With Words from that Most Sure Word of Prophecy the Bible, Regarding Justice for National Sins.
In
our country's early years, when deciding how to determine the
population of each American State, the delegates of the
Constitutional Convention came up against the issue of slavery. At
this Convention, many great voices were raised in favor of abolishing
slavery everywhere in the Union, but other voices were raised in
opposition. To present a united front to the world of the eve of
Independence, the Continental Congress in 1776 postponed the handling
of this explosive issue. (Under the Confederation, however, it did
abolish slavery in all areas north of the Ohio River, and later
formed states were “free states” where slavery was not
permitted.)
Not
much later, during Congress, the slavery issue arose again when
debating the question of controlling interstate and international
commerce. Charles Pickney and John Rutledge of South Carolina spoke
up in favor of continuing the importation of slaves. At this point
George Mason of Virginia could contain himself no longer. He rose
and sternly warned his fellow delegates:
“Every
master of slaves is born a petty tyrant. They bring the judgment of
heaven upon a country. As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in
the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of
causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national
calamities.”
It
is tragic that Mason's timely warning went unheeded by a sufficient
number of delegates. Again, this explosive issue was shelved.
Congress gained the right to regulate the interstate and foreign
commerce which had been causing so much friction between the states,
but pro slavery forces achieved a deplorable victory: They succeeded
in preventing Congress from even considering abolishing the
importation of slaves until 1808! The handling of the slavery issue
was unquestionably a serious blot on the work of the Constitutional
Convention which opened itself up to divine direction in so many
other ways and accomplished so much of enduring worth. It should
serve to remind us what Madison understood so well: the sin nature of
man often prevents him from accomplishing all that God would have him
do. But God is not mocked. Although it took a disastrous Civil War,
His providence achieved the abolition of slavery through blood when
it could so easily have been achieved by the pen. It is a lesson
that God blesses us to the extent that we rely on Him – in regard
to slavery we did not. It's also a lesson that God will eliminate
evil through judgment if we will not willingly rid ourselves of
wickedness.
George
Mason's words about national sins today ring more clearly: “They
bring the judgment of heaven upon a country. As nations cannot be
rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an
inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national
sins by national calamities.”
Today
the guilt of other sins bloody our nation's hands. Just one of these
sins is abortion. In 1860 there were over 3,950,000 slaves, which
was more than 12.5 % of the US population then. Today just since
1973 when the US Supreme Court legalized abortion we have aborted
nearly 60,000,000 babies. That is nearly 20% of our current
citizenship of 320 million, and that is babies just in our
country alone. (Nearly 2 billion babies have been aborted worldwide;
this blood cries out for global judgment. Will it be a WW3?) We
also send tens of millions of dollars annually to fund abortions
internationally. We also outlawed Prayer (in 1962) and the Bible
(1963) in our schools, we produce, consume, imitate, and export and
corrupt the world with wicked movies, abominable pornography and
satanic gaming. Our country's trade treaties with the world also
push “diversity education” (read: aberrant sexuality teachings)
in the schools in order to trade favorably with us. I learned this
when living in Colombia and our country was pushing Latin American
countries to join the free trade agreement with us. Space does not
permit to discuss more about the blood of multitudes on our hands.
But in it all, the US church in general has often courted and
eventually consumed rather then confronted the world's wantonness.
Our multitudes of false prophet libertines along with her sheep-goats
have embraced sin while naming it spiritual liberty and praising
God's grace.
The very, black Friday night of 6-26-2015, I discovered that the US Supreme Court had announced their decision to force all US States to recognize same-sex marriages. Our country's president celebrated the decision of pronouncing a blessing on the sin of Sodom by lighting up the White House with the colors of the rainbow, that lovely and sacred symbol of God's promise that in spite of man's sin – pride, sexual freedom, lawlessness, and violence – He would never again destroy all the earth with a flood. President Obama while celebrating the judgment passed by the Supreme Court proclaimed, “sometimes justice arrives like a thunderbolt.” I immediately thought, “Our president has just spoken prophetic words.”
