL – and if we repent, return, pray, humble ourselves, and cry out for Him to restore our land – He has been faithful to do this – not just in Biblical times – but in something called the first and second great awakening – and the prayer revival of the mid 1850’s! 

Is there hope for us?  YES!  Please read such things I have written prior to this point as a warning from a loving – yet holy God who desires for us to repent of our pride, our immoralities, and our sinful rebellion against His Word – and return to a life of fearing and honoring and obeying Him. 

What can we do therefore to avert such things as these?  Well, first off – I cannot guarantee that these things can be averted completely.  You must remember that we’ve murdered over 40 million innocent babies through abortion.  You must remember that we’ve chosen sexual immorality first with the sexual revolution against God in the 60’s with rampant heterosexual immorality – and then in the 80’s to the present with homosexual immorality as well as a host of other perversions that involve pornography, child sexual abuse, and every kind of perversion imaginable as we’ve thrown God’s Word to the side – not only in the world – but far too often even in the church.

Our hope is in falling to our knees – in repentance and restoration to God – and then in heart-felt intercession for God to move first in revival in the church – and then second, in spiritual awakening of the lost to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation from their sin and the wrath of God that rightfully falls upon unrepentant sinners in the day of judgment.   My concern, if there is a primary one, is that too few see the desperation of our days – and are unwilling to give themselves to extra-ordinary prayer.  This is NOT the time for a few words of perfunctory prayer – it is the time for us to don the proverbial sack-cloth and ashes – and cry out to God with weeping between the porch and the altar of God!    If we will not turn to Him this way – I see little or no hope for our situation.  I will vote in primaries and even in the general election if allowed – but these are not the answer for our current situation.  Even if conservatives win in a landslide – that will NOT be the remedy.  We MUST return to God, crying out for mercy – confessing our sins and the sins of our fathers – calling for God to rescue us – and committing to live afresh under His sovereign Lordship.  That is the ONLY ANSWER for where we are and what is coming.  May He have mercy upon us – may He sovereignly pour out His Spirit upon us – and may we be granted the most wonderful gift called “broken-hearted repentance” as we call upon the ONLY ONE  WHO CAN DELIVER US IN THIS HOUR – OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

OK, I understand that the vast majority of us are pretty much at a point of tuning out anything that has to do with the words, “debt ceiling.”   I know that I am.  Yet what is happening currently is part of what God is doing in our world.  Let me explain a little more by sharing a section of Scripture that I believe will shed a great deal of light on our problems.  It is found in the wildly popular book of Habakkuk.

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.  Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, so that he does not stay at home.  He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied.  He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples.  Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him, even mockery and insinuations against him and say, 'Woe to him who increases what is not his— for how long— and makes himself rich with loans?'  Will not your creditors rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken?  Indeed, you will become plunder for them.  Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you— because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants.  Habakkuk 2:4-8

Here we have Habakkuk warning of problems that are coming to Israel because of choices – moral choices that they have made.  His first warning is not about budgets or spending bills – rather it is a warning against pride and not being right with God.  He warns about those who give themselves to drunkenness – to being out all the time – and to an appetite that never seems to be satisfied, no matter how much he gets.  These sins are at work – and lead to a “woe” statement God makes about them.

Before I proceed to the “WOE” that is given I must comment on what has just been said.  We have those in our government who think our greatest problems are economic.  They fear the debt ceiling, the mounting debt, the lack of jobs, the anemic economy – and see these as the problems.  But to co-opt a phrase that was used several elections ago – changing it for our current scenario, “It’s our morals stupid!”  Now I am not a fan of using the term, “stupid” and have only done so for the point I am about to make.  The core of what God says through Habakkuk has to do with the morals of the people of Israel – not their current economic plans and packages. 

