Post by Jennibella on Jun 5, 2007 23:45:13 GMT -5
Where does America fit into the future world of End Time prophecy? Will America continue to be blessed as a nation? Will this country lift up the standard of God’s Word and honor Christ?
Just as was the cry of the false prophets, who made themselves popular by preaching peace & prosperity to a backslidden Israel prior to the Lord sending them into Babylonian exile in the days of Jeremiah (Jer. 23:16-22), so too do we hear the message of "all is well" and "peace and prosperity" in our land. But any discerning Christian can see the proverbial ‘handwriting on the wall' regarding the pagan-like culture which has beset the United States-"You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting" (Dan. 5:27)
But the good news is that God may relent in His judgment of the U.S. And though much of the following has its direct application in Israel, the principals involved also apply to America because of the instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray for political leaders so that God may continue His work of grace in the hearts of men:
1. The prayers of the righteous may invoke our Sovereign God to delay His judgement on the U.S.-"If...My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chr. 7:14)
2. A relatively small number of godly people, with fervent prayer (which "availeth much", James 5.16), can prevail upon the compassion of the Lord with great effect-"Then he [Abraham] said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten[10 righteous people] are found there [in Sodom]?' And He [God] said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.'" (Gen. 18:32 )
3. The Lord is Sovereign in His dealings with the fate of nations-"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?...Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."-But His grace abounds-"...If that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it..."(Jer. 18:6-10)
So then, let us lift up "entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings...for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity..." in these United States. (1 Tim. 2:1-4) It has been done before in a neo-pagan culture: "And seek the welfare of the city [Babylon-the mother of pagan cultures] where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." ( Jer. 29:7)
It is my opinion that the reason God has not yet judged this nation-the nation that has taken systematic steps to substitute an "evolved creation" for the Infinite Creator, then officially expelled Him from all public schools and state buildings, aborted the lives of countless of its children, and which has classified "freedom from decency," as "freedom of speech" -yes, the reason God has not yet judged such a nation is because we have not yet cursed Israel! " (Gen. 12:3) But Oh!, that day is coming according to the prophets." For I will gather all the nations ["all" includes America!] against Jerusalem to battle..." Zec.14:2
We know that the Lord has relented in His judgment, or delayed it, on numerous occasions, with Israel, as well as with other nations. With the Assyrian city of Nineveh, for example, he delayed its destruction for 70 years when they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Likewise, may our country's leaders-and may our Christian people who help elect those leaders-repent of the kinds of activity we see America indulging in on page 3 of this issue of The Spirit of Prophecy, "For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...for rulers are servants of God..." (Rom:13:1,6) Pray for America!
Prophecy Update
Just as was the cry of the false prophets, who made themselves popular by preaching peace & prosperity to a backslidden Israel prior to the Lord sending them into Babylonian exile in the days of Jeremiah (Jer. 23:16-22), so too do we hear the message of "all is well" and "peace and prosperity" in our land. But any discerning Christian can see the proverbial ‘handwriting on the wall' regarding the pagan-like culture which has beset the United States-"You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting" (Dan. 5:27)
But the good news is that God may relent in His judgment of the U.S. And though much of the following has its direct application in Israel, the principals involved also apply to America because of the instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray for political leaders so that God may continue His work of grace in the hearts of men:
1. The prayers of the righteous may invoke our Sovereign God to delay His judgement on the U.S.-"If...My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chr. 7:14)
2. A relatively small number of godly people, with fervent prayer (which "availeth much", James 5.16), can prevail upon the compassion of the Lord with great effect-"Then he [Abraham] said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten[10 righteous people] are found there [in Sodom]?' And He [God] said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.'" (Gen. 18:32 )
3. The Lord is Sovereign in His dealings with the fate of nations-"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?...Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."-But His grace abounds-"...If that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it..."(Jer. 18:6-10)
So then, let us lift up "entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings...for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity..." in these United States. (1 Tim. 2:1-4) It has been done before in a neo-pagan culture: "And seek the welfare of the city [Babylon-the mother of pagan cultures] where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." ( Jer. 29:7)
It is my opinion that the reason God has not yet judged this nation-the nation that has taken systematic steps to substitute an "evolved creation" for the Infinite Creator, then officially expelled Him from all public schools and state buildings, aborted the lives of countless of its children, and which has classified "freedom from decency," as "freedom of speech" -yes, the reason God has not yet judged such a nation is because we have not yet cursed Israel! " (Gen. 12:3) But Oh!, that day is coming according to the prophets." For I will gather all the nations ["all" includes America!] against Jerusalem to battle..." Zec.14:2
We know that the Lord has relented in His judgment, or delayed it, on numerous occasions, with Israel, as well as with other nations. With the Assyrian city of Nineveh, for example, he delayed its destruction for 70 years when they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Likewise, may our country's leaders-and may our Christian people who help elect those leaders-repent of the kinds of activity we see America indulging in on page 3 of this issue of The Spirit of Prophecy, "For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...for rulers are servants of God..." (Rom:13:1,6) Pray for America!
Prophecy Update