The Mystery of Lawlessness is Working #2

Fred R. Coulter—May 23, 2009

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As we saw in the first message, the mystery of lawlessness is not just religion; it is religion, and government, and education, and individual lives, because people have been led astray by the kind of thinking that we have today.

It's kind of unique in the United States right now, because of the political situation that is going on and the media cooperation with the current administration and Congress and everything, that it gives you a feeling of being oppressed; and new laws and new things that are coming down to oppress and take away freedom and take away thought. You ask a question: How can all of that take place? What happened? Why did this all of a sudden take place?

Well, you've heard me talk about the tipping point before in the past—haven't you? It's kind of like a teeter-totter; with a teeter-totter in its resting position, one part of it's on the ground and the other part's up in the air. So you start stacking on a little at a time on the part that's up in the air, and what happens, that brings the other part up, brings it up, brings it up, brings it up, and finally you reach a level position. Then you start putting more on that end, and we'll call this end sin, the one that's going down, and righteousness that is being lifted up and done away.

Finally, when you have all of them together, and all of the parts meet together, all of a sudden, the other end is down on the ground. And you say,

• How did that happen?
• How did we get this man as president?
• Who is he?
• What is he?
• How did we get these leaders in Congress?
• Who are they?
• What are they?
• How did we get these governors, and the representatives, and the senators?
• How did they get into power?

And they are so corrupt, and so against truth—lie through their teeth, blatantly, publicly—and everyone can see that. Then all of a sudden we find those being put into government positions that have complete foreign and strange philosophies; completely different to what America was based upon. They have morals and things that are against the Word of God—blatantly and openly. We see this expressed in the desire for homosexual marriage, and acceptance of homosexuality, and we see it reflected in the crimes and the things that take place. So the tipping point has brought it all together.
Let's come to Revelation 12 and let's read a Scripture, which we've gone over many, many times and we're very well aware of. But I think this: as we have discussed before, one of the things we need to realize is that the prophecies of God are going to be fulfilled to the highest degree; not just a little bit, but to the highest degree. So let's think about that in this case. Especially when we are talking about the end times and I just want to remind everyone once again, of the book Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which? That book is absolutely essential for you to understand what's happening right now. One of the chapters I have is a warning: Secrets of the Occult Saturate the World Today. This is exactly what is happening. Satan is behind this a hundred percent and it is because of the sins of people.

Now here it says, Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world…" Deceiving the whole world! Now when we read the book of Revelation, it talks about all the world, the whole world—the earth, nations, peoples, languages, and tongues, and so forth. So this is talking about a worldwide deception that is gripping all nations. It's happening not only in America, but everywhere else in the world—especially in the U.K. and the United States.

Now the U.K. is about five or ten years ahead of us, and they have long since abandoned God in everything because of their cherished Charles Darwin, who was supposed to be the father of the theory of evolution. So whatever Protestant Reformation took place in England beginning with William Tyndale and coming on down through the history of England, has now virtually ended. The Episcopal churches are just empty shells. Hardly anyone goes. A lot of them are being converted into restaurants or other things. I don't know what the Catholic Church's situation is, but it can't be much better. Guess who has more church attendees? The Moslem mosques.

I've thought of this right here in Hollister, I look around, I go to the store, go to the post office, and so forth; and go to some of the other cities, like Salinas or to Monterey or to Watsonville or to Santa Cruz or San Jose, and especially San Jose, you feel like you're in a foreign country. All the clerks at the Hollister post office are all foreigners; all but two that work in the back are all foreigners. I just got an e-mail from a man in Malaysia, and he says, 'If you send anything, don't send very much, because the Moslems control the post office, and they'll throw away anything that is Christian.'

Now the same political and religious problems are happening in Australia, as in here, because Satan the devil is deceiving us. How did that happen? Well, let's come back here to Ephesians 2 and we'll see how that happened. Let me just draw your attention to some Scriptures that relate the history of Israel in the past. The last verse in the book of Judges says, 'And in those days there was no king and everyone did that what was right in his own eyes.' Then remember the Proverb which says, 'There's a way that seems right to a man, the end thereof are the ways of death.' And the other Proverb which says, 'Every man is right in his own eyes.' That's why we need the Word of God and Truth to give us what is right. We don't know otherwise. And being born into this world, and living in this society, I feel sorry for the children now. They're taught nothing! They know nothing! And when they go to the 'government' schools, they're taught how to have fun, how to have sex, and how to rely upon the government—and that goes from kindergarten to post-graduate school. You have the same kind of philosophy in the government today, now running the government, and institutionalizing these things.

