Part
Two
God has always given man what he wants. One of Israel's darkest hours was the day God gave into their complaints about the leadership of Samuel and gave them Saul. Saul turned out to be one of Israel's most ruthless, deadly and evil kings in all her history. When we seek to rebel against God's appointed authority over our lives, we are not rejecting the authority, we are rejecting HIM! The story of Samuel, Saul and Israel is a warning to America as we enter the 2004 Presidential election season. The rebellion and lack of respect for our current President underscores a greater problem of a nation turning her back on God. He will "give us a king," if we're not careful that could very possibly be the catalyst for the destruction of this once mighty nation.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: 1 Samuel 8:19-21
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay;
but we will have a king over us; [20] That we also may be like all the nations;
and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
[21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the
ears of the Lord.
As we write this journal, we are now but days away from the mid-term elections of 2006 here in America. Just two years from the first Tuesday in November we will elect a new President as President Bush's second and final term will come to a close. I turned 41 this January and have now been part of each election since 1980 when I was a sophomore in High School and Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in an election that changed America's course from one of low morale to a bright future under the late President. Mr. Reagan was not perfect without a doubt, but the man understood the basic fundamental issues that a nation without God is a nation without a moral compass. Without a moral compass, America, along with any nation, will eventually be destroyed. Reagan sought to bring America back under that compass for the eight years he was in office. Under Mr. Carter, the nation had sunk into one of it's lowest points ever being humiliated by the Iranian hostage crisis that lasted from early 1979 till the very day Reagan took office in 1981. I remember sitting in my American History class on a cold afternoon in Bainbridge, Georgia when the news came across the television nearly 15 years ago now that seems like yesterday in the mind of this writer.
America back then was in a mess morally, spiritually and wanted change in 1980 for the better; as a result the nation wholeheartedly elected Ronald Reagan over the attempted re-election bid of what this writer believes was one of our worst Presidents ever -Jimmy Carter. Under eight years of Reagan's leadership we saw the end of Communism and one of the nation's greatest economic booms we had experienced in nearly five decades. God blessed the nation as the nation sought to turn it's heart back towards him at least to a degree. I don't laud ANY man after the flesh and Reagan is no different. He had his problems and was not perfect as no leader is. The difference between a godly leader and a wicked leader is what is their moral compass and passion for the nation. Reagan was concerned about America's morals and sought to lead it back to God as much as a human being possibly could do such.
Some of the books out now about Mr. Reagan, who of course passed away during the summer of 2004, indicate that the heart of a man, who may have in his zeal at times offended many, but who also who reached out to all citizens and offered the nation hope to stand on it's own two feet again and take pride in the words, "In God we Trust!" Those with wicked hearts tend to underscore the "WE," while godly leaders tend to underscore the "GOD," in the trust issue!
The last thing Reagan wanted and fought tooth and toenail with against the Democratic Party of the 1980s was America to turn into the socialist failure of the now former Soviet Union. Russia, an atheistic society, which went bankrupt in the mid-1980s under Reagan's watch. In the fall of 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, symbolically showing the end of communism all over the world.
It is the belief of this writer that the reason the wall fell was more than just Reagan's politics. God was at work in this time of history orchestrating events in the spirit realm THEN that have implications and results of things we see happening today! The demonic principality that had controlled much of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union was set aside to be replaced by another. I believe there is a good possibility if not probability that the principality foretold in Scripture that will control the Antichrist is the one which replaced the one which held most of Eastern Europe under the grip of Communism. This principality that we speak of is the one spoken of in Revelation 17 - the "beast out of the abyss," which if not already ascended is soon to make his debut soon and launch the career of the Antichrist. This "beast" in Revelation 17 is not a man like the beasts spoken of in Revelation 13 are, but a controlling SPIRIT that will hold sway over the Earth for 7 years during the time known as Jacob's Trouble - the Great Tribulation period. (For a full detailed discussion see our Revelation Study Of Prophecy)
Rev. 17:10-13
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet
come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that
was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into
perdition. [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have
received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the
beast.
The prophet Daniel was told by Michael that the struggles and conflicts of the end times would be controlled by two principalities - the Prince of Grecia and the Prince of Persia.
Daniel 10:12-21 - Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel:
for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to
chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy
words. [13] But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty
days: but, lo, Michael, one of
the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of
Persia. [14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people
in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. [15] And when he had
spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
[16] And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips:
then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, O my
lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no
strength. [17] For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?
for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there
breath left in me. [18] Then there came again and touched me one like the
appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, [19] And said, O man greatly
beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he
had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou
hast strengthened me. [20] Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto
thee? and now will I return to fight with the
prince of Persia: and when I am
gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia
shall come.
[21] But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of
truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your
prince.
We must always remember that events in the natural world take place years, possibly centuries after events take place in the Spirit realm. Events in the spirit realm control what takes place in the natural realm. What Daniel saw was the main principality that would control events leading up to the advent of Antichrist and the second coming of Christ after the Great Tribulation. Events on earth will not "just happen," they will be orchestrated by God through angels and demon powers in the heavenlies - even in the end times. Yes, even Satan's work on the earth will be on a leash held always by his Creator - God the Father. It is this writer's opinion that the "prince," Daniel saw in the spirit realm in the 10th chapter is the same one John saw in the "spirit" realm in Revelation 17. These powers will have their sphere of rule limited to mainly the Middle East region around Israel and the Mediterranean Sea during the Great Tribulation but the entire world will feel the effects of that rule!
America, like all nations, also has principalities influencing our land for righteousness or evil as well! Believe what you want to, but I believe the reason the election of 2000 was so intense and volatile was a spiritual war that was taking place over this nation in the heavenly realm between the powers of darkness and the powers of righteousness. This war was for the heart and soul of the nation seeking to put at least a modicum of godly leadership back in Washington. Mr. Clinton, and I don't mean this as a personal attack on the man, (so if my God-bless your heart relatives are reading this I'm not bashing Democrats) was not the most moral President America ever had to be sure. Within three days of taking office, Mr. Clinton opened up a flood gate of abortion, homosexuality and through his policies put America once again at risk from her enemies by stripping the military budgets of the Pentagon in lieu of social programs he had promised to power groups who got him elected. In 1996 there were investigations that went no-where thanks to the incompetence of Janet Reno, the country's worst attorney general in history, over whether Clinton and Gore gave up classified American intelligence to the Chinese in lieu of donations to help them get re-elected. I guess when we all are eating Chinese food with a Chinese gun stuck to our heads as a nation we'll know then won't we.
