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Memory
Text: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall
not stand. Matt.12:25 The hull of our nation has been breached in every branch of government.
This threat is due to political unrest where money grubbing politicians, businessmen and religious leaders refuse to address
the corruption they created and support, as it is written of them, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough,
and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”
Isa.56:11. Their illusions of solutions promised to the American people barely address the symptoms of our many problems,
and never address the root cause! This is why so many suffer needlessly; and we can never regain the lost ground under this
present regime. The Bible puts it this way: “They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an
help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.” “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods?
but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.” “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that
cannot profit.” “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when
there is no peace.” Isa.30:5; Jer.2:11; 7:8; 6:14
Every believer and unbeliever
in the Christian faith should recognize the prognosis for America’s future. It does not fare well. And beware, lest
we fall into the trap of the ruling class of both the church and the world, as it is written, “How much she hath glorified
herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no
widow, and shall see no sorrow.” Based on this false confidence GOD would have us be wise in our discernment of the
prophecies for the future of America and the fate of the world. Correct expectations mean everything to us at this time in
history. This study will draw from the main lessons of history on the rise and fall of nations. And from obtaining knowledge
of this history, we may know where we stand both in time and character. There is a simple truth in all of this: OUR HISTORY
IS OUR FUTURE, as it is written: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which
shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Eccl.1:9.
Seated at the
core of all affliction that people face is man’s willful violations against the Ten Commandments of Jesus Christ (Jn.8:58;
Ex.31:18). This world and its religions refuse accountability to this Sacred Law that if obeyed, all would be safe in one
another’s care. No harm nor betrayal can come under the authority of this Law. And this Law will one day rule the faithful
people of GOD; “and none shall make them afraid” (Eze.34:28). Man’s disobedience is most disheartening when
we see those who claim to honor GOD’S Law actually dishonor it, whether the Orthodox Jew who holds the Law under their
thousand manmade laws outside of Scripture’s boundaries of obedience, or mainstream Christianity who openly and unashamedly
flaunt their disobedience against the 2nd and 4th Commandments while working to baptize all men into their system of limited
obedience. One rejects the Lawgiver, Jesus Christ (Jn.8:58), and the other rejects the Law Jesus obeyed unto death to redeem
the human race (II Cor.5:21). Scripture teaches that both go hand in hand and cannot be separated (Matt.10:33; 19:17). This
is because GOD’S Holy Law commanded our salvation. Christ obeyed His own Law and saved us. And so, to step outside of
the Law’s boundaries is to abandon the salvation within its boundaries. It is our only fortress against sin. This is
why GOD calls His children to repent and forsake the sin that always brings harm into the life. Sin never benefits life! All
of life’s cruel injustices verify this.
The solutions GOD gives are always
very simple: so simple a child can understand them. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for
the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not
walk therein.” But Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and
ye shall find rest unto your souls.” But they say, “We have no king but Caesar.” Jer.6:16; Matt.11:29; Jn.19:15.
This has ever been the world’s response to GOD’S call to Utopia.
With
the nations of Earth declaring in unison “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Lu.19:14) this decision
from carnal minded men controlling the world’s course of history is a recipe for disaster. The lessons of history guaranty
that this chosen heading of civilization will have a bitter outcome. This is because in times past, ruin only applied to an
individual nation; but in today’s world where globalism is flexing its tyrannical muscle the coming downfall will encompass
the whole of civilization.
To get a handle on this let’s examine one prime
example of a nation’s ruin and see its application to where we are today. Historian Edward Gibbon gave five primary
reasons for the decline and fall of pagan Rome:
1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which
is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes, with the spending of public money for free bread and circuses
for the populace.
3. The mad craze for leisure and pleasure, with life in general becoming increasingly more exciting,
brutal, and immoral.
4. The building of military armaments while the greatest enemy was within the government and its
legislators who abandoned individual responsibility to integrity and moral conscience.
5. The decay of “Pure religion
and undefiled before God and the Father” (Ja.1:27), fading into a mere form, losing touch with life’s responsibilities,
and losing the Holy Spirit’s power to guide the people away from sin and show them by example the path to virtuous living.
Bible verses to address each of the five points:
Prov.31:4,5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not
for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any
of the afflicted.
Isa.5:21-24 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward,
and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law
of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isa.1:23 Thy princes are rebellious,
and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth
the cause of the widow come unto them.
Mal.3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift
witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the
hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith
the LORD of hosts.
Deut.6:10-13 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land
which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst
not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and
olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which
brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and
shalt swear by his name.
Eze.34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was
sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have
ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
In the great struggle between the Lawful Christ and the lawless Satan it is seen how the rise and fall of nations follows
eight general steps. Time and time again, GOD has raised up men and women of courage and fortitude to establish a noble government
striving to enhance justice and prosperity. GOD gives His blessing on every endeavor promoting the universal dignity of life.
But from one generation to the next an erosion of character takes place. And this is where Satan’s influence places
his agents of destruction, of both men and temptation, for he is an angel of war and death; and a tranquil, happy society
is his bitter enemy. To see the children of GOD happy and prosperous is anathema to him and to those who serve him. This is
why the world struggles.
The shaping forces as seen in history’s lessons:
1. From bondage
to spiritual faith
2. From spiritual faith to great courage
3. From courage to liberty
4. From liberty to
abundance
5. From abundance to complacency
6. From complacency to apathy
7. From apathy to dependence
8. From dependence back into bondage
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jn.14:1-4; 6:33.
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