America Approaching the Crossroads

Fred R. Coulter—June 9, 2007

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[Transcript begins at 1:04 of the audio]

Here's a great something to understand: You cannot solve spiritual problems with political solutions!

We're going to see that in order to have a decent society, you need a proper political structure, as well. However, politics will not solve spiritual problems, but spiritual solutions can solve political problems!

I was thinking about how I was listening to a talk show, and they were all talking about the immigration bill and all the things that it will do and the problems it will cause. They voted down an amendment that would deprive criminals—rapists, gang members and terrorists—from receiving amnesty! They didn't want to do that, so they voted it down.

What we're dealing with in Washington, D.C., I perceive a great pall of deception that just so permeates everything that is there that people cannot see or understand.

The reason that they can is because the spiritual climate has changed to such and extent that it brings this blindness, and it brings this deception. Until there's a spiritual solution to the spiritual problem, you're not going to solve the political problems.

One thing that's important, because America is approaching a fork in the road, and let's also include Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. So. Africa has already gone through what we're going to face in the near future. So, we're standing at the crossroads, but it's important to understand who we are in prophecy.

We all know in some kind of detail—one way or the other—that the modern descendants of the children of Israel are those who founded the countries that I just named. Most people do not understand that, so they don't know what's going on.

Let's talk about Joseph in particular, and this is prophecy for our day; Genesis 49:1: "And Jacob called to his sons and said, 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days.'"

There have been various ups and downs and periods within the history of Israel. There have been various exaltations of Israel, punishments against Israel, and when I say against Israel, I'm not talking about the Jews necessarily, although they are included in it.

I also have come in contact with a true Messianic group, and they're located in Florida. This is different than Jews for Jesus, who go to Protestant churches and tell them about various aspects of Judaism in relationship to Christianity. But they treat them as though they should keep the Noahide laws, which means it's okay for them to keep Sunday, etc.

This group is in Florida, and they put out a nice book on The Feasts of the Jews, and other than the Wave Sheaf Offering, Purim and Hanukkah, they had everything right. It was almost like reading the first booklet that Herbert Armstrong wrote. I don't know how many people follow them, but I talked to a man who said that there are 500,000 that follow this group, scattered wherever they are.

They are part of the Church of God, we need to understand that. It's interesting that they are flourishing in modern day Israel. That was quite an eye-opener for me.

Let's look at the prophecies concerning the sons of Jacob, and Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. When it talks about Joseph it's talking about Ephraim and Manasseh. I think that the understanding is correct that Manasseh is America and Ephraim is the United Kingdom. But nothing that in the end-time they are destined to be the leaders of the world. That's where we find ourselves today.

Verse 22: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. The archers have fiercely attacked him and have shot at him, and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob…" (vs 22-24).

That's the way it's been with us. America the Great, Britain the Great. As a matter of fact, that's what it's called: Great Britain! Between the two of us we have basically ruled the world close to 400 years, beginning with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The rise of Ephraim took place, and then the separation of Manasseh to America. Later some of the other tribes of Israel from northern Europe.

"…—from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel—by the God of your father, Who shall help you. And may the Almighty bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of my ancestors, to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him, the ruler, the leader who was separated from his brothers" (vs 24-26).

Let's see a parallel prophecy of this that Moses gave. When we look at the heyday of modern Israel today, it comes down to those nations that I mentioned: Britain, America, Australia and New Zealand.

I think it's also interesting about the Messianic group that I mentioned, because God says that in the end-time that He's going to 'save the tents of Judah,' and I see that happening with a group like that. It's also interesting that just like we have to come in our preaching, from Protestantism and Catholicism into the Truth of the Bible. What the Jews have to do is come from tradition and their ritualistic practices in the practices of the Bible. Their trail is a little different but it comes to the same place.

Deuteronomy 33:13: "And of Joseph he said, 'Blessed of the LORD be his land…'"

I've got a book about God and the institutions of America. Though they did not have the perfection of the Truth of God unto salvation, they had the knowledge of God unto the blessings that God would give to Joseph.