America had suffered through eight years of a moral oblivion under Mr. Clinton despite the media's portrayal of him being a great President and leader. Yes, America was economically booming at the time which many believe could be traced back to the results of Reagan policies in the late 1980s that came full circle in the cycles on economics during Mr. Clinton's tenure in office.
Reagan's economic policies in the 1980s came on the heels of a moral revival to a degree but sadly, the nation's repentance was shallow and many rebelled and foamed at the mouth at Reagan's faith. But the leadership's moral clarity changed and as a result the nation was blessed a great deal more than it was under Carter. Mr. Clinton's economic boom came on the heels of a moral upheaval and the collapse of the nation's soul and heart. One economic boom was real, the other false. Sadly, many in the nation, as well as the church, mistook Clinton's so-called economic era as a sign God was pleased with the moral collapse of the nation. It's always been human nature to equate monetary blessing with God's favor; just look at the prosperity teaching of the modern gospel today. We tell people that if they are driving around in Cadallacs and Mercedes Benz then God is on their side and blessing. They can be living in blatant sin and be in jeopardy of eternal hell but as long as they have a bank account big as Texas then they are ok. They are NOT OK!
This is one of the enemy's most deceptive tools to blind us to our true condition in having us equate our SPIRITUAL condition with that of our materialistic wealth. Jesus made it clear in Revelation that despite all of Laodicea's riches she was morally bankrupt and needed HIM! Yet she declared "she had need of nothing," and was "rich, and increased with goods," while the Lord declared her as lukewarm and destined to be spewed out of His mouth. Some would sell their souls to Satan himself (and vote for him) if the candidate they support promised them financial relief and great prosperity. No matter that candidate supports abortion, same-sex marriage, homosexuality, the destruction of America's sovereignty and the removal of God from public society in the name of 'separation' of church and state. Let me say it again - Jesus taught separation of church of state; what He NEVER taught was separation of GOD and state! America come back to God, America come back to God, America come back to GOD!
Rev. 3:17-19
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,
that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent.
Mr. Clinton's personal issues became more than just tabloid stories as America felt the jolt of terrorism on various occasions under his administration. In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed, yet America did nothing. In 1998, the U.S.S. Cole was attacked, yet America did nothing. In that same year, Sudan offered us Osama Bin Laden, and we said we didn't want him. In December 1998 we attacked Iraq in a symbolic yet ineffective show of force because Sadaam Hussein refused to allow inspectors in. (THESE SAME LEADERS IN 1998 WHO SUPPORTED CLINTON DOING WHAT HE DID IN IRAQ WERE THE SAME ONES WHO HAVE TRASHED PRESIDENT BUSH DAILY FOR HIS DECISION TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT DIRECTLY IN 2003 AND DO MORE THAN JUST FIRE A FEW MISSILES INTO A CAMEL'S BEHIND)
In the face of a ever growing and real threat of America's enemies gaining strength former President Clinton decided it more important to be sexually promiscuous with an intern than to protect the country and obey the oath he was sworn to uphold. During these same eight years abortion rates hit an all time high under Mr. Clinton and the seeds for the war we have right now over homosexual marriage were planted. By Mr. Clinton allowing homosexuals in the military, he weakened the armed forces and brought God's judgment on the land. Believe what you will, but the forces of darkness controlled America for eight years under Clinton despite all of the so called economic prosperity we enjoyed and the liberal godless media still points to as Clinton's greatest achievement. I ask the reader this question: what do you think God sees as Mr. Clinton's greatest achievement????????????????????? What do we think that God cared about more - the nation's economy OR the nation's soul and heart concerning righteousness and obedience to HIM????????????????????????????????????????
As we approached new elections in 2000, there was a sense the nation seemed ready for a change again and something was up in the spirit realm as America faced an unseen enemy who would reveal itself a year later on 9-11-2001.
Our current President George W. Bush, the son of the 41rst President, George H.W. Bush, ran against Al Gore, the Vice President, under Mr. Clinton. Gore had the same moral void, if not worse, that Clinton had and without a doubt planned to carry on the same policies Clinton supported concerning abortion and homosexuality. The race went down to 500 votes in Florida with the U.S. Supreme Court stepping in on December 7, 2000 to stop the recount that gave Mr. Bush the presidency. In 2000, one principality was removed over this nation once again and another put in his place as the forces of righteousness sought to reclaim this nation once again for what I believe is a revival the Lord so desperately wants to bring to America. Another reason is the Lord's heart concerning abortion and His desire to have His people get the burden to see this horrible and damnable Roe. V. Wade law of 1973 struck down if we will have the moral compass and fortitude to do so. It really will take more than a moral . Mr. Bush states in his memoirs that as far back as 1998 he had a feeling the Lord was directing him to run for President stating, "I don't know how I know it, but I just feel like my country will need me in the near future."
Mr. Bush set himself apart from all others the day of his first on-camera debate when he declared without fear or favor that Jesus Christ was his role model - "because He changed my heart and life and no one else could do that for me."
From that day on, the principalities of evil have sought to regain control of the country and nation through a non-stop barrage of media bias, lies, distortions, character attacks, and very ugly and disrespectful name calling on behalf of the President's enemies every day. To all of this Mr. Bush has never fought back but allowed those saying these things say them without response. I want to stop here and say this about those attacks. Friend, Mr. Bush may not have responded, but God heard them all and make no mistake will deal with them one day - whether now or at the judgment. These people, including JOHN KERRY, the Democratic nominee in 2004 Mr. Bush defeated, have not been slandering George Bush, they have been slandering GOD.
The nation in 2004 was split right down the middle and things have not changed in 2006. There is a spirit of rebellion right now seeking to take the nation away from God once more and unleash the very gates of hell even though in the liberal media's mind and the minds of godless leaders in Washington and behind pulpits this direction would be toward "heaven." "GET BUSH AND REPUBLICANS OUT AT ANY COST," is the battle cry as we view the mid-term elections come Tuesday, December 7th, 2006.
