The Science Of Judgment

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth (has compassion for) his children, so the LORD pitieth (has compassion for) them that fear him. (Psalms 103:8-13)

In the beginning there was God. The Lord God created all things through his Son Jesus Christ; there is nothing that was not made by Him. The Lord God is “full of compassion,” He is “gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth,” He is Holy, He is good, He is righteous and wise and his ways are perfect. He is all-powerful, ever present and knows all things. He knows the end from the beginning. He is our Shepard, our King, our Judge and our Defender. He is eternal and His ways are both unsearchable and unchangeable.ⁱ

Because God knows all things he knew Adam and Eve would sin and fall. Because God is full of love and mercy, he devised the plan of salvation even before Adam and Eve were created. In the beginning it was decided that Jesus would pay the price for our sin and rebellion, that he would accept our sins on him and he would die for them and God would raise him from the dead. While he took our sins we would be given the opportunity to accept his righteousness, his sinlessness and his perfect character.

God Has Predestined Us For Eternal Life

Each of us was formed in our mother's womb by the Lord our God.ⁱⁱ He accomplished this through His Son Jesus Christ, the creator of all things:

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9). ⁱⁱⁱ

Before Christ created us and even before the world was formed, God our Father predestined each of us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ. As children of the Father, we are redeemed through Christ's shed blood, His death and His resurrection. Our sins are forgiven “according to the riches of his grace”:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:4-7).

Because of the inheritance we have obtained from Jesus Christ, we are predestined, according to God’s purposes to be to the glory of God:

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Ephesians 1:11-12).

Our Lord God is “full of compassion”; He is “gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth”.^iv He is Holy, He is good, He is righteous and his ways are perfect.^v In order to glorify him, we must be like him. In our own strength it is impossible to be like him. This is because we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And since we have all sinned, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”^vi In spite of the fact that we are all sinners and that not one of us is righteous, we have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, who is without sin:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).

Because God has predestined us for salvation and eternal life, he has not appointed us to wrath but to salvation and eternal life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ:

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Although we have been predestined to be the adopted children of Christ, to be conformed to the image of Christ and to glorify God, he has given us free will. We can choose to forsake our inheritance; we can refuse to accept Jesus as our savior. We can choose sin and unrighteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ. We can choose death rather than everlasting life. The choice is ours and sadly, most of the world has rejected Christ and accepted death.^vii

While God respects our right to choose sin and death, because he loves us, he is constantly working to draw us to him. He is not willing that any of us should perish but that we should all repent and obtain the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

God is patient and longsuffering as an evil and corrupt world rejects his love and the sacrifice of his own Son Jesus Christ. While the world continues to reject God and his love and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, God continues to pour out his love. The love of God is poured out on a rebellious, defiant and evil world.^viii But while God’s love will never end his longsuffering and patience will come to an end. God loves us so very much that he will use every device possible to show us the consequence of the choices we have made to reject him and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. When love and patience have run their course, God turns to judgment. This is not a vengeful judgment but a judgment to repentance and it can also be an example to others. ^ix

A judgment is a decision. When we repent, confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our savior God decides in our favor. He decides that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed us from our sins, and that we stand blameless before him and are therefore the inheritors of eternal life. When we choose not to repent, not to confess our sins and not to accept Jesus as our savior, God Decides against us. All three of these are necessary for eternal life. We cannot accept Jesus without accepting his law and we cannot accept his law without true heart felt repentance and confession.

When God judges or decides that a nation has gone so far astray that they will not return to him, he withdraws his blessings and protection and even brings disasters upon a nation. In this he hopes that the people of that nation will see their need for Jesus Christ and will repent of their wickedness. If individuals within a nation repent and receive Jesus Christ as their savior, God is able to save them, this is God's desire. Through the prophet Isaiah God explains that judgment can bring people to their senses and through judgment they can learn righteousness:

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. …for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them….Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD (Isaiah 26:5, 9, 10, 11 & 17).

