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Fred R. Coulter—November 14, 2009
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Why are we seeing this on a daily basis? And everyone asked the question: Why? What's happening? How did this take place? Within a period of two weeks, what did we have? Last Sabbath I covered about the shooting in Fort Hood and the reasons behind it, entitled that sermon Ancient Feuds—Modern Terrorists. Then I also gave another sermon Will Fickle Israel Repent? That's the modern ten-tribe descendants of the ten tribes of Israel. So we're standing at the crossroads. And every time we miss that crossroad, there's another crossroad just down the way, which maybe is more significant than the one we just passed.
So the question becomes: how do we understand what God wants us to do, and what is happening in the United States of America? We're seeing some of the most insane things take place. The recent one was the President's decision to have Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9-11—but also he was the mastermind of the assassination of Sadat, the Egyptian premier who made peace with Israel. He was tried in Egypt and let go.
We are trying to deal in a peaceful manner with too many people that are not dedicated to peace. We're trying to do the stupidity and the insanity of thinking that if we treat these dedicated murderers, these Nazi Jihadists and Muslims, if we treat them like nice respectable human beings‑‑because the descendants of Israel are like silly doves‑‑we think if we treat them nice that they will become nice when they're really dedicated to their cause, which is the extermination and the suppression and the rule over western civilization. That is the goal of the Muslim religion.
'Oh, there are good Muslims.' Oh, really? When it comes down to the pinch, when it comes down to life and death, will they support the lifestyle in the west that they hate? Or will they demand, like they are in the U.K., Sharia Law? You have to understand a principle; here's a great principle: A house divided against itself cannot stand—is that not true? Therefore, God gave to every nation what is called sovereignty. Sovereignty means geographical area, population, laws and currency. You can only have one sovereign within any geographical territory, because if you don't, it's going to fall.
Like Jesus said, 'No man can serve two masters. Either he will love one and hate the other, or hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.' When you have those whose religion is not of God—Allah is not God—let's understand something: In every case where God makes judgments, whether it's a nation, whether it is a group, whether it is an individual, God does not make judgments unto death and destruction lightly. He gives warnings. We're seeing a lot of these warning signs coming along, because of everything that comes through that this administration and Congress' agenda is set for, we are destined for third-world nationhood rapidly.
Here's why. Let's come to Psalm 12. Things like this have happened in the past, because these are some of the devices of Satan the devil. Satan never changes; he may modify his approach somewhat so that he can bring down people. Remember, God uses Satan in His judgments—doesn't He? Read the book of Job. What happened there? God used Satan powerfully. So the truth is. if you are not whole hearted to God and if you do not love God and believe God and serve Him as in the Bible, because this is His message to you personally. Understand this: the Bible is a personal message from God to you. So you have no excuse to say, 'Where is God? Why didn't He tell me?' If you have Bible in your house, you can open it and read it. Can you read; can you open a book?
The problem is—will you believe it? The answer is up to you. If you don't, the sure judgments are coming upon you, because one of the punishments that God gives is to raise up leaders, such as we have in the United States today who are dedicated to another cause, who are dedicated to another sovereign, who are dedicated to the destruction of this nation and all of their policies, like everything Satan says that if you follow me you will have a benefit, actually ends up in destruction. And everything that is portended for us, governmentally, is for our good. 'We'll take care of you.' Of course, the government wants you as slaves and pawns in their hands, depending upon them and that's you will become if you do not turn to God. Exactly what will happen; we're seeing it happen.
How many times through the years have we read prophecies of what's going to happen to Israel when they abandon God? We think, 'Oh, well, yeah, that's true.' But when the reality and the truth of it is actually in living history day-by-day on your television, now that's another situation entirely—isn't it? So here's where we are. And I think a lot of people feel like this. A lot of people in America wonder, 'what's happening, what's happening? Why are we oppressed? Why is this coming down? Why are we spending so much money?' For every tax dollar taken in federally, they spent $2.38. Now how long do you think that'll go? Just imagine it like the Titanic: they had a pump that would pump out a foot of incoming water a minute, but the incoming water's coming in at 2.3 feet per minute. Well, going to sink just like the Titanic.
