Recently, we’ve seen a rise of movements in Egypt, Libya, and several other countries in the Middle East where moderate Muslim governments are being overthrown by public protests. It is interesting to me that whereas our government supported the overthrow of these moderate Muslim leaders – they have said little or nothing about protesters who are seeking to deal with oppression from radical Muslim leaders like Ahmadinajad in Iran or Assad in Syria. This is because this is not about freedom. It is about a movement to destabilize the governments of the world – and hopefully bring about revolutions that will put even more radical leaders into power.
In Egypt and Libya, countries where their revolutionaries are worthy of full support, we are watching as far more radical governments are coming into power. Even though these two countries were governed by little more than thugs – they were at least the devil we knew. What is rising up in both of these countries now is the Muslim Brotherhood – a group dedicated to the destruction of Israel. They also desire Shar’ia law to be put into place – and – desire a worldwide Muslim Caliphate – where a radical Muslim cleric will rise to power. This will not result in freedom in these countries. It will result in an even more oppressive regime who will use radical Muslim religious views to bring their people under control. We will not see women have greater freedom, but rather greater repression and violence used against them if they will not submit to the Shar’ia law that is put into place as the law of the land. Yet we are seeing all this called, “The Arab Spring” by those in our government who are foolish enough to be taken in by poor understanding (we hope) of what is going on in the Middle East. Let us now turn to the streets of New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Since mid-September there has been a movement to protest against Wall Street and the financial institutions of our country. Due to pitiful news coverage which looks more like promotion of these events – we do not fully grasp the intent of those who are doing this. The purpose behind all this is not to have peaceful protests – but to hopefully begin what they want to be a radical revolution in our nation. Whether we accept it or not – this is part of their stated goals – at least if we believe the words that they are saying at these rallys. They are hoping that these protests grow in size – as well as grow in disturbance to our financial system. The leaders of these protests subscribe to writings that encourage them to first cause problems and violence – for the purpose of enabling those in power presently to quell them and seize power in an absolutist fashion. Their hope is that in the end – just like in Cairo – they will see a rise of protest so great that it will overthrow our current FORM of government. They are hoping in the end to watch President Obama have to respond by seizing power – and preventing the elections next Fall. I know that I am writing some very radical things – but I want to relate this to Biblical prophecy – as this blog seeks to do with everything written here. As a patriot and a red-blooded American – I hate what is happening to my nation. In many ways we are reaping what we have sown – having pursued a national course of promiscuity, ungodliness, and anti-life policies (by this I mean abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia toward the elderly and infirmed prior to and at birth). God is allowing what we see today to bring discipline on His church – and hopefully to get us on our knees praying for revival and spiritual awakening in our land. But there is also another reason this “may” be happening. My eschatology (theological view of end times) sees a time where God is going to pour out astounding judgments on this world system. This is called the “Great Tribulation” and according to passages from Daniel and Revelation will last 7 years. During that period a ruler will rise up who will bring peace to the Middle East between Israel and her Muslim neighbors. This ruler will also be able to bring about a one-world governmental, financial, and religious system as well. He will rule over a 10 nation confederation centered in Europe. He will also eventually bring about a cashless society where a mark will be given whereby people can buy and sell things economically (which lately looks like it may involve a computer chip implanted in either the hand or the forehead). Lastly, he will also eventually require the world to worship him as god. Having read this you may think, “How does all this fit with our current situation?” The things I mentioned above have come from a study of the book of Revelation. But in order for them to happen – the world will have to move from states that embrace their own sovereignty – to a world that cries out for a world leader. The