Post by Daniel on May 18, 2016 7:44:45 GMT -5
The Biblical Indictment of America
Bill Salus
May 17, 2016
World history confirms what the Bible boldly declares: The establishment and future of a city, territory, nation or empire, is determined by the Lord. Concerning the creation of a nation, we are told in Acts 17:26,
“And He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” (1)
The prophet Jeremiah explains how the future of a nation is determined.
“The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.” (Jer. 18:7-8)
“And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” (Jer. 18:9-10)
This article takes a look at the epic tales of two infamous cities, Nineveh and Jerusalem. These comparisons are made to determine which one of these locations best characterizes America’s current spiritual condition. If such a historical comparison can be applied now, then the relevant question is: Should Americans find hope in Jeremiah 18:7-8, with the story of Nineveh at the time of Jonah, or feel despair in the story of Jeremiah 18:9-10, which describes Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian conquest? To determine the answer, I propose the examination of two principles that I call “The Nineveh Principle” and “The Jerusalem Principle”. (2)
THE NINEVEH PRINCIPLE
“I think in many ways America is like Nineveh. The wickedness of Nineveh was so great that God effectively said it was recognized up in heaven – ‘the sin of Nineveh has come before me’ – and I believe America is at such a state.” (Senior Calvary Chapel Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie.) (3)
The Nineveh Principle has its origin in the 8th century BC before Jeremiah 18:7-10 was written. It is rooted in 2 Chronicles 7:14;
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Although these verses primarily dealt with the Lord’s response to King Solomon’s petition for the protection of the nation of Israel around 957 BC, they apparently also laid the groundwork for the Lord’s treatment toward other nations. The Assyrian city of Nineveh at the time of Jonah about 760 BC evidences this. (4) Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian empire, was ultimately destroyed around 612 BC; however the empire had become exceedingly evil long before it came to its end.
At the height of its wickedness, the Lord sent Jonah, a prophet, to warn of Nineveh’s fast approaching destruction.
“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”” (Jonah 3:4)
Jonah’s warning was well received by the king and the people of Nineveh. They took it upon themselves to turn from their evil ways and Nineveh received a stay of execution.
“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)
Although it can be argued that the Assyrians at the time were not classified as “My people,” the fact that they repented and turned from their evil ways changed their spiritual standing with the Lord.
With the historical precedents of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jonah 3:10 already in place, Jeremiah 18:7-8 reinforces this Nineveh Principle: if an evil people repent and turn from their wicked ways, the Lord will relent from bringing disaster upon them.
THE JERUSALEM PRINCIPLE
In sharp contrast to the Nineveh Principle, is the Jerusalem Principle. The Jerusalem Principle applies when a nation reaches a point of no return and the Lord determines that its destruction will not be postponed. This happened to the city of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom of Judah about 2700 years ago during the time of the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah. Three times Jeremiah was told to stop praying for the people of Judah.
“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?” (Jer. 7:16)
“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.” (Jer. 11:14)
“Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”” (Jer. 14:11-12)
After Jeremiah received his instructions to quit praying for the people of Judah, he forewarned them of their impending judgment. The people were captured and transported into Babylonian captivity where they remained for seventy years. Their homeland sat desolated during that period. (5)
In His foreknowledge the Lord knew that Judah would not have a Nineveh or 2 Chronicles 7:14 moment. Jeremiah’s intercessory prayers on behalf of Judah would have no effect on the Lord’s decision and he was told to cease praying for the people. The Lord explained why:
“Therefore you (Jeremiah) shall speak all these words to them, (in Judah) but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.” (Jer. 7:27)
In essence, Jeremiah was informed that the people of Judah would not respond to his warnings in the similar way that the people of Nineveh did to Jonah’s forewarnings. As per the provision of forgiveness given in Jeremiah 18:7-8, if Judah would have repented, like Nineveh did, then the Lord would certainly have relented from judgment. However, due to their evildoings and disobedience the Lord implemented the provision of judgment in Jeremiah 18:9-10, which was ultimately executed through the Babylonian conquest.
The people of Judah forsook their God Jehovah and became idolatrous. Jeremiah 19:4-9 provides the indictment of; and verdict for, Judah. These verses paint a graphic picture of despair and they are summarized below.
The INDICTMENT of JUDAH (Jeremiah 19:4-5)
• The people forsook the Lord and alienated Him from Judah.
• They worshipped false gods instead.
• They sacrificed the innocent blood of their children to the false god Baal.
• Child sacrifice appalled the Lord.
The VERDICT of JUDAH (Jeremiah 19:6-9)
A judgment in the form of a slaughter would come as sequenced below.
• The counselors of Judah would provide foolish counsel.
• The people of Judah would be killed by the swords of their enemies.
• Their corpses would be eaten by the vultures and carnivorous animals.
• The land would be desolated and contaminated with plagues.
• The survivors would become cannibals in order to survive.
• They would even eat their own sons and daughters due to their despair.
It is important to note that the Lord told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:22, 28 and Noah and his three sons in Genesis 9:1, 7 to be fruitful and multiply upon the earth. The goal was to populate the earth with godly offspring. Contrary to the Lord’s command, the people of Judah were murdering and ultimately reduced to eating their children!