We are going to have to wake up some day (the sooner the better) and grasp that our problems in America are moral ones.  The economy is only a symptom of our malaise.  The real problems have been moral – and have been building since the 1940’s or earlier.  Really our problems have been building since before the turn of the century.  But let me get back to the Habakkuk passage.  The “WOE” that is given here is part of a song that is sung taunting this nation.  The song, believe it or not, is about accumulating too much debt.  The reason the debt is incurred is because the people of that nation want to make themselves rich with their loans.  The problem that is presented is that one day, their debt will no longer  be sustainable.  Then their creditors will rise up suddenly and make their nation plunder.  Then, on the back end of this song, we also learn that another reason God is bringing this down upon them is because they have  filled their own land with violence and bloodshed. 

You see, our problem is not the debt – the debt is only a glaring symptom that is supposed to point us to the disease.  The disease is pride, greed, a lack of self-control, a desire for excess, violence, and bloodshed.  There is one thing I’ve not mentioned – even though it was mentioned in the passage.  That is that they no longer live by their faith.  Their faith is history – and instead their society now lives as a monument to consumption!  The lack of any kind of moral fiber in the nation at large has led to this.  They learned to live for their wants – their desires – and spent every penny they had and did not have to try to fulfill them.  In the end, they were left still wanting – wanting more – and going in debt further to get more.  But there were other problems – which were that they were also shedding blood in the process of living for themselves and their lusts. 

Let me comment very plainly on all this – and how Habakkuk speaks to the United States of America in our current situation.  I know that what I am about to say will really upset some Republicans, fiscal conservatives, and Tea Party members.  It really does not matter what financial plan is decided upon by our government leaders – because God is going to judge our nation for reasons other than an insufficient number of Republicans or Tea Party members in our government.  By its policies and practices the United States of America has embraced grossly immoral positions.  That is what God ultimately is dealing with – and it is those kinds of grossly immoral positions that have led us to the precipice today.

Early this century, our society began to embrace sexual immorality.  The flappers of the 1920’s shocked society – followed by more immorality through the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s – which was mostly hidden from the public.  In the 1960’s what was hidden by one generation was openly embraced by the next.  Their open immorality led to the growing experimentation with homosexuality in the 1970’s.  In the 1980’s this perversion came out of the closet – and began to assert itself so that now – it is pretty much accepted as mainstream – and has even been legislated as normal by a growing number of states.  God, sees such things this way – sex outside of marriage is fornication.  Sex outside of marriage vows is adultery.  Sex with the same sex is an abomination.  What is truly sad is that these issues really aren’t even being debated much any more.  The mainstream political agenda has left such things behind – and has decided that moral conservatism has run its course – lost – and has been left on the ash-heap of political discourse.  God, on the other hand, has not changed His views – and is going to bring us under judgment for such things.

In 1973 the infamous Roe v. Wade decision was made – and it became open season on unborn babies.  Since that “Hitleresque” decision we’ve killed over 40 million babies.  I say Hitleresque, because we’ve actually dwarfed that man’s genocide by over tripling the number of deaths we’re guilty of as a nation.  Hitler did not do his genocide openly – but tried to hide it.  Ours is done openly – legally – and at quite a profit to those who run the abortion clinics.  But God sees it as the spilling of innocent blood.  He sees it as violence of the worst order.  We cringe at Hitler’s ovens, showers, and mass graves – yet we continue to burn babies alive in their mother’s wombs, chop them to pieces  and vacuum them out, or just let them grow to full term and execute them by sucking their brains out of their heads.  Yes, I know what I just wrote is shocking – and many in the Christian community may even criticize me for writing it.  Problem is – they will not speak with the same passion about stopping it! 

I will make a prediction for our country.  I hate to make it – because I love the United States of America.  But unless we turn morally – it matters little what is done about the debt ceiling or the debt.  Our problem is that we’ve left God as a nation.  We are arrogant and do not grieve over sin.  We don’t pray.  We don’t weep over the wound of our people – a wound that may be incurable.  We debate what GOP Senators and Representatives should be on the “super-congress,” horrified about whether they will support higher taxes or not.  What we should debate is how to get the anemic church of God on her knees to avert judgment that is coming because of the millions of gallons of innocent blood that have been spilled on our land.  How can we get ourselves first, then the true church in America to repent and fall on her knees?  That is the ONLY issue that matters in this hour.  God’s discipline for our nation has far more to do with a sinful church, a moral bankruptcy, and a lack of any spiritual urgency than it does any kind of debt or deficit deal.  If you want to know the truth – God is far more concerned with a brokenness deficit among his people – than any monetary deficit in Washington.  Until we are moved to action and concern about that issue – it matters little what we do about any other. 

