Today we hear Christians quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14 as if it had some magical power to solve America’s problems.
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The “my people” in this verse could not be the church. Think how impossible the verse becomes if it were. Which church would it be and when is the last time you saw a group of Christians who could be in agreement on one subject such as this. And how are you going to get all of them to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways. We don’t even agree on what is wicked. Notice also that once you get this unity God hears, forgives and then heals the land. I am not going to say that such a task is impossible but I want to interject that prayer must be in agreement with the Holy Scriptures. Is it God’s will for America to turn and get right with God? Careful now! We are considering the Holy Scriptures. Let us suppose that everyone gets right and turns and America turns and once again becomes the great Bible preaching nation that we once thought it was. What is your motive for wanting that? Are you busy in the work of God? Are you absolutely positive that your motive is not selfish and motivated by the comforts that you love so dearly?
I believe in prayer but I also believe in repentance. When American Christians get broken about their sin and truly repent they will be ready to pray. The Bible tells us very clearly what the church would be like in the last days. We are the Laodicean church and we are “a sorry lot”. Those are my words.
Revelation 3:14
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Revelation 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Revelation 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
I do not believe that American Christianity can even begin the road of repentance until it confesses what it has done to God’s word.
Proverbs 13:13
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”
That is a subject I am willing to discuss if you want to contact me and begin the discussion. Apostasy is a departure from the truth while maintaining that you are still standing on the truth. It is hypocrisy! It is the preacher who says, “I believe that the authorized King James Version is the word of God” and then he says, “In the Greek…” That is an apostate preacher who says one thing and believes something all together different. I did not say that he is aware of his crooked dealings: some are and some are not. And any English version that is not the Authorized King James Version is not the word of God. I make those statements without any hesitation after being saved for almost 36 years and having read, studied, searched, memorized, and meditated on the Holy Scriptures for all of those years. No one who has taken the time to look at the other English versions could say that they are on equal ground with the AKJV nor could they say honestly that there is no doctrinal error in those other English versions.
If you want to know why we are in the Laodicean period of church history it is because we gave up the Book that God gave us.
I believe also that there is the possibility that the times of the Gentiles are over and God has turned in the direction of the Jews, the Tribulation, and Millennial.
Luke 21:24
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Romans 11:25
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Romans 11:26
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”
I believe that other than a remnant of Gentile souls God’s work from here on out is going to be fulfilling the promises that He has made to the Jews. Yes, I know that many Gentiles will be redeemed during the tribulation but let’s face it the Bible does have divisions. One of the great sins of our day is ignoring the divisions and trying to make the church the only thing that God is interested in. You cannot shove every verse of the Bible into the church age and make a doctrinal application. God has not promised to extend His time table because people are still lost. That is why the people who claim the name of Christ need to be telling others how to be saved and using the right Bible when they do it. Someday soon it will be too late for most of America.
2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 3:15
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
The Jews are God’s chosen people and they have been given promises that no other race of people can claim. You did know that the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a Jew, didn’t you. And you have read the Old Testament, right! You have read about Abraham, right!
Genesis 12:1
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
You do know that God has not changed His mind about this promise, right!
God is at this time gathering all nations for destruction. The nations, in the Bible, are a term for every nation except the Jews (Israel). The Jews are not reckoned among the nations of the world.
Numbers 23:9
“For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”
The Jews were to be a people unlike any other nation.
Leviticus 18:24
“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:”
It was from among the Jews that Christ came and the Bible says clearly salvation is of the Jews.
John 4:22
“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”
Let me interject a scriptural thought at this point that obviously is not considered by many today.
God is the Creator of all mankind.
Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
It is commonly taught that man is something special and should feel good about himself because he was made after God’s likeness and in the image of God.
Maybe we should just keep reading in the book of Genesis and find out if there is any truth to this positive pie in the sky, “I feel good about who I am” and “You just gotta believe in yourself.”
Adam was given one command and was just like you and I a colossal failure.
Genesis 2:16
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Adam was surrounded by trees that he could eat of one but just like you and I he had a tough time dealing with that one tree being forbidden to him. Why would God plant a tree and then tell me not to eat of that one tree? And can you believe it: God said I would surely die if I ate of that one tree? That is not fair! Where does God get the right to plant a tree in my garden and then tell me not to eat of it or He will make sure that I die? There you go! That is modern man. It is not yours: It ALL belongs to God. And God can do whatever He wants with it because He made it and He made it with a plan and a purpose. God cannot make a mistake and so whatever decision God makes is RIGHT. God is Sovereign!
God gave man a choice to be obedient or disobedient and God already knew which choice man would make. God knew man would make the wrong choice and therefore God, being much smarter than man, had a plan and a purpose for man. This plan would be 4,000 years down the road from the origin of man’s disobedience and God already knew all that would happen in the time between the sin and the sacrifice.
Let’s go back to Genesis and read something that most people seem to miss. Man is not one of God’s children just because God made him. We are not all God’s children and our relationship to God is creation to Creator. He is your God on the basis of creation but that does not guarantee you any security in eternity outside of salvation that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Genesis 5:1
“This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Adam was made in the likeness of God but we are reading the book of the generations of Adam which is going to tell a different story about Adam’s sons.