Psalm 12:1: "Help… [That's what we are. That's a good Psalm. Maybe you ought to pray that in your prayer. Get on your knees and say the same thing.] …Help, O LORD, for the Godly man ceases…" Yes, nobody knows what our President Barrack Hussein Obama really believes. No one knows what his religion really is, because he had a major Freudian slip with Stephanopoulos in an interview on ABC. He says, 'I'm tired of people debunking my Muslim religion.' Stephanopoulos said, 'You mean your Christian religion.' 'Yes, that's right, my Christian religion.' What church does he attend? Is it for truth or is it for show?
Why did he bring out about the shooting in Fort Hood, by talking for three minutes about the rights of Native Americans before he talked about the shooting. That's why I say—insane judgment! And why did he not help bring comfort and hope to those who lost their loved ones in the shoot out down there and those who were wounded? Why did he not use the word 'terrorist'? Why did he not say we're going to chase them down to the ends of the earth? Why did he not say, 'You men who are left and alive, you will be used to find every last terrorist on earth and we are going to exterminate them. They will either change and join the ranks of the modern human world, or they will be exterminated or sent back to their country, regardless where they were born, because their goal is to kill the infidel. I as President vow to you that I will do that.'
No, talked in lofty terms and then the insanity on top of it was sending Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to New York City to be tried in a federal court. Even Karl Rove said on his commentary, 'This is insane.' So we are in deep trouble. This nation is in deep trouble, not because of the President and the administration and the Congress alone, that is the result of our collective sins up to this point. So unless there is a change with each one individually and personally on a mass scale, it's going to get worse. 'Oh, you talk negative things all the time.' Well, what do you suppose I need to talk about when the worse things that have happened to us are happening—huh?
Continuing, v 1: "…for the faithful disappear from among the children of men." Who really believes in God? Do you really, really, really, really believe in God? Do you love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and being? Are you faithful to God? What is it? Who are you? Where are you going? God gives you every breath that you have.
Here's what they do; here's Washington, D.C., right here in the Bible, v 2: "They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak." Wow! Isn't that something?
Now come to the book of Proverbs, chapter 6, for just a minute, and let's look at Washington, D.C. Let's see how God views Washington, D.C. We have to say there are some few back there who are trying to do what is more right. They're trying to do the things that will help the nation, but they really do not know how to go about doing it. Look at the minority position that they are in, that they cannot even sit in on the conference on how to do the laws, health law and the other laws that have been passed.
Let's begin here in Proverbs 6:12: "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth…. [Sound like some elected official somewhere? Those in Hollywood? Those in the pulpit?] …Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, pointing with his fingers; perversity is in his heart; he is always planning mischief… [How do you cause a nation to go down? How did Hitler do it? How did Stalin do it? How did Lenin do it? Cause crisis and confusion, and fighting and warring—right?] …he causes discord. Therefore, his calamity shall come suddenly; instantly he shall be broken without remedy" (vs 12-15). Now apply that not only to the individual, but apply that to a nation, apply that to a family.
Verse 16: "These six things the LORD hates… [Wonder why God isn't with us? You think God is going to bless us with liars like that? Of course not!] …A proud look… [Someone said, 'Hey, you ought to read what's here in Prov. 6. I think this describes our President.']
- …A proud look,
- a lying tongue,
- and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked imaginations,
- feet that are swift in running to evil,
- a false witness who speaks lies,
- and he who sows discord among brethren" (vs 16-19).
Now just take these verses, lift them out, put them right alongside you in big print, and watch your television set. Watch the news and that's what you're going to find.
Verse 2: "They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak." You might ask your Congressmen—senators and representatives, and even the President—'What's really in your heart?' Ask all those thirty-six czars that the President has appointed, 'What's really in your heart? Why are you really here? What are you doing that you haven't told us?'
Verse 3: "The LORD Shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, Who have said, 'With our tongue we shall prevail; our lips are our own… [Oh, everyone will just become so enamored with our President that he can get anything done, but take away his teleprompter and he's the worst speaker in the world.] …who is lord over us?'…. [God is. And He says in Hosea, 'Israel prepare to meet your Maker.'] …for the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him.' The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (vs 2-6).
That's why it's dangerous to reject the Word of God, because it's true and it's right. Whether for good or blessing, whether for cursing or evil and God has 'set before everyone life and death, blessing and cursing, but He commands you to choose life so that you and your offspring, or your seed, may live.' Do you want to live? Do you like it the way that it is? And those who are oppressed, you are so deceived that they have you in such an oppressed position that you must be absolutely dependent upon them and you're nothing but sheep and slaves to them. If you go into the voting booth and vote for them, you are of all people the most ignorant.