Recently while in Sudan teaching I came across a couple of verses in Habakkuk that arrested my attention.  This, along with several things that happened while overseas, has brought me to the place where I want to write about what is soon coming to a nation near you.  What is coming soon to the United States is a complete meltdown of our entire financial system.

Habakkuk 2:6-7 "Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him, Even mockery and insinuations against him and say, 'Woe to him who increases what is not his— For how long— And makes himself rich with loans?  Will not your creditors rise up suddenly, and those who collect from you awaken? Indeed, you will become plunder for them.“

These are the two verses I read while in Sudan, and immediately the Lord nudged me in my spirit and gave me a sense that these were going to come upon the United States very soon.  Unfortunately I do not have an exact time table for what very soon means – but if history is any indicator – it would be my guess that we have less than 2-3 years until this happens (and I would not be shocked if this happens before the end of this year). 

Let me explain first biblically, and then with a reference to history.  First we turn to Habakkuk and the warning that he offers to where God’s people were then – and honestly, where we are now.  God told Habakkuk to stand and watch for the vision He gave him.  That vision included a rebuke for their drunkenness – and the lack of self control it brought about in them.  They were focused as a consumer culture – and part of that consumer mentality was to become “rich” by the use of loans.  God rebuked them for this and told them though a person may look rich by becoming rich with loans, the question one should ask is, “For how long?”  The problem with becoming rich through debt is that it is an illusory wealth that you have.  The ones who are truly rich are your creditors – the ones to whom you owe the money.  These people are collecting interest from you – and what you thought cost only $100 – is costing you far more.  In the end, if you cannot pay your debt, your creditors will, “rise up suddenly” and “You will become plunder for them.”  You don’t actually own anything – they own you.    For God’s people during the time of Habakkuk, this was a huge problem – for they were blind to what was about to happen to them.  But whether they were blind or not, this was going to happen.

Our country is over 14 trillion dollars in debt.  We’ve decided to become rich through loans – but the time is quickly coming upon us where we will have to pay for our illusory wealth – and it is going to cost us dearly.  The past two times we’ve heard reports from the FED, they have told us that everything is fine – as they are “monetizing” our debt.  What this means is rather than paying the debt and tightening our belts as Americans, our foolish leaders have decided to print money at rates that are alarming.  This is destroying the stability of the United States dollar.  This has led to a meeting that has never happened before in modern history.  Recently, all the major economic players in the world met together – and did NOT invite the United States to the meeting.  What they discussed at the meeting is that they are strongly working toward removing the dollar as the world currency of choice.

Recently, while in Amsterdam, I experienced what is happening in our world first hand.  The businesses in that city were very forthright in telling me that they did not accept U.S. dollars.  I had to trade them in for Euros.  What was even more shocking to my sensibilities was that there were only two places where you can still do this – the Forex booth at Central Station – and at the Central Post Office in Amsterdam.  This did not match what I had been told even as late as March of 2011.  But the reason for this is because the monetizing of our debt is destroying the value of the dollar. 

Now for the history lesson.  Prior to WWII, the German Weimar Republic also decided that the way to deal with their debt problems was to print money.  This quickly destabilized their paper money – and it led to a devaluation of their money – and to a meteoric rise in interest rates.  Before long it almost took an entire wheelbarrow filled with money to buy a loaf of bread.  Today, when I share this with people they scoff and think that this was long ago.  Such things cannot happen today.