In every constitution of the 50 states, it mentions mostly the Almighty God right in the preamble of all the constitutions of the states of the United States. And others are referring to God, but not necessarily Almighty God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is called the Almighty God!

I know one thing that really struck in listening to this talk radio show, they actually played the prayer of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that he gave on D-Day after the troops had already landed. He prayed to Almighty God. He had other prayers that he gave with his fireside chat. He prayed to Almighty God!

There was a time when God was with this nation as no other nation has been on the face of the earth as far as nations in the end-time are concerned. That's why we're standing at the crossroads, the fork in the road. God right now is weighing the balance between the severity of curses to come, or the holding back of them for the time being. That's where I think we are. Let's see where we have been.

Verse 13: "And of Joseph he said, 'Blessed of the LORD be his land, with the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, and for the deep that couches beneath, and for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, and with the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, and for the deep that couches beneath, and for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, and with the precious things of the yield of the months. And with the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the everlasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and fullness of it…" (vs 13-16).

I think of all the oil, gold, silver, timber and all of the things that we have had as a nation. Likewise with So. Africa before they were brought down.

"…and for the good will of Him Who dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the top of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. His glory is like the firstborn of his bull, and his horns are like the horns of the wild ox. With them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth. And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh" (vs 16-17).

In the last 300 years who has been doing exactly that? These countries! Now we are witnessing a country that is ravaged with crime, and I believe that the immigration problem is directly tied to the abortion issue. There are statistics to show that. There is 1.4 immigrants for every abortion that has taken place since they made it legalized in the United States.

What they are destroying is the creation of God of the most helpless of all. The things that they do in destroying them is absolutely horrendous! All of these things come from turning our backs on God!

I've shown before how that even false prophets, if they would preach the Word of God and make the people stand for the Word of God, God would even bless that. You look back and see how the Protestants did when they were teaching the basics of the Bible and the nation was stronger and more blessed. It didn't mean that we didn't have some problems and wars and things like that, because we did. But God always saw us through them.

Now we're at a point that I think that God has taken His hands off just to see what we're going to do. The fulfillment of the immigration problem will come in Deut. 28. I think it would be instructive if you would just read it all the way through. Remember that every Word of God is a promise, and half His promises are curses for sin!

This is going to happen and this part of the backlash that's coming. If the immigration bill of 2007 goes through in its present form the United States will be transformed forever into an entirely different nation.

Article: Two Nations: One Godless Ascending, One Clueless Declining by Joe Kress; April 29, 2007, NewsWithViews.com
(https://www.newswithviews.com/Kress/joe22.htm)

Article: Pagan Morality on Way to Becoming Law (no citation available)

In Oregon they're going to pass laws that no one can speak anything against homosexuality, and all churches will be forced to hire homosexuals. It's coming!

"Every country has the government it deserves"—Joseph de Maistre

"When was public virtue to be found when private virtue was not"—William Cowper

When you're looking at a nation, you're looking at the sum-total of the people in it. If the majority of the people in it do not have virtue—equated to right behavior, keeping some semblance of God's Law—then they are going to insist upon laws that they want.

If you don't believe that that can happen, all you need to do is look at some of the major cities in the United States, and what has happened. Good old San Francisco has led the way.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom"—Benjamin Franklin

Think about that! When the majority of people were law-abiding, how small was the police force? How few were the regulations? Look at us now, fighting terrorism!

Let's see one of the curses about wars and fighting. Think of this in relationship to what's going on with the war on terror.

Deuteronomy 28:25: "The LORD shall cause you to be stricken before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them. And you shall become abhorrent unto all the kingdoms of the earth."

It says in another place that if you are righteous, five will chase a hundred, and hundred shall chase ten thousand! Think about the war on terror:

• What are having to do?
• How many are chasing us?
• How many were involved in the 9/11 attack?
• Half a dozen?

Look what they did! Look at the terrorists with the bombs and the things that they do! Do not just a handful of the enemy chase thousands? What is so difficult about it is that you can't see them, you don't know where they are. So, what do you have to do?

