Hebraic Musing – How might God react to America’s misbehaviors?
Reading through
the accounts of the nation of Israel in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah I ran
across too many repetitive responses from God like this one. “Through your own fault you will lose the
inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not
know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever.” Jeremiah
17:4a NIV I wonder if that might apply
to America?
These words caught
my attention because we tend to think of God Almighty, and especially Jesus, as
loving. We tend to forget that
chastisement is an act of love, but not always recognized as such.
This
was Jeremiah’s explanation of how and why the LORD felt He had to deal with His
beloved Jerusalem. “People from many nations will pass by this city and will
ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?'
And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant
of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.'”
Jeremiah 22:8-9 NIV Wow! Doesn’t
that sound like it would apply to America today?!?! And if so, what might be ahead for us?
Revelation
18:1-3 describes an angel giving Babylon a final warning as they were about to
get what they deserve. Then verses 4-5
warn us, God’s chosen. “Come out of
her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not
receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has
remembered her crimes.” Does this
mean Time’s up? And/or, Christians, hold
fast to your faith? Or do not take the
“Mark”?
What
is the “Mark”? What are we saying when
we take it? How might we take it? “A third angel followed them and said in a
loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his
mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of
God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He
will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of
the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment
rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship
the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11
I
repeat – What is the “Mark”? What are we saying when we take it? How might we take it?
In
how many ways might we find ourselves “Worshipping the beast”? What is the “Beast”?
What
should we to be doing? Scripture answers
in vs. 12 “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the
saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”
Are we prepared, ready to endure?
And here is the
reward! “I saw thrones on which
were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of
the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not
received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4
Final
thought! If you don’t want to believe
the above message, or you want to ignore it, then these words above are like
Jeremiah’s warning. “Be assured,
however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent
blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth
the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Jeremiah 26:15
Points to ponder
What is the “Mark
of the Beast”?
If God does not
punish America, will He owe Sodom & Gomorrah an apology?
Will God judge differently
the Nation, the Church, or us individually?
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
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