I stated this in 2004 about then Democratic nominee John Kerry:
"Kerry disrespects the office he is running for as well as America itself, yet very few see it or are willing to call it such. His differences with Mr. Bush are more than political, they are differences in values and morality. Very little thought is being taken by Mr. Kerry's supporters right now on what type leader he will be. Most of, if not ALL of, Kerry's supporters hate George W. Bush MORE than they like John Kerry. That is a sad indictment but one that is true. Israel was unhappy with Samuel and his sons and wanted to be "like other nations" at all costs. Sounds like the familiar theme today of "we need to regain the respect of the world" for us. It's a coy statement that hides a more sinister effort by Kerry and the fellow liberals of the government to bring America into a one-world union. The day is coming when that will happen but as long as there are Christians in this nation - it don't have to happen in 2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those sentiments have not changed and in reality speak for the entire Democratic Party which wishes to take power of the Senate and House on Tuesday.
As Mr. Bush took his oath of office on January 20, 2001, no one in the world could know or ever understand the depths of horror his administration would witness and have to deal with by the events of September 11th that same year. As we all watched that fateful early fall morning we saw our enemies perpetrate one of the most dastardly acts of barbarism EVER on American soil, flying two planes into the world trade center in New York. Nearly 3,000 American lives were loss and the world changed forever. I believe a prophetic page was turned that day in the heavenlies as the war between the principality of Revelation 17 and the principalities of righteousness ensued. It is still being waged at this moment. Mr. Bush has had to deal with more than any other American president in history, yet I believe him when he says he relies daily on God for wisdom; he may not lean on that wisdom all the times - especially when he is espousing the great "tenants" of Islam and other godless religions - but the man is in a tough place being the leader of the free world. What his faith is behind the cameras only God knows that. All I know is that the alternative we could have had in Al Gore and John Kerry would have plunged this nation to the brink of total chaos and destruction.
America was founded on the principles such as Freedom of speech and Freedom of press, but these do NOT remove the responsibility of us as citizens and the press to be RESPONSIBLE and be careful of what we say about our nation and Leaders. o NOT remove responsibility from the deck of requirements of us as citizens. Responsible speech and responsible reporting are STILL in vogue - even in this modern 21rst Century. I used to be a news reporter for a small town newspaper many years ago and I can tell you first hand - what we see today is not freedom of speech or press - but rebellion and it will lead the country into anarchy if not checked.
In the first part of this journal, we mentioned the warfare going on at the present time for the heart and soul of America. It's very similar to what took place in Israel so long ago when she, like America today, got restless and wanted to throw off all godly restraint that the Lord had placed over her through the ministry of Samuel. When Samuel was called as a child and his mother Hannah gave him up the priesthood at age 3, the nation at that time was as backslidden as backslidden could be. Israel had fallen into apostasy after apostasy during the reign of the judges, Samuel ironically was israel's first prophet and LAST judge to rule over her. Israel didn't like God's way of Rulership so they rebelled against Samuel's authority and cried to God for another type of leadership.
1 Samuel 8:19-21
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay;
but we will have a king over us; [20] That we also may be like all the nations;
and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
[21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the
ears of the Lord.
The first step in any nation's backsliding, as well as any individual's step in the similar direction is when we stop listening to God! America is such a state right now and only augments the message of the lateness of the hour we live in as well as the peril we face corporately if we don't repent!
There have been several pages turned on God's prophetic calendar since 1989. If the reader will pause and think a bit, prior to the fall of that year, our attention as Americans, as well as the entire world's, was on Communism. From 1917 to 1989 communism dominated Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia with a jet boot of dictatorship and bloodshed and posed as America's greatest military challenge between 1948-1989. As we write this in 2006, China and North Korea are really the last true communistic states left on the earth even though there are signs the Soviet Union is trying to revitalize some form of its old Communistic ways under Vladimir Putin.
But on a cold December
morning in 1989, almost
overnight, our focus ceased from being on Communism and turned to ISLAM and
militant nations in the Middle East! For the first time since it was erected in
1961, the Berlin Wall was opened in 1963 and stood as Communism's greatest
monument to its failed policy of control and domination. The wall had originally
been erected by East Germany to prevent its citizens from defecting to the West.
Over the course of the Wall's existence nearly 200 people were killed trying to
escape to West Germany. In November 1989, without a shot being fired, the wall
fell by the power of God and the border was finally reopened. Over the next few
days Berliners celebrated by breaking off pieces of the Wall. One month later,
the Soviet Union announced its formal dissolution and Communism as we knew it
then ended! What happened to cause this shift in the spirit realm has great
implications for us today and why the nation's choices for its leaders, as
Israel's long ago, will have long lasting prophetic and national effects
depending on how we respond on Tuesday and two years from now in 2008 when we
elect a new President.
This change took place quickly as we saw in early 1991 when, less than two years after the fall of communism, the Gulf War erupted to remove Sadaam Hussein and his Iraqi army, which had illegally invaded and occupied Kuwait. The whole world's attention now shifted to the Middle East as the source of most of the world's tension, strife and war; our focus has never left since then and will be there till the physical Second Coming of Jesus!! Israel is God's prophetic time clock and events taking place in the Middle East signal a warning to us all to "get ready" for the RAPTURE of the church! The trump of God could sound at any moment!!!!!!! After the Gulf War, then President George H. Bush began to pressure Israel to give up land in hopes for peace in the region following the removal of Sadaam from Kuwait. Bush Sr. had this faulty notion that if Israel would just give up all her land to the Arabs then the Arab world would love the U.S. for it and let Israel live in peace. That focus became known as the ""land for peace," iniatives that were carried out by the Clinton administration after Clinton defeated Bush in 1992.
But none of Bill Clinton's charm and deceptive personality could broker peace between Israel and her enemies. In the summer of 2000 it was comical at times to watch Ehud Barak offer Yasser Arafat everything he wanted - even the ownership of Jerusalem - and Arafat harden his heart and turn it down. In the fall of 2000, war broke out again through the suicide bombing attacks on Israel at the hands of the Palestinians. Since 2000, daily headlines from that part of the world have grabbed our attention constantly including this past summer's Lebanese Conflict when Hezbollah and Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldiers and held them for ransom. Israel's response was not gracious as she launched a blistering barrage of attacks on Lebanese backed Hezbollah forces in Beirut.