United States has been a very real problem for this development for years. We are a freedom loving people – or at least used to be. We are a people that used to know these things – and would oppose anything that looked like a one-world governmental system. But now, we are watching our own government turn into a socialist experiment. We are watching our freedoms disappear left and right (far more by the left – but often the right is too complicit – at least at the congressional and party level). It seems little can be done to stem the tide. Please realize that I am going to fight these things personally – because I believe freedom is worth fighting for (although not through violent means). BUT – as God moves all things toward His ultimate purpose and plan – we are going to watch a growing cancer throughout the world. This cancer is going to take two forms. The first cancer we will see growing is that of Radical Islam. This cancer will grow because it is the most fertile ground for those who hate Israel and want to see her wiped off the face of the earth. The so-called Arab Spring is more like a moderate winter. The more we watch the “supported” movements rise – the more we will see radicals who hate Israel come to power. In the end – the Biblical narrative where Israel stands alone against enemies who surround her – will come to pass through this first cancer – Radical Islam. The second cancer we will see grow is that of Western Socialism/Collectivism. Europe is falling apart financially faster than the United States. The people of Europe are ready to cede power to anyone who can deliver them from their fast-coming destruction. Sounds like fertile ground for a one-world ruler doesn’t it? The United States is unfortunately following in Europe’s footsteps with increasing speed. If there were to be radical protests and violence that required our current president to rise up and declare marshal law – it would play right into the kind of socialist/collectivist worldview he has put forth for the past 2-3 years. The United States could then easily join a “United States of the World” group and surrender our sovereignty to one who would rise up and be joyfully embraced as the “new” savior of our world! What I fear though is that the devastation of the United States will be far worse that some think. Prophecy does not even recognize a super-power like state in the West. My prediction is that when such events happen – the result will be a severely weakened state that will fall quickly to second or even third world status. The rise of this “new” savior of our world – is synonymous with what the Bible describes as the rise of the Antichrist. He will rule over all of Europe – and will be heralded as a world-saver! He will also eventually set up a cashless financial system – and require all to worship him and the image he sets up for all to worship. What are we to do in such a situation? Actually, I would ask that you consider listening to a message entitled, “Prophetic Inevitability and Personal Responsibility.” This message will help you grasp what to do in light of prophecy that WILL be fulfilled – while not just standing around and allowing evil to prevail in the meantime. God calls us to seek His face – His kingdom and His righteousness no matter what the political situation under which we live. He calls us to love others – even those who hate us – and to share the gospel so that they might be saved. God calls us to pray – to stand in the gap and oppose evil by calling out to Him – and for Him to move upon His people. Too often what Americans want – is a never-ending American state no matter how vile our morals become. We would like to maintain our comfort and our current lifestyle – even if we are not humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways. This is happening SO THAT WE WILL REPENT AND RETURN TO GOD! This is happening SO THAT WE WILL HUMBLE OURSELVES AND PRAY! This is happening SO THAT WE WILL REALIZE THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME! This is happening SO THAT WE WILL JOYEOUSLY AWAIT AND EVEN CRY OUT FOR OUR LORD’S RETURN! I do not desire – nor want to hasten the demise of my beloved country. BUT – if push comes to shove Biblically – this is NOT my country. I am looking for a city whose architect and builder is God Himself. Therefore as I continue to love this country and seek its peace – I will also live in the reality that apart from a widespread revival and spiritual awakening in our land we are headed for very rough and difficult times. And one of the benefits of seeing things this way has been a renewed call to prayer – and a renewed passion in looking to the heavens and crying out, “Maranatha!” Come Lord Jesus!
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What do the events in 1 Kings 12 and a scheduled event for September 17th possibly have in common?