Because there's no virtue in the land, what has to happen in order to find the enemy? You have to put in draconian measures, which takes away freedom from everyone! No one can be trusted, because there is no truth in the land! That's what we are seeing, and we're right at the crossroads.

• What are we going to do?
• How are we going to handle it?

Verse 43 has to do with the immigration problem. It's not in China, Russia, India or South America. The immigration problem is in Europe. They had a forum out of Pepperdine College about the end of Europe if it doesn't change. It's in Europe, the United Kingdom, and look at all the draconian measures that they have to take. They have cameras hidden everywhere.

They even have it that there are so many cameras monitoring everyone on the streets, that if someone throws something down on the street, someone watching it on a monitor can speak through a speaker right next to the camera and say, 'Pick up the trash that you just threw down.'

There's no virtue, you have to enforce it. The truth is that the more lawless a nation becomes, the more police they need. Add to that:

Verse 43 "The stranger dwelling among you… [this is going to setup a lot of stress, hatred and division] …shall get up above you very high…" We're just about at the midpoint.

• How is it going to go?
• What are we going to do?
• What is the nation going to do?

If they follow along and try to solve it politically, they'll never get the solution. I'll show you what the solution will be a little later, which can bring a small reprieve.

Here's the other half, "…and you shall come down very low…. [It's going to happen!] …He shall loan to you, and you shall not loan to him…." (vs 43-44).

The world is kind of stuck! They know that the dollar is going to take them down. They all have so many of them they don't know what to do with it, and they can't get rid of them all at once.

What are you going to do with China that has a trillion dollars in reserve? They're going to form a whole new banking system using these notes as collateral! They're going to start buying up the world: plants, factories, land, buildings.

The rise in the Stock Market is nothing to get all excited about, that's foreigners coming in and investing their dollars in the Stock Market, because they can perhaps make more money that way rather than holding onto them. The fact is, the dollar has been devalued 50% in the last ten-plus years.

"…He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail" (v 44). It's not going to be like we thought, a great invasion from an army without. The invasion is already here, it's taken place. All they're going to do is bring in reinforcements.

I think about this when I go through the TSA with my artificial hips and set the alarm off, so I have to go over and get checked down and they go through my briefcase, with the exception of one checkout place in Cincinnati that was run by foreign people, many of whom could not speak very good English. I look at that and think about v 44; they have the authority! If you don't cooperate, they can put you away.

I'll just give you my thought on China. The Chinese have a long memory. What is the thing that they remember the most about their encounter with the western world? Opium wars! Who was leading that? Britain! America came in at the last to try and help resolve some of the problems. They're not going to risk going to war until they know they can win! What they want to do is build themselves up to a great nation so that the world must come to them! They're on the way to doing it.

Let's talk about the invasion within, v 52 "And he… [the stranger within] …shall besiege you within all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all the land. And he shall besiege you within all your gates throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you." The invasion has already occurred.

Think of all the hatred that is building up because of the things that have taken place. It's an insoluble problem. Why? Because the nation has turned it's back on God! The only way to solve it is to come back to God some way.

The book of Jeremiah is very interesting; there are many parallels here that we can look at, many things that we can see. It's also interesting from the point of view that the book of Jeremiah brings the nation of Judah to an end and transits over to another time. When Jeremiah finished his reign he was probably about 50-years-old.

Jeremiah was one man and hardly anybody believed him. Furthermore, he was called when he was young.

Jeremiah 1:1: "The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin." Ezekiel and Jeremiah were both priests. Since Jeremiah was called before he was born, and when God began dealing with him he was still young.

Verse 2: "To whom the Word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign."
We'll go back and look at some things in 2-Chron. about what happened. So, this is significant. We would have to say that he must have been—when God began dealing with Jeremiah—no older than 18, perhaps 16, but probably 18, because at 20 they started training for becoming a priest to work at the temple when they became 30-years-old.