My point neighbor is this: Our focus is no longer on whether the Soviets have nuclear missiles; we're not concerned whether Iran and North Korea do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Iran is an Islamic state that has vowed the destruction of Israel and the United States and should they get their hands on a nuke bomb we are going to be faced with deadly circumstances. The world's stage is now the Middle East and that my friend is no accident. As we stated in our first journal in this series, John saw a "beast" ascend out of the abyss which was a principality that controlled the area known as Babylon, which is modern day Iraq and the area of focus of this stage we speak of. It was where the first rebellion against God started and it will be the area and scene of man's FINAL rebellion as well.
Some believe the principality in Revelation is the same as the Prince of Persia, or perhaps the Prince of Grecia, Daniel recorded in the 10th chapter of his book. We believe it's actually the Prince of Grecia, which will control that part of the world and will influence events prior to and during the Great Tribulation period as well as aid and abet the Antichrist during his reign of terror against Israel during the time of Jacob's trouble. John says this principality is of the seven, will become the EIGHTH kingdom to persecute Israel, and go into perdition. This prince is actually the satanic power that will empower the coming Antichrist, the last great superpower on earth prior to the return of Christ. America enjoys that place NOW, but her time on earth as the world's only superpower is coming to an end one day soon.
This demonic "prince of Grecia" is actually the same principality that aided and abetted Alexander the Great and helped him conquer the known world of his day before he was 25. He died at 32 of syphilis yet will go down in history as one of the world's foremost generals because of the scope and swiftness of his conquests. Controlled by demon powers, possibly not known to Alexander himself even though that is unlikely he was not at least remotely aware a power was controlling and helping him, this larger than life general became a type of the man of sin who will do great exploits in a short amount of time seeking to bring the world into his domination and domain.
Daniel 10:20 - Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. [21] But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Rev. 17:9-13
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on
which the woman sitteth. [10] And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and
one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a
short space. [11] And the beast that
was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into
perdition. [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which
have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the
beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto
the beast.
Alexander was a type, as are the past despots of Hitler and Antiochus Epiphanies, of the Antichrist. The coming antichrist will do the same exploits as Alexander, yet have the hatred toward the Jewish people as Hitler and Antiochus. He will desecrate the temple as Antiochus did which gave us the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah when Judas Maccabees through the help and grace of God defeated the Syrian king, cleansed the Temple and restored Israel's sovereignty. These events are ahead of us friend. With each passing day, the clock is ticking closer. The hands are saying "five to midnight," and the seconds are being heard in the heavenlies "ticking, ticking, ticking, ticking."
One may ask, "what in the world does this have with Israel's request to God to 'give us a king," and America's choices on Tuesday and in 2008? It has EVERYTHING to do with that request made so long ago because Israel will accept another "KING" like she accepted SAUL so long ago during the Great Tribulation period. She rejected her REAL KING - the LORD JESUS CHRIST, just as she as a nation rejected the voice of Samuel the prophet to her during the days leading up to Saul's reign and rule. During the Tribulation another, like Saul, will present himself to her to rule over her for a season, and she will accept him, claiming he is her Messiah. Yet, he will be a deceiver and plunge the nation into one of her darkest hours in history. She will be defeated militarily for the first time in her history and more than likely face a third holocaust at the hands of the Antichrist that will take out, according to Zechariah, two-thirds of the Jewish race. We're talking MILLONS again of Jewish people who will killed during the Great Tribulation period at the hands of the Antichrist. The earth itself will lose probably close to 4 BILLION people during the time of the Great Tribulation period. This is why Isaiah declared that "hell enlarged itself" at your coming, meaning that during this time most of these 4 BILLION people who die will be lost and wind up in eternity without God.
Despite Israel's unbelief and rebellion she one day WILL accept Her King - the Lord Jesus Christ - who will rule over her, not like Saul did so long ago, but as David did, the shepherd-boy with heart after God and a man after God's heart as well!
Now, let me bring this story forward to this hour and the pending elections in America a few days hence. I have already stated earlier that I believe there is a current of rebellion in this nation that does not want righteous authority to reign and rule in this land, nor do they want a righteous leader to rule over them. George W. Bush was God's choice for America in 2000 and in 2004, not man's. Had many Bible-believing Christians had their way sadly, Al Gore would have been elected strictly because he was a democrat. Others didn't like Bush because he was white. Don't get offended at that but racism is alive and well in America and it's NOT just racism from the whites to the blacks, but it works both ways. Many true born-again Christians were made fun of by the secular press who made comments to the fact that their prayers and intercession brought Bush the victory in the winter of 2000, but it's true. The heavenlies were ablaze in a fight for the nation unlike ever before both in 2000 and in 2004 and the prayers of the saints proved to be the deciding factor then as I believe it will be this coming Tuesday and more so this go around than even four years ago.
America, like Israel of old, wants a KING to her liking, not God's. Most want leaders who will feed their selfish hearts with false promises and keep us out of any conflict with the enemies who seek to destroy us. They want a SAUL, like Israel wanted a SAUL so long ago. We think somehow if we get Saul into office (Saul was tall, good looking, charismatic and a great statesmen to the natural eye - underneath he was one who consulted with witches!) then Saul will bring the nation back to a place where we're "liked" by the world around us.
Neighbor the WORLD AROUND US HATES US no matter whether we have SAUL, SAMUEL OR DAVID leading us. Israel's enemies were just as fierce under David as they were Saul; the difference is the outcome to those battles was LEADERSHIP and the difference today will be along the same lines - LEADERSHIP. Think what you will of President Bush. It's such a joy to hear all these Monday morning quarterbacks acting like if they were running the nation they could things so differently and so much better. Maybe they could, maybe they couldn't I don't know. I will tell you this.
We live in a time unprecedented in both prophetic history and American history in general. We fight an enemy we can't see. This is not like World War II when we came up against nations such as Germany, Japan and Italy. We're fighting an enemy who kills innocent people then hides in the bushes among women and children when we come looking for justice and to remove the evil perpetrated against our nation.
Many want "peace," and think if we can just get this "war" mongering President out of the White House and those of his party out of power then America's enemies will like us better. HOW FOOLISH a statement can that be?????????????????????????????????????? HOW ABSOLUTELY MORONIC thinking can we have thinking that if we will just sit down and "negotiate" with those seeking to destroy us that somehow our dialogue will change their hearts. We saw what happened during the Clinton and Carter years when we tried talk with nations like Iran, North Korea and others. They left the "talking" table and went back to devising ways to destroy us. Some Americans think 9-11-2001 was hatched by President Bush himself and before you laugh- some Christians do too.