Let me begin with what is scheduled for this coming September 17th in several cities in the United States. On this date there is an event called "The US Day o Rage." The organizers of this event are stating that it is a non-violent protest against the financial institutions of our nation - most notably Wall Street. They claim that they are "fighting a war for the soul of our nation, its people." But there are some very disturbing things about this day and this movement and its luminaries. First is the name of the event. They chose to name their event after an event which took place in Chicago in 1969. The original "Days of Rage" were provoked by a group known as the Weather Underground as they rioted and demonstrated against the "system" for four days. These protests were anything but peaceful. It is also disconcerting to know some of the things being said in conjunction with this event. The purpose for this event is to occupy Wall Street and other areas throughout the entire island of Manhattan. One of their luminaries is Wade Rathke, ACORN founder, who wrote just months ago of an "anti-banking jihad" that needs to be waged against our financial institutions. Stephen Lerner, a SEIU operative recently promised to "bring down the stock market" through a campaign of disruption. Most disturbing is the things that are being said to these protestors about the NYPD. The US Day of Rage website makes it clear that the NYPD will be viewed as the enemy. The site says, ". . . the NYPD has become a counter-intel paramilitary force" which they say prevents people from exercising their right of peaceable assembly in New York City. Considering the recent violent protests that have rocked England, one would not fault leaders in New York for being nervous and for taking proper precautionary measures. The problem is tthat this protest is scheduled also to hig Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Austin, Texas. Going back to how I started this article, how are these events and the history of 1 Kings 12 possibly related? Those of you who read these articles regularly know that I believe that God is trying to get our attention due to our rebellion against Him. As a nation we have left the godly heritage handed down to us by our forefathers. We have chosen to leave the Lord - and His way in this country. In many ways we mirror the nation of Israel as it was in 1 Kings 12. They had left the Lord - preferring their wealth and ungodly lifestyles. Therefore the Lord made it clear that there would be a problem in their country. God would not just allow, but would actually engineer a rebellion that would split the country. God promised that He would only allow Solomon's son to have Judah due to His promises to David. The rest of the nation would be given to another leader - and unfortunately would never have another godly leader again. As one can read in this chapter - God said that this revolt "was from the Lord." Personally, I am horrified that we may once again have a 1960's style revolt by groups within our nation. What is even more disturbing to me are the views of those who will participate in these protests. They support socialist and communist ideologies that will in no way help our country return to the Lord and to a responsible way of living under His Lordship. If history is any reminder to us - these protests will turn violent and will most likely give rise to more like them. It also reminds me that there is not going to be a purely political answer to our problems in the United States. Without a return to moral sanity - without a return to a biblically based morality and godliness - our nation faces very dark, violent, and disturbing days ahead. Now is the time to pray and repent - to return to the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. We need a revival on the scale of their organized protests. The only difference is where their protests want to destroy - ours are on behalf of our Savior Who desires to give life - and life abundantly. 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. Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another's hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance. So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps. Zechariah 14:12-15
While reading through the Bible this year, I recently came upon this passage in Zechariah fourteen – a passage that brings to mind images that are horrific – but that also calls to mind a modern weapon that can actually cause the very thing that God speaks of in this passage. The weapon of which we speak is called the “neutron bomb.” Neutron bombs act on the part of an atom called the neutron. A neutron is a basic component of every atom. In general, for every atom to be a stable element it must have a proton (a positively charged particle) an electron (a negatively charged particle) and a neutron (a neutrally charged element – with no electrical charge whatsoever). Neutrons are a critical building block of every material thing in our entire universe. When these neutrons are clinging to protons in the nucleus of an atom, they are vital to the existence of matter itself. When they are freed from this relationship with a proton, they cause a very deadly form of radiation – in fact it is lethal. The first atomic bombs involved the splitting apart of “heavy atomic nuclei.” When this happens there is a tremendous release of power – thus the massive mushroom-clouded type of explosion results. This was the type of bomb released on Japan at the close of the second world war. The second generation of nuclear bomb is called the “thermonuclear bomb.” This involves a process where hydrogen isotopes are fused together to form even heavier atoms – which when split release almost unbelievable amounts of energy. That is why we are very careful and loathe to release one of these bombs today. The explosion and effect of a thermonuclear bomb makes the first generation of nuclear bombs look like a