The Jerusalem Principle depicts what has historically happened when judgment and destruction occurs to an evil people who forsake the Lord.
continue reading
www.prophecydepotministries.net/2016/the-biblical-indictment-of-america/
Bill Salus
May 17, 2016
World history confirms what the Bible boldly declares: The establishment and future of a city, territory, nation or empire, is determined by the Lord. Concerning the creation of a nation, we are told in Acts 17:26,
“And He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” (1)
The prophet Jeremiah explains how the future of a nation is determined.
“The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.” (Jer. 18:7-8)
“And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” (Jer. 18:9-10)
This article takes a look at the epic tales of two infamous cities, Nineveh and Jerusalem. These comparisons are made to determine which one of these locations best characterizes America’s current spiritual condition. If such a historical comparison can be applied now, then the relevant question is: Should Americans find hope in Jeremiah 18:7-8, with the story of Nineveh at the time of Jonah, or feel despair in the story of Jeremiah 18:9-10, which describes Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian conquest? To determine the answer, I propose the examination of two principles that I call “The Nineveh Principle” and “The Jerusalem Principle”. (2)
THE NINEVEH PRINCIPLE
“I think in many ways America is like Nineveh. The wickedness of Nineveh was so great that God effectively said it was recognized up in heaven – ‘the sin of Nineveh has come before me’ – and I believe America is at such a state.” (Senior Calvary Chapel Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie.) (3)
The Nineveh Principle has its origin in the 8th century BC before Jeremiah 18:7-10 was written. It is rooted in 2 Chronicles 7:14;
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Although these verses primarily dealt with the Lord’s response to King Solomon’s petition for the protection of the nation of Israel around 957 BC, they apparently also laid the groundwork for the Lord’s treatment toward other nations. The Assyrian city of Nineveh at the time of Jonah about 760 BC evidences this. (4) Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian empire, was ultimately destroyed around 612 BC; however the empire had become exceedingly evil long before it came to its end.
At the height of its wickedness, the Lord sent Jonah, a prophet, to warn of Nineveh’s fast approaching destruction.
“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”” (Jonah 3:4)
Jonah’s warning was well received by the king and the people of Nineveh. They took it upon themselves to turn from their evil ways and Nineveh received a stay of execution.
“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)
Although it can be argued that the Assyrians at the time were not classified as “My people,” the fact that they repented and turned from their evil ways changed their spiritual standing with the Lord.
With the historical precedents of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jonah 3:10 already in place, Jeremiah 18:7-8 reinforces this Nineveh Principle: if an evil people repent and turn from their wicked ways, the Lord will relent from bringing disaster upon them.
THE JERUSALEM PRINCIPLE
In sharp contrast to the Nineveh Principle, is the Jerusalem Principle. The Jerusalem Principle applies when a nation reaches a point of no return and the Lord determines that its destruction will not be postponed. This happened to the city of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom of Judah about 2700 years ago during the time of the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah. Three times Jeremiah was told to stop praying for the people of Judah.
“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?” (Jer. 7:16)
“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.” (Jer. 11:14)
“Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”” (Jer. 14:11-12)
After Jeremiah received his instructions to quit praying for the people of Judah, he forewarned them of their impending judgment. The people were captured and transported into Babylonian captivity where they remained for seventy years. Their homeland sat desolated during that period. (5)
In His foreknowledge the Lord knew that Judah would not have a Nineveh or 2 Chronicles 7:14 moment. Jeremiah’s intercessory prayers on behalf of Judah would have no effect on the Lord’s decision and he was told to cease praying for the people. The Lord explained why:
“Therefore you (Jeremiah) shall speak all these words to them, (in Judah) but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.” (Jer. 7:27)
In essence, Jeremiah was informed that the people of Judah would not respond to his warnings in the similar way that the people of Nineveh did to Jonah’s forewarnings. As per the provision of forgiveness given in Jeremiah 18:7-8, if Judah would have repented, like Nineveh did, then the Lord would certainly have relented from judgment. However, due to their evildoings and disobedience the Lord implemented the provision of judgment in Jeremiah 18:9-10, which was ultimately executed through the Babylonian conquest.
The people of Judah forsook their God Jehovah and became idolatrous. Jeremiah 19:4-9 provides the indictment of; and verdict for, Judah. These verses paint a graphic picture of despair and they are summarized below.
The INDICTMENT of JUDAH (Jeremiah 19:4-5)
• The people forsook the Lord and alienated Him from Judah.
• They worshipped false gods instead.
• They sacrificed the innocent blood of their children to the false god Baal.
• Child sacrifice appalled the Lord.
The VERDICT of JUDAH (Jeremiah 19:6-9)
A judgment in the form of a slaughter would come as sequenced below.
• The counselors of Judah would provide foolish counsel.
• The people of Judah would be killed by the swords of their enemies.
• Their corpses would be eaten by the vultures and carnivorous animals.
• The land would be desolated and contaminated with plagues.
• The survivors would become cannibals in order to survive.
• They would even eat their own sons and daughters due to their despair.
It is important to note that the Lord told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:22, 28 and Noah and his three sons in Genesis 9:1, 7 to be fruitful and multiply upon the earth. The goal was to populate the earth with godly offspring. Contrary to the Lord’s command, the people of Judah were murdering and ultimately reduced to eating their children!
The Jerusalem Principle depicts what has historically happened when judgment and destruction occurs to an evil people who forsake the Lord.
continue reading
www.prophecydepotministries.net/2016/the-biblical-indictment-of-america/