We don't understand this conflict we fight; Israel did not understand that Saul was not going to bring peace to her borders just because he didn't speak as harsh to them as Samuel did through the prophetic anointing and we don't understand that today. The church wants a syrupy gospel that doesn't convict or say anything to make people mad with us. But friend, the enemies of this nation's souls are not going away with our 40 days of purpose seminars or our 12-step programs or our home-group cell formats or our user-friendly churches. We had better come to grips with this undeniable fact within the Body of Christ:
If we do not seek God's face and PRAY, FAST and intercede like we've never have before for these upcoming elections on Tuesday, God is going to give the nation what it wants - godless leadership. When that happens it just won't be the "lost" within the nation who suffer but the godly as well. We will subject to the decisions our leaders make and will more than likely face an even greater uphill battle for the souls of men as the vestiges of Christianity are sytematically being destroyed and removed by the powers of darkness in the leadership halls in Washington D.C. This message of warning from God to Israel was NOT to the heathen - it was to HIS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And this message is to HIS PEOPLE TODAY.
The heathen have made up their minds who they want as leaders - men who hate Christianity, hate America, hate righteousness and hate Jesus Christ. Sadly, though, many CHRISTIANS, while not admitting it publicly are not settled enough in their own faith to know right from wrong and vote for party because of all reasons except the ONLY REASON to vote for a candidate - DOES THAT MAN BELIEVE IN THE FOUNDATIONAL FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE BIBLE AND DO THEY OPPOSE ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGES????????????????????? I know the politics of this election go deeper than those core issues but for me these issues are at the heart of whether America survives or is destroyed because of our sin. CHILD OF GOD WE HAVE A SAY IN THIS ELECTION IF WE WILL PRAY AND SEEK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot say that loudly or strong enough!
The People Refused To Listen To Samuel
1 Samuel 8:19
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay;
but we will have a king over us;
Samuel represented the prophetic word
of the Lord to Israel and people refused to listen. There are many in the
church today that are refusing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit
concerning this election. The Lord has warned us over and over through the
prophets He has sent even in this modern time that repentance was necessary for
the nation to survive. God DOES care about the fact that innocent babies are
slaughtered in America every day. God DOES care that the land is filled with the
abomination of homosexuality and sodomy. God DOES care that politicians sell the
souls of the nation to the highest bidder for the sake of power and prestige. We
may never know the cost of the Clinton-Gore reelection in1996 because of what
secrets passed between the American White House and China over VOTES. Every
shady deal, every murdered baby, every abominable union, every act of treason
and rebellion will be held on America's head one day. And it will be held on
the hands of those who vote for the candidate who supports these things. You
can't vote for a candidate and say you're not supporting his "values." Your vote
is an endorsement of what the candidate stands for.
Judgment is tarrying over America as we speak. God has held back because of the prayers of the American church. There ARE people in this nation STILL who believe God! There are believers in this nation interceding for America like Moses interceded for Israel. But intercession only goes so far. At some point, we must ACT as well. Tuesday, November 2, 2004, is the day we will be called upon to ACT our faith by voting for the right candidate. Whether God moves in judgment sooner or later depends a great deal on US - the American church.
From Abraham to Samuel—about 1,400 years—the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been under a theocracy, a God-rule. Now they wanted a king to judge and lead them in battle like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5-6). The Hebrew monarchy, which began with Saul, lasted about 513 years. It's interesting that the cry of the masses in America right now is that we want to be in step with all the other nations of the world when it comes to dealing with terrorism. The problem though is that the other nations take a stance of fear instead of strength. Just because nations are not being affected directly by terrorism does not mean that they are not in danger. They are in greater danger in many ways dealing with terrorism from a stance of weakness.
1 Samuel 8:5-6
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now
make us a king to judge us like all the nations. [6] But the thing displeased
Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the
Lord.
Israel's request grieve Samuel, who, like all men of God, went
immediately to God in prayer. The Lord told him to do as the people had
requested, saying, "they have not rejected you, but Me" (1 Samuel 8:6-8). God
recognized that these were a stubborn people determined to have what they set
their hearts on, and that being rejected as their King was not as bad as being
forsaken by them to serve other gods—a sin they had been committing since
leaving Egypt (1 Samuel 8:8).
1 Samuel 8:6-8
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And
Samuel prayed unto the Lord. [7] And the Lord said unto Samuel,
Hearken unto the
voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected
thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. [8]
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought
them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and
served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
God laid the gauntlet down to Samuel that the nation did not want God's reign over them. America's voices of hatred toward godly authority today are sounding the same theme. They don't want a godly man in the White House with values. They want a man in the White House that will bring everyone under one banner - no matter how evil that banner is. The word tolerance gets a bad meaning with people like this. Everything is tolerated and nothing is sinful and wicked. Israel was in the same state when it came to Saul.
God further instructed Samuel to protest their choice and make it plain to them that this would increase their burdens, being more costly than the present theocracy which was a simple form of government requiring only faith and dependence on God (1 Samuel 8:9-18). Regardless of this, Israel was determined to have their king (1 Samuel 8:19-22).
Remember this, before God destroys a sinful nation, He always warns it in love. Israel, though God's chosen, was sinful in her rebellion against God's authority and seeking after other gods. America is in the same boat. God loves America. He established us long ago to be the bastion of freedom for millions and as a protector of Israel. America is like a rebellious child - we want our OWN way, not God's way for us. Our motto is "we don't need to obey God's authority, we can seek for ourselves."
If a nation under God's decree of judgment repents, God relents His decreed destruction upon it. However, if it refuses to repent, God will not be mocked. He is extremely MERCIFUL. Judgment is only rendered out to nations after every possible chance is given that nation to repent. America is facing such a choice right now. We have been sent warning judgments by God which have intensified over the past 15 years. The latest warning judgment was September 11, 2001. I know some preachers refused to acknowledge God had anything to with 9-11-2001. One such well known minister whom I respect deeply made the comment, "God didn't fly those planes into the towers, Satan did." He was absolutely right and yet he was wrong too. God didn't fly the planes in the building but he allowed it at the very least. When a nation's cup of iniquity gets full, judgment falls. At times it falls for destruction, but MOST times judgments comes as a form of redemption to bring us back to HIS HEART and to feel HIS HURT over our arrogance, rebellion and iniquity.
