An Urgent Admonition for America

I'm deeply concerned about the suffering of people in the Middle East and Africa who are caught in the crossfire of radical Islamic organizations hell-bent on precipitating the apocalypse and the coming of their Mahdi to judge the world. While I pray that these evil forces are brought to a hasty and final demise, I would also give an urgent admonition to America to wholeheartedly return to God before engaging with hubris against this kingdom of fear. Here's why:

Joshua was regarded as a great spiritual and military leader of Israel. His initial conquest of the land of Canaan resulted in the defeat of the heavily fortified city of Jericho in the most miraculous conquest ever recorded. In the very next chapter of the book of Joshua we see what happens when the people become complacent and lax with respect to their covenant with God.

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few." So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water. (‭Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭2-5‬ NASB)

Swollen with pride following their miraculous defeat of Jericho, Israel not only underestimated their enemy, but overestimated their own power and their relationship with God. You see, Israel was commanded to have no part in the customs and possessions of the Canaanites, but at least one Israelite had taken spoils from Jericho and hidden them. This sin had broken Israel's covenant relationship with God and made them spiritually weak. The "JV team" at Ai was ready for them and easily defeated the "B team" Israeli troops, instilling terror in all the camp of Israel.

In a desperate petition to God, God explained why Israel was not defended by the armies of God.

Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, "There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst." (‭Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭11-13‬ NASB)

The American Covenant

Like the nation of Israel, America has entered a covenant with God and received his abundant blessings and mercy. But now we see a very different America and her western allies. America no longer boasts in God but in her military might, and in her libertine freedoms. Instead of righteousness and justice, America has chosen a foundation of tolerance and moral ambiguity.

Instead of defending Biblical families, we not only accept but promote alternative lifestyles and use the power of government to bless those lifestyles and force all to accept and condone it.

Instead of defending innocent unborn children we use government funds to pay doctors to murder them in the womb.

We use the power of technology to produce and distribute graphic entertainment to pollute the minds of young men and boys, and we use our God-given constitution to defend the rights of these sex trafficking predators who profit from their trade around the world.

We borrow from future generations to squander our wealth on debauchery and allow our black markets to finance the gangs and terrorist organizations that seek our destruction. Now we have even opened the door to produce our own drugs and become intoxicated with the delusion of our own sorcery.

We experience drought and severe weather but blame industry and global warming instead of repenting and asking for God's mercy. Think about the words to this patriotic poem and song.

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

America, America, did not God shed His grace on thee? What ever happened to "thy good crowned with brotherhood?" Why have we turned our backs on Him now in this time of darkening clouds?

We must turn back to God if we wish to see our children and heirs inherit this land of blessing and liberty. We must neither ignore the threat, nor cower in fear, nor rush to war without first seeking purity and national unity under the God of our fathers. The time is short and the mountain is high; please pray with me that we will see revival in this land and around the world, starting with me, my family, and the body of Christ!

The Divided Kingdoms of Satan

The final empire in Nebuchadnezzar's dream from Daniel chapter 2 is a kingdom characterized by the strength of iron, yet in its final form it is divided into "feet and toes" of iron and clay. I will relate this to a statement Jesus made regarding a kingdom divided against itself, and the meaning of the final conflict in the book of Revelation.

The statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream is symbolic of coming empires that will rule the earth. Most bible scholars equate the final empire in Daniel 2 to Rome, with various explanations of the union of vassal states comprising the toes of the statue. Many western scholars claim that the toes of this statue still rule the earth today, being mostly European states and former colonies that maintain a weak hold on power in "old earth" west of Eden.

If you have studied European history you know that the Roman Empire was divided into two empires after Constantine established Byzantium as the new "Rome". The weak successors of Constantine were unable to maintain the vast military dominion of the old Roman Empire, and gradually allowed the empire to be divided into an Eastern and Western alliance. The Byzantine or Eastern Empire was able to maintain its iron grip on the Middle East for a few hundred more years until the rise of the Islamic Caliphates overthrew their seat of power and established the Ottoman Empire in what is now called Istanbul.