So here's what happens. Satan deals with those who are the leaders, he deals with those who are in groups, and he deals with individuals. So Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1 (pg 1,189): "Now you were dead in trespasses and sins, In which you walked in times past according to the course of this world… [What is happening with the course of this world?

• Right now is wrong
• wrong now is right
• good is evil
• evil is good
• righteousness is sin
• sin is righteousness

That's where it's come to—the course of this world.] …according to the prince of the power of the air…" (vs 1-2). That's Satan the devil. And think of all the helpers he has now: radio, television, internet, movies, iPhones, iPods, BlackBerrys. And think of the youth today. I see more and more of them, totally detached from the world; right with their parents totally detached from them, text messaging their friends, totally devoid of any control from their parents. They're plugged in listening to the music and text messaging. As one commentator said, 'We have the dumbest—absolutely dumbest—generation that has ever been.' If you gave them a hammer and saw and nails and some wood, they would have a hard time figuring out what to do with them. They can't think because they all depend on group-census. That's what they've been taught in school. The group is more important than anything else, and your parents are your enemies.
So we have all of this hostility now manifested in a greater portion of the population in America. So everything that's of value, everything that you could call a Biblical principle, is now being cast aside as fast as they can get rid of it. That's why you have the so-called 'gay' marriage. I don't like to call it 'gay,' because homosexuality is anything but gay, and it is something which God says is an abomination. That's what the Bible says, and that's freedom of speech.

Now notice: "…the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience… [So once they give themselves over to this whole occult society, Satan is working in their midst. That means Satan and his demons, as well.] …among whom also we all once had our conduct… [That's how we were, whether young or old, makes no difference.] …in the lusts of our flesh… [And that's exactly what is happening as we covered in the first message. The United States is filled with narcissists. That means those who are totally selfish and consider not the other person. The majority of people are that way. And someone wrote of the President, he is the 'narcissist-in-chief.'] …doing the things willed by the flesh… [In pleasures, in sports, in entertainment, in life, in education, and all of those things.] …willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world" (vs 2-3). Now that's quite a statement—isn't it?

And you see all of these things going on and you wonder: How can that be? How did that happen? Where are we going? You can't even have freedom of choice. One mother didn't want to have her thirteen-year-old child given chemotherapy, so she left the state. Now there's a warrant out for her arrest. The judge says, 'You do this.' You look at the history of chemotherapy and you see. Freedom of choice being taken away—children taken away—when all they want to do is what is right. That's just one instance.

Let's look at a couple of other things and see how this has come about—let's come to Luke 17. This has happened before; this is not the first time it's occurred. We'll see it right here. Luke 17:26: "Now as it was in the days of Noah…"And we have the days before the Flood and then the days after the Flood. What did they try to do immediately after the Flood, but set up the same system they had before the Flood—right? At the Tower of Babel. That's why when you read the book of Revelation it talks about the city Babylon. That typifies this whole world system.

Dolores and I were watching this special on China here some time ago, absolutely amazed! You'd never know that it's China except that you see the people. You could replace it with any kind of people and it would look just like if Americans were there. It could be part of America, or Paris, or any city, because all the cities are basically the same. All the governments, the way they are based, are based upon the system of Babylon. So when it talks about Babylon the Great, that's the worldwide civilization that we have now.

Verse 26: "…in the days of Noah, so also shall it be in the days of the Son of man. They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah went into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all" (vs 26-27). I imagine that they were really having a very wonderful, ridiculing celebration that Noah and the animals finally got in the ark and it was closed up. Remember, it didn't rain for seven days. I just imagine there were some out there laughing saying, 'Oh, look at this idiot. He built this ark. Where's the rain?' God said to Himself, 'Hold on, it's coming in seven days.'

Verse 28: "And it was the same way in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building." So these things come suddenly—don't they? So here we are; all of a sudden these things have come upon us. Now, not total destruction yet, but as you will hear when I read the letter from a lady in South Africa, you will understand the oppression that they have been under ever since Nelson Mandela took over the government. You will know what it's going to be like here, because it's going to be exactly the same way—because God is punishing His people.

Let's go back and see what happened there. Let's come back to Genesis 19 and see the behavior when the angels came to rescue Lot and his family. Let's look at the behavior of the family. Remember that Abraham bargained with God back and forth, back and forth, from fifty down to ten. So God said, 'All right, if I find ten, I won't destroy it.'

