November 6, 2018 is a critical date for the United States of America. This Election Day is just as important as November 8, 2016 when Donald J. Trump was elected President of our country. In 2016 God stepped in and shocked the world.

If you have not done so, please read Todd Strandberg’s article, The Most Important Midterm Election “Ever” posted on October 15^th under the Nearing Midnight section of Rapture Ready.

2009 through 2016, in my opinion, were the darkest years ever visited upon the United States of America. It was commonly believed that the year 2017 would continue with the dismantling of our country. Folks, we are not out of the woods yet. Satan has pulled out all the stops in his desire to destroy this country any way he can. We may think the Democrats and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are the enemy to democracy, and they are, but the real enemy is Satan himself.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We have been given a temporary reprieve by Almighty God when He ousted Hillary Clinton and placed Donald J. Trump in the President’s seat. Let us be clear. President Trump is not our Savior. He is only an instrument that God is using to pull us back from insanity.

President Trump is not perfect, but he has made much headway in restoring some sanity, despite the strong forces of evil that fight against him. Frankly, I have never witnessed so much hatred as I have seen in the last two years leveled against one man. Sadly for them, these people think they are fighting against President Trump, but they are fighting against God.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

Did you notice that the eight years Obama was in office, he was not hated and maligned as President Trump is today, even though he promoted every anti-American scheme imaginable? Doesn’t that tell you something?

I believe that the one and only true God of Israel and the Church has heaped blessings upon this country because of our founders. He provided a place of refuge and blessing for all those who settled this great country because they honored Him. I believe He has provided blessings for this country much like He did Israel, and in many ways we have been more blessed.

However, we must understand two things.

One, we have not replaced Israel, and we are not the apple of God’s eye. Only Israel holds that title. God has made promises specific to Israel and they all will soon be fulfilled.

Two, just as God provided so many blessings for Israel because of His love for her founders (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), He also provided much punishment for Israel’s rebellion against Him.

“Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power,” (Deuteronomy 4:37)

God took Israel from among the Gentile nations and began her journey with a man named Abraham. In my opinion, I believe God took a group of men in this country and helped them and others provide a country for His Church to worship Him and spread His Word throughout the world. This country was once the hub of Christian missionary work, but today is opposed to everything that is Godly.

This country began by following God’s Laws and instituting those Laws as a way of life. We lived by the same Ten Commandments that God provided Israel. Were we perfect? No, we were not perfect, and never have been, but we respected His Laws and tried to live by them.

Something happened. Just as did Israel, we strayed from God and began following other gods. Israel became very corrupt and was severely punished. They are under punishment today, and still have much more to come (Tribulation). Do we really think we can get by with our rebellion against God? Do we really think God would be so severe with the apple of His eye, and just wink at our sins?

Listen to what God says through Moses to Israel.

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2 emphasis mine)

“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?

“Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 emphasis mine)

“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40)

We, the people of America, began our journey by honoring the commands of our God. Today, we have chosen to follow other gods. If we do not turn back in true repentance to Almighty God, we will be judged. The only questions remaining are:

• Will He lift His hand at the mid-term elections on November 6, 2018 and give us what we deserve?

• Will He lift His hand at the next Presidential election and give us what we deserve … again (another Obama)?
• How about this one? Will He remove the Church (via the Rapture) before it really gets ugly?

I do not have the answer to any of these questions, but I do know there are many in this country who know we need God, and there are many more who want every trace of Him removed from our society. We who know Jesus as Savior and Lord need to be much in prayer. We need to confess our own sins and ask for God’s deliverance from those who wish to destroy us.

In the business world some folks are hired full-time, some part-time and some as temporary employees. Many Christians in America seem to have the idea that God is a part-time, temporary hire. We only want Him around when things are going badly. God doesn’t work that way. He is either our God full-time or not at all.

Let us not think that we can call on Him to keep the boogie-man away at election time and then blend back into the world.