Verse 7: "You shall keep them, O LORD; You shall preserve them from this generation forever…. [That is if you are on God's side. You cannot expect to live in sin, which is a transgression of the laws of God, which is also lawlessness—which I'll give a sermon on that here, I've given several so go back and go over them. Here's what's happening and happening on such a breathtaking scale that when you watch the news, it almost just sucks the oxygen right out of you.] …The wicked walk on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (vs 7-8).
Take that Scripture and post it right alongside the television and watch the news. How many rapes and robberies and murders are reported to say nothing of the abortion? When will the American people have enough backbone to stand up and say, 'We're going to stop all sin, all adultery, all fornication, and we are going to outlaw abortion.' Now if you do that, you'll receive God's blessing. If you don't do that, it doesn't matter what else you do, because God is sick and tired of the innocent in the womb being slaughtered and pulled apart and sucked out in pieces; then all the parts given to the scientists so they can experiment with them.
Come to Psalm 10:1. Here's what people think. "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" The answer is because you won't repent. So as we go through these things—whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whatever your life is—are you seeking God? Are you repenting to Him? Are you changing your life to conform it to the Word of God? What is it that you are doing? If you're a minister, teacher, preacher, what are you preaching? What are you teaching?
Verse 2: "The wicked in his pride pursues the poor; let them be taken in the schemes that they have imagined, for the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous… [Sound like some of the TARP money to some of politicians? In order to create a job it cost $300,000 a job to create. My, isn't that economical?] …Through the pride of his countenance the wicked will not seek God; in all his thoughts there is no place for God" (vs 2-4). Is that you?
Like we've said, do you want the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth? Or do you want to live with a nice manufactured realism? Now notice what happens, because, see, Satan gives benefits for sin. Did he not tell Adam and Eve, 'Oh, you'll get a benefit if you eat of this. You'll be like God. You could decide for your own what is right and wrong. You don't need God to tell you what to do. You're smart; you're clever.' "His ways prosper at all times….. [until judgment comes] …He is haughty, and Your judgments are far from him. As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, 'I shall not moved...'" (vs 5-6). Another way to say it is: 'We won the election and elections have consequences and we have the super majority, so all the rest of you buzz off. We're going to enslave you.'
Speaking of enslavement, enslavement is you shall in the healthcare bill, it's 1900 and some pages. You know when the regulators get done with done with it, it will be 20,000 pages, just like the IRS. But in the initial thing they use the word shall 3400 times! You shall, you shall, you shall, under the penalty of law. People say, 'Why do they do that? How did this come about?' The answer is very simple, but people don't understand it, because you didn't do what God said when God said you shall, you shall, you shall. Now the punishment is there.
Now continuing on in v 6: "'…I shall never be in adversity'…. ['Nothing's going to happen to me.'] …His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity…. [Now just think how long ago these words were written, inspired to be, but how they fit precisely the events going on today.] …He sits in the hiding places of the villages…. [Isn't that what happened with these legislations? Closed the door. 'Oh, we'll be transparent.' Anybody look through the door? 'Oh, we'll post it 72-hours before we vote on it.' Uh, huh, lies, lies, lies!] …in the secret places he murders the innocent. His eyes are on the watch for the helpless. He lies in wait secretly like a lion in his den. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags him off in his net. He crouches and bows down, and the hapless fall into his mighty grasp…. [You shall, you shall, you shall!] …He has said in his heart, 'God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see!' Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble" (vs 6-12). Now remember in all of this: God watches out for the humble and those who love Him and seek Him. So never forget that. What we're describing is what happens to any nation all the way down through history when the wicked are exalted and we have insane judgments like we do today.
Verse 13: "Why do the wicked spurn God? He has said in his heart, 'You will not call into account.' You have seen it, for You behold mischief and vexation to repay it with Your hand. The poor commits himself to You; You are the Helper of the fatherless…. [and the weak and the humble. So you need to turn to God.] …Break the arm of the wicked and the evil one; seek out his wickedness until You find none…. [Get rid of them.] …The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart, You will cause Your ear to hear, To defend the fatherless and the oppressed, so that the man of the earth may no more oppress" (vs 13-18). Now that's ultimately going into the Kingdom of God, but there you have it. That's why we have such perverse, insane judgment.