There is NO JOY in heaven over the death of the wicked. There is no glee in heaven's eyes over the fact that 3,000 souls perished that day in America. But there is no joy in heaven either over the innocent wicked slaying of millions of unborn babies either. What perished on 9-11 was precious in the sight of God. NO, it doesn't mean that all those who died were saved. Sadly, many were not. Many went off into eternity without God. Hear me neighbor. Hear me. Eternity is long and it is a breath away for everyone of us. NO exceptions. Our life is but a vapor. We must come back to an attitude of that.
If we don't respond the right way in this election of 2006 and we lose a majority who would put conservative judges on the Supreme Court that will more than likely face a decision on Roe V. Wade in the next couple of years prior to President Bush leaving office, and we embrace a leadership base of Democrats who are wicked to their CORE in promoting same-sex marriage and homosexuality, neighbor we are DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simply put, without national repentance, which begins with individual repentance, America will be destroyed. There is no way around that statement. The next punishments could mean the total destruction of this nation. The Bible records the destruction of God's ancient Jewish people and their removal from the land of Israel in 600 B.C. for some of the very same sins America finds herself bound with at the present time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For two centuries before the destruction, God sent prophet after prophet (Ezekiel and Jeremiah were a few) to warn Israel of the coming disaster. The people for the most part REFUSED to turn from sin. They hardened their heart despite the warnings. The result was that multitudes died as the country was destroyed and the survivors were taken captive to Babylon. America and Ancient Israel are very much the same. Both nations were founded for the glory of God and have a godly heritage. Both nations turned from God and went into gross sexual immorality while yet still appearing to be very religious. As stated, both nations practice child-killing, and tolerated, if not encouraged, open homosexuality. Just before destruction both nations were consumed with violence. And both nations were clearly warned of coming judgment from God. Paul, the great apostle, warns us not to be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. But we as the AMERICAN CHURCH and as a nation have refused to hear the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Hebrews 3:7-8 - Wherefore (as the
Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:12-13 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another
daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin.
Instead of His judgments redeeming us they have made us sin even more openly and blatantly. To state it again, four main things have opened the flood gates of God's chastening on us:
The legalizing of the shedding of innocent blood (abortion and related issues)
The toleration and promotion of homosexuality and lesbianism
The destruction of innocence through the toleration and promotion of pedophilia, and sexual molestation of children
Our bullying of Israel into giving away and carving up God's covenant land to the Palestinians
Joel 3:1-3 - For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. [3] And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
Mass murders and serial killings were once rare in America but now are commonplace. The thought of a terrorist attack on this country's soil was unthinkable - UNTIL SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. Now we stand vulnerable to outside enemies unlike we have in this nation's 240 year existence. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT HAPPENING BY COINCIDENCE! They are WARNINGS FROM GOD. Americans are now either practicing or tolerating lifestyles which the Bible clearly states will remove God's blessings and bring the wrath of God upon us. He has warned in the Bible that He will destroy any nation which openly practices FORNICATION, ADULTERY, HOMOSEXUALITY, SEXUAL PERVERSION and the SHEDDING OF INNOCENT BLOOD. The shedding of innocent blood of children includes ABORTION. Concerning abortion, the Bible makes no distinction between the child in the womb of a mother and newly born baby - BOTH ARE LIVING SOULS in the sight of GOD!
Leviticus 18:20-25 - Moreover
you shall not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her.
(ADULTERY) [21] And you shall not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to
Molech, neither shall thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. [22]
You
shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
(HOMOSEXUALITY) [23] Neither shall you lie with any beast to defile thyself
therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it
is confusion. [24] Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all
these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: [25]
And the land is
defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself
vomits out her inhabitants.
Jude 1:7 - Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like
manner, giving themselves over to
fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example,
suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Psalm 107:33-34 - He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs
into dry ground; [34] A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of
them that dwell therein.
Since the mid-1980s, America has been
warned by God that, as a nation, we are on a collision course with HIM. God is
extremely merciful and longsuffering. He will warn and warn and warn again
before judgment. But if a nation will not turn from open homosexuality and the
shedding of innocent blood of innocent children, His holiness demands judgment
on that nation. Another stone that is placed around a nation's neck is if that
nation attacks or refuses to assist ISRAEL, God's chosen people. America has
sinned grossly in all three areas. As I wrote in our journal, "The Burden of
Nineveh," our sin has not been done with our eyes shut. We have sinned openly
and against LIGHT! When we sin against light, we bring even greater judgment
upon ourselves.
Like America, Israel had reached a point where the Lord could do nothing more with her but bring judgment. A careful study of events from October 1987 to now show that many of the disasters which hit America i.e. the stock market crashes; earthquakes and hurricanes; reveal they all occurred in connection with abortion and/or homosexual related events. God has sent us clear warnings. These disasters we're about to discuss were sent to serve as warning judgments. Why do I call them warning judgments? Because we as a nation have recovered from most if not all of them. These judgments were warnings to lead us to repentance. God laced each disaster with mercy. We are on a collision course with a holy God and awesome judgments lie ahead of us if we don't corporately and individually repent.
Sid Roth from Messianic Vision recently conducted a recent set of interviews with various prophetic ministries across the country. Each prophetic word the Lord gave concerning the recent events of September 11 pointed to the fact that even this tragedy was only a further warning for us to turn from our national sins. AMERICA HAS SINNED! We have killed innocent babies and shed innocent blood. We have blasphemed God through our promotion of laws that condone homosexuality and lesbianism. We have pressured Israel into carving up God's covenant land that He gave to HER through Abraham and David. Each time Israel has been attacked through terrorism we have tried to tie her hands and condemned her for retaliation. Well now friend, her enemies have become our enemies. Her fight for survival against terrorism has become our fight. Fear grips the United States of America unlike it has in any part of our history. It's the same fear that grips every Israeli citizen who lives from day to day with the prospect that their next trip to a local grocery store or post office could be their last. What we have sowed here in America we are reaping. And friend if we don't repent of these things FIRST AS A CHURCH, then as a NATION, we are doomed.
One of the prophetic messages came from Keith Davis who said the Lord had spoke to their ministry warning them that several other "attacks" and "evils" had been planned against the United States of America. He said that whether those things came upon us was tied into our response to this latest calamity and our response in this upcoming election!!!!. Our response must be total support of Israel without compromise and a national repenting of sins.