In spite of fasting and praying before the court's decision, I have cried and have had an even heavier heart since then and I spoke to Heather about this the same night. I shared our President's quote and told her of this verse that came into my mind upon reading Obama's prophetic words. “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”
The next morning my mind was still troubled by the decision to promote this abominable sin. As I prepared to read my Bible for the morning I prayed and hungered for a word from the Lord about this situation. I then opened up my Bible and perhaps the first thing my eyes fell upon was the same verse that God had brought to my mind the night before upon reading that Mr. Obama said in so many words that judgment sometimes falls like lightning. With out even looking for it, immediately God gave me the same verse as the night before. Isaiah 30:13, “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” “Oh, God, in wrath remember mercy,” has been my cry since then! “Save and sanctify as many souls as possible before destruction.”
Speaking of destruction. It makes me nervous when someone says that they are proud of anything. But it scared me when so many of our country's leaders said that they were proud of the Supreme Court's decision and then the millions celebrated not only in our land but around the world. For we know that “pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“Woe unto those who call evil good.” The man who lives in what is now a soiled White House said that the ruling "will strengthen all of our communities" by offering dignity... to all same-sex couples. The president calls the ruling "a victory for America." All this is opposite to the truth found in God's Word the Bible. It will weaken and endanger our communities while offering shame. And it was a downfall for America and a smashing blow upon the world.
After reading Isaiah 30:13, I immediately read the chapter and these words also stood out to me.
Woe
to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that
they may add sin to sin: (Isaiah 30:1)
[Rebellious
– we used to follow God but have rebelled. Our chief men have
deliberated and passed counsel and judgment to reject God and sin
even more.]
That
walk to go down into Egypt... (30:2)
[Egypt
– represents sin, bondage, slavery, and is always down.]
...this
is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear
the law of the LORD: (30:9)
[We've
known the truth, but are willfully rebelling, speaking lies, and are
trying to shut up God's Law.]
Which
say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us
right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (30:10,11)
[We
try to ignore, shut up, intimidate, and even threaten God's prophets
the preachers proclaiming truth. And we promote, quote, and reward
those ministers who speak only a non-confrontational Gospel and that
which makes us feel good.]
Wherefore
thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and
trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: (30:12)
[Sin
and especially the sin of Sodom involves: "Oppression" – violence,
injury, fraud, distress, cruelty, extortion, and enslavement.
"Perverseness" -- iniquity, a literal and figurative departing,
frowardness, a distortion and twisted change.]
Therefore
this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out
in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
(30:13)
[A
high, stone wall with a crack which has a swelling bow in it will at
any moment and when least expected suddenly fall. Such will be the
judgment for this sin. Sudden and unexpected judgment.]
And
he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is
broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be
found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or
to take water withal out of the pit. (30:14)
[Complete
ruin and destruction. A smashing which leaves the vessel completely
useless for even the most menial tasks. These are the vessels
prepared for destruction. We must make sure that we are through the
power of the blood of Jesus Christ vessels of gold and silver which
will survive and only be purified by the judgment to come.]
For
thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and
rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your
strength: and ye would not. (30:15)
[For
years God has been offering salvation from sin's bondage and
destruction by returning to God, but these sinners are rejecting
God's rest.]
But
ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee:
and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue
you be swift. (30:16)
[Such
says, “No, God. We have a plan. We'll do things our way and we'll
be able to work out our own escape from judgment.”]
One
thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall
ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and
as an ensign on an hill. (30:17)
[Judgment
will be so terrible, brutal, and fearful that in sheer terror a
thousand will flee with just one threatening them. So many will be
killed that only a few of God's children will escape.]
And
therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and
therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for
the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for
him. (30:18)
[In
all this judgment as well as afterward, God still waits with His arms
open with grace and mercy. Those truly waiting on God will be
blessed in this.]
Psa 62:4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
This
same sudden judgment will come upon the sinning “Christians” in
the churches too:
Isa
33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
fearfulness
hath surprised
the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who
among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
“Fearful surprise” means to suddenly be caught with no time to prepare. Dwelling with fire, dwelling on high, defense, and surety comes only from HOLY, PERFECT living before God. No amount of prepping can save you if God says “enough” to putting up with your sin.
