The Scourge Of Racism
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Released January 5, 2024
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David cries out, “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men,” (Psalm 12:1, NKJV). Being a prophet, David like Micah after him is alarmed as he looks at the future shown to him by the Holy Spirit and sees the increase in the ungodly and decrease of the godly in the world (Micah 7:2a). They see such times as we now have on the earth when the ungodly are being allowed to give full vent to their wicked desires and deeds (Psalm 12:2-4, 8; Micah 7:2b-4). Meanwhile, God’s faithful die through natural means and martyrdom. Isaiah tells us it is to remove them from evil’s face and John to glorify God (Isaiah 57:1-2; John 21:18-19).
As it concerns martyrdom, Daniel and the Lord Jesus Christ speak of the coming globally violent assault of the Antichrist on Jews and Christians (Daniel 7:1-8, 15-25, 8:23-25, 9:20-27, 11:36-45; Matthew 24:15-22; Revelation 11:1-7, 13:1-18). The faithful among American Christians must come to accept that the assumed superiority and divine grace inherit in the invented doctrine of “American Exceptionalism” as perpetual is not factual in the face of God’s prophetic Word! Severe and violent persecution is coming upon the American Christian faithful as it has our brothers and sisters now in many nations around the earth and finally all because our Lord Jesus declares it is.
Far in advance He warns, ‘“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake,’” (Matthew 24:9, NKJV, emphasis mine). Unless therefore, one is calling the Lord a liar, it has been and will be as He has said! The stage is nearly set in our nation for violent persecution to descend like a sudden flood upon us as the ongoing rebellion against God, His Anointed and Word continues escalating. For the godless and apostate haters of Christ and His faithful will not long suffer our peaceful though powerless opposition to their rebellion. It is inevitable that violent persecution will be used as foretold to do away with Christians!
How do you know this? Again, Jesus said so! As well, the written historical evidence of the violent lashing out of evil against real and perceived opponents is legion and certainly includes the Bible where for example, Herod slaughtered children attempting to kill Christ as a rival and the Jewish religious establishment carried out their plan to do so for the same reason by pagan hands (Matthew 2:13-17; Luke 23:13-25). Indeed, the Lord warns us about the murderous treachery of religious church folk as foes (John 16:1-4)! Finally, I was also born during and later witnessed the televised attempt to squash the American Civil Rights Movement with the tactics of violent intimidation and murder.
Christian submission to suffering and death in faith following the example and as the express will of our Lord Jesus Christ is not just because of a confidence in His soon return to stop it and our resurrection from the dead, but also His complete vindication of us. As I write in The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, it is a distinctive characteristic of aspiring strong men of God in Christ’s image to trust Him for vindication (Isaiah 50:4-10). God’s vindicating justice may take thousands of years as it will finally be for righteous Abel, other Old Testament saints, Christ Himself and many Christian martyrs after Him, but it will come (Psalm 94:1-3; Matthew 23:29-36; Revelation 17:1-6, 18:1-19:4). God’s vindication is thoroughly fulfilled in His holy vengeance (Genesis 4:8-15; Deuteronomy 32:34-43).
From eternity the Most High set a day that He would launch His time of vengeance on the earth. He only quelled the antediluvian rebellion at its high point with the flood of Noah’s day. But the Father initiated His “days of vengeance” (sustained and progressive) beginning with the Jews at the height of their 1st century rebellion foretold first by Moses, then Christ for rejecting and having Him put to death (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Luke 19:41-44, 20:9-19, 21:20-24, NKJV). Thus, the days of vengeance are in part the Father’s vindication of Christ’s violent martyrdom (He is pre-eminent in all things--Revelation 1:4-5) and began when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.
As the prophet Jeremiah warns, if the days of vengeance began with Israel, their end will include all the inhabitants of the earth (Jeremiah 25:29-33). For the Lord’s vengeance on scattered Israel will peak during the time of the Antichrist and end at the Second Coming of Christ to deliver what will be only a remnant (Isaiah 10:20-22, 11:11-16; Jeremiah 30:1-11, 31:7-11; Revelation 7:1-8). When Jerusalem is again surrounded by armies--those of the Antichrist, Christ the agent of God’s vengeance on the unique “Day of vengeance” (which is also the “Day of the Lord”) will bring it at His return (Isaiah 34:1-8, 42:13-15, 59:16-20, 63:1-6; Joel 3:1-17; Zechariah 14:1-7; Romans 11:25-36; Revelation 15:17-20, 16:12-21, 19:11-21, NKJV)!
Truly, as was the year of God’s favor (now stretching to nearly 2,000 years), so, the Day of His vengeance is in the Lord’s heart as part of the Father’s two phase work for Him as His Anointed (Isaiah 61:1-2). In announcing His first century arrival, the Lord stopped short of declaring the Day of vengeance because He was fulfilling only phase one of His work at that time (Luke 4:16-21). But just as surely as He successfully carried out phase one leading to the cross and this dispensation of grace, He is to carry out phase two without mercy upon the wicked that have harmed the Jews and His righteous ones by faith from all peoples (Psalm 12:5-7, 94:4-23; Isaiah 35:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10)!