God’s Loving Judgment

God brings judgment to lead us to repentance because he loves us. God isn’t just loving; he literally is love (1 John 4:8 & 16). Love is his very being. He is pure and holy and desires only that, which is pure, holy, righteous and just. He longs to bless his righteous followers, to answer their prayers and grant them the desires of their heart.^x He is delighted in the righteous acts of his faithful followers, acts of truth, charity, mercy and justice.^xi But he is also saddened by those who have rejected him and have rejected the saving grace of his Son, Jesus Christ. For this reason the Lord God of heaven delights in exercising loving judgment:

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

The Lord further says: “For I the LORD love judgment…” (Isaiah 61:8). He loves judgment, because, through judgment he is able to open the eyes, ears and hearts of his lost children and turn them heaven ward. He turns them toward their Father who is calling them to offer them forgiveness, salvation and eternal life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Those who hear his call and desire the salvation of his Son Jesus Christ must: accept his law and judgments as holy and just; they must confess their sins; they must repent; they must accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ; they must profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and they must be baptized. Any person who does these things receives the righteousness of Christ (his sinless character) and eternal life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.^xii These are free gifts.

We should desire God’s judgments more than gold. This is because Gods judgments are able to turn us towards him, they are able to cause us to see and confess our sin and they are able to turn us away from wickedness and to repentance and the saving grace of Jesus Christ:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11).

What value is gold if you are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked?” What value is gold if you are dead and condemned to eternal damnation? The Lord God counsels us to buy from him “gold tried in the fire,” that we may “be rich; and white raiment, that” we may “be clothed, and that the shame of” our “nakedness” would not appear; and that we should anoint our “eyes with eye salve, that we may see” (Revelation 3:18). The gold that he is speaking of is Jesus Christ and his mercy and grace, a treasure that is truly priceless.^xiii The white raiment is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sin (which is our nakedness). The eye salve represents the Holy Spirit, which allows us to see and comprehend the truth of Gods holy word. The cost to buy the mercy and saving grace of Jesus Christ (gold refined in the fire) is very affordable to all; it is free. It cost nothing other than the surrender of our wretched, miserable, mortal life to Jesus Christ who promises to give us a wonderful, joyous, eternal life in return. After counseling us to obtain the righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Lord God warns us that he will “rebuke and chasten” (judge) those he loves. He loves all but need not judge the righteous and so his judgment falls on those who have rejected him and his Son Jesus Christ:

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:17-21).

God Brings A Warning

God judges both individuals and nations. Before he judges either an individual or a nation he seeks to warn them through dreams and visions. He desires to communicate their perilous state and their need for repentance. In Isaiah the Lord states that he declares new things before they spring forth:

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them (Isaiah 42:8-9).

The Lord says that the former things come to an end and he will do new things upon the earth. Further, before he makes any major changes on the earth, he will declare them. These major changes could occur in a person’s life; they could occur in a nation; or they could be worldwide changes. In an individuals life God calls them to the purpose he has established for their life. First and foremost is salvation through Jesus Christ. Then God calls us to our purpose in the body of Christ. God ordained this purpose before he formed us in our mother’s womb. Noah’s purpose was to build the ark and preach repentance to the people. Abraham’s purpose was to be the father of Israel. Moses’ purpose was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Jeremiah’s purpose was to be a prophet.^xiv The problem God has in making known his purpose for a persons life is that we do not perceive when God is speaking to us:

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword (Job 33:14-18).

Because we do not perceive when God is talking to us, we do not respond to his invitation for salvation and we do not respond to warnings of impending judgment. As more and more people sink deeper and deeper into sin in a nation, their sins eventually reach up to heaven. At that time God remembers their iniquities and casts judgment on that sinful and rebellious nation.^xv Before God carries out his judgment on a nation, he first reveals it to his prophets:

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

God Preserves A Remnant

God reveals his judgments to the prophets so that the prophets can warn the people that God loves. This warning is intended for everyone because God loves everyone and desires that none perish. God’s warnings through his prophets are intended to bring change within a nation so that the judgment can be withdrawn. He is looking for people to change their lives, to stop sinning. Specifically, they must: accept the Father in heaven as their one and only God; they must accept Jesus Christ as their savior; they must accept his law as holy; and they must confess and repent of their sins. Repent means to be truly sorry for your sins and to turn away from sin with the true desire to stop sinning. If an individual or nation does these, they can prevent Gods judgment:

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them (Jeremiah 18:7-10).

In the book of Jonah we learn that God sent Johan to Nineveh to warn them that God would destroy the city in 40 days. The evil people of Nineveh believed God’s prophet. The king made a proclamation that everyone should fast, repent, put on sackcloth and pray. The people did as their king commanded and God heard their prayers and saw their repentance and he repented of the destruction that he had determined to do to the city (Jonah 3).