During the time that the Byzantines ruled the Eastern Empire, the Western Empire deteriorated into the clay of feudalism and internal conflict. Though there were several attempts to reconstruct a revived Holy Roman Empire, none would ever prove to be as strong and durable as the iron kingdom that came before. The last attempt to reconstitute the Roman Empire (the so-called Third Reich) ended in the destruction of both the western and eastern empires (Germany and the Ottoman Empire) during the world wars of the twentieth century.

What we have left today are still two kingdoms divided against each other. These are border-less kingdoms which I will call the Kingdom of Greed and the Kingdom of Fear. In the book of Revelation they are known as Mystery Babylon and the Beast respectively.

The Kingdom of Greed - Babylon the Great

Mystery Babylon is a harlot, a city that sits on many waters. She is the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth.

Babylon is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. The merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. Babylon has become rich by shipments of every kind of luxurious and splendid cargo - horses and chariots (i.e. cars, trucks, military equipment) and human lives (slavery or human trafficking). Babylon is also the merchant of arts and entertainment, of fine foods and wines and all manner of music. It uses all these things to make a sorcerer's brew by which it intoxicates and deceives its denizens.

Babylon is the love of money, the root of all kinds of evil. It is the kingdom of Mamona (wealth) which draws people away from the kingdom of God. It is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness used by sinful men to reject the Giver of life, liberty and happiness.

Babylon is the city in which most Jews were comfortable to stay and never return to the holy land of their fathers. It is the city that first intended to build a tower to heaven, from which Abram and his family left to find the land of promise.

In short, Babylon is the world, and all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. The citizens of Babylon are motivated and dominated by these worldly passions.

Babylon trusts in its wealth and military might to guard its life of splendor and luxury. Babylon knows no earthly or temporal boundaries, but today is referred to as "the west" by those who live in the kingdom of fear.

What makes Babylon a harlot is that the citizens of Babylon once knew God, but did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their speculations and darkened in their hearts. This is the apostate people that once invoked the blessing of God on their bountiful harvests, but now seek to reject the very mention of His name.

The Kingdom of Fear - The Beast

The beast of Revelation is a seven-headed monster which rises from the sea before the coming final conflict.

The heads of the beast are seven kingdoms that have ruled the holy land since the time of Abraham. They are Egypt, Assyria, ancient Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the Islamic caliphates. The beast is also the eighth kingdom which is one of the seven, which had a fatal wound that will be healed.

This beast rules a kingdom of fear. The kingdom of fear is the fear of man, the fear of death, the fear of fear itself. It is based on laws and brutal punishments that cannot bring life, but can only bring men into bondage to other men.

The kingdom of fear is the enemy of joy and peace; it loves only warfare and violence. The kingdom of fear has utter disdain for mercy and forgiveness; it lives for bloodshed and vengeance; it seeks power only to subjugate and terrorize its subjects.

The kingdom of fear appears to be at peace when all its subjects live under the dominion of fear.

The kingdom of fear knows no earthly or temporal boundaries, but today is most dominant in totalitarian countries outside the "western realm of influence". These regimes tend to support each other, as the Axis powers did in the world wars and as China and Russia today support despotic regimes in the Middle East and Africa.

Modern technology has allowed the kingdom of fear to spread rapidly around the world. The "Net" so to speak is being used like a great fishing net to dredge the remnants of Islamic radicalism from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. While the citizens of Babylon attempt to use technology to spread the kingdom of greed, the kingdom of fear is stronger, like iron is stronger than clay. Only the mountain of the kingdom of God can crush these kingdoms of iron and clay.

It is apparent to me that the final head of the beast is likely to be an Islamic caliphate that will rule the world for the final hour. It could also be that its caliph will overcome the apostate church and take its seat in place of the pope in Rome. However this turns out, make no mistake, that final hour is near.

The Final Hour

Jesus said "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" Indeed, in the final hour, the divided kingdoms of Satan will be arrayed against each other - the beast and his kingdom of fear against the kingdom of Babylon, and Babylon will fall. This is the meaning of this verse:

And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."

But this hour will be quickly followed by the One called Faithful and True and His armies from heaven, who will cast the beast and his false prophet alive into the lake of fire and feed his followers to the birds who fly in mid-heaven. That's a scene that would make even Alfred Hitchcock cry for mercy.

