AMERICA'S FALL FROM GRACE: PART THREE

While the symptoms of our fall from grace are many, all of which are displeasing to God, there is one reason America is no longer blessed by God. Even a society with prohibitions on prayer and the mention of the Bible in schools, the teaching of evolution as a replacement for Genesis One and Two, and the legalization of abortion and homosexuality have not caused God to reject us. The one thing that God's Word says will cause a nation to either receive His blessing or His curse is how it treats His people, Israel.

God chose Abraham to be the father of the Jewish people (Gen. 12:1-3). God set them apart from other nations with the circumcision of all males, unique dietary laws, and Sabbath worship. God repeatedly tells the readers of His Word that treatment of Israel is the key to either being blessed or being cursed. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:3). "And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them who hate thee, who persecute thee" (Deut. 30:7). "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and will judge them there for My people and for My heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted My land" (Joel 3:1-2). There are hundreds of other examples in the Old Testament where God rewarded Israel's friends, and brought judgment on it enemies.

As in the Old Testament, the New Testament tells of what happens to nations that support Israel, and to those who don't. Matthew 25:31-46 describes the judgment of nations at the Second Coming of Christ, based upon how they treated His people. Just preceding His return, during the Tribulation, Israel will be seduced by the Antichrist into a seven year peace treaty, and for the first three and one half years, will live in total peace. They will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but not experience them. Then, right in the middle of the seven year peace treaty, the Antichrist will declare himself to be god. Israel's eyes are opened, and they "head for the hills." It is during this last three and one half years that Israel needs the help of other nations. Only this time, the judgment of God will have eternal consequences. Those who helped Israel will be allowed to continue into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, and those who persecuted Israel will be destroyed (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 6:1-20:9).

America's only hope of receiving God's blessings is for it to return to the full support of Israel and its people. It is clear that since Israel became a nation in 1948, there has been a gradual cooling toward them by the United States. The symptoms of godlessness rampant today show what happens when God's will is not the number one priority of our nation's leaders. With a president who celebrates Ramadan and refuses to attend events on the National Day of Prayer, is it any wonder that America is in danger of total collapse. God help us!