Posts Tagged ‘America’

Is it all falling apart? (even if it is God is stll in control)

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

(June 18, 2010)  The subtitle of my blog is What in the world is going on? Looking at news events occurring around the world I think an even more appropriate question is, Is it all falling apart? In my lifetime (52 years) I have seen dramatic changes in socioeconomic, cultural, and technological spheres of human existence. Although the modern era may have begun during the European Renaissance, culturally in the areas of intellectual and artistic pursuits and politically through revolutions, I believe current modernity grew out of the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century. Prior to that time human life moved at a much slower pace. Travel was powered by horse or sailing ship. Although the printing press had been around since the 15th Century communication still traveled only as fast as the horse or ship could carry it. With the advent of the 20th Century human innovation had made great strides in improving the human condition. The breadth of human existence had been dramatically changed in the areas of medicine and health, working and manufacturing, travel, education, and communication. Of course technological advancement also led to greater destruction in warfare. In the Nuclear Age humanity is capable of destroying the earth for the first time in human history. The prophet Daniel may have spoken of this development, “1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:1-4) It is possible that verse four of this passage could refer to human’s increased abilities to travel (“to and fro”) around the world (both physically and communicatively) and that knowledge would increase to a point where technology would be man’s final attempt to replace the God of the universe with the god of human intellect.

I came across two news items that have related themes concerning mankind’s future. The first item concerned an Australian scientist who declared that humanity will be extinct in one hundred years because of global warming (Our own extinction is forecast, but he’s going by dead reckoning). The second article dealt with the possibility of a cosmic apocalyptic event destroying the world (The end of the world as we know it). Although both articles approach their subjects in a somewhat lighthearted fashion, they do raise the more serious point of how long can the human race continue to exist in a seemingly and rapidly deteriorating sequence of events.

Many economies of the world are either struggling (Europe, America) or may be adversely affected because of the economic globalization that has taken place in the last few decades.  Rogue states such as North Korea and Iran threaten the stability of the world with nuclear ambitions or realities. Likewise, Islamic terrorism will continue to plague the world. The Internet has made information and communication, both good and evil, easily accessible to a majority of the earth’s inhabitants. Dehumanization of the weakest among us exists in the abortion movement, human trafficking, and religious oppression of women and children.

From an Americentric point of view, the “United” States of America is more divided than at any time since the Civil War. I believe the polarization that  exists  in America today is actually worse than the divisions that existed during the War between the States. Those divisions were based on an immoral economic system that used the enslavement of black Americans as its foundation. Current divisions are based on religious, political, and social ideologies.  Wars may be fought over any one of these reasons but religious ideology is usually not changed by outside influences. Thus, polarization based on religious belief will remain because such belief comes from the core of a human being.

Globally, economic hardship is turning some country’s citizens against their own governments. Many countries are becoming divided over immigration and Islamic influence within their borders. Christianity’s influence has diminished greatly in many parts of the world where it once flourished. Political correctness trumps the idea of right and wrong as decreed by God. The world is united in one area. It is becoming increasingly unified in its opposition to Israel.

On a more local level, I heard a sheriff from a southern Ohio county whose budget is being reduced express the dilemma that many law enforcement agencies in America and around the world are facing as the economies of the world  continue in a downward spiral. He said he was going to have to release prisoners, reduce law enforcement staffing,  and that district attorneys are going to have to choose which cases to prosecute in light of manpower shortages. It is worth noting that one of the signs Jesus declared would occur during the End-Times was, “12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12) If the economy doesn’t recover sufficiently, these types of problems are going to keep surfacing. People have lost their jobs and homes. Our current government wants the people to look to it to solve their problems. However, a government’s resources is based on the amount of taxes it collects from its citizens. Once that source has dried up the people will have no earthly place to turn to for help. During the last national economic crisis President Franklin Roosevelt told the American people that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself. Fear is a powerful motivator. Ironically, it took a World War to alleviate the fear of America. Conversely, it was the same type of fear that led Germans to hail Adolph Hitler as their savior. In the future I believe that the world’s fear will lead it to hail another man as their messiah. This man will be worse than all the other dictators who came before him.

The Bible makes it clear that things will only get worse for the world before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (II Timothy 3:1-5) Jesus Himself stated there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, false religious leaders. Paul wrote, “2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (I Thessalonians 5:2-3) They will experience this false peace and safety only after they have given into their fears and looked to the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ to save them.

In any event, technology and globalization appears to be leading humanity back to its primal goal of replacing worship of God with worship  of humanity which occurred at the beginning of history at the Tower of Babel:

“1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

Humans wanted to make a name for themselves and reject the name of God. God intervened with His judgment and scattered humanity across the earth. Likewise, during the End-Times God will intervene one final time when He judges the earth for unifying around the Antichrist and his mentor the Devil.

The Good News for those whose hope is in Jesus Christ is that no matter what happens now or in the future, the world is not falling apart:

“15 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

Jesus Christ is holding the entire universe together. Christians have nothing to fear but unbelief itself.

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“Christian” Militia vs. the Antichrist and Christianity

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

(March 30, 2010) Over the last few days the FBI has conducted raids against a Michigan-based militia group over a three-state area. The headline on the London Daily Mail website read, FBI launches raids on Christian militia group which is ‘preparing for battle against an Anti-Christ’ The article reports, “FBI agents arrested at least three suspected members of a Christian militia group during raids across three states over the weekend. The raids took place in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and were targeted at the Hutaree group which claims to be preparing for a battle against ‘an Anti-Christ’. A law enforcement official said the people arrested, believed to include the leader of the militia, face gun charges.” It goes on to quote the militia’s website, “We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.”