The Kingdom of God

God's people are called to come out of Babylon to escape her sins and the judgments that are coming upon her. There is another kingdom that knows no earthly boundaries for the people of God, called the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, Mount Zion or the heavenly Jerusalem. The citizens of this kingdom are motivated by love and loyalty to their King, and follow Him day and night.

For those living in the kingdom of fear, God has provided a way out. He made a part of Himself to appear in human flesh, and through His own death has rendered the devil powerless over you. If you choose to become His disciple (just as you may now be following another so-called prophet), you can come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the glorious light. God calls this man His Son, and His son (whom we know as Jesus) calls us His brethren if we choose to follow Him and be called by His name. Yes, our God is One God, but he chose to reveal Himself to mankind in the body of Jesus, and promises to save those who call on His name. This man, whom some in the kingdom of fear know as Isa, is more than a prophet, and more than just a man. He is our Savior and our High Priest and our King, if you choose to be part of His kingdom. Just ask Him to deliver you from your sins, accept you into His kingdom and fill you with His Holy Spirit of life-giving power!

There's Something About Noah

Science is funny to me because it is based on an assumption that sometimes forces wrong conclusions. The foundation of modern science is an assumption that all events have natural causes and can be explained by physical laws and properties.

Although this assumption has been at the core of many advances in understanding and has defeated lazy science and superstition in advanced societies, it fails when in fact there IS a supernatural force at work. When we're talking about really big events like creation or the flood, there are some important gaps that science just cannot close.

Noah and Other Really Old Men

Look at the story of Noah in the book of Genesis. Before the flood came upon the earth man's lifespans were much greater - Noah's father lived to 777 years of age and his grandfather Methuselah was the granddaddy of them all at 969 years of age. Even Noah himself (literally the granddaddy of them all) lived three hundred fifty years after the flood, making him one of the oldest characters in the Bible. After the flood lifespans began to rapidly decrease until they reached roughly what they are today. You can see that in the diagram below. God seems to have placed a limit on lifespans of 120 years, as foretold in Genesis 6:3:

Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:3 NASB

Many years ago I remember reading an article in a national news magazine in which they revealed that archaeologists had discovered a remarkably modern-looking human skeleton that dated back to times when all other human skeletons looked much more ape-like. These ancient humans had thicker bones and larger skulls. The scientists were puzzled that a smaller boned modern man could be discovered in that time frame. This only makes sense if you consider that it was the rare person before the flood who died earlier than 100 years of age, maybe due to an accident or murder. This odd modern-looking skeleton from that era could have been such an early casualty. If you consider that God made changes in mankind after the flood to shorten their lives, the larger skulls and bones of ancient humans who may have had more than 900 years of bone growth makes more sense.

Another thing to consider if you are interested in science and anthropology: assuming there were people who actually lived nearly a thousand years, that would allow much more variety in skeletal development over such a long period of time. Humans go through periodic genetic mutations as they age - 900 years or more would allow many more genetic mutations and this could explain the wide variety of hominid fossils found in roughly the same time periods. We need more scientists who are willing to consider the Bible when formulating theories about the early stages of life on earth. (Reference: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/17/skull-homo-erectus-human-evolution)

Noah and the End Times

Recently I learned that some scientists now believe they may be able to extend the life expectancy of humans to many times the current limits using embryonic or placental stem cells which would be stored and re-injected later in life when the original stem cells start to die. This leads me to wonder, it seems that God has placed a limit on the lifespan of mankind - if man is on the brink of breaking this barrier, would God intervene again as he did at the tower of Babel when he confused and scattered mankind?

Perhaps this tinkering with the foundation of life, especially if it involves embryonic stem cells from aborted human babies, is what will ultimately release the wrath of God and culminate in the return of Christ. In that case I have a new understanding of this verse:

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Matthew 24:37 NASB

People who live really long lives can become really evil. That's what happened then and I expect that's what would happen again.

