by Bill Rudge
The presidential election was many days past with many questions and concerns. Peace and joy were removed from many homes and replaced with conflicts and disagreements – sometimes outright hostility. Many people were overcome by worry and fear concerning the election and the coronavirus. However, I assured them that the only way to be at peace is to strengthen ourselves in the Lord by remembering His past faithfulness and to have a biblical perspective regarding national and world events; encouraging them to reflect on the following scriptures and how they relate to us today.
An important and timely truth is spoken through King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, when the ten northern tribes of Israel were removed from his control. First Kings 12:15 says, “It was a turn of events from the LORD.” Verse 24 of this same chapter reiterates this by stating: “You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”
God’s Warning
Daniel provides additional insight concerning the course of nations and their leaders:
He [God] removes kings and raises up kings…. The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes (Daniel 2:21; 4:17).
God forewarned many times in Scripture what would happen to Israel, Judah, and other nations for abandoning the ways of the Lord and tolerating wickedness and injustice. The Bible provides and history proves what befalls a nation that forsakes the LORD Who has so richly blessed and protected them.
During a time of ongoing wickedness and disingenuous repentance the nation of Judah wondered:
Have You completely rejected Judah? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We waited for peace, but nothing good came; and for a time of healing, but behold, terror! (Jeremiah 14:19).
The idolatry, immorality and injustice of the leaders and people of Judah became so repulsive to God that Jeremiah 15:1 records these strong words:
Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, yet My heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of My sight, and let them go!”
There came a point in Judah’s wickedness that it became ineffective to intercede for the nation because of its persistent unrepentance. Even prayers by Moses and Samuel would not deter judgment. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary states concerning this:
The Lord refuses to avert judgment from His people; His decision to punish them is irreversible. Therefore the continued intercession of Jeremiah or of any others cannot succeed. The people’s incorrigibility has placed them beyond the power of prayer. Moses and Samuel would have been unable to move the Lord from His decision. The Lord commands that the nation be sent from His presence.
Without wholehearted national repentance, Judah’s fate was sealed. Her widespread indulgence in sin and rebellion before the Lord rendered her insincere, self-serving remorse, insufficient to alter the course of God’s judgment. The question today is: How close is America to a similar fate? (A couple other enlightening sections of Scripture to read and ponder at this historic time is Jeremiah 7:1-34 and Ezekiel 33:23-33.)
God Takes No Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked
Excerpts follow of what Ezekiel was told by God:
“Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, cut off its supply of bread, send famine against it … or if I should send a plague [pestilence] against that country and pour out My wrath to cut off man and beast from it, even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness. How much more when I send My four severe judgments: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! When you see their conduct and actions, you will know that I have not done in vain [without cause] all that I have done,” declares the Lord GOD. “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 14:13-23; 33:11).
What the Apostle John foretold in Revelation is a mirror reflection of Ezekiel’s prophecy of God’s “four severe judgments”:
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7-8).
Don’t Gloat
Let me briefly interject another biblical truth here: Those nations which rejoiced over Judah’s judgment would incur similar punishment. Edom is just one of several nations in the Bible God judged for hostility against His people or for “celebrating” over their demise. Excerpts follow:
Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir [Edom], and prophesy against it and say to it, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am against you and will stretch out My hand and make you a desolation and a waste.’ Because you have said, “These two nations [Israel and Judah] will be mine, and we will possess them,” although the LORD was there, therefore as I live, declares the Lord GOD, “I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred against them. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard all your revilings which you have spoken against Israel and have spoken arrogantly against Me; I have heard it.” Thus says the Lord GOD, “As all the earth rejoices, I will make you a desolation. As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be a desolation, O Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD”’ (Ezekiel 35:2-15).
This sounds eerily similar to what will occur after severe persecution and martyrdom of those who come to faith in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation period:
Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” (Revelation 16:4-6).
Forboding Winds
While Christians are wearing each other out “fighting” over the coronavirus and politics, the real battle is already in play. To stand in the midst of what is coming we will need every ounce of strength and must be unified in genuine faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. This is a day and age to know Scripture and have discernment.
