"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst and to prepare for it." (Patrick Henry, 1775)
"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic declines. There has either been a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or an ultimate natural disaster." (General Douglas MacArthur)
"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps and delivers them; because they take refuge in Him." (Psalm 37:39-40)
In the last issue, we examined the tremendous problems that have gripped our nation. And, as we looked at them in composite, they begged the question -- Is America under God's judgment for its national sins?
Before we begin, however, we need to understand that God's judgments are righteous. He is a God of Love, but He is also a God of Righteousness. He is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. But He will judge sin.
As we review the judgments of the Old Testament, we see that God is merciful. He doesn't bring catastrophe on a nation without warning, and His initial acts of chastisement are redemptive in nature. They are designed to get us to examine our sinful state, to recognize "the height from which we have fallen" and, ultimately, to secure our free will act of repentance and turn back toward God. It is not God's will that any should spend eternity in Hell. Jesus came to save the world, not to condemn it. Only man can condemn himself to that fate by rejecting God's provision for forgiveness: that being Jesus Christ.
It is sobering to recognize that it was 120 years from the time that God instructed Noah to begin constructing the Ark until it was completed and that, over that 120 years, there were four generations of Noah's prodigy who warned others of God's impending judgment. Did the people heed Noah's warning? No. They probably laughed and ridiculed him. That is, until the flood came and God closed the door to the ark. By that time, it was too late to enter into the refuge which God had provided. So it was in the time of Noah; so it shall be at the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
We are living in a time of moral and spiritual blindness. We no longer fear God. In fact, many are openly hostile and antagonistic toward Him. Others deny His existence. They are comfortable in their sin. It is time to get serious about God before it is too late. Judgment is again coming. It is right on our doorstep. It is time to recognize the signs of the times and take heed. Don't be like Noah's neighbors -- caught up in everyday living, separated from God, ignorant of spiritual things and the signs which will herald Jesus' return.
Is the United States ripe for judgment? The book of Ezekiel tells us that God brought judgment upon the Jews and dispersed them to the four corners of the earth. One reason was because they had spilt blood in the land. We have now sacrificed the blood of over thirty million unborn children in this country. Will God not judge us likewise?
Perversion is rampant in this country and is now seated in power in the highest positions in the land. Billy Graham was quoted as saying: "If God doesn't judge America soon, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."
Let's examine the warning signs of God's judgment upon a nation. In the book of Isaiah, we find five things which indicate that a nation is under God's judgment.
There has been a tremendous increase in natural disasters in the United States. Last year Hurricane Andrew, the most expensive hurricane in U.S. history, destroyed over 20 billion dollars worth of property in Florida alone. A record 1,381 tornadoes also touched down in 1993. The Mississippi river basin became the largest flood in U.S. history, causing billions of dollars of damage and ruining millions of acres of rich farmland. Yet, strangely, at the time of the flooding, there was drought in the Carolinas. Firestorms in California consumed over 200,000 acres of land, and the Los Angeles earthquake went down as the most expensive earthquake in U.S. history.
These disasters, referred to as God's signature judgments, are not meant to utterly destroy; they are meant as warnings. For example, as was mentioned in the last issue, the L.A. earthquake was centered in the middle of the nation's porn industry. Over 90% of the porn industry was destroyed. However, the other aspect of this earthquake that points to it being a signature judgment of God is that it occurred at 4 AM on a holiday. If you had to pick a time for an earthquake where there would be the least loss of life, that would certainly be it. When Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida, it could have taken thousands of lives had its eye been just a few miles northward. The massive Mississippi flood did primarily property damage. Compare it to the floods and hurricanes in Bangladesh a few years ago that killed tens of thousands. We mourn the loss of life and property but, mercifully, it was not worse. These were signature judgments.
Will the next event cause catastrophic damage? It will, if it follows the biblical pattern of increasing frequency and intensity. This pattern can be seen in the trumpet and bowl judgments in the book of Revelation. It is seen in the book of Exodus when God brought judgment upon Egypt. Each judgment was worse than the previous one. The result? "And still man did not repent."
Jesus himself said, in the Olivet discourse, that the events leading up to final judgment on mankind and His Return would be like birth pangs; that is, they would increase in intensity and frequency as the day of judgment grew near. Clearly, natural disasters are increasing world-wide. But in the United States, while these disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, there are other aspects of the pattern of these disasters that speaks of God's direct judgment on this nation.