We stand at the crossroads of the future of this country. In my opinion, judgment is coming to this land, but being temporarily delayed for some reason known only by God. Will He continue to delay His judgment? What will transpire beforehand? Will He step in again on November 6, 2018? I don’t know, but I do believe that if His children come to Him with a repentant heart, He will listen. Let us pray and let us vote. More importantly, if He grants our requests, let us not fall back into the ways of the world.

In closing, I would like to say I believe God is withholding his judgment for a while because of true Christians who are on their knees before Him. However, we as a nation are now so corrupt, and becoming more corrupt each day, if God does not punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah (as stated by Ruth Graham).

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

ATTENTION! My email address has changed to Phillip5769@twc.com.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is either the biggest lie ever perpetrated upon mankind or the greatest news ever told. Unfortunately, it is ignored by most and even hated by others.

The Bible, God’s holy word, tells how God’s greatest creation, man, rebelled and thereby disqualified all who would be born in the flesh from the portal of Heaven.

Adam and Eve, our original Mom and Pop were created by God, and all of us since have been born in the flesh. Adam and Eve sinned against their Creator God and all born from them since inherit their sin nature. Therefore, all are guilty before God and condemned along with Satan and the angels who rebelled against God. Through Adam and Eve a choice was made; either listen to God and obey Him or listen to Satan and rebel against God. The wrong choice was made and all of mankind is guilty before Almighty God and will be judged in the lake of fire along with Satan and his angelic followers.

God says,

Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death…”

That’s the bad news! The end of mankind! It could end right here, but it doesn’t!

God also says,

Romans 3:24-26 – “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Romans 6:23b – “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That’s the GOOD NEWS!!!

The bad news is eliminated for every individual that accepts the Good News of Jesus Christ. God provided through His Son Jesus the payment for all our sins against Him. All He requires of us is to come to Him through His Son. If we will do that, God will accept the redemption price Jesus paid to buy us from the slave market of sin and adopt us into His very own eternal family. By the way, what was the redemption price? It cost Jesus His own blood to purchase all those who will come to Him to be saved.

Every human being throughout history stands in the exact same spot Adam and Eve stood. A decision must be made. Do I listen to God or do I listen to the serpent (Satan)? Each of us must decide for ourselves.

Adam and Eve made a decision that affected not only them, but all who were born after them. That decision cast a black cloud over all of mankind, but only for those who refuse to accept God’s provision made for us all.

There is no black cloud hanging over my life because I made a decision to call upon Jesus to be redeemed by His precious blood. Many of you can say the same, but most are still walking on this earth with a black cloud of eternal judgment hanging over their head.

If God required good works of us, most of us would be on that bandwagon. Most people are on that path already, but God cannot and will not accept even one of our works for salvation. Why you say? We must be absolutely sinless and perfect in every way, for God to accept our works. None of us qualify. Only God qualifies, and that is why He sent Himself to pay our debt in the person of His Son Jesus.

Think about it. Mankind is under the judgment of God, but God stepped in and took the judgment He proclaimed against us, upon Himself. He provided all who will come to Him through Jesus the only way we can have fellowship with Him. He provided for us salvation. He provided for us a home with Him for eternity, and so much more. All He requires is our faith in Him. If we will use the faith He provides us, and believe in Him, He will guarantee our spiritual growth and fellowship with Him.

The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of Jesus’ conversation with two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke (24:27)

That includes all of the Old Testament, and obviously, all of the New Testament concerns Jesus. All of the Bible is about Jesus. It is about His Gospel. It is about Him. Why is this holy book from God being so maligned and hated today? Could it be because it is all about Jesus? Why would anyone hate Jesus? Maybe it is because Satan hates Jesus, and because Jesus makes it very, very clear that He is the ONLY way of salvation. He is the ONLY way to the Father.

If you are reading this and have not put your trust in Jesus Christ, you are at a crossroads today. Only in His Gospel will you find the Truth. Listen to Jesus words in John 8:31-32.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

ATTENTION! My email address has changed to Phillip5769@twc.com