When Israel’s sins caused God to judge them, he sent prophet after prophet to warn them but they refused to repent. They even killed God’s prophets. As a result Israel suffered God’s judgment at the hands of the Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans among others.^xvi

Even when a nation refuses to repent, God protects his own. What purpose would it serve God to judge his faithful followers? It would serve no purpose. God’s judgments are true and righteous.^xvii Therefore these judgments are not intended for his faithful followers. In Proverbs, King Solomon writes: “It is not good…to overthrow the righteous in judgment” (Proverbs 18:5). During the flood God preserved Noah and his family in the ark.^xviii When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorra, he sent Angels to deliver Lot and his family.^xix Each time that God judged Israel he left a remnant.^xx In Ezekiel God specifically marked his remnant in the forehead and ordered that they should be preserved. This remnant was sorrowful concerning the sin that was being done by their countrymen:

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house (Ezekiel 9:4-6).

The Example of Israel

Israel was heir to the promises that God made to Abraham. God gave the land of Israel to Abraham as an everlasting inheritance; he said that his descendants would be as the sand of the sea; and that all nations would be blessed through him^xxi Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Israel. Jesus was born of Mary who was of the seed of Abraham and through Jesus Christ all the nations of the world have been blessed.

Israel Rejected Jesus Christ

Although all the world has been blessed through Jesus Christ, the majority of Abraham's descendants have rejected Jesus Christ and have received a curse rather than a blessing. After delivering Israel from captivity in Egypt, God promised Israel special blessings if they kept his commandments. He further promised to curse them and send judgment upon them if they turned away from him and refused to obey his commandments (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). We can see Gods warning to Israel in the selected verses below (please take the time to read all of Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and Deuteronomy 7-9):

Israel Was Warned

But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. (Leviticus 26:14-17)

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day…The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish….The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth…. (Deuteronomy 28:15, 20-22, 25)

God makes it clear in Deuteronomy 9:3-6 that he did not give the land of the Canaanites to Israel because of their righteousness but rather because of the wickedness of the Canaanites:

Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. (Deuteronomy 9:3-6)

God was judging the Canaanites for their wickedness when he gave their land to Israel and asked the Israelites to slay them. This was not a judgment to repentance; this was his wrath poured out against them. The wrath of God is poured upon a nation only after their cup of iniquity has been filled. This is after they have consistently failed to head his warnings and failed to repent of their wickedness. God gave the Amorites in the land of Canaan over four hundred years to repent of their wicked ways. During this period of time the Israelites were captive in Egypt. When God delivered Israel from Egypt, the Egyptians to were judged for their wickedness:

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Genesis 15:13-16)

Israel Was Sinful

When God fulfilled his promise to Abraham and delivered Israel from Egypt, the Bible records that Israel failed to keep God’s commandments, they fell into horrible sin. Under the reign of King Manasseh, the sin of Judah was worse than that of the heathen which God had judged of the land of Canaan (2 Chronicles 33:9). The wickedness and iniquity of the Canaanites and Israel included all of that which God hates. Many of these sins are popular today; they include:

• False Religion—worshiping other gods, worshiping idols, worshiping nature, worshiping Satan, the occult, human and child sacrifice.

• The occult—witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery, spell casting, magic, fortune telling, astrology, charms (such as good luck) and necromancy.

• Sexual iniquity—fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, pedophilia, incest, beasteality, etc.

• Other sins—murder, violence, theft, hatred, envying, lying, gossiping, drunkenness, disobeying parents, not honoring contracts, pride, etc.^xxii

God Judged Israel

Israel was not immune to God's judgment and wrath. Just as God's anger was kindled against the Canaanites, Israel also provoked God to anger (2 Kings17:17 & 21:6). Because of Israel’s sin and their failure to keep their covenant with God, a Holy and just God kept his promise and repeatedly brought judgment upon Israel. God used the heathen around Israel to execute his judgment; he used the Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans among others.^xxiii God also used drought, famine and plague. The Psalmist writes concerning Israels repeated sin and judgment:

They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. (Psalm 106:34-46)

God judged Israel repeatedly with judgments that were to bring them to repentance. They would call on him for help but soon after he rescued them they would forsake him and fall into sin. Israel divided into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Because of their horrible sin God judged the eight tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel and dispersed them throughout the nations of the world. The chronicler gives the account of this in 2 Kings 17:

¹ In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. ² And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. ³ Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. ⁴ And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. ⁵ Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. ⁷ For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, ⁸ And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. ⁹ And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. ¹⁰ And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: ¹¹ And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: ¹² For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. ¹³ Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. ¹⁴ Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. ¹⁵ And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. ¹⁶ And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. ¹⁹ Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. ²⁰ And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. ²¹ For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. ²² For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; ²³ Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. (2 Ki 17:1-23)

God's patients and long-suffering came to an end with Israel as it did with the Canaanites, Sodom and Gomorrah and the world before the flood. God also had to bring Judah under the captivity of Babylon and later again they became subject to the authority of Rome and eventually Rome destroyed Jerusalem after a majority of the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their savior.