mere firecracker. When we consider the massive destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a firecracker, we tremble at the destruction one of these second generation bombs could cause. The Neutron bomb is a third generation nuclear device. This bomb is similar to the thermonuclear bomb except that a blanket of heavy U-238 isotopes is removed from it. What this does to the bomb is make it release only a massive number of neutrons combined with gamma radiation at its detonation. When this bomb blows the release of the neutrons are lethal to humans and any other animal life around it. If you are within the radius of a neutron bomb you will be killed almost instantly. If you are within the blast radius what will happen to you is eerily similar to what Zechariah describes in chapter 14 of his prophecy. Any kind of flesh is destroyed by a kind of melting process as all the atoms are destroyed within it. Thus Zechariah’s description of something that rots flesh, eyes, and the tongue are often compared to what happens at the detonation of a neutron bomb. The reason the military would choose one of these bombs is because they are considered to be much “cleaner” than conventional nuclear bombs. A neutron bomb blast will only kill living things. This will leave all the weapons and buildings in the area pretty much intact. If a nation were attacked by a huge army – as Israel will be attacked in the last days – the bomb will kill all the troops, but will leave all their armor and weaponry undamaged. The other important difference is that a neutron bomb will leave no radioactive fallout behind after its detonation. Unlike the first two generations of nuclear weapons, a person is safe walking in the area of the bomb blast immediately after the explosion. Even soldiers who are dug in many feet below the earth will not escape the results of a neutron bomb blast. What is fascinating is that currently only the United States, Israel, and possibly China have this kind of weaponry. That is interesting to the student of prophecy because if attacked by a huge army, Israel may choose to release such a weapon. It would effectively destroy their enemies without causing a massive ecological event that would poison the region for decades. The question though for us is whether God is going to use something like this in the Gog-Magog invasion that is coming – or whether the deliverance in this scenario is simply going to be a plague that comes from the hand of God. To be honest with you I do not have a clue which it will be, since God has worked in both ways in the past testimony of Scripture. At times His judgment and wrath fall through an army that is divinely empowered for victory. At other times He acts apart from any human involvement and brings His power to bear directly on those who oppose Him. What I get from all this is that it is foolish to stand against the apple of God’s eye – the nation of Israel. Scripture very clearly indicates that the nation of Israel will be a major focus in the last days. It also indicates that in the end, all nations will turn against Him and against His people. Yet God will use even this to accomplish His ultimate purposes and plans. Those plans have nothing to do with world domination – and everything to do with bringing salvation to the people of His own choosing. They may have rejected their Messiah at His first coming – but eventually God is going to bring Israel to Himself with the events of these last days. As I read Zechariah fourteen and realized that for the first time in history a human weapon has the capability of doing what is said here – I had another sense that we are indeed living in the last days. May such a realization cause me – and saints, cause all of us to look up, for indeed our redemption is drawing near! I’m on vacation presently – but as I’ve taken the time to keep up with the news I’ve had a sense of destiny in the things that I am reading. Let me explain by making reference to the book of Revelation and the things we see happen in that amazing prophecy of last things.
In the book of Revelation we see some astounding things happening in the world prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Among them is a world leader who arises promising peace, but delivers something far different. We see war on a scale possibly unknown to mankind. We see horrific events involving famine and plague that seem almost out of the realm of possibility. We see a world system of finance that no longer involves a currency or currencies of the nations of the world. All these things seem so far fetched that many have written off Revelation as either a book that is to be interpreted non-literally – or as the rantings of a crazed prophet or worse. Yet, as I read the news I cannot help but watch the stage being set for the return of Jesus Christ. We are watching our own nation on the edge of a financial Armageddon – not because of the debt ceiling debacle in Congress, but because we have $14.2 trillion in debt and actually think that more borrowing is not a bad thing for us. Because of our position in the world as the largest consumer nation, if we fall the world is coming with us. There is such an inter-connectedness in economies in our world today that a failure in the United States will bring down the world with it. But the debt crisis is not just in the United States alone. European countries who have embraced the lies of socialism are coming to their own day of reckoning as their ability to handle a debt explosion are coming upon them. Not only is the U.S. economy going to implode, but Europe’s as well – and they may get there first. Consider the implications of all this. Two of the world’s largest economies are going to implode. With that we will see a collapse of the U. S. farming community as well – because without financial backing, the system we’ve maintained for our farming will fall apart as well. That will bring a lack of food the