(Notice that for the Christian, judgment fire will reveal the worth of his work:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble;
Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is.
If
any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive
a reward.
If
any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire. - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
(Some
Christians will be taken away too, but in mercy.)
The
righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it
to heart: and merciful men are
taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from
the evil to come.
(Isaiah 57:1)
Children
of God, take comfort. For God promises to protect and provide for His
who are holy in the midst of this sudden, terrible judgment. In the
previously mentioned sudden judgment chapter 30 of Isaiah, it is also
full of comforting promises to those who in times of judgment are seeking
and obeying God with all their heart.
Isa. 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: [Just enough bread and water in hard times, and true spiritual leadership present.]
Isa. 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. [God's extraordinary guidance in every step we take.]
Isa. 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. [Judgment will cause God's people to abhor and to cast aside that which takes God's place or grieves God.]
Isa. 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. [God will send rain upon our seed <preaching of the gospel, our children, our converts, and that which we plant> when we are able to sow the ground. Our flocks will be abundant, healthy, blessed of God, and feed in large pastures.]
Isa. 30:24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. [pure and plenteous; the best feed and an abundance of feed for the even the lowliest of beasts after the calamities of war. In the dark days ahead, remember this hope. It will end and God will heal even the food source as also mentioned in Malachi 4:2-3 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. ]
Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [Fountains for the thirsty even on the normally dry and barren mountains when God's many enemies are slaughtered and the great, the mighty, the cities, the glory of man falls to the ground. What abundance of water, like that in the days of Elijah after the drought and standoff on Mt. Carmel.]
Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [In the darkest of nights God's presence and grace will give joy as we tarry in His presence in worship, in prayer, and in the Word. Like Job, God's people will say, “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”]
As
the universal law of justice for sin comes to pass, this involves not
only ever increasing natural disasters, catastrophes, and plagues as
we see now. But God's Word teaches that Justice demands certain
sudden and fearful retribution against sin.
I
sincerely think that aside from a miraculous intervention of God, for
the USA this involves the sword both internally and from without. For
we have sinned against our own and against others. And remember the
wolves who are watching from the outside hope for a civil internal
bloodshed to weaken the beast enough to pounce and consume. Why do I
mention killing and war? Because Divine Law speaks of this.
“So
ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are:
for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of
the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed
it.” (Numbers 35:33)
Divine
laws will come to pass. If life for life is required and it is,
justice demands nearly 60 million for murdered babies alone, and many
more millions for the many little ones offended by our anti-Christ
laws and for offending the least of these little ones. Let us continue to fast and pray that, like
Nineveh, our whole nation might turn to God in repentance. And like Noah,
let us warn the world as we forsake all and labor to bring ourselves,
our families, and others into the only ark of safety, Jesus Christ.
Regarding
war, I recommend that parents try to win their family, teach their
children Bible, lead their children in the charge to fast and pray
for an awakening, and to learn to cry out for God's mercy and learn to depend on God's
mercy. This is the only sure refuge for our land.
We
dare not say, “It's not my problem; for I didn't create those
unGodly laws.” We must remember that God often gives tyrannical,
sin loving rulers to nation of people who forsake Him in order to
cause them to cry out to God and repent of their evil ways. Am I all
that God wants me to be? Am I earnest pressing forward to obey God's
laws with all of my heart? Do I delight greatly in God's
commandments? (Psalm 112)
............................
And
every nation can be a nation under God if it chooses to follow Christ
(Psalm 2:10-12; 33:12) Out of the group of Christians who met
together off the coast of New England, covenanting with their God to
form a nation that would glorify Him and spread His Gospel, many
others came and restated and strengthened their initial compact.
From this covenant with God and their willingness to apply His Word
to all areas of life came a Christian republic that has promoted the
greatest expansion of the Gospel since the early church, if not in
the history of man. We cannot rest now. Let us also forsake all to
obey Jesus Christ and His Word fearlessly before those who hate
Christ and hate us His followers. And when the dust settles, we will
find that we have inherited Christ's promises mentioned here and
throughout the Bible.
-pd,
The end of June through July 25, 2015