For example, alternating drought and excessive rain is another sign of God's judgment. At the time of the flooding in the Midwest, there was drought in the Carolinas. "Farmers in the Southeast have lost an estimated 500 million in corn, tobacco, soybeans, vegetables, fruit and hay in a crippling drought... In western South Carolina, just three percent of normal rainfall has fallen this summer..." Georgia's Agriculture Commissioner said, "There's hurting in the South, and damage is increasing day by day. It's a disaster..." "Farmers are watching helplessly as nature, in the form of drought and excess heat, takes their crops." "The intense heat is just baking them in the fields," said a South Carolina Farm Bureau expert. "Upper New England is suffering unusually dry conditions which are sparking fires and causing farm problems." Farmers in the drought area have said, "We'd like to have a little of their rain [referring to the Mississippi flood], and give them a little of our sun" (USA Today, July 19, 1993). While California was in the midst of a several-year drought a few years ago, there was flooding in other parts of the country.
God says, through the prophet Amos: "......you have not returned to me, declares the Lord. I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord." (Amos 4:6-8)
This speaks clearly of God's judgment on America. Amos 4:7 has been fulfilled. "One field had rain; another had none." Notice two things in this passage of scripture. Number one, God caused this situation by His own word. And number two, this passage demonstrates the purpose of the judgment: that being repentance ("... you have not returned to me, declares the Lord").
In 1 Kings 19:9-12, we find that wind, earthquake and fire, occurring one after the other, is another pattern of judgment. Let's go back to 1989. First there was Hurricane Hugo (a level-4 storm), then the Houston Oil Refinery explosion and fire, and then the San Francisco earthquake (three billion in property damage). More recently, we have experienced Hurricane Andrew (a level-5 storm; sustained winds of 200 miles per hour with tornadoes packed inside of it), the California Firestorms (over 200,000 acres burned), and the Los Angeles earthquake (estimated damage, 13 to 20 billion -- the worst in U.S. history).
These level-5 storms are also called 100-year storms, because it is anticipated that they will only occur every 100 years or so. Since 1988, we have had four level-5 storms. Clearly, there has been an increase in frequency and severity of disasters in America over the last few years. But is it judgment? When you consider that the U.S.A. fulfills the other signs of judgment, as well, there is no question in this author's mind that the United States is in for a rough ride.
There has been a decline in exports and in the overall quality of the finished products. The United States is no longer a leader in export. We have become a consumer nation. Imports far exceed exports. The quality of foreign goods, in general, is superior to ours. We have all been sensitized to the trading problems with Japan, but with the new trading consortium in the Far East and Europe, we haven't seen anything yet. Japan has withdrawn from our economy and is beginning to invest in China. With China's abundant natural resources and Japan's capital, there will be an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.
The European Community (made up primarily of socialist, pro-Islamic countries) is already anti-American and will most likely present a major problem in accepting U.S. goods without imposing high tariffs. The U.S. is headed for major problems in the global markets. Coupled with the lack of capital investment in America necessary for plant modernization to improve product quality, and the handwriting is on the wall. Our trade deficit is at record levels and growing.
Although the government keeps presenting statistics that indicate we are out of recession, be aware. It was reported that Christmas sales were up over last year, a sign of recovery. What wasn't said is that credit card usage was also up over 23%. We are hearing that G.M. and Ford are reporting profit increases of over 40%. What was not said is that a major portion of new car sales are now lease arrangements. We're in the midst of a debt expansion -- not a fundamental improvement of the economy characterized by job creation. On the contrary, hundreds of thousands of high-tech or high-skill jobs have been eliminated. Those few that have been created are low-paying service jobs. Pay close attention.
Leadership goes from good to bad and from bad to worse. Let's take
a look at the leadership of the United States of America.
On the third day of his administration, President Clinton issued five
executive orders. In essence they were:
1) to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military.
2) to lift the ban on fetal tissue research.
3) to remove the ban on abortion counseling in federally-funded clinics.
4) to begin the process of approving the importation of the abortion-inducing
drug RU486.
5) to provide funds for the first time for abortions in military hospitals
overseas.
The leadership the White House has put in place is equally impressive.
The following are quotes from an article in Texe Marrs' Flashpoint
newsletter, entitled Big Sister is Watching You (he has also published
a book by the same title). "Hillary's White House feminists include
lesbians, sex perverts, child molester advocates, Christian-haters,
and the most doctrinaire of communists." According to Marrs, he has
new evidence that "Janet Reno is a hardened lesbian." "Joyceln
Elders, Surgeon General, is out to make sure pre-schoolers and elementary
school children are given condoms and instructed on how to use them."
"Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, is the most
vicious Christian-hater ever to hold a top cabinet post .... she is
also a director of the CFR and a member of the Trilateral Commission."
Roberta Achtenberg, according to Marrs, "While demonstrating at a
gay rights parade, the militantly lesbian Achtenberg passionately
kissed her female lover as her young son looked on.... she once led
a hate campaign against the Boy Scouts because their oath includes
the word `God."' "Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice, is
in favor of legalizing child sex with adults."
