The Observation Post September 2017
In 2008, an American reader, Harold Johnson, submitted an article he headed “America in Crisis”, which we published and of which we received many favourable comments. But, if it was true then, and it was, it is so much truer today. American debt alone has more than doubled and the other ills to which Mr. Johnson referred are like a cancerous growth.
Here is what he wrote, “Regardless of how you look at it, America (Manasseh) is in crises today. No, it’s not America the Socialistic Country but America the Great Free Enterprise Country! She has trampled on her Constitution & like a ship at sea, she has lost her rudder & is in uncharted waters. Incredible as it may seem, Donald Tonelson writes in his book, Race to the Bottom – ‘the whole world is in crises, but America is leading the way.’
Once we were the envy of the world. Today we are our own worst enemy. We are spending our way into oblivion. We spend billions on false Israel, blind to our own destiny. We spend billions on outer space trying to be like God himself, but not taking God into account except in name only. We spend billions on so called wars against terrorism under the guise of National Security when, in reality, we are seeking World Dominion.
We are, as the Prophets describe us, ‘Sick from the top of our head to the Souls of our feet’. We worship money only to put it into a bag with holes in it.’ We have money for everything under the sun but we don’t have money for National Health Care. The course we are on is not only disastrous but is unsustainable. We are dependent upon foreign investment to pay our bills. In essence, we have climbed into bed with our lovers (Hosea 2) & we have forgotten the one who has so blessed us. Our Lovers will ultimately turn out to be our enemies.”
Mr. Johnson is not the only one to see the downward spiral in America; still, although he wrote his beloved America, he knew the same trend is taking place in all Israel nations. Others have seen and written about the deterioration as well. One noted Bible scholar, Howard, Rand wrote about the falling away of the clergy, way back in 1948, and equates that falling away with the massive problems of today.
To overcome our dilemma, Mr. Rand pointed to the prophet Joel, who informed us what we must do. For Joel gave a prophetic description of the crisis our people will face in these last days. He calls for the immediate cleansing of the nation. In the face of overwhelming disaster, as the enemy moves relentlessly forward, he demands that the nation turn to God in humbleness of heart, calling a solemn assembly at which the ministers of the Lord are to offer the following prayer: “Spare thy people, 0 Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? ” (Joel 2:17.)
Rand then wrote, “The darkening cloud of disaster overshadowing our land deepens the enveloping gloom, but still there is no recognition on the part of our spiritual leaders of the pressing need to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom. Because of an apostatized Church and the indifferent multitudes, the day of deliverance is still some distance away. “[No so far any more] Rand then theorized, “Must the storm break in its full fury before the arrogance and conceit of the modernistic and the self-righteousness of the fundamentalists give way to humility born of a desire to know the whole truth?”
He went on, “When will the light of the recognition of God’s purposes concerning His Kingdom on earth penetrate the thick clouds of unbelief? It will not be until the full light of the knowledge of the identity of the people of His Kingdom is made known and accepted by all. Then the prayer outlined by Joel will become the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous people. But to what extent must our nation suffer [Current times, perhaps] before its spiritual leaders become ready, in all humility and meekness, to utter this most remarkable prayer for deliverance? Must the enemy go on from victory to victory first? When, under Divine pressure, we finally become spiritually able to pray this prayer, our enemies will be hurled to disaster. Joel tells us what the Lord will do in our behalf: “Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathe4: But I will remove far off from you the northern army.” (Joel 2:18-20.)
I suspect if Mr. Rand was still with us today, even he would be more astonished to see the false teaching from the pulpits of America. Jeremiah was certainly correct when he wrote “The priests prophesy falsely”. (Jer. 5:31)
OOPS! Big mistake in the July issue of Thy Kingdom Come. After extolling Pastor Karl Schott in the Editor’s Note and telling readers he had gone to his rest, I was delighted to learn that he is still very much with us, nearly 89 years of age and still a devoted servant of God. Dementia has taken its toll but in a telephone call with him the last day of July, I found him really upbeat and looking forward to the Lord’s Return. I apologize for misleading readers and to Karl’s friends and relatives.
God bless you, Karl.
It’s nice to know “Observations” is being read with interest. One reader reminded me that 100 years from 1917/18 has significance, again 100 standing for God’s election of grace. So, if we looked at Daniel 7:9, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down”, think only of the thrones of the Babylonian succession, that is Russia, Germany, Austria, Albania, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Italy. Or Haggai 2:22, “I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen …” Think of the thrones of Turkey and Japan (now only a figurehead). So, the balance of 2017 and 1918 could be most interesting for readers to watch.
Then a reader and a good friend from England sent me this, “I want you to know it has also been 70 years since the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. In her search of the internet, Holly Mills added, “The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in eleven caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea between the years 1947 and 1956. The area is 13 miles east of Jerusalem and is 1300 feet below sea level. The mostly fragmented texts, are numbered according to the cave that they came out of”.
You can’t have so many destination points without it meaning something.
Got a note from a reader who enquired as to why King Edward I was known as “Longshanks”. Readers familiar with British history know that Edward I was destined to overturn the throne for the third and final time as prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel (see Chapter 21:26-27).
King Edward was a formidable foe of Robert the Bruce. He was a great military strategist and despite his reputation as ruthless, he was one of England’s great kings and noted for many reforms, including the introduction of parliament. His great love was war and he possessed a relentless determination to win. His self-proclaimed mission was to unite the island and this meant subduing both the Welsh and the Scots. Wales fell after a number of battles and Edward named his son the first Prince of Wales. He acquired the name of Longshanks, not through any important military effort, but because his long legs gave him a strong grip of the saddle. Yet, the name added to his reputation as a forceful warrior. He overcame one of Scotland’s most imposing patriots in William Wallace but met his match in Robert the Bruce, who later became King Robert I of Scotland. Still, despite the successes of Robert the Bruce, Edward never gave up and he died leading another expedition to Scotland to take up battle once again.
The inscription on his tomb at Westminster is “Here lies Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots.” (Courtesy River of Power by !!! Hey, I wrote that book)
A reader from eastern Canada asked an interesting question, “Have you ever thought you had a nasty habit extinguished and then one day, suddenly, it is back with even greater force”. I guess this happens to all of us at some stage of life, certainly its happened to me. In considering this question, I was reminded of a couple of things Ralph Woodrow wrote in his excellent booklet, “Dealing with Demons”.
After a rather humorous analogy in a chapter “Total Victory in Christ” Mr. Woodrow penned two very insightful paragraphs. First, he wrote, “The Bible puts it this way: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Surely if one is filled with good, there is no room for evil. If one keeps busy for God, he does not have time for the devil. If one keeps full of God, there is no room for the devil to get in”.
Then he quoted these remarkable words of Jesus concerning demons. “He [Jesus] spoke of how an unclean spirit, having gone out of a man, may later decide to return. “And when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of the man is worse than the first” (Matthew 12:43-45). So, as Mr. Woodrow put it, “Instead of this man filling his life with good things—being full of the Holy Spirit—the evil spirit not only returned, but finding the house empty, brought company and they all moved in!
The entire booklet will be in our website library within a few weeks.