After God called Jeremiah, God said to him, v 4: "And it came to pass, the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the belly I knew you…'" That's why abortion is such a heinous thing! It's interfering direction with the work of God!

• we're formed by the Spirit of God
• the Spirit of God gives us life

Abortion is the great sin of this generation!

"'…and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.' Then I said, 'Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak; for I am a youth'" (vs 4-6). He had to be less than 20 to say that.

Verse 7: "But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, "I am a youth"…'" Here's a challenge for all of those that the Church of God is only for old folks, because in many cases it is, but there are still young ones among us and they're going to have to take hold and listen up. God is going to deal with you, too.

"'…for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces; for I am with you to deliver you,' said the LORD" (vs 7-8).

Let's see God's complaint against the house of Jacob, the house of Israel. God said that he's going to utter judgments against them through Jeremiah. Here's what Jeremiah was to do:

Jeremiah 2:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, "Thus says the LORD, 'I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was Holiness to the LORD, and the firstfruits of His increase….'" (vs 1-3). This is how God views the 12 tribes of Israel:

"'…All that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come on them,' says the LORD" (v 3). In other words, God said that He would fight their battles for them.

Verse 4: "Hear the Word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel." Think about the 'religious' climate that we have today.
Verse 5: "Thus says the LORD, 'What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me and have walked after vanity, and have become vain? Nor did they say, "Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of dry places, and of deep darkness, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man lived?" And I brought you into a plentiful country…'" (vs 5-7).

I want you to think in terms of the people who came to America, and as they went west. This year, 2007, was the 400th anniversary of James Town, Virginia. So, from that time until this…

In Disneyland they have IMAX showing the beauty and splendor of America. So, when I'm reading some of these things, I want you to think of that. Think about how this nation started. Think about the book that they took with them was the Bible. The book that they learned to read from was the Bible. Think about Abraham Lincoln who read the Bible and taught himself law by a candle. Then look at us today!

"'…to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination. The priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?" And they who handle the Law did not know Me; the rulers also rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal… [sun-worship] …and walked after things that do not profit. Therefore, I will contend with you,' says the LORD, 'and against your children's children I will contend'" (vs 7-9). We're right now at that point!

• What is going to happen?
• What should take place if it's going to turn back the hand of correction for a while?

Verse 11: "'Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be utterly desolated,' says the LORD, 'for My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water'" (vs 11-13).

Verse 19: "'Your own evil shall correct you… [that's where God is going to leave it] …and your backslidings shall reprove you; therefore, know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that My fear is not in you,' says the Lord GOD of hosts."

Let's see the stage that was set for the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry prophecy. We will see that there was, for a brief time, a change and what took place.
2-Chron. 32—King Hezekiah was one of the most righteous kings that is recorded in the Old Testament. Hezekiah and his men had a lot to do with bringing the canonization of the Old Testament along. How he:

• sought God
• restored the true worship
• got rid of the idols
• got rid of the sin in the land

God blessed the people!

Then Hezekiah was sick unto death because of the boil on his foot. Isaiah was told to go and tell Hezekiah to 'set your house in order, you're going to die.' Hezekiah repented, 'wept sore' and cried out to God. To show you how quickly God will intervene: Before Isaiah had gotten through the courtyard a message from God came to go back and 'tell Hezekiah that he's going to live, I'll add 15 years to his life.'

Isaiah went back and told Hezekiah that he was going to live, and God will also give you a sign: the sun will go back 10 degrees on the sundial. So, Hezekiah lived!

What happened? He made a great mistake! The ambassadors from Babylon came over and Hezekiah showed them all the treasures, all the wealth and everything!

Isaiah had to go to Hezekiah and say, 'What's this that you have done? Who are these men? What did you show them?' Hezekiah said, 'I showed them all!' Isaiah said, 'Thus says the Lord: Everything that you showed them is going to be carried away to Babylon. But you will go to your fathers in peace.'

Just to show you Hezekiah's attitude and why the judgment of God came upon Judah this way is because of his attitude. He said, 'Well, at least I'll have peace in my days.' Very selfish!

