Sunday, April 05, 2009

Newsweek declares: "The End of Christian America"



"Christ describes frightening scenes. The last days preceding the second coming will be marked by a final trial which will shake the faith of many believers. Jesus asks: 'But when the Son of Man comes will he find any faith on earth?' (Lk 8: 28). This is a mysterious phrase but its immediate meaning cannot be eluded. Only a 'little flock' will persevere in the faith until the end, awaiting the Lord's coming. The greater part of mankind, including many believers, will have lost the faith. In another context Jesus adds to the eclipse of faith a cooling of charity. Indeed, it is not possible to lose one without losing the other. Thus he describes the 'trials' of the end times: 'Many false prophets will arise; they will deceive many, and with the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved' (Mt 24: 11). Jesus situates the the end of the world in the context of great apostasy from the faith. The rejection of Christianity by many who had adhered to it will take place in a world where the Gospel of the Kingdom has been proclaimed to the ends of the earth (cf. Mt 24: 14). The coming of Christ as judge will take place in a context of betrayal. - Fr. Livio Fanzaga
"The Dragon is clearly Satan. Then comes the battle of Michael and his angels against the dragon, whereby the dragon is vanquished and falls. From the deep he (the dragon) calls up a terrible creature, the first apocalyptical beast...Here is the antithesis (of Christ): revelation of the Antichrist. He will be a man of stupendous talents and spiritual force, of great knowledge and might. He will also be filled with religious power. Indeed, he will even have a certain resemblance to Christ, for it will be said also of him that he is mortally wounded and yet alive, in other words, that he has sacrificed himself and vanquished, so that there will be something perversely redemptory about him that is directed against the living God and His Christ. This beast defies God, blaspheming against Him and His name. All men save those registered in the book of the Lamb submit to its power. Then a second beast arises, coming up out of the land. Outwardly, it resembles a Lamb, but it speaks like a dragon. It proclaims the Antichrist, erects his image, performs miracles, and persuades men to worship him. Perhaps we are meant to see in this beast the evil counterpart of him who proclaimed the Savior, the Precursor, John the Baptist. From all sides, from all races, this beast summons men, leading them to the Enemy of God." (Romano Guardini, The Lord, p. 510).
As a student of Catholic prophecy and as one who tries to read the signs of the times, I find it interesting to say the least that the new presidential limousine is referred to by the Secret Service as "the beast." Never before has the presidential limousine been referred to by this moniker. Why now?
Related reading here and here.
Could the president shut down the internet? WND article here.

6 comments:

Jonathan said...

Jesus prophesied, "I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him." (John 5:43).

This One who comes "in his own name" is the Man of Sin, the Antichrist. 2,000 years ago a crowd - speaking for the world - said, "We have no king but Caesar." The world would not receive the true King - the King of Kings: Christ the Messiah. But it will receive a secular messiah.

PMG said...

The "End times" really began at the Ascension. We have been for the last two thousand years in the "Last Age."

I don't know if this time is worse than all pervious. I finished a hagiography of St. Athanasius recently. The Arian days were pretty darned tough. So were the days if 1920's Mexico (read Green's The Power and the Glory).

I am comforted by the dialogue between God and Abraham in Genesis. God would spare Sodom if Abraham could find nine righteous men. So, if God finds nine righteous men (which I include this blog owner as one of those nine) in this age, I think things will keep on keepin' on for a while.

I heard on a podcast once that there has never been a better time to be a Catholic than in these times. In other words, it is easier to be a Saint now than it ever has.

The homilist was relating that, behaving like an "ordinary" Catholic of 50 years ago (circumscribing your life to the precepts of the Bride of Christ)makes you an "extrodinary" Catholic today.

I like this "glass half full approach" more than the "doom and gloom" approach that was so much of the Eschatology of my former Protestant life).

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

We have been in the "Last Age" for 2,000 years but not the "End Times" in the eschatological sense we mean here.

It was Pope Paul VI who said, "I sometimes read the Gospel passage of the end times, and I attest that, at this time, some signs of this end are emerging." If, as you assert, we have been living in the "End Times" in the eschatological sense, then Pope Paul VI's words do not make sense, for he said clearly that "some signs of this end are emerging." The word "emerging" indicates that something is currently coming into existence.

Additionally, Pope John Paul II said, "We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical
confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel."

Why the phrase "final confrontation"? Because, Pope John Paul II realized what you - and the "wide circles of the Christian community" do not realize fully, that we are in the End Times.

It is significant that Our Lady has described our times (on several occasions) as being worse
than the times of Noah. Apparently you would easily dimiss her words. I would not. She is the Virgin Mother of God, Queen of the Church.