Everything rises and falls on leadership. Clinton is our elected representative,
elected by a plurality of the people. And as we discussed in the last
issue, God will punish a nation for the sins of its leaders. For those
who think Bill Clinton is a Godly leader, read the article entitled
"Living with the Clintons" in "The American Spectator", January
1994 (2020 N. 14th Street, Suite 750, Arlington, Virginia 22216).
In Part 3 of this series, we will discuss the remaining two signs
of judgment upon a nation.
Unless there is national repentance, the United States will continue
to experience ever more severe chastisements. If, God forbid, the
United States sustains a cataclysmic natural disaster, a nuclear accident
or even a government default, then key services and programs will
be curtailed. There may be anarchy in the streets when banks close
and the citizenry is denied access to its cash. When the dollar becomes
worthless, the cost of food and necessities will skyrocket. Unemployment
will be rampant. The government will declare marshal law. Constitutional
rights will be suspended.
Sound impossible? It is exactly what has already happened to many
countries that have turned their backs on God.
When you don't know where your next meal is coming from, will you
be persuaded to give up your national sovereignty and become part
of the One World Order? When you are hungry and oppressed, even the
Russian fanatic Zhirinovsky, or Germany's Hitler, begin to look good.
Will the U.S. government single out a scapegoat for all its problems?
Will it be the Jews? Will it be the Christians? Will you be persuaded
to take the "Mark of the Beast" on your right hand or forehead to
survive? "He [Anti-Christ] also forced everyone, small and great,
rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand
or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had
the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name."
(Rev 13:16-17) "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice:
`If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark
on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of
God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his
wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of
the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises
for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship
the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his
name.' This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints
who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." (Rev 14:9-12)
" .. if my people [not the unsaved], who are called by my name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and
will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Notice that this passage says that it is God's people who must humble
themselves and repent before God will relent. This is exactly what
happened to Nineveh. Jonah was sent to Nineveh when it was just 40
days from judgment. Then a miracle happened. From the king on down,
the entire country humbled themselves and repented. Although judgment
had been pronounced and God had even given them a date for their destruction,
God relented and Nineveh survived another 100 years before meriting
final judgment. Will America repent?
And what if judgment does come? Are you ready, physically and spiritually,
to be God's instrument to bring hope and healing? Don't despair or
grow depressed. There is Hope. Jesus has promised His children, those
who have been reborn of the Spirit, that He would never leave them
or forsake them. If you have accepted Jesus' free gift of salvation,
then no matter what happens in the future, He will be with you. When
the storms of life come against you, it will be possible for you to
stand by His mighty power and presence in your life.
God knows how to deliver His people. Noah and his family were protected
through Judgment by the Ark of their salvation. During their exodus
from Egypt, God fed the children of Israel with manna in the wilderness
and provided water out of solid rock. He even parted the Red Sea.
Lot and His family were escorted out of the city by Angels before
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
walked through the fire unharmed, because God was with them. "I have
never seen God's people forsaken, or their children begging for bread."
(Psalm 37:25b)
Psalms 23 and 91 are beautiful promises of God to preserve and comfort
his children. Read them, walk with the Lord, trust Him to preserve
you and protect you. God has begun to shake America, but Jesus says:
"Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also
in me" (John 14:1).
For the Turtle Rock community, in the middle of the California firestorms,
these promises became a reality. A wall of fire 200 feet high was
heading for their community. Destruction was all around. Many of God's
children were in that community. Their home church, when notified
of the impending disaster, went into corporate prayer for them. They
prayed: "God, your judgments are just, but there are righteous there,
like when you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah." They prayed for God
to stop the wind. The next day the papers reported: "It was like
a miracle, the fire came right up to the edge of the community and
then, inexplicably, the winds shifted and the fire took a right-hand
turn." After the fire, Turtle Creek looked like an island of safety
in a sea of destruction. Yes, God answers the prayers of His children.
And yes, God knows how to deliver His children.
"I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty."
(Hag 2.7)
"Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to
escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to
stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
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"Prophecy and Current Events" is an online newsletter published by: "To His Glory Ministries" Permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute for non-commercial purposes. Consider duplicating and distributing to friends, relatives, pastor or your church congregation. However, copying for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. CopyRight 2001, To His Glory Ministries, All Rights Reserved. We value your comments. Please forward them to us. NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. To subscribe to our email alert service -- send an email to: thglory-subscribe@myinjesus.com
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
Please Join Prayer Warriors Against Abortion
What's Next for America - Part 1
What's Next for America - Part 2
What's Next for America - Part 3
What's Next for America - Part 4
What's Next for America - Part 5
What's Next for America - Part 6
What's Next for America - Part 7
The Towers Have Fallen
Is Your Name Written in Heaven?
How to Pray for Your Moslem Neighbors
America's Real Enemies Revealed
What in Heaven is Happening to America - Part 1
What in Heaven is Happening to America - Part 2
What in Heaven is Happening to America - Part 3
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