The leader of this militia group called the Hutaree was David Brian Stone. According to a different article (Christian militia accused of plotting to kill cops) his ex-wife said, “It started out as a Christian thing. You go to church. You pray. You take care of your family. I think David started to take it a little too far.” The article goes on to report, “Prosecutors said Stone had identified certain law enforcement officers near his home as potential targets. He and other members discussed setting off bombs at a police funeral, using a fake 911 call to lure an officer to his death, killing an officer after a traffic stop, or attacking the family of an officer, according to the indictment. After such attacks, the group allegedly planned to retreat to “rally points” protected by trip-wired explosives for a violent standoff with the law. ‘It is believed by the Hutaree that this engagement would then serve as a catalyst for a more widespread uprising against the government,’ the indictment said.”

vs. Christianity

I have a problem with this story on several levels. The first is with the term Christian Militia.The online Random House Dictionary gives the following definitions for the word militia:

1. a body of citizens enrolled for military service, and called out periodically for drill but serving full time only in emergencies.

2. a body of citizen soldiers as distinguished from professional soldiers.

3. all able-bodied males considered by law eligible for military service.

4. a body of citizens organized in a paramilitary group and typically regarding themselves as defenders of individual rights against the presumed interference of the government

The militia in question would fall under the fourth definition. From a biblical point of view (and the only one that ultimately matters) Christians are called to obey governments and their ruling leaders as long as their laws don’t contradict the laws of God:

“1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” (Romans 13:1-7)

The exception to obeying governing authorities is when rulers tell you to do something that is contrary to God’s word:

“26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought [the disciples], but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:26-29)

For example, I believe abortion does contradict God’s law but unlike China, America does not force its citizens to have abortions. I do believe Christians should use all the spiritual, political, legal, and civil means at our disposal to overturn the abortion laws in America. But God is the One who declares, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Concerning the issue at hand, this militia group is not Christian by its actions nor their belief system when it comes to fighting and disobeying the government. Pastor John McArthur of Grace Communnity Church gives the following definition of a Christian:

  • You have been delivered from error into truth – That is you believe and understand the full truth of the Gospel and what it declares about Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13)
  • You have been delivered from sin into the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the good fruit that bears (Romans 3:21-26)
  • You have been delivered from this present age into the eternal kingdom (Galatians 1:4)

    • Conversely then a non-Christian would reject the truth of God’s word. I know that God says we should not sin yet I do sin. However, I acknowledge that God’s truth declares sin is wrong even though I struggle with it. If I say that sin is okay then I would be rejecting the truth of God’s word and would not be a Christian. To say that everyone who calls themselves a Christian is in fact a Christian is not true. Jesus Himself declared:

    “15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”  (Matthew 7:15-27)

    vs. Antichrist

    Another problem I have with this story is the belief of this militia that they will fight militarily against the Antichrist. When the Antichrist arises to power and enters into the Third Temple in Jerusalem he will lead an army against God’s people:

    “1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder. 4 Men worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months; 6 it opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. 9 If any one has an ear, let him hear: 10 If any one is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if any one slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:1-10)

    Whether this is an Islamic army or European army is open to prophetic interpretation. The Antichrist will use these armies “to make war on the saints and to conquer them”. However, the Lord Jesus Christ will lead His glorified army and defeat the Antichrist and his forces:

    “3 I have commanded My sanctified ones, I have also called My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My highness. 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” (Isaiah 13:3-11)

    “1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel 2:1-11)

    “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name inscribed which no one knows but Himself. 13 He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, ‘Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.’ 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who sits upon the horse and against His army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword of Him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from His mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:11-21)

    “3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (II Thessalonians 2:3-10)

    These passages speak of the Lord leading His army in the last days. It is not the militias who will defeat the Antichrist and his armies but rather the Lord Jesus Christ who will destroy them.

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    “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8

    Saturday, March 14th, 2009

    (March 11, 2009)  The Christian Science Monitor website had the following article: “The coming evangelical collapse”  written by Michael Spencer, a well known Christian blogger and former pastor of the Southern Baptist denomination. He writes “We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.”  He lists seven reasons as to why this collapse will take place. I will highlight a few:

    “1. Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism. This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society.”

    “4. Despite some very successful developments in the past 25 years, Christian education has not produced a product that can withstand the rising tide of secularism.”

    “6. Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith.”

    Part of Mr. Spencer’s conclusion states the following: “The loss of their political clout may impel many Evangelicals to reconsider the wisdom of trying to create a “godly society.” That doesn’t mean they’ll focus solely on saving souls, but the increasing concern will be how to keep secularism out of church, not stop it altogether. The integrity of the church as a countercultural movement with a message of “empire subversion” will increasingly replace a message of cultural and political entitlement.”

    Lastly, he adds a disclaimer: “I’m not a prophet. My view of evangelicalism is not authoritative or infallible. I am certainly wrong in some of these predictions. But is there anyone who is observing evangelicalism in these times who does not sense that the future of our movement holds many dangers and much potential?”

    His overiding premise is based on the fact that “[Evangelical Christians] will soon be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century.” I concur with his assessment. In September of 2004 I wrote an article on my crudely created first website at iesouschristos.com (In early 2006 I changed the look of this website to its current appearance www.iesouschristos.com; I no longer contribute to this website as I believe the Culture War is over) You can read the original article at:

     archive.org or on the current website at iesouschristos.com   

    The following is that article in its entirety as written on September 4, 2004:

    Will America persecute Christians in the future?