likes of which the world has not seen in modern times. With it will also come the looming specter of famine as one of the largest producers of food in the world suddenly will be struggling with feeding themselves as economics prevents the growing of food. This coming economic Armageddon will also affect the nation that has done more to promote world health than any other on the planet. That work will come to a grinding halt as the companies that have pioneered much of the innovation and advance of medicine also implode. Medicines that have been readily available will soon find shortages popping up all over the world. With this kind of financial meltdown will also come the inevitable showdowns between nations who are now facing dire choices as the shortages grow. Historically this has led to war between nations – because contrary to biblical truth – wars are primarily not engaged in because of political differences. James tells us that the reason for wars is because we want and we cannot have – so we argue and fight on a local level – but on a geo-political scale such arguments become wars. Now add to this the growing problem of an Islamic radicalism that is wanting world domination and you have a recipe for a worldwide conflagration that is coming soon to a planet near you. Some will read this and commence hand-wringing as they try to figure out how to stop it. But the fact is that you will not be able to stop these kind of events when Christ’s return is imminent. When I look at the things that are happening now – I see two things. First I see that when a world sows to the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Our world has been in rebellion against God since Adam’s fall in the garden. This rebellion seems to be reaching a critical mass in our day. The godlessness in our world only knows one other context historically and biblically – and that is the days prior to Noah and the first destruction of the earth by water. Just as the pre-flood world had to face the consequences for their sin and rebellion, so does ours – and that host of consequences seems to be knocking at our door. The second thing I see is possibly an engineering of all this as God is sovereignly working in our world. Please understand I do not see God as the author of such sin and wickedness. He is not responsible for the sin and rebellion – yet He is still sovereignly working through it toward the ultimate end of His eternal purposes. That eternal purpose has as its goal the summing up of all things in Christ Jesus – the ultimate punishment of the wicked – the ultimate reward of the righteous – and then the penultimate reign of His Son for all eternity. So where does that leave us – you know, the ones who are still on this planet as these things hurtle toward their horrific conclusion? It leaves us where we have always been – redeemed ones of Jesus Christ who have a task before us. That task is to continue making disciples of all the nations – preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth – and preparing our own hearts for the return of our glorious Lord and Savior. The days and years will continue to be piled upon the past – until He comes and our salvation is completed as we are glorified in heaven. But no matter whether this end comes in days or years – or decades – or centuries – our task is the same as our brethren right after the ascension of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Preach Jesus – live Jesus – lead others to Jesus – disciple them for Jesus – and love Jesus until the end . . . whether it is an end as we die on this earth – or one where we greet Him in the clouds in a glorious reunion as He comes again! I awoke this morning to the same news many of you did, that the enemy of our nation, Osama Bin Laden, has been killed by our armed forces. Just like all of you this news made me proud of our armed forces and those in our Intelligence Community who worked so hard to find and dispose of this mass murderer. I am grateful that this man is no longer out there plotting new and more horrific terrorist actions that seek to destroy innocent citizens. Now he is facing the judgment of God—not in the presence of 72 virgins, but in hell where all those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will face their eternal demise. I do not delight in this end for him – for I wish that he had come to Christ and had been saved as a result of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let me share something that may not paint so rosy a picture. I share this only because I have a bad feeling that all this will blind us to what is really going on—and was the whole reason for Bin Laden’s rise to prominence as an adversary of the United States. Many, in light of the recent events of Osama Bin Laden’s death, have viewed this as a tremendous victory for the United States. I even heard one commentator call this a sign that the United States is not on the decline. If that is how the majority of people in our nation see this, as a sign that we are now on the rise, they really don’t get why Bin Laden ever came on the scene in the first place. To help you understand where I am coming from I will take you to a section of Scripture that will help illumine us to God’s purposes in all this. In First Kings chapter 11 we read of how Solomon’s heart turned from the Lord. Solomon married many foreign women who in turn led his heart from following the Lord. He began worshipping other gods because of the influence of these women (something God warned of in the book of Deuteronomy). As a result of Solomon’s sin—we read the following in verse14. “Then the LORD raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal line in Edom.” It is wise for us to see that due to the sin of God’s people—GOD raised up this adversary. It was in fulfillment of God’s promise to discipline His people if they turned away from Him. Before we leave this chapter of Scripture it would behoove us to