In Leviticus 19:15, here's the basis for judgment. But let's again, let's analyze the things that we see going on in the world with the Word of God. That's what we are to do, so
- we know what's right
- we know what's wrong
- we know what is going on
- we know how to come to God
- we know how to seek God
- we know how to love God
—all of those things.
Here is what needs to happen in every governmental level in the United States and in the world if there is going to be a turn around. Everyone wants the blessings of God and the politicians want to come and say, 'Those blessings come because you support me.'
Leviticus 19:15: "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment…. [Everything there is about trying these terrorists in civilian courts is unrighteous judgment.] …You shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness." Because we don't have it, this is what we receive. It's not the government, that's part of it, but the government and its oppressive nature today is a result of the sins of the people. There are all of those who say, 'I don't want God in my life. I will do whatever I want. Oh well, my pastor says all the laws in the Old Testament have been done away or fulfilled and have no forensic value today.' Really? Then why try a murderer, if there's no law. That's insane and blasphemous to speak! Like I've given in how many messages, who is to blame? The religious leaders are number one on the list because they produce the society, which has evolved to what we have today. So the ones in the pulpit, the ones who teach in the universities, the one who teaches in the seminaries, the one who teaches the leaders, they are the main culprits. So if you think that the President and the administration are the ones who are really wrong, you've got it totally backwards. They are the result.
Let's go on. Let's see what Solomon said here concerning righteousness and judgment. Let's come to Ecclesiastes 3:16 (pg. 836): "And again I saw under the sun the place of judgment…"
Like they said, 'Well, if we get Sheikh Mohammed into New York court, will we get a radical leftist judge who will dismiss it and throw out his sentence like they did when he was in jail and judged in Egypt; when he was behind the assassination of Sadat?' There's so many evil and wicked things that can happen. Would you want to be the judge? Would you want to be on the jury? Would you want to be the prosecutor? The truth is, is to take us down propaganda-wise and show how bad the United States is, while ignoring all the evil of the Muslims. That's exactly what it is. Now what if they get a judge that believes that water-boarding is torture? Then the defense says, 'Well, look, this confession was extracted from them with torture.' And the judge will rule anything extracted by torture cannot be used in evidence against him—very possible.
"…And again I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there… [Do we have that with the judges in America today? Yes!] …and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there…. [All of those who are supposed to teach the Word of God, have the Bible in the pulpit, read from it, but twist and turn and misinterpret it and speak lies in the name of the Lord. Wickedness was there, to say nothing of their behavior. Verse 17: "I said in my heart, 'God shall judge the righteous and the wicked…" (vs 16-17).
That is true, He will. But a lot of people think that the wicked is 'everyone else but me, I'm righteous, I'm good, because what I do in my heart I know is right.' Really? Have you checked out the Bible, which says 'every way of the man is right in his own eyes'; which says, 'there is way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.' Have you examined your behavior? So if you point the finger to those who are wicked, why don't you first judge your own life and repent before God and make sure that you are right before God. That's what the Word of God is here for. It was here long before any of us, so we can understand what's going on in the world around us today.
…I said in my heart, 'God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.'…. [God will do it.] …I said in my heart, 'Concerning the matter of the sons of men, may God reveal to them, that they might see, that they themselves are but beasts'" (vs 17-18). Will they really come to that point? We would hope so.
Let's come to Ecclesiastes 8 and let's see another thing that's taking place today. This is what's wrong with our judicial system. Not only do we have wicked, crooked, perverted judges and attorneys—defense attorneys and prosecuting attorneys—who, for the sake of number put a lot of people in jail so they can look good and climb the political ladder; who, in spite of the evidence allow policemen to lie so they can get convictions.
Ecclesiastes 8:5: "Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil… [You want your life to change? There it is right there: Love God, keep His commandments. That's what Jesus said, 'If you love Me, keep My commandments.'] …and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment." Meaning you will understand what's going on based on the Word of God. That's what it means, but you will never know unless you love God and keep His commandments; unless you believe in Jesus Christ the way the New Testament says; unless you repent to God daily.
Now let's continue on, v 6: "Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore. the misery of man is great." Would you say as you look around the world, just put yourself in a space-capsule and you can have like a big magnifying glass looking down on the earth, and all the nations and everybody comes by you and you see all the misery and all the sin and all the destruction and all the wretchedness, would you not say that's the way it is; therefore, the misery of man is great. The question is: Are you miserable? Well, if you're miserable, the answer is you've been going against God.