• What happened?
• Who succeeded him?
• For how long?

His son Manasseh succeeded Hezekiah, and turned out to be the worst king of all the kings of Israel! Not only that, he reigned for 55 years! That's like having Clinton (or Obama) in office for 55 years; only add the evil to it! As does the king, so does the nation! Let's see the condition of the nation when Jeremiah began his prophecies:

2-Chronicles 33:1: "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign…" What a heyday for advisors who want to get in anything they want to get in!

"…and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel" (vs 1-2).

(go to the next track)

Verse 3: "For he built again the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down…" After all, 'we have to have freedom of religion,' don't we? All religions are equal, aren't they? You're father was a bad man' said the advisors. You can just hear them!

"…and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, 'In Jerusalem shall My name be forever.' And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom…." (vs 3-6). There are two ways to pass through the fire:

• walking on hot coals
• offering children

Instead of abortion, they had a worse way! That was to take children already born and dedicate them to Molech and put them on the idol of Molech—the big brass idol and the burning flames that were always under it, so they could sacrifice their children. They put them on the arms of Molech and the arms went up and the children went down into the fire and burned.

Which is worse? That kind of getting rid of children and innocent life? or abortion? That's what it means when it talks about that.

"…He also observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. Nor will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land…'" (vs 6-8).

Verse 9: "But Manasseh led astray Judah and the people of Jerusalem, and caused them to do worse than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and to His people, but they would not listen" (vs 9-10).

Then God sent in the armies, they carried away Manasseh as a slave into Babylon. And, lo and behold, Manasseh repented! He went in and took away many of these things that he had put up there and done.

Manasseh died, v 20: "And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And his son Amon reigned in his place. Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD as his father Manasseh did, and Amon sacrificed to all the graven images that his father Manasseh had made and served them. And he did not humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but Amon trespassed more and more. And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house" (vs 20-24).

Think of this in a political sense. Think about what was going on in the land. Then they made Amon's son Josiah king in his stead. So, here we have the cycle of a good king/bad king and then the sons, and now here the son of Amon who is going to succeed him.

It was in the 13th year of the reign of Josiah that Jeremiah began his prophecies. Now let's look at Josiah, and we're going to get a very constructive look as to what would have to happen to hold back the hand of God's coming correction on modern Israel today.

2-Chronicles 34:1: Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years…. [he was 39-years-old] …And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right nor to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign… [16-years-old] …while he was still young… [maybe we can relate that to Jeremiah, because he was between 16-18] …he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images" (vs 1-3).

So, it was in the next year that Jeremiah began; v 4: "And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence. And he cut down the images, which were on high above them, and the groves. And the carved images and the molten images he also broke in pieces, and made dust from them, and scattered it upon the graves of the ones who had sacrificed to them. And he burned the bones of the priests upon their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. And so he did in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins" (vs 4-6).

They went out and literally tore things down. Let's use a modern analogy. You would have to have a President of the United States with enough authority—he would have to have the consent of Congress—to give the authorities in every state in the nation in every city of the nation to destroy all the images of the religions that are false.

• destroy everyone selling drugs
• get rid of all the houses of ill repute
• destroy 90% of movies that foster sin, murder and wretchedness
• have to totally amend the schools to make it mandatory that those who understand the Bible would teach the Bible and the Bible would become the basis of their personal behavior
• eliminate those from the NOW gang (National Organization of Women)
• get rid of the secret political societies or the hidden government behind the government of the United States

Do you think that's going happen?

• close every abortion clinic in America

I don't know how you would put an end to all the adultery and illicit sex that's going on, but somehow you would have to bring that down to a very low minimum at best. When you're done with all of that, then you would have to do what Josiah did here: he established the right worship of God!

• all Sunday-keeping churches would have to become Sabbath-keeping
• eliminate all the holidays of this world: Christmas, Easter, etc.

A tall job! I'm bringing it up this way to show that if people think that a political solution is going to save America from what the handwriting on the wall is, this is the only way it can be done.