Amanda said...

The Blessed Mother told Father Gobbi: "At the time of Noah, immediately before the flood, those whom the Lord had destined to survive His terrible chastisement entered into the ark. In these your times, I am inviting all my beloved children to enter into the ark of the new covenant which I have built in my Immaculate Heart for you, that they may be assisted by me to carry the bloody burden of the great trial, which precedes the coming of the day of the Lord. Do not look anywhere else. There is happening today what happened in the days of the flood." July 30, 1986).

JenniferfromFitchburg said...

I think PMG is one of those unhappy souls who likes to create arguments and dissensions. Read what Saint Faustina wrote in her Diary II (229) 848:

"Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this chaplet: the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for the sake of those who say the chaplet. Write down these words, My daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them."

This was the Lord Jesus talking to this great Saint. We ARE in the End Times.

Ted Loiseau said...

Michael Brown has an excellent article on how some confuse the "End Times" with the End of the world and try to discredit all prophecy. You are accomplishing an important work here Mr. Melanson. Expect to come under attack from other "Christians" who don't want to hear warnings of chastisement or prophecies which indict their illicit behaviors.

Here is another warning for America:

Clash Of A Civilization - Can America Escape God's Judgement?
by David L Lamon


Be warned!! What we are witnessing in America is a gigantic wholesale move to expedite the socialization of America. The elite international or central banking community has been successful frightening the house and senate into accepting the bailouts as a way to save our retirements and savings. Take notice it is only a prelude to total dictatorship with the passage of this bailout bill into law and only serves to the further enrichment of the elite. What the common everyday people must understand these elites do hold the power of the purse over the head of these elected officials because of the way they have successfully concentrated the wealth of the world into the coffers of the few through the use of the various central banking systems in the world. The stage is now set for the most socialist president in the history of the United States Barak Hussein Obama to run with the tools put into place to form the next great move of their planning. The tax system is now almost fully developed that will put Americans into involuntary servitude to the whims of the government's elite. This next move could be the forming of the North American Union with the justification being the fall of the dollar and this includes the forming a new currency some call the Amero. These elites have divided up the world into regions such as the E.U., Asian Pact, African nations etc. When everything is said and done there will be 10 regions that will speak for all countries and peoples within these regions. This consolidation of power makes it easier for the powers that be to manage because of less resistance from individual entities within these regions. The media is the tool that relays their desires for the world and is owned by these elites. Years ago I saw the funneling of the American worker's money into the stock market for his future as an evil that would in the end spell his/her doom. This was done to make his/her income more manageable for the powers that be and what we are witnessing now with the passage of this bill confirms this thinking. Drawing on the experience of the Carter administration and what is happening now I believe concludes only one of two possibilities for our monetary system. We could have high inflation and interest rates as we had during Carter's run, which provided a higher interest rate on savings or the current policy. We know from experience that although higher interest rates were paid on our savings, inflation and an almost worthless dollar made that of none effect. Either way we the people are the losers.

The original purpose of creating a stock market was to create investment capital for business to expand and create more jobs, which grows the overall economy. A stock was sold at its current value and as the company and profits grew the price of the stock did also. If its value fell for whatever reason it's price also fell and was not artificially hyped for short term profit taking purposes as we so often see in today's stock market. The stock market has evolved into a greed driven process. Evil inventions such as options, selling short or long etc. have ruined it as a place for the average small investor. It has become so confusing despite all the tools available to look at a company for its value that even the brokerage houses have trouble buying stocks. In other words, like many other things these greed driven people became inventors of evil things as the above. The old market didn't have sophisticated accounting that made the company less transparent by hiding stuff that would affect its value. They took a simple Jethro of the Beverly Hillbillies naught from naught equals naught approach to accounting.

Pundits like to tout Warren Buffet and George Soros success in the market but what they don't know or reveal is when men like these buy up huge blocks of stock at preferred prices only to later use the common stock option it shuts out the little man from making a gain hence the phony 401k. The investment from the 401k's are many times directly tied to the same stocks Buffet and others like him buy in huge blocks. Add to that these elites are protected by use of Hedge protection meaning they are in a position to do as they please because of no oversight and regulation. The move in and out of these stocks with no penalty and when they do it leaves the little guy holding the bag. They create for themselves profit taking advantages by artificially inflating a stock's value and selling off. Stocks are as footballs passing back and forth to these guys/gals. Protection against this type of action was not taken into consideration or addressed in this bailout bill and is critical to protect the everyday small investor and as a result it will continue to be business as usual. The old saying, money talks and ....walks still holds true. The only change we can expect to see from passage of this bill is to see even more consolidation of power for the elites.