Let's continue here. "For he does not know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?.... [Isn't that true? Yes, indeed! Ten years ago did you think anything like this would ever happen? The Bible told you, but no one else told you. Now here's something to show how powerful man is, meaning he's nothing.] …There is no man who has power over the wind to restrain the wind; nor power over the day of death; and there is no discharge from war; nor shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it" (v 8). Can you control those things? No!
They have the silly commercial about a little boy who went out and he captured some wind in a jar. He comes in to a birthday party for his grandpa and he takes the top off and it blows out all the candles and he's a big hero. But no man has the power over any of those things—only God.
"All this I have seen, and I gave my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the Holy place. And they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This is also vanity" (vs 9-10). Now you think about that the next time you drive by one of these big cemeteries and you see all these monuments and crosses, and stars of David, and whatever out there, and ask yourself, 'What do I know about any one of those there,' and there are tens of thousands buried in this graveyard. Who were they? What were they like? What were their lives? What did they do? How did they do it? How did they die? How long did they live? We don't know; they're forgotten. This is also vanity.
Verse 11 is a key: "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore, the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Do we not have that today? We do—don't we? Yes, indeed! How are you going to straighten it out when the powers that be that hold the reigns of the power and control the successors coming up through the ranks, how are you going to change it? You're not. You have to change your life and wait on Christ, because Christ is going to return and shake this earth like nothing has ever happened in the whole history of the world. He will take care of them.
When they want to execute someone quickly, they can do it, like Timothy McVeigh, because they didn't want everyone to know that he was involved with Palestinians. Isn't it amazing that we have the Bible, which in the Old Testament, the words here are thousands of years old, yet they fit today? Isn't that something? That's why it's called the living Word. You don't have any of this in any other writings. You've got Nostradamus; he steals a little out of the Bible, steals a little there and then he has all of these satanic and demonic inspirations of prophecy and the world goes over them again and again and again, like on the History Channel.
Now there's a movie coming out, what's going to happen in 2012. The earth is going to be turned upside down. One day it will, but not in 2012. Otherwise, we are ready to begin the tribulation in six months. Let's come to Isaiah 59.
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Let's see the perfect description here. Because God's laws are eternal and spiritual, and always work in all time settings in all civilizations through all the history of man—and it is the living Word of God; therefore, we can read in the Bible everything we need to know necessary for understanding what's going on, and necessary for salvation—is here. There are more Bibles printed in the world and sold and given away in the world than any other book and yet, it is the most misunderstood because people do not want to obey God. That's why!
Isaiah 59:7: "Their feet run to evil… [Sounds like Friday night—doesn't it? Be interesting to see a statistic: how many deaths, drug overdoses, murders, slaying, killings, accidents happen on Friday night, beginning of the Sabbath. 'We're going to go out and do our own thing. Friday night's a big deal!' How many sporting events and everything? Satan keeps you busy and occupied with things that are good, only to lead you to death. Remember Satan always promises a benefit in sin. He doesn't tell you that after you think you have the benefit, the curse comes.] …and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. They have not known the way of peace…" (vs 7-8).And yet what do they say? 'Peace, peace, peace, peace. We'll have this peace conference.' Tell me, what peace conference ever brought peace?
"They have not known the way of peace, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made crooked paths for themselves; whoever goes therein shall not know peace. Therefore, justice [judgment] is far from us; nor does righteousness overtake us…. [You have to work at righteousness: you have to do it, you have to practice it, you have to live by it, you have to think that way—the way of God.] …We wait for light… ['Oh, it's going to be better tomorrow.' How many times have you heard, 'There's light at the end of the tunnel'? But when you get there, it's a freight train coming a hundred miles an hour toward you.] …but behold darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows" (vs 8-9). Amazing, isn't it?
Here's what happened, you feel like this? You watch the news and see what's going on, 'Oh, how did it become this way?' Verse 10: "We grope along the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as in the night; among those who are strong, we are like dead men…. [Completely impotent, unable to do anything.] …We all roar like bears, and mourn grievously like doves… [We don't like it, we complain about it, we're upset about it. People shout and yell and scream about it, but nothing changes. Why? Because people are not willing to repent.] …we look for justice, but there is none, we look for salvation, yet it is far off from us" (vs 10-11). Why? Well, God gives the answer. How many people are really willing to accept this judgment, and really willing to repent, confess their sins to God?