Genesis 19:1 (pg 135): "And there came two angels to Sodom at evening…. [Now they must have been, as we will see, looking like very handsome, strong men.] …And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot rose up to meet them when he saw them. And he bowed himself with his face toward the ground, And said, 'Behold now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and stay all night, and wash your feet, and you shall rise up early and go your way.' And they said, 'No, but we will stay in the street'" (vs 1-2).

Now they wanted to stay in the street to find out what was going on. "But he urgently pressed upon them, and they turned in to him [with him] and entered into his house. And he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down… [Whatever time that would be; early night.] …the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house… [Word got out: 'There're two new men in there. Let's go get them.'] …both old and young, all the people from every quarter. And they called to Lot, and said to him, 'Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them'" (vs 3-5). That phrase means, 'that we may have sex with them,' not to shake hands and say 'howdy-do.'

"And Lot went out the door to them, and shut the door after him. And he said, 'I pray you, brethren, do not act so wickedly! Behold now, I have two daughters, which have not known a man. I pray you, let me bring them out to you… [Now that shows how his thinking was affected because of it.] …and you do to them as you see fit. But do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shadow of my roof.' And they said, 'Stand back!' And they said, 'This one came in to sojourn, and must he now play the judge? Now we will deal worse with you than with them.' And they pressed hard upon the man Lot, and came near to breaking down the door" (vs 6-9).

Now you talk about being oppressed by homosexuals. They're almost doing the same thing with their agenda all across America, that if you don't agree with them, or you don't accept them. Like I explained in the first message: that a woman who would not affirm that homosexual lifestyle is good, because she was in training to be a psychology counselor, was fired from her job and forbidden to graduate this June. She said she would counsel them, but not affirm their lifestyle. And the answer to that is very simple, maybe their psychological problems were because of what they were doing. Look at the behavior here, is this not lawlessness? Everyone doing what is right? Is this not filled with lust? Everyone desiring and craving their evil intentions?

"But the men put out their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said to Lot… [Now these were the angels.] …'Have you anyone here besides yourself? Bring your sons-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and anyone else you have in the city, bring them out of this place. For we will destroy this place, because great is the cry of it before the face of the LORD. And the LORD has sent us to destroy it.' And Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, 'Get up and get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy this city.' But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be jesting" (vs 10-14). 'You've got to be kidding! God's not going to destroy this.'

Same way when you talk to people today, that there's destruction coming, that there are very difficult times that are about ready to happen, 'Oh, no, all we have to do is just return to the principles of the founding fathers, and everything will be right.' Well, as I mentioned before, unless there is repentance, returning to the foundations of the founding fathers is not going to work. So they thought it was a joke.

"And when the morning dawned, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, 'Rise up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.' But he lingered… [In the midst of all of this Lot was still Laodicean. Two angels sent to rescue you;. 'Oh, is this really going to happen?'] …so the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hands of his two daughters (the LORD being merciful to him), and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. And it came to pass, when they brought him outside, they said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain lest you be consumed. And Lot said to them, 'Oh no, my LORD, Behold now, your servant has found grace in your sight, and you have magnified your mercy, which you have shown to me in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil overtake me and I die'" (vs 15-19).

So even living in Sodom affected Lot as well. "'Behold now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my soul shall live.' And the angel said to him, 'See, I have accepted you concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. Hurry and escape there! For I cannot do anything till you arrive there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen upon the land, and Lot entered into Zoar…. [Wonderful, beautiful day.] …Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the LORD out of heaven. And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (vs 20-26).

A couple of interesting side notes here. Down in the Dead Sea Valley there's an area where all of a sudden they're going along, it's sand, and then you come to an area that looks entirely different, though there is sand there, and there's rock, and they have found balls of sulfur, some small, some big. In watching that special on the History Channel about Sodom and Gomorrah by Ron Wyatt, they showed how they took one of these balls of sulfur and put it in a teaspoon and lit it. It became so hot that it melted the bottom of the teaspoon right out. So that's probably some of the sulfur from the brimstone that was left over. Then it showed how what looks like the cliffs along the mountain there, and you can see the outline of buildings, rock buildings, that were just incinerated. If you go up and touch them, they start crumbling. So that happened! Look at the attitude. Look at everything that was there. So that's how it is; that's how it came about.

