My wife and I were reading Psalm 127 the other day and it got me to thinking along the lines of where we stand as a nation and a people before Almighty God. I was also reminded of a book written nine years ago by Jonathan Cahn called The Harbinger. If you haven’t read it, you should do so. It is eye opening to say the least, and the Scripture passage he emphasized, Isaiah 9:10, runs parallel to Psalm 127.
The Honey Moon Is Over
Some of you may remember a popular slogan in 1968 which said, “You’ve come a long way baby.” It was created by the Leo Burnett Agency for Philip Morris Company, a tobacco company, to advertise their cigarette brand, Virginia Slims. The idea, I suppose, was to let women know they were gaining ground on their quest to be equal with men. Women and men have always been equal. They just have different roles assigned to them by God. Unfortunately these days, women are trying to be masculine and men are trying to be feminine (generally speaking).
God said to Eve (applicable to all women) in Genesis 3:16, “…Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” The Bible is clear that men and women have always been equal. They each just have different roles in life. However, after the original sin, there will be conflict in marriage. She will try to rule over him, instead of submitting to him as God ordained. Is God saying the husband is free to be a tyrant, dragging his wife by the hair to the matrimonial bed? Absolutely not! He is to “love his own wife even as himself.”
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33)
If that isn’t enough, the Lord also said through the apostle Paul,
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25)
How much did Jesus love the Church? He took our punishment, then died, was buried and rose again that we might have life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) That is how a husband is to love his own wife.
The wife is to respect her own husband, but how can anyone respect an abusive tyrant? They cannot. Therefore, the marriage that God ordained is in trouble.
This is exactly why God says that we are not to be unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) How can a child of Satan and a child of God ever truly have anything in common spiritually in a marriage? They can’t. (Now don’t divorce your spouse if they are not a child of God. Instead, witness to them by the life you live for Jesus, and pray for them.)
Satan has pulled out all the stops in his attacks on the family, because he knows if he can destroy the family, most everything else will fall into place. The family is the core of society. Yet for years I have noticed women fulfilling Genesis 3:16 above and men ignoring Ephesians 5:25, 33 above.
When women stop being women and men stop being men nothing good can come from it but broken homes. Children develop emotional problems, sexual identity issues, lack of respect for authority, and many other issues. Is it any wonder there is so much murder today, serial killers, rape, homosexuality, problems in school and with the law?
When a wife submits to her own husband and the husband loves his own wife as Jesus loves the Church, it may not be a perfect marriage, but it will be the best possible while living in a sin stained world.
Before going on, let me emphasize that “submit” is not a bad word. Jesus submitted to the Father.
“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)
In the triune God-head, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit each have different roles, just as God has assigned women and men with different roles. All are equal, but with different roles in life.
Children Gone Wild
I have already spoken of the effects upon children, but I’ll repeat that the family unit is being attacked from all sides, and our children are not exempt. Very young children today (generally speaking) are running the streets using language that was once attributed to sailors; i.e. “cuss like a sailor.” Little respect is shown to parents and others in authority. Even the blood of violence stains their hands.
Is it possible that parents have violated God’s message of Ephesians 6:1-4? Sure seems that way to me.
Occupational Hazards
Ephesians 6:5-9 speaks of slaves and masters, but today we can equate that with employers and employees.
So many employees today work harder at trying to get out of work than just faithfully doing their job. Not only that, but millions of dollars are lost from employee theft which of course raises prices for the customers.
The employers are not exempt either by unfair dealings with their employees. All of this flies in the face of God’s instructions in this Scripture passage.
Where Is The Church In America?
The true Church of America remains, even though it has shrunk in size. It exists in places of worship where Jesus Christ is worshipped as Savior and Lord. He is recognized as the ONLY way to God the Father and is honored, respected and loved.
The Church exists in Bible study gatherings of small groups in homes throughout this land. It exists in those who are fed up with worldly churches and will follow only the teachings of Jesus in His Word we call the Bible.
Is The United States of America a Christian Nation?
It has been stated that Obama said to his Islamic buddies that America is not a Christian nation.