¹³ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: ¹⁴ That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ¹⁵ Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. (Ga 3:13-18)

Jesus Fulfilled the Promise

Jesus Christ came to the world through the seed of Abraham fulfilling God's promise that all the nations would be blessed through him. Jesus came to the Jew first but his free gift of salvation is for the world. The word of God says that those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior are heirs to the promises God made to Abraham through their faith (Romans 4:16, Galatians 3:14). The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” ( Galatians 3:28-29) The majority of the Jewish people have misunderstood their covenant. They believe that blood or race is important but the covenant is based on faith in God and the savior Jesus Christ and also obedience to God's law. Jesus confirmed this when speaking to the Pharisees he stated: “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” (John 8:39)

Although the Pharisees had Abraham's blood running through their veins, Jesus inferred that they were not Abraham's children. This is because Abraham's children walk in faith and obedience to God's law. Therefore, it is not necessary to have Abraham's blood, you must have his faith and walk in obedience to the Lord as he walked. Abraham's true children are his spiritual children.

Paul writes that the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ are like the natural branches that are broken off of a vine. The gentile believers are like wild branches that are grafted in. Paul adds a stern warning from God the Father. If God judged the natural branches and removed them from the vine because of their unbelief, he will do the same to the wild branches if they do not believe. Paul writes:

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin....What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded...Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (Romans 11:1, 7 & 19-23)

America Has Followed Israel's Example

The people of America are much like the people of ancient Israel and the Pharisees of Jesus' day. Ancient Israel was involved in all manner of sin and rebellion against God. America is involved in all manner of sin and rebellion against God. The Pharisees believed they were special because they were descendants of Abram. Many American's believe they are special simply because they believe in Jesus Christ. The Pharisees believed that obedience to their silly man made rituals would bring salvation. A majority of Americans believe that they will receive salvation because they are good.

The word of God states: “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”^xxiv Therefore no one can be saved because they are good. Jesus indicated to the Pharisees that they were vile and would be unable to escape hell:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Mt 23:25-33)

Jesus made a similar prophetic warning to Christian believers. He stated:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mt 7:21-23)

Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is not all that it takes to receive salvation. James writes that “the devils also believe, and tremble.” He continued, “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:19-20) We are not saved by our works but through our works is our faith manifest. If we believe Jesus is and Son of God and our Savior, then we will love him and do those things he commanded. Jesus stated: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 & 15:9-17) Jesus' commandments included much more than the Ten Commandments. He instructed us love our neighbor as ourself;^xxv he further instructed us: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Mathew 5:44) We are to meet the needs of the poor and hungry and we are to be involved in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to those who do not know him.

Further, in keeping these commandments, we are to follow the example of Jesus who only did as his Father willed. Jesus did not devise a plan to accomplish what he thought God wanted done, he waited for his Father to lead him and he did those things which his Father instructed him to do (John 5:19-20 & 30).

Jesus died for our sins so that we may have his righteousness but his death does not absolve us of the requirement to keep the law. Jesus stated: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18)

The saving grace of Jesus Christ covers any and all sin. But we must acknowledge that Gods law (his commandments) is holy. We must confess our sins and we must repent. Once we accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ we have accepted his law and we must strive to keep his law. Once we are saved the saving grace of Jesus Christ breaches the gap that is crated because of our inability to perfectly observe the law. Nevertheless, if we do not acknowledge that Gods law is holy and is binding upon us and if it is not our earnest desire to keep his commandments, then we are no different than the Pharisees.^xxvi And of the Pharisees Jesus indicated that they would be unable to “escape the damnation of hell.”

America the Babylon

As a nation, America has rejected God's commandments, both his moral and religious laws: Sixty-eight percent of Americans have rejected moral absolutes^xxvii and 87 percent have rejected the Ten Commandments. ^xxviii In rejecting God's commandments, America has rejected God's authority to make the law. In rejecting God's authority, America has rejected God! In Psalm 17 God declares: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)

Through careful research and through dozens of sources, chapters 5, 6 and 7 document how America, who was once a Christian nation, has become a nation that forgot God and his law. Further, it is painstakingly documented how America has become the “habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit.” (Revelation 18:2) The rest of this book series carefully documents how America fulfills every description of Babylon; for America is the Babylon.