Never in the history of the country has it been more important to the election process to put God fearing people into office to resist the coming change to a total socialistic nation. This means firing every incumbent that wouldput the U.S. in line with the E.U. After all, wasn't America's founding the result of the evil dictators of Europe and now we are as a dog returning to his vomit lap it up. To resist these socialistic changes means having the grit to accept the fact all Americans will have to make great sacrifices and suffering to right the ship. We are back to where the founding fathers found themselves in resisting the dictatorship of England only we face formidable forces unequaled in that we have the whole of Europe and most of the world as a foe. Our monetary policy has reached into the lives of every human being on planet earth. Americans are now put into the situation that many of the founding fathers who were wealthy individuals were in. That is they wanted their freedom more than their money and gave it up for the same for the resistance movement that lead to the Revolutionary War and eventual freedom. Understanding the mindset of these founding fathers through much trial makes it easier to see what they meant with the statement "Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison, "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical."

In the real world today it is the U.S. that has the military muscle to enforce this coming dictatorship on the rest of the world. There are two possible scenarios for the U.S. as it concerns the direction it is currently heading. One is that the U.S. will lead the anti-Christian forces into total world dictatorship or two the U.S. will be destroyed and taken out of the way. Most prophecy experts' say the U.S. is not in bible prophecy but I say it is and have written about it in what I believe is prophecy that can only be fulfilled by the U.S. However, I will leave it up to you to decide for yourselves with these two scenarios. The compilation of the writing below comes from the studies of others and the word of God with much prayer to rightly divide the true meaning. Sometimes what others have said triggers a mechanism in our minds to bring to light the real truth whether or not you find what they said accurate or not. This is the way it works along with God opening our eyes. There are specific prophecies by Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the Revelation that cannot apply to anyone else in the world especially significant for our day and time. For just a few examples from my paper "America in Prophecy":

Isaiah's Depiction of America

"Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!" (Isaiah 18:1, 2) The nation described in this text is in dire difficulty with God because the opening word is judgmental. God says, "Woe," and the term always connotes judgment.

1. This nation has the insignia of wings, similar to our national emblem, the bald eagle, with extended wings. People in other parts of the world recognize the symbol of America.

2. This nation is a land beyond the sea. Israel is always the focal point in Bible prophecy. So the message of warning is directed to a far country beyond Ethiopia and across the sea from Israel. This designation eliminates Europe, Asia, and Africa. Instead it is directed to a nation with outstretched wings across the sea from Israel and America qualifies.

3. This nation is scattered and peeled. Scattered means widely spread out or having great land areas.

4. This nation is measured. This certainly describes our beloved country with its counties, cities, and states. One is amazed as he crosses America by air and sees the staked out acres tens of thousands of miles completely measured and marked.

5. This nation is a land whose rivers are spoiled. Ecological experts vouch that this significant prophecy has occurred in our waterways. Isaiah simply tells us that dreadful judgment will come upon a nation with outstretched wings, beyond the seas of Israel; a nation with vast measured land areas and polluted waters.

Jeremiah's Depiction of the daughter of Babylon

The Prophet Jeremiah also pinpoints America's characteristics with even greater de­tail: I will make a full end of all nations (Jeremiah 30:11). It is evident that unprecedented judg­ment shall sweep the world. However, the prophet singles out a specific nation for judgment. Who is this "Babylon" mentioned by the Holy Ghost in Jeremiah 50 and 51? Notice the prophet refers to her as the daughter of Babylon meaning futuristic or offspring.

1. This is a country destroyed by an assembly of nations from the north. This was not fulfilled when the Medes and Persians from the east attacked Babylon. Neither could these two small nations fulfill the latter-day prophecy concerning an assembly of great nations moving against Babylon from the north. Thus, the prophecy, presently unfulfilled, must be futuristic.

2. This is a nation whose mother is sorely confounded (see Jeremiah 50:12). Again we see that ancient Babylon had no mother, only a father and founder named Nimrod. Prophetical and futuristic Babylon has a mother who exists at the same time as Israel, but in a confounded, deteriorated condition. Surely Britain is the modern-day mother if America is in view. The recent shrinking of the English pound to the lowest point in history confirms that "mama" is confounded and troubled. In 1897 the first World Zionist Congress expressed their desire to establish (in the ancient land of Israel) a Homeland for the Jews, recognized by other world powers. In 1917 Great Britain also expressed that they would like to establish a Homeland for the Jews in the ancient land of Israel then known as Palestine. In 1922 the League of Nations gave Great Britain a mandate to establish a Jewish Homeland in Palestine, but because of Oil and Arab influence Great Britain reneged on the mandate. To this day England continues to pay a great price for its treatment of the Jews. Great Britain has gone down the tube morally, spiritually, economically and politically. They failed in their moral and Spiritual obligation to Israel, because of politics and oil.