"For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them…. [You know that you've sinned. You understand that you have sinned, but you're not willing to repent, so here's the result.] …In rebellion and denial of the LORD, and turning away from our God, talking perversity and revolt, conceiving and speaking from the heart words of falsehood. And justice is driven backward, and righteousness stands afar off... [Why?] …for truth has fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter" (vs 12-14).
Those who are liars and cheats and thieves cannot stand righteousness and truth. Then that means they have to change their ways. They won't do it. Just like the congressman who was finally convicted for bribery, who had $90,000 stored in his freezer, and the leadership of Congress said, 'Well, he's innocent until proven guilty.' How did the $90,000 get there? 'Oh, I got it at the frozen food market. It just happened to be in these boxes and look, it's in my freezer! My wife must have done this.' Can't stand the truth and especially if he belonged to a certain race. You better not have prejudgments against him! Just like, 'Don't leap to conclusions because of this terrorist attack in Fort Hood. You may think the wrong thing.' The problem is you think the right thing and the officials want you to believe the wrong thing. 'Oh, he just had innocent conversations with this imam in Yemen in e-mailing him twenty times.' He was an advocate of individual acts of terrorism; just a friendly little chat. It'd be like going to prison and having friendly little chats with [Charles] Manson. 'Oh, you're such a nice man.' And reporters have come out and said in doing that, 'I don't understand how he could have done this, he's really a nice man.' Isn't that something?
Verse 15: "Yea, truth fails… [That's why you better return to the Bible and the Word of God.] …and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey…. [Yes, if you say, 'Oh, I'm going to obey God.' Why you're an idiot. 'I'm going to keep the commandments of God and love Him like Jesus said.' Oh, that's all done away. 'I want justice in the courts.' Well, we've got to have the process. 'I want swift execution of those who do things evil.' John Mohammed, the terrorist shooter in Virginia who killed twelve people, he was due to be executed and they ran a special petition to the Supreme Court because it had been eight years since his sentence. His defense was, 'Well, coming to the execution came so quickly, there wasn't enough time.' The Supreme Court—at least there is a little judgment there—turned down the request and he was finally executed. How can you have people in your midst who are dedicated to killing you because you reject Islam? How can you get along with that? No way, 'truth fails.' If you depart from evil, you make yourself a prey.] …And the LORD saw, and it was evil in His eyes that there was no justice?…. [God looks down. God sees and judges all the time.] …And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor. Therefore, His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness sustained Him…" (vs 15-16). Then it shows what we are to do and v 17, we'll talk about that later when we come to Eph. 6.
Let's finish v 18: "According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay; fury to His foes, deed for deed to His enemies. He will repay their deeds to the isles." The judgment of God is coming. You can't avoid it. If you think, 'Oh, well, you're just blasting off because you have an opportunity to speak.' Okay, try this then: Suspend the law of gravity, then I will swear to you it won't happen, but if you can't do that, then you better fear God.
Isaiah 9:8—this is quite a section here. Like I've said, I've often wondered what Isaiah thought when he had all of these tremendous prophecies given about the coming Kingdom of God and righteousness and peace, and all of those good things. Then all of these destructive things that he had to prophesy of, too; and all of the condemnation and judgments that he had to give, because he was told by God, 'Go speak what I say.' So here's what God gave to him to say:
Isaiah 9:8: "The LORD sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel. And all the people shall know, Ephraim and the people of Samaria, saying in pride and arrogance of heart… [That's talking about the modern nations of Israel and Ephraim, England, is singled out.] …'The bricks have fallen down… [Doesn't that sound like some of the plans we have today.] …'The bricks have fallen down, but we will build with cut stones… ['We'll make it better than ever.'] …the sycamores are cut down, but we will use cedars instead.' And the LORD shall set up the foes of Rezin against him, and spur on his enemies; The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west; and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth… [Look at all the enemies against us. Look at all the enemies against the Jews in Palestine over there. They are stuck between a rock and a hard spot and God said, 'Though all the nations of the earth come against Jerusalem, it's going to be a cup of trembling and destruction for them'—is that not true?] …they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away… [Why? Because they didn't repent.] …but His hand is stretched out still…" (vs 8-12)—the hand of correction.