Babylon the Great Shall Be Destroyed

God tells us in Revelation 18 that Babylon the great shall be destroyed. Revelation 18 is a warning to the inhabitants of Babylon. God warns the inhabitants of Babylon to not partake of her sins. Sin and rebellion is what brings God’s judgment. The good news is that those who do not partake of Babylon’s sins shall not receive her plagues!:

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her (vs.8)…. Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come (vs. 10)…. for in one hour is she made desolate (vs. 19)…. with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all (vs. 21)…. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee (vs. 22); And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee (vs. 23).

… Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues (vs. 4).

Babylon’ Judgment Shall Come In One Hour

Babylon's judgment shall come upon her suddenly, in one day even one hour. As a result of the judgment of God, Babylon shall be burned with fire. There shall be death and mourning. The fact that there are mourners indicates that there shall be survivors. As a result of God’s judgment the survivors shall suffer famine.

Often in the Bible a city is symbolic of a nation or kingdom. God’s judgment of Babylon is the judgment of a nation. Verses 8, 10 and 19 appear to be speaking of the judgment upon the nation of Babylon. Verses 21-23 appear to be speaking of the judgment against the city, which is symbolic of the nation of Babylon.

The reasons for this are as follows: Verse 8 indicates there will be survivors both because there are mourners and because there is famine. Without survivors there cannot be famine. But there is a transition that begins at verse 21 (“with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all”). From verse 21 onward the prophecy is speaking of a city. Verses 21-23 seems to indicate there will not be survivors. This is because nothing seems to be going on at all. There is no music, no one working, no one getting married and there are no lights in the city at night (“the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee”). Candles are used at night and are symbolic of lights. This city, which is a symbol of the nation of Babylon, shall be utterly consumed by fire, there shall be no survivors and this city shall never be inhabited again.

Babylon is obviously a great powerful nation. What type of judgment could destroy a great powerful nation is just one hour? The advent of the nuclear bomb made this close to being possible but it wasn’t until the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) was perfected that this became a reality. The only way that a great modern day nation could be destroyed by fire in one hour is by a strategic attack with dozens or hundred of nuclear missiles. A nuclear bomb is the only thing man made that could destroy a great modern city in one hour to such an extent that it would never be inhabitable again. Even the awesome destructive power that is at the hands of the U.S. military, the most powerful military ever on the face of the earth, is not capable of destroying a country in one hour without the aid of nuclear weapons.

I say that a nuclear bomb is the only thing “man made” capable of destroying a nation in one hour for a specific reason. When God judges a nation, he uses other nations to carry out his judgment. This is seen repeatedly in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. God uses natural disasters as warning judgments but when he seeks to destroy a nation he most often uses another nation to carry out his judgment. The examples of Sodom and Gomorrah and the great flood are examples of what God's will do in the final judgment of the earth.

Don’t Receive Of Babylon’s Plagues

Concerning the judgment that God has pronounced on Babylon in Revelation 18, God declares: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). God is confirming that this is a judgment against those who have rejected him and have fallen into grievous sin. This is not a judgment against God’s faithful followers. God calls his faithful to come out of Babylon. At this time I don’t see God calling people to physically leave Babylon but to reject the sinful nature of Babylon and not to participate in her sins. Nevertheless, a person should have a personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ so that if a call does come to physically leave Babylon, they will be able to discern the voice of God.

To complete their separation from Babylon, God’s faithful are to reject the worldly sinful pleasures of Babylon. They are to reject Babylon’s pride; her love of wealth; her covetousness; her sexual impurity; her dishonesty; her deceitfulness and her false religions. By remaining faithful, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior and have received his holy law into their heart shall have the righteousness of Jesus Christ through his grace. It is the righteousness of Christ that shall preserve them from God’s judgment on Babylon.