Let's look at some things concerning the wicked. Come to Psalm 5, because in the Bible the wicked are the ones who are lawless—the lawless ones. Now in the King James Version of the Bible, in 2-Thessalonians 2, it talks about the 'mystery of iniquity,' but it's the mystery of lawlessness. Now the mystery of lawlessness is this: over a period of time, they take all the laws of God and get rid of them and replace them with sinful laws—all the laws that make sense, all the laws that support the righteous, and that's exactly what we're having—right? All the laws today support the wicked, the welfare, the evildoers, and you look at some of the judgments that come down, and read some of the laws that are crazy; just like Homeland Security has labeled every one who believes in the Bible, believes in the return of Christ—that includes us—believes that we are Israel, has labeled them as potential terrorists.

Now we are not potential terrorists. We advocate no action by any human being on our behalf. We await the action of Christ, who told us and instructed us that 'if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight; but now since it's not of the world, My servants won't fight.' But when all the kingdoms become Christ's, which they will, then we'll fight, not until then.

So just look at this as kind of our prayer to God. Psalm 5:1: "Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation. Hearken to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and will look up, For You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness [lawlessness]; nor shall evil dwell with You. The boasters shall not stand in Your sight…. [All the narcissists.] …You hate all workers of iniquity [lawlessness]. You shall destroy those who speak lies… [And I tell you, that's about we hear from anybody, anywhere—right?] …the LORD abhors the bloody and deceitful man. But I, in the abundance of Your lovingkindness, I will come into Your house; I will bow down in Your fear toward Your Holy temple" (vs 1-7).

Remember, when we pray we have direct access to the Holy of Holies in heaven above, so this should mean a little more to us than what we're reading here. "Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face… [That's important. That's why the Sabbath and commandments and what we're doing is so important, that we keep on the straight way of God.] …for there is no truth in their mouth; their inward part is destruction… [Why? Because Satan has deceived the whole world.] …their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You" (vs 8-10).

That's what's going to happen; you wait and see. Every government plan will fail. All the money they are spending, which they do not have, will not do what they think it will do. Now there may be a temporary thing, but sooner or later, and I'll borrow the words from 'Rev.' Wright, 'The chickens come home to roost.' These will not be chickens, they will be vultures. Next week I'm going to give a sermon on: What is China Doing? You will be absolutely amazed. Just to give you a little hint, it is colonizing Africa with the money that we bought goods from them with. It will blow you away.

The sum of that is this, God's judgment is: 'Since you Israelites did not do what I gave the blessing of Abraham for you to do, to help serve the rest of the nations so they know Me, you went out and became like them. So I've taken away the British Empire and Commonwealth; it's gone. I'm taking away the pride of the power of the United States, because they turned their back on Me. I'm giving it into the hand of the enemy who is going to come and take over what should be yours.'

Verse 11: "But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them always shout for joy because You defend them…. [So always remember that. During this time of trial and difficulty and trouble that we're going through

• God is there
• He is going to help us
• He will defend us
• He will watch over us

In some cases we'll escape by the skin of our teeth, if we could put it that way.] …And let those who love Your name exalt in You, for You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield" (vs 11-12).

Let's come to Isaiah 32. Now you can find many things like this in all of the prophets. Here's why nothing political is going to work. See, God desires repentance and that's not what any of them are doing. Isaiah 32:4 (pg 526): "And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of those who stutter shall be ready to speak plainly…. [That is when they're converted.] …The fool shall no more be called noble, nor the miser said to be bountiful. For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy and to speak error against the LORD… [Now that's almost the official policy of America today.] …to make the soul of the hungry empty, and he will take away the drink of the thirsty. Also the weapons of the fool are evil; he thinks of wicked ways to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks right" (vs 4-7). That's what we're going to see take place, exactly as it says there.

Now let's look also some more in the book of Proverbs concerning some of the attitudes of the wicked, and the things that we will be confronted with. Come to Proverbs 15:6 (pg 782). Here we're going to see a contrast. "In the house of the righteous is much treasure… [Not necessarily just physical treasure, but the treasures of knowledge and wisdom and understanding, and the way of the Lord.] …but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble…. [Now think about that with all the taxes they're trying to get. Think about all the illegal and illicit schemes that they have to bilk people out of money. Think about Bernie Madoff ripping off people to the tune of, now they think about $60-billion. One man! But that's nothing but kindergarten compared to what the government is doing.] …The lips of the righteous spread knowledge, but the mind of the fool is not so" (vs 6-7).

