2
(Continlledjrom cover)
One of many reasons I'm convineed that God's judgment
of America is on the horizon is the fact that so many
Christians who arc very serious about our Heavenly Father
arc having similar dreams and visions all across this nation
about foreign troops and disasters on American soil. I have
been collecting these dreams and visions to share with those
who arc interested in the subject.
I've also been considering some historical events
recorded in the book of Josephus. Josephus wrote that
during the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus's Roman army
around A.D. 70, a false prophet was the occasion of pcople's
destruction because he had made a proclamation they would
receive miraculous signs of their deliverance.
At that same time there was a great number of false
prophets who told the people that they should await
deliverance from God. This was in hopes of getting the
people to be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes.
Most people were persuaded by these deceivers and did
not give credit to the signs that were so evident and that
plainly foretold their future desolation. They were, as
Josephus put it, "without either eyes to sce or minds to
consider" the denunciation that God made to them. At that
time there were signs that the "unskilled," as Josephus called
them, thought were good things. But the men of
understanding knew that all the many signs were warnings
of desolations that would come upon them. As we know,
those desolations did indeed come upon them. The horrors
of that war arc too gruesome to mention.
There were Christians in Jerusalem who had
supematural foreknowledge in the form of visions, dreams,
etc., about the city's destruction. Those who heeded the
warnings fled to the mountains prior to the city's destruction,
thereby preserving their lives.
With all that in mind, why should Christians in America
expect to be "raptured" out of here before going through
any bad times of tribulation? What about all the scriptures
that prove otherwise? (If we've read the Bible enough, we know
such scriptures are there.) What about Christians in places like
Africa, China, Indonesia, etc., who arc suffering severe
persecution and willingly giving their lives for Christ? They
are undoubtedly stronger Christians than we Americans are.
Do we think we'll escape trouble because we're
American? Here's what the Word of God has to say about
this prideful attitude that has been prevalent around the
country, especially since the World Trade Center towers
were destroyed: "Pride goeth before destmction, and a
haughty spirit before a fall." That's in Proverbs 16: 18.
Also, in Proverbs 18: 12 we're told, "Before destruction
the heart of man is haughty ... " God hates pride! And
here we are in this sin-infested society wallO\ving in our
national pride commanding God to bless America! America'
- 45 million babies aborted, acceptance of homosexuality
and divorce (even in the church), teenage rebellion, explosion
of drug abuse (highest in the world), promiscuity, pornography,
dumbing down of children, high taxation, gross immorality
and corruption at the highest levels of the U.S. government,
etc. God is not going to bless America, He's going to judge
America and in His mercy He's been warning us.
The World Trade Center destruction resulted in yet more
national pride rather than the desperately needed national
repentance. There were three main reasons why the city
of Sodom was destroyed. Ezekiel 16 verse 49: "Behold
this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom. pride, fullness
of bread, and abundance of idleness .... " Does that not
also reflect present-day America?
God has blessed this nation in the past. There was a
time, not even all that long ago, when Americans were highly
esteemed among other nations. Some remember a time
when pcople didn't feel the need to lock their doors, school
kids were reprimanded for chewing gum and talking at
inappropriate times, murder and rape crimes were very rare,
abortion was practically unheard of and divorce was more
like a dirty word rather than the household word that it is
today.
Throughout recorded history, nations that were about
to receive God's judgment were warned in advance. WE
are being warned!
In reading the Scriptures, we can be assured that God
is willing and able to be a refuge for those who seck His
face and put their trust in Him. Psalm 9:9-10 says, "The
Lord also will be a refUge for the oppressed. a rejilge in
times of trouble, and they that know thy name will put
their tmst in thee. for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them
that seek thee. "
We must put all of our trust in our Heavenly Father and
fear only Him who can destroy both body and soul. We
must be strong in the Lord and get rid of that prideful attitude
that causes us to think that because we're American we'll
be raptured out of here before any turbulent times can hit
us. We must do some introspection and see where we full
short of God's best in our thoughts, words, and actions and
begin to rid ourselves of our hypocrisy. God knows we're
at different levels in our understanding and I believe He
allows some slack for that just as we allow slack ,vith our
younger children because they're young. It's possible to
hold on to hypocrisy and not even be aware of it. We need
to begin to ask God to help us see for ourselves where we
fall short, asking Him to create in us a elean heart and renew
a right spirit ,vithin us.
The times of trouble ahead ,WI no doubt be very serious.
Anyone "ho thinks God would not allow such destruction should
rc:ul the entire Bible, over and over, cover to cover. That is the
only way to rcal.Iyknow the Creator's heart.
- Julie rumer