    Recent events in America’s history have led me to wonder if it’s possible that Christians will be persecuted in the United States of America in the future.

    Persecution of Christians started at the very beginning of Christianity with the stoning of the follower of Jesus Christ, Stephen. Shortly thereafter the Roman Empire tortured and killed many Christians because of their beliefs. Persecution of Christians has continued to our present day by Fascist, Communist, and Islamic countries. More Christians were killed in the 20th century than all the other centuries combined (carm.org). Jesus prophesied that persecution of His followers would take place when He said: “You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake” (Mark 13:13).

    American Christians have been spared persecution during the first few hundred years of the United States existence. That is because America was founded, not upon the principle of “freedom from religion, but rather upon “freedom forreligion”! Since the middle of the 20th century however our society has moved towards becoming a secular state. Various judicial rulings have undermined the Judeo-Christian system of beliefs that America was founded on. The phrase “separation of Church and State” has become the mantra of those people who would like to see America become a completely secularized state. It is clear that the American judicial system has become increasingly antagonistic toward those who hold to the Christian faith.

    There are a few examples that I will point out of recent rulings against Christianity and those who hold similar viewpoints of faith. It started with the banning of prayer in our school system in 1962 by the Supreme Court of the United States. I believe this was the beginning of an attack on our country’s youth. Instead of giving young people a reassurance that their lives were not a random act of evolution, it led them to a belief that they were ultimately accountable to no one. In the late 1960′s America experienced a “sexual revolution” which had as it foundational principle: “If it feels good, do it!” This led young Americans to engage in sexual “freedom” which resulted in sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. The next logical step in this progression led to another Supreme Court ruling in 1973 which allowed women to have a “legal” abortion. So if your sexual freedom led to a pregnancy then all you had to do to solve the problem was to abort your unborn baby. Then in the 1980′s this sexual revolution allowed the homosexual community to openly announce that they intended to promote their lifestyle in the American culture. They did suffer a setback with the discovery of the HIV virus known as AIDS. Rather than reassess the choices they were making with their lives they demanded that America find a cure for this disease so that they could continue to flaunt their homosexuality. Indeed, a cure should be found for this and all the other diseases that humans suffer but they turned that suffering into a political movement. The entertainment industry helped to promote their agenda through television shows and movies that had homosexual characters in them. The media also tried to change American’s view on homosexuality by presenting it as an “alternative lifestyle”. This acceptance of homosexuality was implemented in our school system’s curricula through books and courses designed to influence future generations of Americans to accept it as part of our society. Those people who have supported and implemented the secularization of America have been very successful in their efforts. Since 1973 the equivalent of 1/7 (43,000,000) of our current population has been exterminated through abortion. Also sexual “freedom” is permeating every area of our society so that teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are an accepted part of our culture. However, for the secularists to have total reign over our culture there is one obstacle they have to overcome.

    That obstacle is Christians who continue to believe in a God who will hold His creations, human beings, accountable one day. That the Church has played a role in the decline of our culture has some validity. We Christians have also engaged in sinful behavior. As such we need to repent of our sins and of our participation in this process. Jesus said Christians are to be the “light of the world” yet we have failed in many aspects of this calling. I believe that we are moving in this direction but obviously still have a ways to go. One way that we are trying to change is through the political process upon which our democracy is based. Up until recent years Christians have not been engaged in the stopping of the deterioration of our culture. I believe that participation in the democratic process by Christians is a legitimate means of trying to stem the tide of cultural demise. But that does not alleviate us from our responsibility to change people’s hearts through words, behaviors, and prayer. I’ve heard people say you can’t legislate morality. This is a fallacy because most legislation is based on morality. Otherwise, why is it wrong to murder and steal? The animal kingdom kills one another for food or territory yet we do not assign a standard of morality to their behavior. Humans, on the other hand, do understand right and wrong because God has written His laws upon our hearts (Romans 2:11-15). So the electoral process is one responsible way for Christians to overcome the threat to our American culture. However, recent events have led me to the conclusion that Christians in America will one day be persecuted as Jesus Christ said we would.

    Early in 2004 a movie based on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ made a tremendous impact on our culture. This movie, called “The Passion of the Christ” was seen by millions of people around the world. However, it received a tremendous amount of opposition from secularists and the media. There were predictions of anti-Semitism running rampant in the streets of America (none of which ever materialized). Christianity was referred to as an intolerant religion and a religion of torture and death. Yet in spite of this hysteria many people were positively impacted by the message of this movie. But the concern is that large segments of our society revealed a deep hatred of Christians and their beliefs.

    Another, and even more revealing, event took place later in the year. The Presidential election campaign of 2004 illustrated clearly the cultural divide that has been growing in America between secularist liberals and Christian conservatives. I have never seen an election process that was even close to exhibiting the vitriolic language and animosity towards those who supported the Christian values held by our President than this one did. The apostle Paul wrote that humans do not ultimately wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual entities who are opposed to the ways of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). There is not one doubt in my mind that the battle for our culture is being fought in the spiritual realm. The behavior by those opposed to traditional Christian values was evidence enough that this is in fact the case. After the President was re-elected, it was determined that a large part of his support came from those people who did hold traditional beliefs. The opposition immediately started denigrating people of faith through the media and the Internet. The hostility intensified to an even greater level towards Christians than before the election. The fact that several states passed amendments to their constitutions which prohibited same-sex marriage gave more impetus to this hatred. The results of this election, which appear to be a repudiation of liberal values, do seem to give a reprieve to our cultural decline but I believe it will only be a momentary one.