On June 28, 2006 Obama’s prepared remarks were: “Given the increasing diversity of America’s population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
On that day (June 28, 2006) he actually said: “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
I rarely have much to offer in defense of Obama, but I wanted to show what he actually said. He did not say we “are not a Christian nation,” but that we “are not just a Christian nation.” He then includes Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and nonbelievers. Guess what? He is still wrong. We are a Christian nation … period.
That being said, we are also a Christian nation in rebellion against God. This Christian nation has allowed Satan’s representatives to take the reins, and we are being led away from our Christian heritage to face the judgment of God.
Any honest student of American history has to admit that we were founded on the principles of God’s Word and many of our founders were Christians. Because the majority of this country’s founders submitted to God and established our country upon the Word of God (the Bible), we have been blessed as no other nation in the history of the world.
We should have been defeated by England in the War of Independence, but we were not. God was with us. He gave us men like George Washington, who was a strong believer, and gave us victory over the King of England.
We should have been defeated at Pearl Harbor, but God lifted us up and gave us victory. After World War II something changed. We, even more than before, began taking credit for the success that God provided.
So What Is My Point?
As a nation we have rebelled and are rebelling against the One and Only True Almighty God. In marriage, through our children, at the workplace, in the churches, and as a nation we have turned our backs on God. (Obviously there are many who remain faithful to God, but the majority wants nothing to do with Him.)
Immediately after September 11, 2001 the churches were filled to capacity. However, shortly thereafter, the few who remained in the pews were asking, “Where did they go.” Most everyone had left and gone back to their previous routines.
In every situation I’ve mentioned, the majority has decided they have a better plan than God, and they’re going to do things their way.
The message we are proclaiming to Heaven is loud and clear, “I don’t need God. I can overcome anything.” At the beginning of this article I mentioned Jonathan Cahn’s book, “The Harbinger.” I do so again because I feel he did a very good job explaining what I am saying here, but in much more depth.
I will be closing with three Scripture passages of which I totally understand were written for Israel. I also understand that the underlying principle from God is speaking to us, the United States of America. God created (if I may) the nation of Israel. They were and are His people. God also laid the foundation for us as a nation and gave us guidelines to follow. Israel has suffered mightily for their rebellion, but they will be brought back to God during the Tribulation, even with more suffering.
As a nation, we are a fallen Christian nation that is very proud of our many successes. We are drunk with egotism, thinking that our power and wealth came from our own hands. Our narcissistic attitude will pop like a balloon once the true Church is called home (Rapture) by Jesus Himself. At that time this great nation will be taught the lesson of Nebuchadnezzar. It will be driven to the fields to eat grass with the cattle while drenched with the dew of heaven (Daniel 4:25).
In our families, our occupations, our government, even in our so-called worship centers we have mocked God and taken credit for what He has provided. In every disaster we have faced, 9-11 being one example, we have taken credit for our recovery. As Israel said, we have also echoed.
“The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with smooth stones; The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with cedars” (Isaiah 9:10)
Notice that there is no credit given to God, but God says,
“…Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:1-5)
Notice that God reminds us of our vanity. It is He who supplies, not us. Notice further our contempt for His most precious gift to mankind … children. What do we do with His gift? We murder them (abortion) by the millions. How do we think God feels about that?
Finally, what does God have to say to the educated, the powerful and the rich?
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Do we boast of God today, or do we boast of our own accomplishments? Do we follow His laws today, or do we “do our own thing?”
This once great Christian nation is living on borrowed time. We have allowed Satan to invade us, and it has resulted in our families, the workplace, our churches, our government and all else in our society to be eaten away by sin. Our entertainment industries would make the demons of hell blush. Our politicians are expected to lie, and so they do.
There is no truth in us. There is no shame. There is no remorse. There is no yearning for God, except by a few. We desperately need a national revival, but I personally see no signs of that ever happening (Jesus said we would only get worse at the end). We were a committed Christian nation, but now it can only be said that we have become a very idolatrous nation.
I praise God that there are still many in this country who do love the Lord Jesus, but they are so few among the 330 million plus Americans. It is my opinion that millions will be instantaneously removed by Jesus from our land at the Rapture. Sadly, in my opinion, it will be a small minority. Ten percent (only for an example) would leave close to 300 million to endure the Tribulation. I don’t know when Jesus will return for His bride (Rapture), but I do know He told us to be ready at all times. Are you ready?
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html