Genesis 5:2
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Just As we read it in Genesis chapter 1.
Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:”
Read that verse carefully and believe what you read. Adam’s son was in his likeness and after his image. What is the difference between the Adam of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 and the Adam of Genesis chapter 5? The difference is disobedience. This Adam that is now having sons in his likeness and after his image has been changed. God told Adam when he ate of the tree that was forbidden he would die. Adam died spiritually the very day that he ate of the forbidden tree in that he was separated from fellowship with God and at the age of 930 years Adam died physically. The death penalties went into effect exactly as God had said.
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Notice that the word is WAGES (plural). There is more than one kind of death. We all understand that when someone dies physically we place them in a box and put the box in the ground. The dead are separated from the living. Spiritual death is the dead being separated from the living.
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The Lord Jesus is “the life” and we are dead spiritually.
Ephesians 2:1
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
Before you get saved you are alive physically but you are dead spiritually. You are living but you do not have life: God’s life.
1 John 5:11
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour you receive life and you can have fellowship with God.
1 John 1:5
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your
Saviour you are dead spiritually and if you die physically while you are still dead spiritually you will go to Hell.
Romans 5:12
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Job 14:10
“But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?”
Luke 16:22
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
Adam’s sons are no longer in the image of God they are in his image and they have the sentence of death on them. All of mankind after Adam’s disobedience have been born dead spiritually and eventually will die physically because we are no longer in the image of God.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came to bear the sin of us all it is recorded that He is the image of God and that would be because He does not have death in Him and that is because He has not been disobedient.
2 Corinthians 4:3
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
The way you get the image back is ask the Lord Jesus Christ to save you and then He will indwell you and His righteousness will reflect the image of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
The Lord Jesus Christ became a man just like Adam and was tempted just like Adam but the Lord Jesus Christ never sinned. He was never disobedient to the Father.
John 8:29
“And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”
The following verses and many more are recorded about the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 Peter 2:22
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”
Hebrews 4:15
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”
John 1:29
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
1 Peter 2:24
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
1 Peter 3:18
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
The Lord Jesus Christ succeeded; Adam failed. When you are born you are born in Adam’s image and Adam’s likeness and you are dead in your trespasses and sins.
Ephesians 2:1
“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
You need to be born again.
1 Peter 1:23
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
John 3:6
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
You are born again after you hear the word of God and turn in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:13
“In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
The word of truth declares that you are a sinner and in need of repentance.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
“For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
Acts 20:21
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Once you acknowledge by the preaching of the word of God and work of the Holy Spirit that you are a sinner you can turn to the Saviour and be saved.
Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Once you have turned in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ you become one of God’s children.
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:”
Galatians 3:26
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Now that we know that there is a difference between being one of God’s creatures and being one of God’s children let us return to our study.
It was the Jews to whom God committed the writing of the word of God. All (40 +) men who were used to pen the words of the Holy Scriptures were Jews.
Romans 3:1
“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?
Romans 3:2
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”
Religion today has substituted itself for the Jew and kicked the Jew out. Oh sure they blow kisses at the Jew and say that we should be nice to them because if we do God will be nice to us.
The Jews are the superior race and they will survive all the attacks because God has promised them some land, a king, and a kingdom. It is our duty as Bible believers to accept the facts of the word of God and praise His holy name that some day SOON He is going to step out into the air and take us to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
America will get what she deserves and no amount of prayer is going to stop the judgment of God. God may bless me in many wonderful ways as a child of His but I am in a nation that God must judge. And when judgment comes I may lose some of the comforts of the luxury that I now live in but blessed be God I am still saved. I believe the Bible mentions something about us living in a way that gives Him glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:19
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
America has forgotten God!
Psalms 9:17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God.”
Therefore, America is one of the nations being gathered for destruction.
Joel 3:2
“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.”
Zechariah 14:1
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zechariah 14:3
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”
Zephaniah 3:8
“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”
Jeremiah 30:11
“For I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”
The only nation that has a promise of preservation is the nation of Israel.
Jeremiah 30:16
“Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.”
Jeremiah 46:28
“Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.”
America fits into the category of all nations and God gives His thoughts of America in the Bible.
Isaiah 40:17
“All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.”
I love America but I believe America has mocked God and America will pay. America can do whatever America wants to do but America will answer to God.
I believe the reason so many are praying to try and stop certain politicians from going into office is because they do not want to lose their comfort zone. American is fat and Americans are happy as long as they have money. Yes there are a few dedicated believers left but for the most part American Christianity is a fire gone out. We have access to more ways to preach the gospel than any generation that has ever lived and we have done less that any other generation. I do not look forward to any part of the future except the rapture but I will do my best to accept whatever comes because God has the right to do whatever He chooses.
Perhaps I sounded to bold or harsh for you but my friend we are in the last days. We have preached it for years and now that it is hear we do not want to acknowledge it. There has been a verse in the Bible that has greatly troubled me for years. I will close with that verse without comment.
1 Peter 4:18
“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”