    The problem is that liberals have found that since they are unable to control the executive and legislative branches at all levels of our government they will push their secularist agenda through the judicial branch. As noted above, the judiciary of America has ruled very often in their favor and very often against values of faith. That the secularists will continue down this path of using judicial activists to further their cause is a fact of history. I believe that ultimately there will be laws legislated by these activist judges in our country that will result in an attempt to silence Christians from preaching their beliefs.

    As mentioned earlier, persecution of Christians is occurring in countries that have closed societies. But recently there has been an alarming development in Western-style or democratic-type countries. The country of Sweden has passed “hate-crimes” legislation which prohibit speech that is considered hateful towards others. In a well known case a pastor in Sweden was sentenced to one month in prison for preaching against homosexuality during a sermon in 2003. Canada has also passed similar “hate-crimes” legislation recently. In 2004 a effort was made to expand current federal “hate-crimes” laws in America to include crimes based on gender, sexual-orientation, and disability. This legislation would have made it easier for local law enforcement agencies and courts to prosecute those accused of “hate crimes”. This amendment was approved by the Senate as a part of a Defense authorization bill. But because House Republicans opposed this provisional amendment it was removed from this bill. The issue of adding sexual-orientation to the Federal “hate crimes” law will be raised again in 2005 according to the bill’s sponsors. If and when this law is passed it may lead eventually to the same scenario that has already occurred in Sweden. Ministers who speak against homosexuality because of their belief in the Bible and what is has to say on this issue may one day be arrested in America for espousing their views. Some would say that this could never happen in America where the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees free speech. There was an incident during the 2004 Presidential campaign which may cause some to reconsider the impossibility of America clamping down on free speech. It was glossed over by the media rather quickly.

    There was a film that was going to be shown by a television broadcasting company that was going to be detrimental to the Democratic candidate, John Kerry. Eventually an uproar in the media and other liberal circles prevailed and this company edited out parts of the film that were the cause of such consternation. But there was one specific incident that occurred during this controversy that I want to point out. It pertains to statement made by a Kerry campaign aide: “Listen, they better look out there at Sinclair Broadcasting. I’m not a lawyer, but they’ve stirred up a lot of hatred. We’ve got thousands of people now very mad, jackballed up – calling these [Sinclair] stations, protesting, threatening boycotts of their sponsors. I think they’re going to regret doing this. They better hope we don’t win.” The chilling implication of this statement was that if the liberals were elected to office they would use their power to stifle the speech of a national media outlet. That they were willing to admit that they would commit such an egregious violation of what many consider to be the greatest of our rights listed in the Constitution is almost beyond belief. But as I’ve noted in this article, secularists and liberals have not been reticent to change the culture we have had in America for 200 years by using whatever means necessary to achieve their goals.

    Though the sweep by conservatives in the recent national and state elections may stem the progression of the liberal agenda in America, I believe that eventually liberal activist judges will find ways to continue their implementation of this agenda such as that exhibited by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. When they do come to power I believe that eventually Christians in America will be persecuted by our government. I believe that this persecution will occur within a decade of this time. I do not believe for one moment that my position is overly dramatic. As I pointed out earlier the courts have ruled consistently against religion in the public arena. That persecution could happen here as hatred in America continues to build against those who hold to the values as espoused by the Bible is not only possible but probable. Why should Christians not believe Jesus Christ when He said: “You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake”?!

    [end of 2004 article]

    I still believe that Christians will be persecuted in America as they continue to be around the world. The U.S. Constitution has replaced the Bible as the authoritative voice in America. Though the media has declined recently in numbers they have not lost their power to influence Americans. They played a large part in the election of the very liberal Barack Obama for president. Bible-believing Christianity is not politically correct. To say that abortion and homosexual marriage is wrong is an affront to the secularists’ sensibilities. I don’t see how Biblical Christianity can exist as a significant part of American society with the assault that secularist judges, politicians, and media outlets are continuing to exert against it.

    Jesus made an intriguing statement during His ministry which I’m not sure exactly was He was referring to when He said it: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) One possible meaning could refer to His second coming which takes place at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period (a terrible time of devastation that the whole world will go through). It is possible that since a large part of the world’s population will be destroyed during that time, the majority of those who remain will be followers of the Antichrist and will have killed the many of the followers of God. In discussing the signs of the End-Times with His disciples on the Mount of Olives Jesus said, “8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:8-12) Whether or not this is what Jesus meant when He questioned whether He would find faith on earth at His return I cannot say. I do believe that America will further decline in Christian truth and will be open to all kinds of deception that will lead to its downfall.

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    Posted in America, Archives 2009 | 2 Comments »

    Is God judging America?

    Saturday, March 7th, 2009

    americaeatenaway(March 6, 2009)  Recently I read the following headlines on the same day:

    On The Road To Socialism? We’ve Arrived!

    Bair Says Insurance Fund Could Be Insolvent This Year 

    What Are the Odds of a Depression?

    Everyday you can read headlines as bad as this or worse. My immediate thought was, Is God judging America? 

    Ascribing God’s judgment to a person, event, or country can be a precarious endeavor. We live in a fallen world and therefore bad things sometimes happen just because of sinful human nature. However, nothing happens unless God allows it or He causes it to occur.