In that Day of vengeance, the righteous, peculiar people of God will rejoice in the glorious vindication our Lord brings us because we trusted in Him and willingly suffered in His cause and image (Psalm 58:10-11; Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:17-21). For a thousand years of Kingdom joy as perfected, immortal rulers on the earth, we will be entrusted “to execute vengeance on the nations,” (Psalm 149:1-9, Revelation 2:26-27, 20:4-6, NKJV). After this will come a final, insane rebellion against God which He will put down with a complete destruction of the physical creation and by confining rebel angels and men to the lake of fire forever (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:7-15)! The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”
On this Memorial Day I remember with the rest of our grateful nation those from all branches of the military that have died in wars from its inception. War is not a pleasant matter to consider or view even from a distance as is afforded in modern times through television. Nevertheless, God Almighty sanctioned the inclusion of men in His ongoing war with rebel angels as formally stated in Eden after our forefather and head of the human race, Adam, fell to Satan through sin (Genesis 3:1-8, 14-15). In the same breath our God announced a Champion from among us that would single handedly prevail against Satan and the entire fallen angelic realm!
The Lord Jesus Christ--Seed of the virgin, Mary--won the war as foretold by His life, ministry, death on the cross, burial, resurrection from the dead and ascension to Heaven (Luke 1:26-33, 4:14-21, 31-41; Hebrews 2:9-18, 7:25-8:2, 9:24-28). Whether aware of it or not, like it or not, those that become Christians through the Gospel about Him to this day are enlisted into the ongoing war of the ages. For though Christ has won the war, the mop up operations include bringing willing humanity to salvation and leading us to journey through this fallen world waging “the good warfare” in His victory safely to Heaven (Colossians 1:3-8, 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20, NKJV).
Walking in the victory of Jesus Christ means that we must closely follow His example and pattern of conduct in the face of satanic warfare against Him. Even from His youth the Lord had the priority of His life settled--He would be about His “Father’s business,” (Luke 2:41-50, NKJV). As He ministered, He remained mindful that the Father’s ultimate business for Him was suffering leading to death (Luke 9:18-22). He did not sugar coat or deceive anyone then nor does He do so now; the cost to be His disciple is the same self-denying priority focus on pleasing God and doing His will to the death He had--the life of the Strong Man of God (Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-35; 2 Timothy 2:3-4)!
The Lord prepared for His final battle of suffering and death with Satan as His Father’s business for Him in three major ways: He put His affairs in order, remained resolute through prayer, and finally, submitted completely to all that the Father had allowed for Him to experience. While our Lord had no property or bills (Luke 9:58), He had made provision for His mother as required of the first born Son and spoke it from the cross (John 19:25-27). The soldiers had already taken His clothes as foretold (John 19:23-24). Following His example, every adult Christian should be living to die and simply; having all of our affairs in order as it depends on us (1 Timothy 6:7-12).
Seeing the tragedy that can unfold when there is death without a will, Christians should have at least a basic one to give direction about the distribution of property and other assets to surviving family members. Providing for our spouses and any dependents to the death is our responsibility before God as aspiring strong men of God in the image of Christ (1 Timothy 5:3-16). This does not just require having life insurance or retirement income if available, but leaving as little debt as possible. Written funeral and burial plans paid in advance will be helpful too. Jesus knew when He was going to die and put His affairs in order; not knowing, we all the more should.
As our Lord embraced His coming suffering and death, we must do the same. For while He fully participated in activities beyond ministry such as weddings, dinners with friends and foes along with funerals (though He interrupted one in progress by raising the deceased to life), He was resolute in His commitment to die in His Father’s cause to save fallen mankind (Luke 13:22, 22:7-16). As the time drew very close, His resoluteness to suffer and die was fully tested on the Mount of Olives. But He prevailed over the natural, human desire to look out for self, avoid pain and live through steadfast, intense prayer as we may have to also do when our hour comes (Luke 22:39-46).
Fully surrendered and completely resolute after prayer and strengthening sent from His Father, the Lord Jesus endured being betrayed to His face by His hand-picked disciple as well as submitted to the mob that had come to take Him prisoner and Satan, who was ultimately behind the evil of that hour (Luke 22:47-53). The Lord expects His followers to imitate Him in all things including preparing for our final battle in the hour of darkness as He did. To the glory of God, the last twenty centuries are filled with the excellent testimonies of aspiring strong men and great women of God in Christ’s image who prevailed to victory in their final battle (Acts 7:54-60; Revelation 2:8-13). Many prevail every day now. May you and I go out in a manner worthy of our Lord (2 Timothy 4:6-8).1 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”
1 As an additional instructional resource on the topic of the Christian’s spiritual warfare, the Strong Man Store has available an audio CD series I was blessed of the Lord to proclaim entitled, We Are At War!
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