After the Second World War the British gave about 80 percent of the land known as Palestine, to the Arabs rewarding them for their help during the wars. That portion became known as Jordan not an ancient land, but a modern young nation. Most of the citizens of Jordan are Palestinians, making Jordan a predominantly "Palestinian State".

As the fighting between Arabs and Jews increased, the British again showed their anti-Jewish feelings by failing to evacuate a port for Jewish use in bringing in refugees and supplies, as specified by the United Nations timetable. While Britain prevented the Jews from re-enforcing it's strength to withstand the Arab attacks, they allowed the Arabs to be reinforced by detachments of irregulars, trained and armed in the surrounding Arab nations. Another little known fact: Prior to the Second World War Hitler increased his persecution of the Jews. Many of them, fearing what was coming, were on the move trying to get into other countries refused entry they headed for Palestine. The Arabs objected to the Jews coming to Palestine. And Great Britain wanting the Arabs on their side in the event of another war with Germany produced a "White paper" limiting the immigration of Jews to 1500 a month. This figure was a 'drop in the bucket' compared to the number of Jews who were fleeing Hitler's 'final solution'.

3. This nation is the youngest among the great world powers for she is the "hindermost of the nations" or the last to become internationally prominent (see Jeremiah 50:12). America celebrated its bicentennial July 4th, 1976. However, two hundred years of history make our country only a teenager among the nations of the earth, comparatively speaking.

4. This country is an end-time nation, for it exists when Israel is back in her land. Jeremiah 50:19 declare, I will bring Israel again to his habitation. This began in 1948 when the Jews of the world returned to their homeland, hoisted their flag the six-pointed Star of David and named the country Israel. What tremendous proof that God had an end time Babylon in mind when Jeremiah wrote the prophecies 25 centuries ago.

5. This land, according to Jeremiah, "hath been proud against the Lord (Jeremiah 50:29)." This situation exists presently in America. The Supreme Court ruled Bible reading and prayer out of the educational system, and constantly votes on the side of hell bent schemes. Judges set criminals free as soon as police apprehend them. Filthiness also floods the land as pornography, obscenity, and depravity hold sway. Surely haughtiness (arrogantly proud) against God reigns in modern Babylon.

6. This is a nation of "mingled people." Have we not been called the "melting pot" of the world? Millions have come from every nation and tongue to the land of milk and honey. (see Jeremiah 50:37)

7. This is a nation of wealth, for Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand. In fact, the nations who have tasted of her delicacies are mad (Jeremiah 51:7). Even now, the "Third World" nations, whose income levels produce mass starvation, have tasted of America's dainties, via movies and television, and are becoming insane in their quest to partake of its reality. Who but America could fulfill their dreams? Babylon could, for she is abundant in treasures (Jeremiah 51:13).



8. This land "dwellest upon many waters (Jeremiah 51:13). " This could not be ancient Babylon, a desert country, but it must be a nation similar to ours, bordered on each side by the world's two largest oceans and having the third longest river system in the world the mighty Mississippi/Missouri; some 4,200 miles long.

9. The people of this land, like ancient Babylon, try to "mount up to heaven (Jeremiah 51:53)." We have already arrived on the moon and sent spaceships to Mars. We have become the preeminent leader in space technology. Certainly the type is cast, the sign fulfilled, and the future calamitous. God sent confusion of tongues upon ancient Babylon because they tried to reach heaven without God and failed. So will America.

10.Next to the outstretched wings of an eagle, America's second most treasured symbol of freedom is the "Lady of Freedom," the Statue of Liberty. Isaiah and Jeremiah both refer to this end-time political Babylon as "Lady of Kingdoms" (Isaiah 47:5) and "Daughter of Babylon." (Jeremiah 50:42)

John the Revelator's Description

John, in the Book of Revelation, also gives us insight into modem Babylon. Chapter 17 deals with religious Babylon located upon the seven hills of Rome (see verse 9), while chapter 18 deals with political Babylon, which probably is the United States. What does John depict?

1. "A nation through whom the merchants of the earth [have] waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies [or luxuries] (Revelation 18:3)." Take a look at the headlines, for in them you will find other countries economical success is based on what we do. Check out this headline for example: CNN April 19, 2001, Markets throughout Asia charged higher on Thursday, bolstered by a surprise rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

2. A nation "laden with sins" (see verse 5).

3. A nation, "which hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously" (verse 7). That's us! We spend 173 billion dollars annually for food, alcohol, tobacco, recreation, and gambling.