    In biblical times a prophet made it clear that God’s judgment was coming. He gave the Canaanites 400 years to repent (they didn’t). He gave the city of Nineveh 40 days to repent (they did). He told Abraham that if He could find just ten tighteous men in Sodom and Gomorrah He wouldn’t destroy it (He couldn’t). He used the Babylonian Empire to carry out His judgment against a rebellious Israel who wasn’t obeying His land Sabbath laws (Leviticus 25:1-8; Jeremiah 25:8-9,11,29:10; II Chronicles 36:20-21). This judgment resulted in the destruction of the Jews’ first temple and led to their seventy-year captivity by the Babylonians. Of course the biggest judgment (aside from judging His Son Jesus Christ for our sins) God wrought was when He destroyed the earth with a flood.

    Are there biblical principles we can use to discern as to when events may be a judgment of God?

    Sodom and Gomorrah

    Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? The prophet Ezekiel gives us some reasons:

    “49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” (Ezekiel 16:49-50)

    According to this passage those cities were proud, gluttonous, lazy, and uncaring towards the poor. The other reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was because of the abomination of their homosexual activity:

    “22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:22-25)

    The Book of Jude confirms their sexual immorality by going after “strange flesh”:

    “7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” (Jude vss.7-8)

    In the Leviticus passage God declared that these sins defiled the land the people were living on and thus removed them through His judgment from heaven. Therefore we could say that if a country is committing these types of behavior God will one day judge it.

    Nineveh

    The Bible doesn’t specify why God was going to judge the city of Nineveh except to say they had committed wickedness:

    “1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2)

    God was going to judge the Ninevites because of their wicked behavior but withheld it when they repented.

    Canaanites

    In the case of the Canaanites mentioned above, God told Abraham that his descendants would be captives in the land of Egypt until the Canaanites’ sins had crossed the line of His judgment:

    “13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their’s, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Genesis 15:13-16)

    This passage illustrates another principle of God’s timing when it comes to judging a nation. He allowed the Canaanites to commit a certain amount of sins before He judged them. It would take another four hundred years before the people met that requirement. 

    Israel’s Captivity

    Israel had disregarded God’s laws concerning the physical land of Israel. He had instructed the Jews to plant and harvest their crops for six straight years on the land but on the seventh year they were not to plant or harvest anything. They were to give the land a rest. The Jews did not obey this law for 490 years which meant that seventy land Sabbaths occurred without the land getting a rest. He told the Israelites that because they did not obey His laws they would be taken captive for seventy years as punishment for the seventy land Sabbaths they had ignored:

    “7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” (Jeremiah 25:7-11)

     The Babylonians destroyed their first temple and took the Jews as captive for seventy years. This story reveals at least two principles of God’s judgment upon a nation: The first is that if a country ignores His laws then they will be judged at some point. The second is that sometimes God’s judgments have a time frame. In this case His judgment lasted seventy years after which He brought the Jews back to their land.

    The Flood

    Lastly, God judged the world:

    “5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:5-7)

    Again, God’s judgment will come when the wickedness of a nation’s behavior (or the world’s behavior in this case) and the evilness of its reasoning crosses the line of God’s tolerance.

    Flaunting Sin

    I want to mention one last biblical principle concerning the judgment of God. This has to do with flaunted or public sin. There are different attitudes people can have when they sin. Some are ashamed of their sins and try to hide them. Others flaunt their sins before man and God because they have no shame in committing them. All sin is destructive but God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). There are some examples of people who committed public, flaunted sins. One is found in the Book of Numbers:

    “28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. 29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. 30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. 32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.” (Numbers 15:28-36)

    God had just given His laws to the children of Israel. In verse 31 of this passage God stated that those who despise His word are to be cut off from the land. One of the main laws He commanded them to observe was that they rest on the Sabbath and do no work. Here a man was out picking up firewood on the Sabbath in front of the whole camp of Israel. He was despising the word and laws of God in a very public manner. To stop this type of rebellious attitude God had the Israelites judge him immediately.

    Another example of public sin occurred very early in the Church’s history. The first Christians were eagerly bringing their donations to the disciples to help finance their ministry. However, one couple decided they were going to try to deceive their fellow Christians:

    “33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need…1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” (Acts 4:33-35; 5:1-11)

    This couple wanted to look righteous in the eyes of their fellow believers so they lied to God and the Holy Spirit. God judged them and they both died. They had publicly flaunted their sin before their fellow Christians with a complete disregard for the truths of God.

    I believe the principle that judgment will result if we despise God’s word and thereby flaunt our sins before Him can be applied to nations as well. America has legalized the killing of unborn babies and is in the process of legally sanctioning homosexual marriages. Sexual immorality and divorce are quite pervasive in our culture. Shame is no longer part of the fabric of our society. We are flaunting our sins before the face of God and have been doing so for some time. How much longer will it be before God judges our public sins?

    Is God Judging America?

    Has America met any of the criteria for receiving God’s judgment that is mentioned above? It has been four hundred years since the first English settlement was established at Jamestown Virginia in 1607. From that time God has prospered America immensely. However, America’s behavior throughout its “young” history has not always been godly. American Indians were massacred and their lands confiscated. Blacks were treated inhumanely during slavery. One could make the case that the Civil War was God’s judgment upon America because more than 600,000 Americans died. The population at that time was 31 million Americans so nearly one out of every fifty Americans died. The result of this war was the abolition of slavery although not racism. At the same time America became a leading propagator of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian hospitals, colleges, and missions were built to help people in need. Americans fought in foreign wars to defeat governments bent on spreading evil in the world. Something changed in the 1960s. Authority was being challenged and rebellion in the areas of sexuality and gender roles began taking place. In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that prayer in schools was unconstitutional. In 1969 a homosexual uprising took place in New York and began an era of normalizing homosexual relationships in the American culture. In 1973 the Supreme Court legalized abortion in America. It is estimated that more than 40 million unborn babies have been aborted since that ruling. That is equivalent to nearly one-seventh of the current American population. The courts have consistently protected pornography as a freedom of speech issue while at the same time removing religion from the sphere of public discourse. Mainline churches have quit teaching the literalness of the Bible in favor of a watered-down social gospel. Although churches are still reaching out to the poor and needy, people are starting to look to the government to feed and clothe them rather than God. All these things would give God the justification He needed to judge America. In the 1960s Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, commented to her husband that if God didn’t judge America soon He was going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. How much worse has America grown since she spoke these words. I believe there is one factor that has stayed God’s hand from judging America until now.