In 1967 the Labour Party in Great Britain decided to lead their country in a decided socialist direction.  In order to pay their bills (as they gave away everything to everyone) they decided to devalue the British currency by 14% overnight.  The result was that everything suddenly became much more expensive.  In the late 1970’s this situation led to what had been called the “Winter of Discontent.”  During this time things got so bad that there were strikes among numerous workers and at one point hospitals were reduced to accepting emergency patients only.  Also they saw inflation explode 26.9% in one year!  In 1974 businesses and homes were forced into a “three day week” where electricity was given for only three days, broadcasting on television was shut down at 10:30 p.m. each night – and there were constant shortages of food – and even candles as people struggled to live.  This same kind of situation has happened recently in Yugoslavia and most recently in Greece. 

The truly frightening thing that I see right now is that there are currently 46 states in the United States who are nearing bankruptcy.  This has led to Arizona selling most of their public buildings – and California to release almost 11% of their prison population because they cannot afford to keep them in jail any longer.  Another interesting development is that in parts of Massachusetts they are no longer accepting U.S. dollars to pay for goods any longer.  They are asking for Euros instead.  There are reports that in Texas some stores are preferring Mexican Pesos to American dollars for payment.  Since the U.S. dollar has devalued 11% in 2010, the world is seeing the writing on the wall – and is planning to abandon the U.S. dollar. 

Here is the prophecy part of all this.  What Habakkuk saw IS going to happen in the United States.  Soon we are going to see inflation and the devaluing of our dollar run completely rampant.  Commodities are going to skyrocket in price to where we will hardly recognize prices at our grocery stores.  The price of gasoline  will most likely shoot up to European prices (around 6-7 dollars per gallon).  We will watch unemployment reach record levels very soon.  All this is happening for two reasons – first we are not following God’s principles when it comes to debt and how we manage the money God has given to us.  The second reason is that God in His sovereignty is working through this disobedience toward His eventual end – which I believe Scripturally will involve a financial collapse – and a subsequent one world financial system not involving countries having individual currencies. 

So what do we do about this?  First, we read and follow God’s Word when it comes to our financial dealings and practices.  Study the book of Proverbs to understand more about wisely handling the money God gives you.  Turn from this world’s view of money, and adopt God’s instead.  Second, realize that no matter what you do, that some aspects of the financial meltdown are inevitable.  God is moving toward His ultimate goal of bringing down the pride of man and exalting Christ alone in the end.  Don’t take a fatalist view of things – do what you can – but also don’t think you will be able to escape what happens in this world unscathed as God moves toward His future works.

     Today is the day that I begin to study for the prophecy update.  It usually takes about a month to prepare for the teaching on the first Sunday of the new year.  This year should prove to be very interesting.  I find myself not only drawn to thoughts of how prophecy may be coming together with the events of this past year - but also with a question that many have asked over the years.  That question is where the United States of America fits into the scenarios of the Bible concerning the return of Christ.  

     Some have endeavored to "find" scripture passages that would support the United States being a player in the end times scenario - but in all honesty - I do not concur.  The passages people pull out of Scripture are just that - passages usually pulled out of context.  The fact is that over 18 years of studying and preparing for these prophecy updates - I've yet to see one clear reference to the United States anywhere in the prophetic scenario.  What I do see is a focus on Israel, on a revived Roman empire which most likely will involve a European superstate, and on what seems to be references that fit China being a player in the very last day's scenario.  These nation-states are not too difficult to discern from the texts we have - but as for any kind of reference to America - that would involve some pretty serious theological and textual gymnastics.

     I say all this to point out that this year, I want to spend a little time dealing with that very question as to whether the United States is anywhere in the prophetic record.  We will also investigate what that may possibly mean to us - and what is happening to our nation under the three most recent administrations that have governed the U.S. - with an emphasis on what has happened over the past 2 years. 

     Once again, I truly look forward to this time of intense study - and the opporutnity that this precious fellowship affords to me to be able to present this material every year.  I realize that to some this is the annual "scare the living daylights out of the saints" message.  But please know that my heart is never just to freak people out - but rather prepare our hearts for the eventual return of our Lord.  He is coming - and part of the reality of that fact is knowing that your hope should not be in this world and the things of this world.  Until then, may God bless you . . . and Maranatha!

pJ