Just eight days before the stock market crash of October 1987 on October 11th, probably the largest gathering of homosexuals in world history took place in Washington D.C. The newspapers reported that over 200,000 people marched past the White House and gathered near the Capitol. Some reports claimed the marches numbered 500,000. The homosexuals were marching to end discrimination and increasing funding for AIDS research. The newspapers reported the crowd carried signs stating, "Thank God I'm Gay," and "Condoms, Not Condemnation." Others were boasting "I'm gay and I'm proud." God answered this march eight days later with the greatest stock market crash in United States history. For eight days following the march the market dropped an unprecedented 735 points for a loss of 32.1 percent for October, 1987. That month had marked the high-water mark for the U.S. economy as it was growing over six percent. The faith of most Americans at that time was not in God but the economy. The church in America did not fear the Lord as we should have over this march. We didn't repent and intercede for our nation as we should have. God shook this mighty nation with what was the equivalent of a "economic heart attack," and it happened just eight days after the greatest homosexual rally in history. And now we have state judges issuing marriage licenses between those of the same sex. It's an abomination friend, clear and simple. End of story and discussion; God is not pleased with this. And any political candidate who refuses to condemn it is as guilty as the people involved in these acts.
Friend, God is FOR US, not against us. But if we refuse to accept His love through His warning judgments and turn from our sin, we are going to perish. The United States of America cannot continue to walk down the path we've been walking. Prophetic words are being heard throughout the land right now that declare that the next attack on America will not take the lives of 7,000, but 7 million. How many more innocent lives will it take for us to pay attention? How many more lives will it take before God is glorified in our CHURCHES and in our land? The plight of the nation lays in the hands of the CHURCH!
If the church doesn't heal and come together and intercede in power for America and Israel the end is coming upon the land - "LOOK, the Lord says, east, west, north, south, - your land is finished,"
Ezekiel 7:2
Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God unto the land of Israel; An end,
the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
The Nature Of Saul's Kingdom
Samuel warned Israel that Saul's authority would not be what they thought. He gave a 16-fold interpretation:
Your king shall take your sons and appoint them as servants (1 Samuel 8:11)
He shall use them for his chariot
To be his horsemen in the army
To run before his chariots
To be captains over thousands and over fifties (1 Samuel 8:12)
To plant his crops
To reap his harvests
To make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots
He shall take your daughters to be confectionaries (1 Samuel 8:13)
To be cooks
To be bakers
He shall take the best of your fields, vineyards, olive yards and give them to his servants (1 Samuel 8:14)
He shall take the tenth of your seed and vineyards, and give them to his officers and other servants (1 Samuel 8:15)
He shall take your men servants, your maidservants, the goodliest of your sons and daughters, and your stock, and put them to work (1 Samuel 8:16)
He shall take the tenth of your sheep and other stock (1 Samuel 8:17)
You yourselves will be his servants and shall cry out to God because of your king that you have chosen, and He will not hear you in that day (1 Samuel 8:18)
You Will Cry Out And I Will Not Listen
1 Samuel 8:17-18
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. [18] And ye
shall cry out in that day because of your king which
ye shall have chosen you; and the
Lord will not hear you in that day.
God said ISRAEL made the choice, not Him, of having Saul rule over them. That's why a nation's choice many times is determined by the spiritual forces controlling it. If Kerry is elected, we believe that an onslaught of evil will once again be unleashed on America that will bring judgment on us for the killing of innocent babies and the Sodomy in the land. It's interesting to note that whenever Israel had revival under Josiah, Jehosophat and others that there was always a removing of the sodomites from the LAND FIRST before God poured out His Spirit on the Jewish nation. Let that sink in!
2 Kings 23:7
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the
Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
1 Kings 15:12
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that
his fathers had made.
1 Kings 22:46
And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa,
he took out of the land.
2 Kings 23:7
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the
Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
Listen, we don't throw
stones of judgment at the homosexual here. God's love for them is deep and
wide just as His love for ME and you is deep and wide. He wishes all men be
saved. Homosexuals are not beyond the grace of God. Yet, if they stubbornly
refuse God's grace and reject His command to repent, they will reap eternal
consequences as well as temporal ones. AIDS is a serious disease that has killed
millions already. But when a NATION embraces this lifestyle as normal, it
becomes greater in scope than just individual rebellion and idolatry. It becomes
imperative that the nation REPENT before God sends judgment on it. Ask Sodom and
Gomorrah!!
Ask the nation of Israel too. Prior to Josiah's reforms, the sin God condemned more than any other sexual sin was practiced here by the temple. The sodomites were male prostitutes used in idolatry, yet Josiah broke down their houses as KING, not as a religious leader, but as a political leader. His heart was after GOD, not the political acceptance of the people like our prior President was and the current opponent of our current President in this election.
President Bush has promised to push a constitutional amendment if elected declaring homosexual marriage illegal PERIOD. One prophetic word concerning the President's re-election indicates that furthermore, not only will Mr. Bush do something to stop homosexual marriage, but his choices of the JUDGES who sit on the Supreme Court, will affect abortion. This same prophet, who accurately predicted President Bush's election in 2000 all the way back in 1998, said that if elected to a second term, the American president would "END ABORTION in America and revival would follow." He didn't say Bush would "try and stop abortion," he said that the President would END abortion as we know it. That means there would be a great chance that Roe V. Wade would be overturned and abortion made illegal once again. The laws of the land would once again reflect the heart of God concerning the killing of innocent babies.
If we lose a conservative majority in both the Senate and House then it will be impossible to appoint a conservative judge with godly values to the bench of the Supreme Court, thus we will lose this great chance we have to change history! In other words, our choices on Tuesday need to be along the lines of which candidate supports LIFE instead of which one supports CHOICE.
We need to give President Bush every possible chance he can muster to further stop abortion and put into place an amendment making homosexual marriage illegal. One question that is probably already being asked by some is "well how can you be sure that the government EVER be totally righteous?" Of course not; no human being is infallible or beyond falling. I believe in my heart though that even though President Bush may be a little blindsided by the "peaceful" side of Islam, he understands for the most part the war we fight and the nature of this enemy. He is a man that I believe seeks after God even though at times may choose a direction contrary to what the Lord wants. IS THERE ANYONE READING THIS WHO HAS NOT DONE THE SAME??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? How many times has the Lord told us things to do and not do and we did them anyway to our own demise?