The Supreme Court has done all of that in reverse! Isn't it interesting about the Supreme Court? We are under a system of judges. Where is the Word of God? It's everywhere, but no one understands it! Let's see what was happening when they were cleaning out the temple. Can you imagine that they had to clean out the temple of God? The temple of God was to be the Ark of the Covenant, the priests who knew and understood the Word of God. The original writings of the Law that Moses wrote and put in the sleeves alongside the Ark of the Covenant.

What happened during the days of Manasseh, I think that the priests hid the Word of God, lest Manasseh would take it and burn it.

Verse 14: "And when they were bringing out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest…" Was this Jeremiah's father who was serving as priest at the time that this took place? Don't know!

"…Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD written by the hand of Moses" (v 14). This is the original copy that was somehow hidden away.

Verse 15: "And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king…" (vs 15-16).

Here's what has to happen, regardless of who is President. A lot of people are going to have faith whomever is going to be elected. But let me tell you, one of the worse judgments in my opinion that could come upon the United States would to have Hillary Clinton win the Presidency. (of course we know she didn't; but Obama did)

It would be a penalty against the people of America for their sins. Remember, you get the government you deserve, and 'God is the One Who rules in the kingdoms of men.' I don't expect a reformation quite as thorough as Josiah executed here, but there has to be enough of a change in the character of the elected officials in order for God to stay the hand of correction, which is surely coming.

Isn't it interesting that at that time the only one who was faithful to God was Huldah the prophetess, keeper of the wardrobe? Probably keeper of the priests' wardrobe. So, they sent off to her:

I covered this in the sermon: One Person Can Make a Difference, but let's also apply this to the Church. Maybe God will be merciful to the United States of America because the Church will repent and turn to God. That means each one of us. Who knows? God says that one person can make a difference!

Verse 26: "And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the words you have heard, "Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your clothes and wept before Me, I have even heard you also," says the LORD.' Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace… [there's going to be a time of peace] …nor shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon its people."'"' And they brought the king word again" (vs 26-28).

Here's what the king did. Here's what would have to happen. Whoever is President would have to call a special session of Congress and the Supreme Court and the President's Cabinet, and they would have to enter into a covenant to straighten out this land, and get the Supreme Court to endorse the laws necessary to make the change.

That's the way the king virtually did here; v 29: "And the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the people of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people from the great to the small. And he read in their ears all the words of the Book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the LORD" (vs 29-30).

That meant that he read Deut. 28, and when he read all the curses that were there, all the people knew that was what was happening to them.

Verse 31: "And the king stood in his place… [a full proper ceremony] …and made a covenant before the LORD…" This is what would have to be in the United States. They would have to make a covenant with God to get right with God.

"…to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart…" (v 31).

Not a flattering thing to say that 'yes, those are nice sweet words.' No! With all your heart!

"…and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant, which are written in this book. And he caused all who were found in Jerusalem and in Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem, to stand to it…" (vs 31-32).

A king, granted, has more authority to do so than a President. But it just makes me wonder what God would do if whomever the President is, whomever are in the Congress, whomever are on the Supreme Court at that time would do something very similar to this?

• Do you not think that He would cause our enemies to recede back from us?
• Do you not think that He would begin to restore us financially?
• Do you not think that if people were taught to live by the commandments of God as a way of life of:
• loving God
• love your neighbor
• honor your father and mother
• do not murder
• do not steal
• do not commit adultery
• do not lie

That could be affected pretty quickly with all the television and things we have today. Have that on television all around; wouldn't that be something? But I don't see it happening. That's why I say that we are approaching the crossroads!

If they had passed the bill on immigration we would have already crossed over the crossroad, or already taken the fork in the road.

Are there yet enough decent people, as God would look at it, in America to hold back the hand of punishment? Even if it is held back, how long would it be held back? Here with Josiah, he made them stand to it.

"…the people of Jerusalem, to stand to it according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the territories that belonged to the children of Israel…." (vs 32-33).