Are There Prophets In The Land

As we shall cover in depth later, God first revealed his judgment against Babylon to his prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others; he then revealed it to the Apostle John. Then for 1700 years there is no recorded mention of God’s judgment of the nation he calls Babylon. Then in the midst of the revolutionary war God gave a dream to George Washington. In 1929 he gave a vision to evangelist A.C. Valdez. In the 1950’s he gave a vision to a man with a great healing ministry, A.A. Allen. In 1984 he gave a vision to a Romanian Christian, Dumitru Dudduman, who had been smuggling Bibles into Russia for 20 years. In 1986 God gave a vision to Henry Groover who is a great International Intercessory Prayer Walker. He has walked and prayed all the streets in 500 cities in 37 nation around the world including America.^xxix Chuck Youngbradt, a Christian not involved in professional ministry at the time, was given a vision by God in 1975.^xxx Jonathan Hansen, an American Missionary overseas, received a vision from God in 1995; he is now a prophet to the nations of the world.^xxxi Daniel Rodes, an Apostle and missionary with a worldwide ministry and 175 churches under his leadership was given a vision in 1999.^xxxii many others have also received visions or dreams

God has told all these men that his judgment is upon America. Since 1984, each of the above men who received visions from God about America’s future, have been told to warn America. They have been told that America has turned its back on God; we have rejected him, we have rejected his word and we have rejected his commandments. God has declared that America’s sins are an abomination to him; he will withdraw his protection from America and will allow our enemies to rise up against us and defeat us.

What God revealed to these men and many, many more is that his holy word is true. He revealed that the prophecies of old are true. He knew from the beginning that America would rise to be a great nation and he knew she would fall. God revealed the fate of America to his prophets of old: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and John. In God’s eyes nothing is new; “there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastics 1:9). As God revealed to me an understanding of his word concerning America, he led me to the historical facts that prove his word is true. What you’ll read in the following pages is not just history but a revelation of the truth of God’s holy word.

Most likely you haven’t heard of the above men and most likely you haven’t heard their message. America doesn’t want to hear this message and a majority of the pastors are keeping their congregations from hearing the truth. Its not popular, the people want to hear about Gods blessings and how he grants us the desires of our heart. Before God can bless us we need to get right with him, we need to confess our sins and repent. We need the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and set us free. Many people believe they have been set free but they are in bondage to sin because they have not truly repented. They have gotten on their knees and accepted Jesus as their savior, they have confessed their sins but they are not truly sorry for their sins. They have no desire to stop sinning, they enjoy their sin and they have no intention of stopping. Among these unrepented sins are sexual sins, coveting, gossip, sins of indulgence and gluttony, an unwillness to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the serving of false Gods. God’s judgment will bring true repentance in some of us. The choice is ours, we can repent the easy way, now, or we can do it the hard way, when judgment comes. Jesus said:

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13).

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3).

Choose Eternal Life

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, or if you are not repentant for your sins, you are under condemnation and will experience the judgment of God and ultimately eternal death. My heartfelt prayer for you and my advice to you is to accept Jesus Christ into your life, to be baptized. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”(Galatians 3:26). When you put on Christ, you put on his righteousness, his holiness, his goodness, his purity, and his patient, loving and forgiving character and you have obtained eternal life through his grace:

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:53-58).

If you have received Jesus Christ, let his grace flow through you. Let your spirit and mind be renewed by his grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Accept God’s law as holy and just. Confess your sins and repent. Don’t willingly fall into deceitful lusts of the flesh. Live a holy, righteous life and don’t let bitterness, wrath or anger be found in you. Be kind, tender hearted and forgiving as Christ forgave you:

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:21-32).

If you do not have the righteousness of Jesus Christ and you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your savior, I invite you to say the following prayer. If you have previously given your life to Jesus, I invite you to rededicate your life today:

Lord God, loving father in heaven, I confess that I am a sinner and I am in need of salvation through Jesus Christ. I repent of my sins and I turn away from a life of sin. I pray for your forgiveness of my sins. I pray that you will cover me and wash me in the blood of Jesus Christ. I put on the righteousness of Christ and I pray that I may be filled with your Holy Spirit.

Lord, may your Holy Spirit guide me and direct my paths. May I thirst for your Holy word and may I have insight and understanding of your word. May your word give me wisdom and knowledge.

I declare with my lips and my heart that your holy word is true: Jesus Christ is the creator of all things; he always was and always shall be. Jesus came to earth as a child; he was born of a Virgin Mother; he lived a sinless life; he suffered and died on the cross for my sins and the sins of the world. He was buried and on the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

I pray that you would write my name in the Book of Life, save me from the day of trouble and count me among your remnant. May heavenly angels to be placed round about me to protect me from all evil harm and evil influence. I ask all these things in the name of your Son the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

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