President Bush has never consulted opinion polls on how to run the nation nor has he sought after his "legacy," while in office while the nation teeters on hell. He doesn't seek man's approval and that is why the godless media and wicked leaders in Washington can't stand him. Mr. Clinton showed us what happens when a man's thirst of power and prestige blinds him to his duty and obligation as commander in chief of our nation's armed forces and if we elect his wife in 2008 don't think it will be any different with her - it'll be worse. Saul's vision for Israel was never about the good of the people but about his own paranoia and lust for power and control.
1 Samuel 8:10-17
And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a
king. [11] And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign
over you: He will take your sons,
and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some
shall run before his chariots. [12] And he will appoint him captains over
thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground,
and to reap his harvest,
and to make his instruments of
war, and instruments of his chariots.
[13] And he will take your daughters
to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. [14]
And he will take your fields, and
your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his
servants. [15] And he will take the
tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and
to his servants. [16] And he will take
your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men,
and your asses, and put them to his work. [17]
He will take the tenth of your
sheep: and you shall be his servants.
Notice how many times the Lord used the words, "take," and "his." A ruler with the nature of Saul will always "take," and have every thing center around "HIM." Is that what we want in the American church as the leader of our nation? Do we not care more about the eternal consequences of our choices instead of the temporal ones? Saul would be a selfish despot that would kill Israel's children and make the nation mourn under the weight of his taxation to carry out of his demented vision. Israel was currently free from taxes and other burdens which would be imposed upon them if they wanted a kingdom. Such would be necessary to create and support armies, government, and a king with all his royal requirements. The people would need to give the best of their sons, daughters, land, stock, and crops.
Because of Israel's rebellion and choice of Saul over the theocracy of God-rule, there would also be ungodly and oppressive kings who would make them cry out because of their troubles. If America wants a selfish leadership ruling over it, then a selfish system of government is what they will get. I'm speaking to the church about this because this upcoming election on Tuesday, just like the Presidential race in 2004, will come down to the Christian voices in America.
Psalm 2:1-12
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of
the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the
Lord, and against his anointed, saying, [3]
Let us break their bands asunder, and
cast away their cords from us. [4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall
laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them
in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. [6] Yet have I set my king
upon my holy hill of Zion. [7] I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said
unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. [8] Ask of me, and I
shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of
the earth for thy possession. [9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. [10] Be wise now therefore, O
ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [11] Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish
from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that
put their trust in him.
America is seething right down the middle at this moment crying out "let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." Mr. Bush is a born-again Christian who prays and seeks God's wisdom each day for the affairs of the nation. He misses God I'm sure at times like we all do, but the man wants to lead the nation in a godly manner. That's why people hate him. They don't realize it's their hatred of God that is fomenting their hatred of Mr. Bush. But the end result will be the election of someone very evil and wicked who will do this nation much harm if the nation has it's way. The CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY HAS THE POWER TO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN! But sadly, many in the Christian community have ignored the warnings and promote doctrines and preach sermons denouncing the current administration in lieu of the opponent. It's an eerie parallel to Israel's time under Samuel. and Saul.
All Samuel's warning about losing their sons, daughters, servants, crops, stock, lands, and wealth to support a kingdom didn't make the slightest impression on the Israelites. And all the prophetic warnings of what a Democratic Party controlled House and Senate will mean to this nation is falling on deaf ears as well. They could only see their own way in the matter now, so they ignored Samuel's warning. Here God gave the final word to Samuel that he should listen to the people and give them a king. Friend, the nation is going to mourn if we as Christian voters don't show up and vote and as a result the nation makes the wrong decisions on Tuesday. The nation is going to reap a bitter harvest if we don't make the choice for a leader GOD wants, instead of the leader our momma and daddy wants, or the party we've always supported. God help the preachers in America not willing to stand up and make a stand.
In Closing: Samuel's Warning To Israel Is God's Warning To Us
Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen
for his own inheritance.
I've stumbled through this
journal trying to convey the following thoughts as we close out what's on our
hearts. We as a nation face eternal choices this Tuesday. It may seem a small
thing to many that the candidates we choose to lead us as a nation may very well
have the key to either revival or judgment. Sounds strong and to the point, but
in these troubled times we live in neighbor, nothing is as more important than
having the heart of God for this election. I don't care what party you always
voted for. I don't care whose personality you like the best. I don't care who
has a better plan for Social Security, the jobs or the gross national product.
America's soul and character are more important. Are the Republicans saints?
GOD FORBID. But the alternative is an even WORSE godless system of Democrats who
would plunge the nation into oblivion. It's not the Republicans are that
righteous, believe me they're far from it - it's that the Democratic Party is so
utterly wicked and vile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not talking their "politics," here -
I'm talking their stands on issues close to the heart of God concerning abortion
and homosexuality. If we get all the
economic issues right and get the security issues wrong, then the economic
issues won't mean a whole hill of beans.
I remember back in 2001 hearing a tape by Dan Bohler who interviewed with Sid Roth concerning what the Lord had told him prior to and right after 9-11-2001. One thing Dan kept repeating was that when God's judgment does fall on America it will come in the same form it came on Israel - the invasion of the nation by foreign powers. We listen to that and many smirk in arrogance thinking "America will never fall to foreign invaders, we have two oceans protecting us." If September 11, 2001 taught us anything it was that two oceans don't protect us like we thought they did. When God removes HIS hedge of protection, three airplanes become dangerous instruments of destruction just as any ground-to-air missile does. His warnings in 2006 are sounded just as intense "the judgment of repentance is at hand." Neighbor I believe this.
These are the times we live in and the issues before us. Do we listen to the prophetic word of the Lord and go vote VALUES instead of politics, or do we vote politics and wind up with a leader like Saul who may very well bring total destruction to this once proud nation. Israel screamed at Samuel, "give us a king." God gave them what they wanted. Church of the living God, I ask you today - have you prayed today for this election? Have you prayed for the heart and soul of the nation we live in today? Have we prayed for President Bush? Are we going to rebel against the authority God wants over us or will be "throw off" the bands of the Lord in lieu of another who promises financial solutions to our "problems" so we can feel more comfortable about our future???? Those are questions we all must look deep inside and ask. I pray that you VOTE on Tuesday and vote according to God's heart for America. If you do, you will choose the right man.
God Bless.

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