When you go to the New Testament in the book of Acts, when Paul was in Ephesus—remember that Ephesus was the city of the goddess Diana or Artemas—and Paul had such an impact on that city, what did they do? Those who were converted took all their occult books, all of their idols and statues and destroyed them so much so that they were causing a depression in the idol industry in Ephesus. That was the main industry!

I tell you, there would be some industries going into a tailspin if some of these things were enacted today.

• all of the doctors performing abortions would be out of work
• all of the porn houses would be closed down
• all of the movie makers would not be allowed to make any of the movies that they had in the past
• every classroom everyday would open in true prayer to the true God

WOW! That would be some revolution! What they did is destroy all the idols and God blessed them. Just like Josiah's grandfather Hezekiah, he had vanity that got away from him. After all that he did, and sought God with all of his heart, 12 years later he just had to go to war, when God told not to go to war.

Even Nero, the king of Egypt, told him to not come and join this battle, 'I'm not fighting you, I'm fighting the king of Babylon.' But Josiah said, 'I've got to go!' So, he went and disguised himself and was wounded with an arrow and died. It came to an end. Likewise, any short-lived revival in America will not last very long.

When that revival of Josiah was over and Josiah died, there was no turning back the hand of correction, war, invasion and destruction of Jerusalem and exile into Babylon.

As we are approaching the crossroad in America, we are approaching the same point. Are we yet at the point that there is no turning back the hand of God's correction?

2-Chronicles 35:25: "And Jeremiah mourned for Josiah. And all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations, even to this day, and have made them an ordinance in Israel. And behold, they are written in the Lamentations." That's when Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations.

Verse 26: "Now, the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the Law of the LORD."

That's not referring to the first five books of the Bible. That can only be what we call 2-Kings. That was considered the Law of the Lord. When it talks about the Law of the Lord, it just doesn't mean the Ten Commandments. It means everything that God has spoken!

Let's look at our society today through the eyes of Jeremiah. When Jeremiah first started they had a chance to return, they had a chance to repent. They had part of it with Josiah. God always gives everyone a chance to return if they will. That's why I think that the election of 2008 was very pivotal in the history of the United States.

• What can we do with the Congress
• What can we do with the Supreme Court?
• What can we do with the schools?

God says that He did offer them a way out; Jeremiah 4:1: "'If you will return, O Israel,' says the LORD, 'Return to Me. And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be removed, and will swear, "As the LORD lives," in truth…'" (vs 1-2).

Here's what would have to happen: in order for a real change to take place, you would have to have truth!

• Do you think the 'drive by media' is ready for truth?
• The newspapers?
• The politicians?
• How about our 'friend' William Jefferson?
• How about our leaders in Congress?

"'…in judgment, and in righteousness… [that's what they would have to institute] …then the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory'" (v 2). It would have to happen on an individual basis, too. Notice the call! The first thing that Jeremiah did was a call to repentance, and it did have some effect during the 12 years of Josiah.

Verse 3: "For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, 'Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, men of Judah and people of Jerusalem; lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that none can put it out; because of the evil of your doings.'"

So, God offered them a way. What would they have to do? Let's see what their behavior was like. What would this do to the television industry? What it's talking about here is exactly what's happening in the world:

Jeremiah 5:7: "How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me, and have sworn by them that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery, and gathered themselves by troops in a harlot's house. They were like lusty, well-fed stallions in the morning; every one neighing after his neighbor's wife" (vs 7-8).

This doesn't necessarily have to do with just husband/wife relations, because every man could be a husband to some woman, and every woman could be a wife to some man. Then you hear what went on in Bolder, Colorado: they had some kind of instructors come in and teach the young people that its 'all right to have sex, it's all right to even have homosexual sex and it's all right to take drugs.' If there were some 'ecstasy' here 'I would take it with you,' said the man.

• Do you think that guy is going to repent?
• What do you think it would take to make someone like that repent?
• I don't know!

But I do know that God uses disasters to bring people to repentance. We'll see what happens.