"For the people do not turn to Him Who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts…. [The best way this nation, be it any nation on earth, but especially Britain and America‑‑the best way you can stop some of these things is for you to repent and the more that repent and really turn to God, that will be the mitigating factor. Everything else will fail.] …And the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people led them astray; and those who are led by them are swallowed up" (vs 13-16). It's amazing how absolutely true these prophecies are!
"Therefore, the LORD shall not rejoice over their young men, nor shall He have mercy on their orphans and widows; for everyone is ungodly and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolishness. In all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still..." (v 17). When these things come and there is not repentance, which God will honor, God will honor, but if you do not, don't expect things to get better.
Hold your place here and let's come to Ezekiel 33, lest you think that God delights in the death of the wicked. He does not. Here is why all of these things are happening. We've been here before, but let's understand: always in the middle of prophecies of death and destruction, God offers repentance, God offers help—if you'll take it. Ezekiel 33:8 "When I say to the wicked… [Because this is the Word of the Lord that came to me, that's what Ezekiel wrote.] …'O wicked one, you shall surely die'; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked one shall die in his iniquity; but I will require his blood at your hand. But, if you warn the wicked of his way, to turn from it; if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul" (vs 8-9). Because anyone who does any preaching, or handles the Word of God, or brings things of prophecy to people, he is to preach the Word of God, so that the wicked may turn. But if he doesn't, judgment's upon his head.
"And you, son of man, speak to the house of Israel. Thus shall you speak, saying, 'When our transgressions and our sins are on us, and we are wasting away in them, how then shall we live?'…. [This is exactly where we are—is it not? Yes, it is—as a people, as a nation, as individuals.] …Say to them, 'As I live,' says the Lord God… [In other words, based on the fact that God is eternal, that God is living, that these judgments are true, that these things are going to happen, God says:] …'I have no delight in the death of the wicked, except that the wicked turn from his way, and live…. [So God's plea to everyone is this:] …Turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?…. [So that's the question.] …Therefore, son of man, say to the children of your people, "The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it in the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins"'" (vs 10-12). Is God fair? Yes, God is fair! Now that's a tremendous proposition—isn't it? God does not like to see it, but He has given His laws and He is Judge and there are penalties or curses for sinning, in full effect and force.
Now, let's come back to Isaiah 9:18. This nation would love to have the hand of God's correction turned back, but what do they have to do? Individuals would love to have the hand of God's correction upon them individually, but what should they do? Now to give you an example, I had something happen yesterday at the office. There was a knock, knock on the door and I opened it and here was a man that I knew quite a few years ago. He used to do some carpenter work when we had a couple of projects we needed to do at the house. So he knocked on the door and I recognized him. I said, 'Oh, how are you doing?' Well, you know—and he owns a business in Hollister which is a bar, so he got all consumed in alcoholism—I'm in alcohol rehab and I'm with this Bible study group. We had an ad in the paper about the website, Restoring the Original Bible, and you have to put your address there. So he came and knocked on the door and had the section in the paper with the ad in it, showed it to me. I said, 'Oh, I'm happy to hear that. I'm glad you're getting your life turned around.' He says, Yes, we have a little study group we go to and help encourage each other and overcome alcoholism and the other things that are in our lives. I said, 'Well, step on in here. I have something for you.' So I gave him a leatherette-covered Bible. I had part of a case left. I said, 'Here.' I autographed it for him, gave it to him, and he was really thankful for it. I also gave him a paperback copy and I said, 'For all of those in your Bible study group, you let them know, I'll give them one of these free so that they can help get their lives squared around.'
God honors that. Whenever anyone turns from wickedness, depending on what kind of repentance it is, some of it may be just to get your life squared around, acknowledging God in the way that you understand God. He will acknowledge that. Have alcoholics overcome being alcoholics? Yes! Have drug addicts overcome being drug addicts? Yes! Did all of them have perfect knowledge of God? No! but they turned to God. God will always honor repentance. Now repentance unto salvation is another whole question; that's entirely different. If they do, if they turn from their wickedness, God will help them. But if not:
Isaiah 9:18: "For wickedness burns like the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall roll upwards like the lifting up of smoke…. [In other words, just like some of these fires we've seen here in California, just fire rolling up and going right up the sides of the mountains.] …Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land scorched, and the people shall be as the fuel for the fire; no man shall spare his brother. And they shall snatch on the right hand and still be hungry; and they shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied. Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm" (vs 18-20). That could happen very quickly. Just stop all delivery of foods to all stores everywhere, and you're going to have mass famine instantly, to say nothing of the riots to get in there to get the last scrap of whatever you can get.