also look at verses 23-25 as well, “God also raised up another adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. He gathered men to himself and became leader of a marauding band, after David slew them of Zobah; and they went to Damascus and stayed there, and reigned in Damascus. So he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, along with the evil that Hadad did; and he abhorred Israel and reigned over Aram.” Solomon and Israel had a problem on their hands. It seems that two people, Hadad and Rezon, were causing serious problems for Israel. When I read of Rezon’s actions, I see an eerie parallel to what we are experiencing today. Rezon had a “marauding band” of men who did evil in Israel similar to the evil that Hadad was doing. One might even see them as an ancient counterpart to the terrorists that are causing so much trouble today. Yet the part of this passage that causes me the most discomfort is the statement that God was the One Who raised up these two, might we go as far to say, terrorists. His reasons for doing so were that Solomon and Israel had turned from Him and turned to other Gods. They had turned to Ashtoreth and her sexually immoral worship. They had turned to Baal and the sexual immorality that attended his rituals. They had turned to Molech who required his followers to offer up their infant children as part of their worship. Because of these things God began to discipline Solomon and Israel. They did not listen – but continued in their ways – and the result was Israel’s demise. If, during that time, either Hadad or Rezon had been caught and killed, Israel would have rejoiced. They may have even broken into spontaneous choruses of “God bless Israel” on their streets and in the subways. Yet in spite of their adversary being brought to justice, they would have missed the whole point of God’s purpose in raising up such an adversary in the first place. God did not raise up these men to help Israel become more patriotic – he raised them up to wake up Israel and bring her to repentance. He wanted Israel to notice that they were no longer protected by God. This was because Israel had lost favor with God – DUE TO HER SIN. If these “terrorists” were killed – God would only raise up new ones because His purpose in all this was to bring Israel to repentance. No repentance and return to God – no end to the adversaries that would be raised up to get her attention. Now, let me take what has been said to this point and apply it to our current situation. What I am about to say will upset many. Let me state here that I am a patriot – and that I bleed red, white, and blue. But we need to face facts today – biblical facts. Our greatest enemy is not – nor has it ever been Osama Bin Laden. What is destroying the United States is not a terrorist or any group of terrorists. What is destroying our nation is the sin which we have embraced. We have turned from the Lord and turned to our own set of false gods. We have worshipped materialism, power, money, and sex in America. Since we have called ourselves a “Christian nation” (which I believe is accurate due to how our forefathers founded this country), we need to realize that all Bin Laden was to us was a manifestation of God’s discipline and call for us to repent and return to Him. Yes, Bin Laden is dead – but God can raise up a thousand more just like him to continue our discipline. The truth is that there are already thousands of other Radical Islamic terrorists who want nothing more than to destroy our nation and our way of life. But our problem is not Radical Islam either. It is our sin – it is our immorality – it is the murder of the innocents that we call abortion on demand – it is our embrace of homosexuality – it is the lack of God’s power, prayer, and passion for the gospel in His church. I am going to be bold enough to say that God did not allow Osama Bin Laden’s discovery and subsequent destruction so that we could sing patriotic songs and think that we’re back on the rise as a nation. My guess is that this will become clear in the next 6-12 months. During that time I fear that terrorism will rise and new attacks will happen on American soil. I fear that our financial system will continue to deteriorate if not collapse altogether. I fear that things like famine and plague may strike our nation in ways that we’ve never seen before. If we think that this has happened so that we can rejoice and celebrate without repentance and brokenness, without tearful confession of sin, without calls to prayer for revival in the church and awakening among the lost, we are doomed. This has happened to show brief mercy in the midst of God’s discipline. That discipline will continue if God’s desired purpose of repentance and return are not embraced in the church and in our nation. I will end this article by asking a question. With this event have we seen repentance among God’s people today? With this event have we experienced a greater conviction that our nation is on the wrong track morally and spiritually? With this event have we watched a turn from worshipping the gods of our culture, sexual immorality, homosexuality, and abortion to name a few, and a turn instead to the God of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as His message to the whole world? If we are not watching these things happen, I would strongly suggest that what we will watch is God, raising up an even more formidable adversary to continue His discipline until we do repent? May God bless America . . . with a repentant, broken, praying church who has returned to Him with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. Anyone who has followed the news lately knows that we have a growing environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, some are asking the question, “What is going on in the Gulf of Mexico with the oil leak?” The implication behind their question is whether this oil leak has anything to do with the “end times.”
