American cities are burning.  Anarchists rule the streets and taking over parts of cities while the authorities look on helplessly.  Children give orders and adults bow to their demands.  Police stand by and watch their headquarters and cars being destroyed.  Rocks and fire bombs are met with rubber bullets and tear gas.  Local, state and national authorities are paralyzed by political correctness ….

Students of the Bible are not surprised.  There have been voices from the past warning us of what was coming our way.  Were we told in advance that these and many other problems would one day descend upon this once great, God-founded and God-blessed nation, along with other so-called “Christian nations.”  Could the calamity that has overtaken those nations been avoided?  Could the chaos and anarchy that grips the world’s cross-wearing, Bible carrying people have been stopped before it started?  Let us look to the One Who has all the answers to all questions.  God is no respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11).  What a man sows, that he also reaps, and more Gal. 6:7).  That this unchangeable rule also applies to nations is plainly stated in Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and Isaiah 1.  We have examined the first two references on several occasions.  We will now turn to Isaiah 1:1-7 where the Lord tells us once again how we got to where we are and what will be the result of our spiritual choices.  Let us remember that the Old Testament serves as a teaching as well as a warning tool for the New Testament Church (Eph. 2:20/2 Tim. 3:14-16/2 Pet. 1:21/1 Cor. 10:11).  However, as man has proved time and again, good advise that is not heeded results in bad outcomes.  Such is the case with the United States, which God established as a light to the rest of the world.  What other nation prints IN GOD WE TRUST and  ONE NATION UNDER GOD on its currency?  Money is the one thing each citizen carries on his/her person that reminds him/her that God expects him/her to make Him the center of his/her life.  Such was once the case.  But no more.

Prediction: when those intent on destroying the nation and their secret supporters in congress gain control of the American Government, all references to the Biblical God will be removed from federal and state property, including the nation’s currency.  All references to the Biblical God and the Christian Bible will be prohibited in federal and state communications.  Religious organizations will lose their tax-exempt status.  What God calls evil will be viewed as good, wrong will become right–BY GOVERNMENTAL DECREE.  I believe that this is where we are headed.  As our cities burn and a race war ensues, the nation, suffering a century-long, a self-inflicted wound and weakened beyond recovery, will come under nuclear attack and will go down in defeat.  Survivors will be taken to the countries of the victors as slaves.  See Ezekiel 5:1-4 where God tells the prophet that His sinning people will self-destruct, be invaded, defeated and enslaved.  Using the prophet’s beard (facial “hairs”) to represent His (God’s) people, He reveals that one third of our people will “burn in the midst of the city” (race riots and anarchy).  A third will be “killed with a knife” (warfare).  And a third will be “scattered in the wind” (taken to foreign countries as slaves).  But notice that God told Ezekiel to take a few of his hairs (saints), wrap them in a cloth and hide them in a safe place.  The Prophet Isaiah tells us what will happen to the people of the United States and why.

In the first 7 verses of chapter one the Lord personally speaks (vss 2,3) directing His Words toward Judah (the “Jews”–tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi).  Let us keep in mind that He does not make a difference between people or nations.  What people/nations sow, they reap, and more.  Sow the wind–reap the whirlwind.  The Lord, through the prophet, addresses His people, calling them a sinful nation laden with iniquity (Lawlessness), evil-doers and corrupters who have forsaken and provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger by falling backward spiritually.  He reminds them that He has punished them time and again, yet they continue to revolt against Him.  They are sick from head to foot and are weak of mind.  Though He has wounded them for their sins, they refuse to return to Him through repentance and holy living so as to be healed.  And how have His people responded to His punishment and His calling them back to Him?  Verse 7 tells us. “Your country is desolate (crops, etc. destroyed); your cities are burned with fire (civil war); the product of your work is devoured by strangers as you watch (money, medical treatment, education, food, etc. for illegals); strangers are overthrowing your nation (social security, voting, etc. for illegals).”  These things will happen immediately when the government changes hands.

What I predicted earlier is based on God’s dealings with ancient Israel.  What He did to His chosen people then He will do to His chosen people now.  He is the Lord; He changes not.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  As I have shown in several series, the United States was originally populated by the descendants of Joseph’s son Manasseh.  See Who and Where is Israel Today? White Fields and God’s Eternal Harvest.  The same is true of Britain, which is populated by the descendants of Joseph’s other son, Ephraim.  One will notice that the British are suffering the same fate as the United States–invasion by foreigners, riots, anarchy, arson, theft, preferential treatment of foreigners, etc.  Together these modern Israelite nations will be militarily defeated and her survivors taken into slavery. See God’s Dealings With Ancient Israel: Teaching Moments for the Modern Church.

But God’s church will not suffer the fate of their host nations and their false churches.  God’s Very Elect will be taken to a place of safety, called “her place,” where He will protect and care for them during the Great Tribulation (World War III) and the Day of the Lord.  See Revelation 12:14.  The Tribulation will last 2 1/2 years and the Lord’s Day will last one year.  This time designation is symbolized as “a time (one year), times (two years) and half a time (one-half year).”  When we see the “abomination of desolation standing where it ought not” we will know that destruction, death, defeat and enslavement are on the way.  The next series will address that abomination.  L.J.