    Israel

    Israel became a nation again in 1948. The United States of America became the first nation in the world to recognize the legitimacy of Israel and its right to exist. Since then we have been its friend and protector. I believe the rebirth of Israel was the beginning of the fulfillment of a prophecy God gave to His prophet Amos:

    “13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.” (Amos 9:13-15)

    God made a covenant with the patriarch Abraham:

    “1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

    God promised to give the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants. He also declared that those who bless or help Abraham’s nation of Israel will be blessed. Conversely, those who curse or oppose the nation of Israel will be cursed. As long as America protects Israel I believe God will allow America to escape His judgments. The day we turn our backs on Israel will be the day God will remove His protection from America. Are we at that point now? Just recently our new secretary of State has made disturbing proclamations towards the state of Israel:

    Clinton condemns Israel’s demolition of Arab East Jerusalem homes

    Jewish Leaders Blast Clinton Over Israel Criticism

    I wrote an article on my website explaining why I think America does have to turn away from Israel at some point:  The Decline and Fall of America. Only time will tell if America stands by Israel or if we turn our backs on it because of military, economic, or policy reasons.

    The Great Depression

    Although we are currently going through tough financial times, economic crises are not unprecedented in our history. In the 1930s the Great Depression occurred after a decade of greed, crime, and prosperity led to financial collapse. Whether or not this was a judgment of God is not clear. It took the rise of an evil dictator and a world war to solve the Depression. I do believe that as a result of World War II the modern state of Israel came into existence. This was a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and therefore God was involved in some way with the events of the mid-twentieth century. It may be that the current economic collapse going on in the world could result in more biblical prophecy being fulfilled. This of course is God’s domain and only He knows the exact timing when His End-Times plans will be fulfilled.

    Dangers of declaring God’s judgment

    At the beginning of this article I stated that ascribing God’s judgment can be a precarious endeavor. One example of this occurred after 9/11. Some prominent Christian leaders proclaimed that the terrorist attack on New York City was God’s judgment on America because of its tolerance for homosexuality. They were predictably criticized in the media for these statements. You have just read that God will judge a nation because of its sins sexual or otherwise.  However, these Christian leaders had no proof that this is why God allowed terrorists to attack America. Therein lies the danger. We have no prophets today that are authorized by God to declare judgment on America. We do have His word which as we have seen declares why He does judge countries. America has met the criteria God requires to bring down His judgment on it and so it may very well be that we are at the start of the downfall of America. Only time will tell whether He is still restraining His judgment or just beginning it.

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    Posted in America, Archives 2009, Website Articles: evenatthedoors.com | 4 Comments »

    World economic fears and the decline of the United States

    Thursday, November 20th, 2008

    (November 20, 2008)  The economies of the world seem to be on the verge of collapse and it is causing fear around the world. (Fear stalks the world’s economies) According to this article, “Market analysts said panic had set in among traders. ‘Markets are utterly unhinged,’ said Bill O’Donnell, a strategist at UBS. ‘One problem is that financial institutions are powerless to take the other side of panic trades.’” As I pointed out in other news items in this section, the Bible declares that in the last days there will be worldwide chaos leading to famines, pestilences, and worthless economies. The use of the word fear has a prophetic air, “25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:25-28) Jesus said in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear and on earth there will be distress of nations.
    The Book of Revelation speaks of an earth-shaking economic collapse, “1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” (Revelation 18:1-24) The historical Babylon is located in Iraq however John may be speaking of a metaphorical Babylon representing the evil in this world. In this instance it is the evil economic systems that have turned people from God and oppressed the people of the world. John is describing what he sees in at least the 21st century since this hasn’t taken place yet. He says that he sees this collapse occur in one day and the world is devastated by it. They had put their trust in riches and now those riches are gone. Fear and distress will indeed be the appropriate responses.

    More predictions of the decline and fall of America

    Reuters reports that the National Intelligence Council foresees a decline in American power and influence. (UPDATE 2-US clout down, risks up by 2025 -intel outlook) The article states, “U.S. economic and political clout will decline over the next two decades and the world will be more dangerous, with food and water scarce and advanced weapons plentiful, U.S. spy agencies projected on Thursday.” I believe that America has to become either economically or militarily impotent or both and therefore become unwilling or unable to protect Israel. (The Decline & Fall of America) The Bible prophesies of a war where countries surrounding Israel invade it to their own peril in the last days. (Coming Invasion of Israel) No non-Arabic country in the world would take on Israel as long as the powerful United States is protecting it. If the U.S. becomes impotent militarily then there is no more deterrent to those who would destroy Israel. The article further states, “‘A world with multiple power centers has been less stable than one with a single or two rival superpowers, and there was a growing potential for conflict…Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade, investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we cannot rule out a 19th century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion and military rivalries,’ the report said.” According to this assessment, a weakened America will lead to a more unstable world in which military alliances (like the one mentioned in Ezekiel) will be able to act upon their territorial expansion designs.