Some have even quoted Revelation 8:8-9 which says, “The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Their assertion is that this is a fulfillment of Scripture and that this situation shows that we are in the last days. This presents a wonderful opportunity to teach about what is and is not “last days” fulfillment of prophecy. In order for us to know what is and is not fulfilled prophecy we need to start with the understanding that Scripture is true – and it says what it says so we can understand the truth and know specifically things that are going to happen prior to Christ’s return. Too many want to loosely deal with the facts of the Word when it comes to prophetic statements. They want to be able to take any situation and make it a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This is just not the case – and it leads to horrific exegesis of biblical prophetic passages. Let’s take a look at Revelation 8 and see what it says – and how this proves to us that the current Gulf situation is NOT a specific fulfillment of prophecy. Revelation 8:8-9 says that “a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea.” OK . . . here’s our first problem. Did any of you hear of a burning mountain hitting the Gulf of Mexico? I sure did not. But some say that when the rig exploded it was like a big mountain of fire. But that just does not cut it when exegeting Scripture. This passage speaks of something like an asteroid (which by the way, looks like a mountain burning with fire being thrown from the sky). But this is not the only problem here. The passage also says that 1/3 of the sea became blood. Now I know that the Gulf has been stained with the oil from this blown well – and – that the coagulated oil in the water has a deep red-like look – but we have two very serious problems here. First, the entire Gulf of Mexico is no where near a third of the sea – and in fact the areas that have been polluted don’t come near to being a third of the Gulf itself. Next problem is that the ocean becomes blood in this passage – and that is NOT happening in the Gulf. Since we’re dealing with problems – we also have the problem that a third of the creatures in the sea have not died – neither have a third of the ships been destroyed either. Thus we have numerous problems with saying that the Gulf situation is fulfillment of Revelation 8. Then what is going on in the Gulf? Is it related to the last days? Let me give you my opinion on these questions. First of all we read in 2 Timothy 3 that in the last days “perilous times will come.” What I find fascinating is that these perilous conditions will exist because, “men will be lovers of self, lovers of money . . . “ Well, that certainly has something to do with this situation. We have learned that BP, the group responsible for the well, were the worst safety violators of all the oil companies working in the Gulf of Mexico. Their record was worse than all the other companies working in the Gulf combined. Sounds like a love of self and money was a huge reason this happened. We also learned that a waiver was given from the Obama administration 5 minutes after it was requested on an unsafe and dangerous well. Why would that happen? Maybe it was because the administration received very large contributions from BP? Ah, once again we see love of self and money at work. These things are not nearly as exciting as thinking Revelation 8 has been fulfilled, because . . . well, because we watch the love of self and money messing things up all the time! Yes we do – and it is a sign that we are living in those perilous times – but not that we’ve experienced a specific fulfillment of prophecy. There is a second interesting thing we might see at work here as well. This explosion had interesting timing. On April 19th a very significant event happened in the United States concerning our foreign policy and our view of Israel. It was reported on the news that day that the Obama administration was signaling that Israel could no longer depend on the United States to use its veto power in the United Nations to protect Israel from some of the anti-Israel resolutions that come up there for a vote. This was a huge shift in our foreign policy and another sign that the United States was walking away from Israel. The reason the date of April the 19th is so important to recognize is that this was the day before the oil rig exploded on April 20th. Some may call it a coincidence – but what is fascinating is how many of these coincidences have taken place right after we have turned against Israel. God’s Word has a promise made to Abraham and his offspring (i.e. Israel) – “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:2-3 (NASB). Once again, this is not a direct fulfillment of a prophecy in Revelation – but a fulfillment of God’s Word in that the protection for our nation continues to come down every time we turn away from Israel. In conclusion what is going on in the Gulf? First, there is NOT a direct fulfillment of any specific prophecy made about the events surrounding the return of Christ. Second, there is the continued peril of living in a time when the selfishness and greed of fallen men. That peril has now extended to the Gulf region now being damaged by this oil leak. God is trying to get our attention by allowing the sin of men in this evil age to affect us negatively. We need to learn to turn from sin and wickedness, especially the sin of selfish, money-driven living. By the way, the only way we can be delivered from these sins is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The third thing going on in the Gulf is discipline upon our nation for continuing to turn away from Israel. Hopefully we will learn the harder lessons from what is going on in the Gulf. These are lessons that require us to turn away from our selfishness and greed for money. Hopefully we will learn that it is not wise for us to turn from our ally Israel – even if it means standing with them alone while the rest of the world criticizes us. It is better for us to know God’s blessing and protection upon our land – than to have the approval of the very nations He will destroy in the end for opposing Him as He brings Israel to salvation through Jesus Christ. What is prophecy all about? That is the question I hope to address in this first post.