John's Predictions

John, the New Testament expositor of Babylonian destruction, pictures the scene like this: "God is angry at Babylon whose sins have a reached unto heaven and remembers her iniquities (Revelation 18:5)." Babylon must reap what she has sown. Thus, "her plagues come in one day (vs. 8) and consist of the earth [world lead­ers and statesmen], who have committed ungodly acts with her and lived deliciously off her unlimited wealth, bewail her, and lament over her, when they see the smoke of her burning (vs. 9)." They cry, "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city, for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth [the world's stockbrokers, bankers and salesmen] shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen (vss. 10-12)." Nuclear blasts end the "covetous" grasping for goods in one hour. Yes, "in one hour so great riches is come to naught [for nothingness] (vs. 17)." No wonder the Savior said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20)." Here one's accumulated wealth through giving abides forever in the form of souls won to Christ. Thank God, we Christians will not be present to cry with earth's multitudes when they cast dust on their heads, and [cry], "weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city. For in one hour is she made desolate" (vs. 19).

America's Decapitation

The present enjoyment will not last forever. America's decapitation and destruction may come in jet-speed fashion. Only by repenting of our sins as a nation and having an old fashioned, Holy Ghost revival, will we be able to prolong this prophecy. We will become the brutalized, battered, and beaten Babylon of the following texts. God says, For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her (Jeremiah 50:9)." Revelation 18 pictures the kings of the earth, who have lived scandalously in the arms of Babylon, "weeping as her disintegrating smoke ascends heavenward." They are standing afar off and crying, "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come (Revelation 18:10). They continue in verses 16-19:"

"Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate."

After reading this you might asked, "If this is so then there is nothing we can do about it is there"? My response is it is because of our do nothing attitude that we are in this predicament in the first place and we are to resist evil at all cost. So yes we are to resist this move and that starts by admitting our faults before the throne of God by repenting and demanding a return to the moral attributes as laid out in the word of God. Only if we do this will God intervene on our behalf as he promised and the fight will become his. I cannot say with certainty how God will do this but I stand on his word and whatever way He does will be good. There are two scriptures that come to mind as it applies to this paragraph. 2 Chronicles 7:14 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. Romans 8:28 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. To not take up this cause with a total sellout attitude will net us a change of life in America akin to what we have seen in the rest of the world. What we are witnessing is the attempt to rebuild the Tower of Babel, which at that time was the same as is the goal of the elites today a one world government system. Unfortunately, repeatedly in the history of the world a people sometimes forget where they got what they got and these trying times may yet push us a lot of us to the limit before we realize it. So instead of doubting what I am saying get moving now to head this off, which if we don't will make it that much more difficult to overcome.Although God's word does speak of impending judgments these are also given as warnings so His children can take heed and action to prevent the coming clash of American freedom verses dictatorship.

If we the people trade in our God-given rights, which we inherited from our inspired Founding Fathers and their sacrifices, for a set of state-given rights, dispensed by the government in accord with governmental convenience, then we the people will have but ourselves to blame, and the American dream will inexorably become an unimaginable nightmare. Do we heed the words or warning of our founding father Ben Franklin "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety (security) deserve neither liberty nor safety (security)." If a nation values anything more than its freedom, it will lose it says William Somerset Maughm. Furthermore, if its comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too. Thomas Jefferson imparted a bit of wisdom to us when he said, "When the government fears the people, there is liberty, but when the people fear the government there is tyranny. Please remember, one of the first goals of tyranny is to create fear in the population, fear so paralyzing that the public will accept any measure to allay it. Make the threat onerous enough and the people will relinquish everything.

The government is always presenting us with a crisis, whether it is health care, terrorism, crime, environmental or whatever they dream up. We the people are left with two choices, be consumed with the crisis or let the government solve the threat of the day by limiting, constraining, or removing freedoms. Remember the old Aesop fable about the horse tormented by a boar. Exasperated, Horse asked Man for help. "Certainly," said Man, "I shall help you, but first you must let me saddle you up." Agreeing to the terms, Horse found his problem quickly resolved, but found too, the price extracted was weighty: Horse's freedom. Of course, the moral of this story applies directly to what we see happening in America today, which is a frightened and tormented people that is willing to trade away its fundamental freedoms.

Consequences for a do nothing America

God will judge all the nations and America is not immune

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, "God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11–12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, "Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)...fire...burning wind...will be the portion of their cup." Why? David answered, "Because the Lord is righteous" (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment — just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah's generation. This can be avoided only 2 Chronicles 7:14 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. So there you have it!

David L Lamon is an independent columnist

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