Remember, Jesus, as well as the apostles Peter, Paul and John, warned of unprecedented difficulties and pervasive deception in the end times. It is worth noting that Jesus’ first admonition in His famous Olivet Discourse was to “Take heed that no one deceives [misleads] you” (Matthew 24:4). Therefore, Jesus’ foremost warning concerning the end times is of delusion and deceit.
There is no doubt that the foreboding winds of global government, a one world economy and a prejudiced religious system (tolerating virtually anything but true Christianity) are blowing across America and the world. Earth’s final kingdom (Babylon) before the second coming of Jesus Christ will be a unified political, economic and religious system.
In order to implement this global society there needs to be a crisis (or potential crisis) which generates enough fear to make the masses willing to accept the recommended solutions. The only nation powerful enough to thwart a world government and all that entails is the United States. Therefore, the U.S. has to be transformed from nationalism to globalism. This being accomplished, the global elite will be able to dictate every aspect of the lives of virtually everyone on this planet – unwittingly leading to the fulfillment of Revelation 13 and the worldwide reign of the one revealed in Scripture as the Antichrist.
Two thousand years ago the Bible forewarned that the Antichrist would come disguised in false peace and unity. Under the pretense of solving the world’s crises he will initiate a global society with the inability to buy or sell without his mark on your hand or forehead – surrendering your total allegiance to him and his rule. Comply or die!
For over 30 years I have warned about what is coming, striving to prepare the Body of Christ for what is now upon us. Globalists may refer to it as The Great Reset but the Bible calls it the coming kingdom of the Antichrist. What seems so brilliant and beneficial will result in the darkest and most diabolical period in human history.
Nevertheless, we must not be discouraged or fearful, because all our future hopes and dreams are in Christ – not in ourselves, not in a political party, not in a world leader and not in a worldly kingdom. (Read John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.)
Let those who so desire to have their kingdom on this earth enjoy their day and their temporary empire: they may get what they want, but they will not want what they get (see Revelation chapters 17 and 18). This temporary time of unprecedented unity, prosperity and immorality is rapidly coming upon the world and its “church,” but it will be a unity, prosperity and immorality (anything goes) of which you will not want any part! Scripture identifies this global system as Babylon the Great, Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth (17:5). No wonder God calls His people out of her “so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues” (18:4).
Is There Hope?
As believers in Jesus Christ, our day and eternal Kingdom is also coming – after the destruction of Babylon the Great. We will inherit all we could ever imagine or desire – and far more! Our inheritance in Christ will abundantly satisfy us for ever and ever.
Jesus puts everything in perspective:
What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26).
Assuredly, one day the following prophecy will become a reality:
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15).
In the midst of Jeremiah’s extreme lamentations for Judah’s destruction by the Babylonians, the Holy Spirit inspired him to pen the following promise for the people of his time (and for us today):
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him (Lamentations 3:21-25).
What Should We Do?
At Christ’s first coming many people expected the Messiah to provide political conquest, but Jesus came for spiritual redemption. Today, many people’s prayers and energies go toward political conquest, while God’s priority at this time is for us to share His Gospel in our local community, across cultural barriers and throughout the world (Acts 1:8). A Christian’s top priority must be for evangelism and leading others to Jesus Christ. Certainly you realize that one does not make it into the Kingdom of God because of political persuasion or even on account of good morality; access into God’s eternal Kingdom is only gained through accepting the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the atonement for our inherent sin.
In recent years, many political factions have been determined and committed in their quest to establish their “kingdom” on this earth. How much more should followers of Christ be determined, committed – unified – in bringing people into His millennial and eternal Kingdom?
As believers in Jesus Christ we must have greater passion in reaching people with His love and truth than in obtaining political power and control over this nation and the world. It is imperative that we focus the majority of our remaining time, energy and resources toward reaching this world for Christ before His return. May we be found faithful when He comes!
Bill Rudge Ministries 