Noah and Abraham

Speaking of Noah's lifespan, I just realized that long lives mean that people would be around to see many more generations. This might astonish you - Noah was still alive during the first 58 years of Abraham's life. I don't know if Abram (as he was then called) ever met Noah, but if he did that would help explain where he got his great faith in God. Noah's son Shem (who was 100 years old when he entered the ark) stayed around even longer, living until after the children of Israel were born. Methuselah could have known Adam for a few hundred years, and Noah probably knew Methuselah for five hundred years. I can imagine Noah talking to Methuselah - Grandpa Methuselah tell me about Adam and the Garden of Eden again! Tell me about when God took your daddy to heaven in a chariot of fire! I imagine Methuselah had a great influence on Noah. Methuselah was a preacher's kid; his father Enoch was probably the most amazing preacher of all time, warning about the second coming of Christ before anyone even knew there was going to be a nation of Israel or a Messiah to save them. Perhaps for Noah's sake God delayed the flood until Methuselah died.

One final thought: genealogies are not a problem if most of your ancestors for the last thousand years are still alive. It doesn't have to be based on word of mouth passed from generation to generation; if you have doubts just go straight to the source and ask. We tend to just forget about people after the Bible drops them off, but many of these characters went on for hundreds of years after the last Bible story about them. Here's a little visual aid...

Patriarch Timeline - Click to enlarge

Aaron's God

Shortly after Moses led the nation of Israel out of Egypt, Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 elders went up on Mt. Sinai and to see God. He was standing on pavement that had an appearance like clear blue sapphire (Ex. 24:9). These men had a close encounter with the eternal God, yet God withheld His consuming fire and allowed these men to eat and drink and return to their camp in the wilderness.

A few days later while Moses was still on the mountain, the people of Israel came and told Aaron to make a new god to go before them. Aaron did not hesitate or council them to turn back to the one true God, but immediately used his God-given gift to fashion a molten idol from their gold jewelry.

It's hard to believe somebody with great authority like Aaron could have a direct, personal encounter with God and then turn away to false gods so quickly. What happened to the "Angel of God" who was sent to lead them through the wilderness into the promised land? He did not leave them; they simply weren't following. You see, the people of Israel weren't really following Christ, they were following Moses. When Moses was gone, it became apparent that they didn't really have true faith.

I've had extended times in my life where I was only living to please Christians, instead of living to please Christ. It's pretty hard to tell the difference from the outside, but during this time I knew on the inside that I had become weak in faith. Like the children of Israel I spent years wandering around the wilderness following whoever I was with on that day of the week. I even encountered God directly at times, but my mind quickly wandered back to my wilderness, and my heart and spirit gradually grew cold.

Aaron didn't have a strong personal faith in God, and he allowed Israel to stray into idolatry, even making the very idol that brought God's wrath. Yet by God's mercy, Aaron remained the high priest and patriarch of the Levitical priesthood. Aaron and the rest of Israel were under the covenant of the law. Moses and his protege Joshua were under the covenant of grace. In a manner of speaking Aaron's god was Moses, who kept him under the bondage of the Torah law until the age of grace came to all men through Jesus Christ. With the exception of a few great men and women of faith, the entire nation of Israel was under this law of sin and death.

I think God sometimes allows godly men like Moses to be drawn away from their followers to separate those who are following God from those who are following men. It is times like these that test our faith and reveal whether it is built on an everlasting foundation. When I finally realized that I was following men and not God, I became desperate to find a deeper personal faith that could not be shaken. Praise God, I think I found it!

Brush Strokes From Heaven

A friend of mine from college occasionally writes a prophetic message under the title "Brush Strokes from Heaven". I hope he doesn't mind if I borrow his title, but when I saw this sunset last night those were the words that came to mind.

Occasionally I like to watch the science channel when they talk about the universe. In the last decade or so since the Hubble telescope became operational, scientists have been able to identify thousands of planets in nearby solar systems. What they have learned should come as no surprise to Christians - our planet is unique, and as we discover more planets in space we come to a deeper appreciation of this unique gift that God has given us. God gave us both dominion and stewardship over this beautiful blue planet. I will look to heaven with gratefulness in my heart as long as my eternal father gives me breath!

Refining Fire

Today I visited a church in Ingram, Texas with a good friend and brother-in-Christ. I was blessed because of what the pastor spoke about - seeking and seeing God's face.

He started with Exodus 33:20:

"But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

The pastor asked if that were true, why did Exodus 33:11 say "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one would speak to a friend?"