Prophecy is about God telling us things in advance. That is what prophecy is in the most basic definition possible. But this answer honestly stirs up as many questions as it answers. Why does God go to the trouble to tell us what is going to happen in the future? What is He after in doing this . . . is He just showing off His foreknowledge and omniscience? Prophecy has a major function according to what is written in Scripture. God is actually doing something here - and He is doing it for a very specific reason. Listen to these words from Isaiah 46, 8 "Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; (Isaiah 46:8-10, NASB) God tells us here that He is giving us prophecies of the future to prove to us that He is God. No one can give an exact representation of the future without error - unless He is a being who sees the future - or as we grasp with God's eternity - He dwells in the future, past, and present all at once. God gives prophecy to prove to us that He is God. That is one of the most important reasons for prophecy. It is also one of the reasons we need to take great care in dealing with it. Too many make prophecy look cheap and tawdry by making prediction after prediction as to who is the antichrist - as well as hundreds of other ignorant guesses as to what prophecy is telling us. The first - and in many ways most important - purpose for prophecy is to watch as God predicts with perfect accuracy - the events that are going to take place in history. God's accuracy at doing this is beyond stunning - it is perfect. A second reason God gives prophecy to us is for our instruction concerning judgment and correction for His people. We read in Amos 3:7, "Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." Here we see that God announces ahead of time what He is about to do - and does it through His prophets. In the vast majority of cases this involved judgment upon His people. They needed to know that their disobedience and rebellion against His Word was going to bring consequences. Since they were already disregarding His commandments and ordinances - they needed to see and hear something that would remind them He is God. Thus God offered His judgments to them in advance - letting them know what was going to happen. When it did happen - they would be reminded that He is God - and that their rebellion was a serious matter. The last reason I want to lay before you for prophecy - is that God has chosen to reveal to us what will happen prior to the return of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This God has laid out for us in Scripture. Jesus Christ will come back to this earth just as God says He will. We are watching these things unfold right before our very eyes. We've been watching them for years - and it seems that events are speeding up in our day. Regardless whether Jesus comes back in our generation or not He is coming - and Scripture tells us - He is coming to judge the earth. There is something for which we need to be prepared. Therefore, be careful about those who want to make prophecy into a "who's the antichrist" guessing contest. As we look at the unfolding of God's perfect history - know this. God is moving this world toward two inevitable events. The judgment of mankind - and the summing up of all things in Christ. Ultimately, this is what prophecy should point us toward. Therefore, rather than having our prophecy site be a "prediction center" for the latest fad in the religiously ridiculous, we're going to try to stick to these things - and to how present history seems to be matching up to the history God told us is going to happen. |
What is the Prophecy/News Update?At Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro, we believe that history is moving toward fulfilling God's plans and purposes. In an effort to help us be prepared for His appearing - and also to chronicle news items you just won't see in the national media - this page is devoted to sharing those items and their possible significance to Thank you for visiting our website! Everything on this site is offered for free. If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here. The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend.
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