    Professor Igor Panarin, a leading Russian political analyst, stated that the United States is headed for an economic collapse, confirming a prediction he made in 1998 when America’s economy was strong. (RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA) The article reports him saying that the U.S. will break up into six sections: “Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: ‘A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles.’” When asked who would replace the U.S. as the economic power of the world he said, “Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia.” According to biblical prophecy Russia is going to lead a coalition of countries against Israel (click on the link above “Coming Invasion of Israel”). China too may be the prophetic fulfillment of two passages in Revelation that describes a coalition of countries that invade the Middle East: “13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand [i.e. 200 million men]: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” (Revelation 9:13-19) “12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:12-14)

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    October Updates: Economic Crises, Antichrist, Russia and Israel

    Sunday, October 12th, 2008

    (October 12, 2008)  According to the September 25th Financial Times the United States will lose its superpower status. (“US ‘will lose financial superpower status’”) If you read my article on this web site (The Decline & Fall of America) you will see that last year I stated that one day America had to become either economically or militarily impotent or both. The reason for this is because the Bible prophesies that one day a coalition of nations including Russia, Iran, and the surrounding countries will invade Israel. However, since the U.S. has been Israel’s protector this invasion could not take place. If America does decline in power then sometime in the future this invasion can take place. Whether or not the current situation leads to such a scenario is not clear. What is obvious is that such an erosion of America’s economy (and the world’s) can take place very quickly.

    The world’s economy has suffered as a result of the interconnectedness of the global financial systems. Financial leaders from twenty countries are meeting in Washington D.C. in hopes of solving the current worldwide economic crisis. (“Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors”) The third judgment of the Tribulation Period (Revelation 6:5-6) speaks of a global economic meltdown that leads to hyper-inflation for food (e.g. a days wages for wheat. barley etc.) and other commodities. Jesus also spoke of famines in His End-Times discourse in Matthew 24:7. It is interesting that Adolph Hitler rose to power out of the economic chaos in Germany after World War I. It is very possible that a similar world leader will one day arise out of a global economic chaos. As I stated above, if this is not that time it is still revealing in how short a span of time economic catastrophe can occur because of the global nature of the world’s financial systems. The one bright spot in all this is that oil has come down in price. However, I believe this is a temporary reprieve because demand for oil is increasing throughout the world. (“Energy Department: World demand to rise 50 percent in next 20 years”)

    Russia continues to assert their military strength after invading Georgia and making arms deals with Venezuela. Now they have test-fired long-range ballistic missiles. (“Russia test-fires ballistic missiles”) Russian President Medvedev said, “This shows that our shield is in order. We will build up our armed capability, which means we will acquire new weaponry while also launching traditional ballistic missiles.” In my article (The Coming Invasion of Israel) I discuss how Russia is supposed to be part of an invasion of Israel towards the last days that also includes Iran. According to an October 7th, 2008 Jerusalem Post article, Russia is going to increase its involvement in the Middle East. The article states that Israeli leader Ehud Olmert “urged the Russians to play a more active role in getting Teheran to cease uranium enrichment.” One of the many pieces of the End-Times prophetic puzzle to keep an eye on!

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    Two AP writers suggest world is spinning out of control

    Saturday, June 21st, 2008

    (June 21, 2008)  Associated Press reporters Alan Fram and Eileen Putman wrote an article suggesting world events are spiraling out of control. (Everything seemingly is spinning out of control) They write, “Midwestern levees are bursting. Polar bears are adrift. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Home values are abysmal. Air fares, college tuition and health care border on unaffordable. Wars without end rage in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terrorism.” Their observations are not limited to the United States as they say in the article, “Recent natural disasters around the world dwarf anything afflicting the U.S. Consider that more than 69,000 people died in the China earthquake, and that 78,000 were killed and 56,000 missing from the Myanmar cyclone.” However they quote a historian as saying that the world has been through troubling times before yet survived. They conclude the article with, “Why the vulnerability? After all, this is the 21st century, not a more primitive past when little in life was assured. Surely people know how to fix problems now.
    Maybe. And maybe this is what the 21st century will be about — a great unraveling of some things long taken for granted.”

    The problem is that not all human suffering can be alleviated. Mankind cannot control devastating weather events. Warfare has always been a part of the human experience. Population growth will continue to exact demands on economies, natural resources, and the necessities for the sustentation of life. Eventually there are only two scenarios for the human race. They revolve around whether there is a God or there isn’t a God. If God doesn’t exist then humans are left to their own devices. Other species have become extinct for various reasons. There is nothing to prevent the extinction of the human race if we are at the mercy of violent weather patterns, limited natural resources, and the ability to destroy the world through technological means such as nuclear war. However, if there is a God then He alone has the power to preserve the earth and its inhabitants. The Bible declares that the world is going to go through horrific times in the future. This will be part of a final judgment by God on a rebellious humanity. This judgment would destroy the human race if God wanted it to but the Bible states that He will not destroy the earth’s population. In speaking of the end of the current age Jesus said, “21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22) The world will experience ecological, economical, and governmental upheavals in the future. The good news is that God is in control and those who live their lives for Him will be saved.

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    World feels oil pressure and crisis

    Sunday, June 8th, 2008

    (June 8, 2008)  In a May 31 article the British newspaper, The Independent, enumerated the problems the world is facing because of the oil crisis. (Shocked! How the oil crisis has hit the world) The article reports on the situations various segments of societies around the world are experiencing,

    “British pensioners who cannot afford to heat their homes. European hauliers and fishermen whose livelihoods are under threat. Palestinians forced to fill up their cars with olive oil. Americans asked to go down to a four-day week.”