I had been studying Exodus 24 just this past week where it says that the elders of Israel "saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank."

As the pastor pointed out, why is the Bible full of admonitions to "seek God's face" if seeing God would bring death? His point was that the verse in Ex 33:11 only applied to that one time. But I saw a larger point.

I also studied the meaning of the word "fire" last week (at a friend's request). I found some interesting things about fire. Fire consumes the sacrifices laid on the altar before God. The Bible says God himself is a "consuming fire". In that same chapter of Exodus 24, "to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top."

Moses and the elders of Israel passed through this consuming fire and returned alive. If this can be the case, why does the Bible say that no man can see God and live? Put another way, what dies in the presence of God?

The Greek word for fire is "PYR" or "PUR". This Greek root is found in English as "pyre" and "pyromania" for example. I believe it is also at the root of the word "purify", as when a refiner purifies metal in a fire.

If it's not obvious by now, being in the presence of God will destroy our flesh and energize our spirits. This is why we are admonished to seek God's face, to allow his intense glory to burn away the dross in our lives and expose the precious mettle of Jesus! Glory to the God of heaven whose burning majesty will consume his enemies! Jesus said "he who loses his life for my sake will find it." Paul said to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" to be consumed by the blaze of his glory on the altar of this earthly life. It is a terrible wonderful thing to come into God's presence: terrible if we come in the flesh, but wonderful to know that what separates us from God is dying there in His presence just the same. If we dwell in His presence, one day we will "shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven" when there is no more flesh to burn away.

Why Does God Harden Hearts?

My bible study teacher and former pastor posed a question one night as he taught from the Gospel of Mark. "Why do you suppose God would harden hearts so they could not hear the words of Jesus and be saved?" He was teaching in reference to these verses:

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' ”

Mark 4:10-12 NASB

I think he had some ideas but wanted to hear ours. I was stumped too. Sometimes you think you know everything till you try to tell someone else. I just sat and listened to other people answer, but I wanted God to speak to me. It took a few days but as usual He whispered to me in my sleep.

Jesus spoke these verses to those who followed him AND those he chose as apostles. To them he chose to reveal the mysteries of God. This was seed sown in good soil. Their open hearts would melt and dissolve the outer shell on the seed and allow the roots to begin to grow.

Not so with the bystanders and critics who came to hear him speak. To them, their hard hearts were like the hard stone road that could never cause the seed to open and take root. They would hear and mock, or record his words to be used against him. Or they would shrug and dismiss him as another crazy prophet from Galilee. Or they would consider his words and turn away because of other concerns and cares.

Isaiah 6:9 which he quoted, seems to say that God hardened their heart so they would not receive the word and repent. Knowing the mysteries of the kingdom cannot save a man's soul.

Paul said in I Corinthians 13 "though I know all mysteries and all knowledge...but do not have love, I am nothing." Understanding Jesus' parables would only make sinners into "righteous-looking sinners". The words used in Mark seem to say "lest they turn and escape judgment." This escape would be short-lived because though the mind may be changed the heart would not be.

It reminds me of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Man grasped for knowledge in hope of being like God, but it did not make him like God because in doing so he was in rebellion against God. Instead the knowledge made him puffed up, like in Romans 1 "they became futile in their speculation and their foolish heart was darkened." As their foolish heart was darkened, they could no longer see God or find his blessings of life.

So the proper way to approach God is to first leave our own lives behind and follow Jesus. Then he will give us a new heart, made of flesh and not of stone. The same sunlight that hardens clay can melt ice; it is our composition that determines our disposition. It's not that God does not want all men to be saved, but that he requires us first to make a decision to follow Jesus and receive a new heart, before the life-giving word can be sown and grown there.

I have seen Jesus pass by my place many times in life. Many times I welcomed him and listened to his teaching, even worshiping him with tears. Lately those tears have been nourishing the seed of his word in my own heart. I want to follow him now, not as a passive observer, but as a sold-out disciple. My sincere prayer is to have the faith to leave everything behind and follow Jesus unconditionally, every morning of every day. I know that he is patient, but some mornings it seems like he has gone up the mountain to pray, and I'm still down here struggling with life.

Lord Jesus, let your word bear fruit in my life, and in those whose lives I touch!