Verse 19: "And it will be, when they shall ask, 'Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?' Then you shall answer them, 'Just as you have forsaken Me and served strange gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.' Declare this in the house of Jacob, and cry it in Judah, saying, 'Now hear this, O foolish people and without understanding; who have eyes and see not; who have ears and hear not'" (vs 19-21).

Verse 23: "But this people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they have revolted and are departed from Me. And they do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives both the former and the latter rain in its season; He reserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.' Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you" (vs 23-25). They didn't repent! What happened?

Verse 31: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so, and what will you do at the end of it?" What are you going to do to get them to change?

Jeremiah 6:13: "For everyone from the least of them even to the greatest of them is greedy for gain… [covetousness; your own set way] …and from the prophet even unto the priest everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace" (vs 13-14).

Verse 18: "Therefore, hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them." God is talking to us, because we're the congregations among them, wherever the Churches of God are!

Verse 19: "Hear, O earth…" Whenever God gets ready to do something, He brings to bear heaven and earth and He swears by Himself.

"…behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened to My words, nor to My Law, but have rejected it" (v 19).

So, just as there was a short revival because of King Josiah, everything that Jeremiah prophesied took place. They went off into captivity and were carried away. In America I don't see us being carried off into captivity, except a few, because we'll be captive in our own land! If you're captive in your own land, you're still captive!

Just in my own heart, mind and feeling about how things are, I'm very apprehensive about the future. We are constantly 'hanging by a thread.' When things hit, it's going to come SLAM! BAM! BOOM! in such ways we won't even know it.

We have no food supply. About the only supply of food they have—they used to have enough for three years for every citizen in America—is for about ten days. Everything you have to get out of the supermarket. Every time I go to the supermarket I think about everything that is here, everything from all over the world. If I want this or that, I can buy it. If I want something special, I can get it. If it isn't there I can ask for it and they will provide it.

I walk up and down the aisles and see all of this food. I see all of these things here, and everybody is dependent upon coming to the store. You've got to come to the store.

How quickly we would go down if the shelves were empty!

• look how quickly the shelves emptied when there's a sign of disaster: hurricanes in the Gulf area
• look how quickly they run out of gas at the gas stations
• look how jammed up the roads are with cars, people trying to escape

and some only to have their bus catch fire when they were trying to get away (hurricanes of 2005)

I look at that and think, of all of the people of the world, with all the might, power and wealth, are we not the most vulnerable in the world? How quickly those things can come upon us.

The only preparation you can make—you can make a few physical preparations, that's true—the only real preparation you can make is your spiritual relationship with God!

That's why it grieves me to the very core of my being to see the condition of the nation and the Church, and know how vulnerable, weak and susceptible we are. My prayer everyday is:

God, in Your mercy, hold back Your hand of punishment! Whatever Your desire is that your Church and people do, wherever they are, that they can repent! Maybe there are those, God, that You desire to call; nevertheless, it is Your will to be done.

So, we are approaching the crossroads, and it's on the horizon and we can see it. The only signpost that is going to be valid will read: this is the way to God!

All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Genesis 49:1, 22-26
• Deuteronomy 33:13-16
• Deuteronomy 28:25, 43-44, 52
• Jeremiah 1:1-2, 4-8
• Jeremiah 2:1-9, 11-13, 19
• 2 Chronicles 33:1-10, 20-24
• 2 Chronicles 34:1-6, 14-16, 26-33
• 2 Chronicles 35:25-26
• Jeremiah 4:1-3
• Jeremiah 5:7-8, 19-21, 23-25, 31
• Jeremiah 6:13-14, 18-19

Scriptures referenced, not quoted: 2-Chronicles 32

Also referenced:
Articles:

• Two Nations: One Godless Ascending, One Clueless Declining by Joe Kress; April 29, 2007, NewsWithViews.com

                  (https://www.newswithviews.com/Kress/joe22.htm)

• Pagan Morality on Way to Becoming Law (no citation available)

Sermon:  One Person Can Make a Difference

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 2/27/18