    The article gives some examples of the unrest that is occurring in every inhabited continent and some of the services that are being curtailed:

    -Lorry drivers blockaded roads into London and in Wales to demand that a planned 2p rise in fuel tax be scrapped and that “essential users” should be granted a rebate

    -Britain’s Silverjet airline announced it had stopped flights after failing to get a $5m loan from Abu Dhabi-based investors, becoming the third London to New York business class-only carrier to run out of money

    -Protests by French truckers and fishermen left several motorways blocked and ports paralysed

    -Fishermen across Europe went on a one-day strike, blocking ports. The biggest demonstrations were in Spain and Portugal where 10,000 protesters converged on Madrid

    -The Newcastle to Scandinavia ferry route is being cut by the Danish company DFDS Seaways

    -Brazil, the world’s largest ethanol producer, biofuels account for more than half of transport needs. But while biofuels have kept petrol prices down, food prices – particularly in Central American countries such as Mexico and Haiti – have shot up as vast tracts of arable land are switched from producing food to fuel

    -Daily protests have erupted across Indonesia this week after the government removed subsidies on fuel

    -Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific and Taiwan’s China Airlines announced they were considering scaling back some long-haul routes whilst Korean Air said it would temporarily cut flights on 12 international routes

    -African governments already under pressure from food protests, and in some cases such as Mozambique violent riots, have now to contend with a new problem

    -Middle Eastern countries unlucky enough not to be sitting on lakes of black gold are facing growing resentment from their own populations over fuel prices

    -Australia’s Qantas airline announced this week that it was intending to slash hundreds of jobs, freeze executive pay and shut down some domestic rural routes

    Since it is unlikely that oil prices will decrease in the long term, the world’s oil problem will continue to exacerbate the civil and economic unrest that the countries of the world are currently experiencing. The New York Times’ global edition, International Herald Tribune, has a June 8th article which reports the reductions in profits by many businesses as a result of the oil crisis. (Pressure from oil prices spreads) The reporter writes, “Airlines, package shippers and car owners are no longer the only ones being squeezed by the ever-mounting price of oil, which shot up almost $11 a barrel Friday, to a record $138.54. Companies that make hard goods using raw materials derived from oil, like tires, toiletries, plastic packaging and computer screens, are watching their costs skyrocket, and they find themselves forced into unpleasant choices: Should they raise prices, shift to less costly procedures, cut workers or all three?” Oil price hikes will continue to increase the cost of manufacturing commodities and the transportation of them.

    On his June 9th program, Fox’s Bill O’Reilly discussed the oil crisis in his Talking Points memo. (We Are All in Danger) He declares, “We now know that Israel will attack Iran if that country continues its nuke buildup. That kind of attack will put oil well over $200 a barrel. We also know that radical Islamists and aggressive socialists like Hugo Chavez are using oil money to create terror and havoc. It is also apparent that Iran will continue to cause trouble in the Persian Gulf region, with the goal of destabilizing Western economies.” After suggesting a couple of solutions O’Reilly made the following statement, “Simply put, Americans must demand that Congress and the new president stop the nonsense, or there will be a world war over oil. That will happen and it will make Iraq look like a high school prom.”

    As I have stated on this web site, I believe America will decline from its superpower status militarily or economically or both. Such a reduction in strength will allow the invasion of Israel by a conglomeration of countries seeking to rid the Middle East of Israel forever. (Coming Invasion of Israel)

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    President Bush warns Iran that U.S. may defend Israel

    Thursday, October 4th, 2007

    (October 4, 2007)  President Bush warned Iran that if they are serious about destroying Israel then he believed the United States would defend Israel. The actual quote in the article is, “My belief is that the United States will defend our ally Israel.” (Bush: US will ‘defend its ally Israel’)  I find the word belief to be an interesting choice of words by the President. In the past the United States has defended Israel’s interests many times. However, this time the President used the word belief instead of saying “The United States will defend”. I’m not sure if any hesitancy on his part was intended but that is the way it sounds. I believe that one day the U.S. will either be unable or unwilling to defend Israel. This scenario would lead to an invasion of Israel as predicted in the Bible (See my article:  ’The Coming Invasion of Israel’).  It is difficult to say what the Presidential elections in 2008 will bring to the global arena. What the new President’s policies toward Israel and the Middle East will be are unknown and are worthy of careful observance.

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    U. S. Comptroller General warns that America parallels the fall of the Roman Empire

    Tuesday, August 14th, 2007

    Roman Colosseum

    (August 14, 2007)  The director of the Government Accounting Office for the U.S.A. declared to the Financial Times that America “is on a ‘burning platform’ of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon.” (Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned)  The article goes on to say, “Drawing parallels with the end of the Roman empire, Mr Walker warned there were ‘striking similarities’ between America’s current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, including ‘declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government.’” I have no doubt that Mr. Walker’s warning will come true. The Bible declares that in the last days military alliances will be formed which will attack Israel. These alliances are occurring at the present time such as the one between Russia and Iran. However, America has been the protector of Israel since its rebirth in 1948. No one outside of the surrounding Arab countries would dare attack Israel knowing full well that they would have to fight America also. Russia considered intervening militarily in the 1967 Six Day War but refrained from doing so after the American Fleet pulled up off the coast of Israel. Thus, for biblical prophecy to come true, America has to either be out of the way or its power and influence greatly reduced. What the Comptroller General warned of may actually be part of God’s plans for the consummation of His End-Times plans.

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