"Manasseh on Ephraim; and Ephraim on Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. In all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still" (v 21). In every one of these things, God gives sentence, He gives space of repentance. He gives warning and then He gives more space for repentance. Now this continues right on in Isaiah 10 and here's where we are right now in America with all the legislation that's going on—the cap and trade bill, the health bill, the bank bill, all of these things; the borrowing, the spending, the deficit spending that we are in, the unrighteous decrees that are spewing out of the mouth of the leaders.
Isaiah 10:1: "Woe to those who decree unrighteous edicts, and to those who issue oppressive decrees…. [I'll tell you, nothing could describe what's going on with this healthcare legislation than that.] …To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to steal the right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the orphans!" (vs 1-2). Oh, yes, there is severe healthcare rationing in the bill. Most people don't know it, but the board to do the rationing was not set up in the healthcare bill, but it was set up in the TARP bill and already passed and signed into law. Most people don't know that. Rationing! Determining!
So if 'Obama-care' passes, you better make sure you have already gotten yourself some books on how to eat, how to take care of yourself, and on alternative remedies, because you aren't going to get close if you are over sixty-five to getting what you need to take care of your life. Too many people have made themselves totally dependent on the government, so when something goes wrong, the government has to take care of them rather than being personally responsible for their own individual lives and take care of their health. Now that doesn't mean you're going to avoid all sickness, but that means you're taking responsibility for yourself.
Verse 3: "And what will you do in the day of judgment and destruction… [Because it's coming. How many times have you heard them talk about the bankruptcy of the United States? Can you imagine what that will do?] …in the day of devastation which shall come from afar? To whom will you flee for help?.... [because the government will be broke] …And where will you leave your wealth?.... [if you have any] …They can do nothing but to cringe among the captives, or fall among the slain" (vs 3-4).
So remember that the next time you watch some WWII history movies, whether it's Germany or Japan, or the rise of communism in Russia and in China. Think about that! It came to them—didn't it? And do you think it's going to not come to us? Now notice, even with all of these warnings, even with all of these things, how stubborn and hard-hearted and flint fore-headed they are.
"In all this His hand is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still…. [God's going to send the invader and they will come, just like He did to Israel.] …'Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger! And the staff in their hand is My fury…. [Did not Assyria carry off the Israelites in three invasions into captivity? Yes, they did! Do you think that we as their descendants are immune from that? It says in other places a nation from afar whose language you do not understand. I've thought about that. I wonder if that's referring to the Chinese who own most of the debt of America? They will collect one way or the other.] …I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath. I will command him to take the plunder, and to strip off the spoil, and to trample them like mud in the streets. Yet he does not plan this, nor does his heart think so, for it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few" (vs 4-7).
If Germany is modern Assyria, is that not what they did in WWII? Yes, indeed!—all of these dictators. As you can see, you have to take care of your own life. You have to establish a relationship with God. If more people would do it, let's hope and pray that would push off some of these judgments a little further into the future, because God is interested in repentance and change.
The Protestants and Catholics forget what Solomon said: 'That which has been is what shall be.' So there's a duality to these prophecies. Happened then, happen again to Israel; to their descendants. God's judgments always stand and we of all people should not have stupid insane judgments and a government that it's like the inmates in the insane asylum running it, which is what is happening.
Now unfortunately, don't think this is doom and gloom!—even though the words are. Because remember the words, turn to God. Remember the word, repent. Remember the word, change. Remember God's Word is true for those who repent, just as well as God's words and judgment against those who sin is true.
Scriptural References:
- Psalm 12:1-2
- Proverbs 6:12-19
- Psalm 12:2-8
- Psalm 10:1-18
- Leviticus 19:15
- Ecclesiastes 3:16-18
- Ecclesiastes 8:5-11
- Isaiah 59:7-16, 18
- Isaiah 9:8-17
- Ezekiel 33:8-12
- Isaiah 9:18-21
- Isaiah 10:1-7
Also referenced: Sermons:
- Ancient Feuds—Modern Terrorists
- Will Fickle Israel Repent?
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 12-01-09
Formatted: bo—12-02-09