Think of that when you go through the major channels and you look at the soap operas that are on there in the afternoon and you look at the so-called judges' courts that they have. I imagine every once in awhile they get a judgment right. But you look at the stupidity and nonsense that's on television, and this is what people are feeding their minds on. "…the mind of the fool is not so…. [Spreads evil. You can't go on some of those shows without innuendos about sex, about homosexuality, about lying and cheating and stealing, the whole thing.] …The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight" (vs 7-8). So in days like these that we're living in, we need to make sure we're praying to God every day, every morning, praying to God many times during the day as we just go about our way; saying, 'O God, help me, help me to understand, help me to realize what you want me to do. Keep me from evil, keep me from wretchedness.'

Verse 9: "The way of the wicked… [or the lawless] …is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him who pursues righteousness…. [That's what we're trying to do. God loves us, so keep that in mind. These are good contrasts to keep mind.] …There is grievous correction for him who forsakes the way… [Now lots of times when someone forsakes the way, Satan is right there to give him some benefit, give him something that looks really good. Then later down the road, Bang! it comes.] …he who hates reproof shall die. The grave and destruction are before the LORD—how much more the hearts of the children of men!.... [Is this not true?] …A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go unto the wise" (vs 9-12). He will go to the counsel of fools.

I can't help but thinking about our federal government here. So God looks at more than just the actions here. Verse 26: "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD…. [What did we read back there in Eph. 2? Lust of the flesh, lust of the mind, lust of the eyes, pride of life—all of that.] (v 28): …The heart of the righteous studies to answer… [That is studies the Word of God, studies the things that are going on.] …but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous" (vs 26, 28-29). Showing that in troubled times we need to be praying all the time.

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We have seen how it works in individual's lives, we'll see a little later in group's lives, and then we will see in a nation's life—and what happens. A lot of times it comes down to the leader—not always, but in many, many cases it does. So all of these that we're covering now are related to Eph. 2:2-3.

Proverbs 21:4: "A high look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin…. [You can see this on television every day—can't you?] (v 6): …The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro by those who seek death." All of these are so self-evident it's something! But when you put it in context of what is happening to this nation today, you can see exactly what's happening. We're living in California. In California all the people voted and said no more taxes, no more gimmicks. So the state is on the verge of bankruptcy. Why? Because of this verse right here: "The getting of treasurers by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro by those who seek death." And that's naming the politicians and everything right here in the state of California.

You can look at the same thing in Illinois—not quite so bad. New Jersey is worse than we are. You know that in New Jersey they pay sixty-percent of their gross income in taxes? And yet they can't tax enough to take care of the deficit, because, 'Oh, you can't fire any of these civil servants that work here.' So there's a real rebellion going on in New Jersey. New York state is almost broke, because they say, 'Oh, we'll tax the rich.' So the rich say, 'I'm moving out.' Now who are you going to tax, all those who receive welfare? That'll never work. Whenever people go against the laws of God or the principles established out of the Bible, it is doomed to failure. No way around it!

Verse 7: "The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them because they refuse to do what is just…. [Be interesting if all of these were sent to the members in Congress and to all of the religious leaders of America.] …The way of the guilty man is perverted; but as for the pure, his work is right…. [v 10]: …The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes…. [Because he's going to go after him and take, and get, and do all the things that he's going to do.] …When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge…. [Now this has to be with us. This gives us instruction and we receive knowledge—to what? How to live our lives in the way of the Lord, and to walk in God's way and do what is right.] …The righteous wisely considers the house of the wicked… [So we don't go that way.] …but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness" (vs 7, 10-12)—or the lawless for their lawlessness.

Now let's see how it can affect a whole nation. Let's come to 2-Kings 21. Now here was a youth, Manasseh the son of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a righteous king. However, because he did what he should not have done—that is Hezekiah—his punishment, and the punishment for the whole nation, was his wicked son Manasseh.

2-Kings 21:1: "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign. And he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem…. [No elections back then. As long as the king was alive he ruled.] …And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel" (vs 1-2). Because in order for a lawless society to develop, you must have a clergy that endorses it, that allows it. Is that what happened here in America? Yes, indeed. And every evil perverted thing that has come along, the clergy has endorsed it, not all, but enough.

So here's what he did, v 2: "…after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel for he built up again the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed" (vs 2-3). At twelve he had all of these advisors. The advisors would come to him and say, 'Now we know you are young, but we want you to understand how it was before your father came. Your father was kind of harsh. He tore down all of these temples and places of worship, because he didn't believe in freedom of religion. And he said you should only worship the true God. Well, He's not the true God, there are other gods. You know he offended all of our neighbors around us, because these were the gods of our neighbors around here. So they're against us. So why don't you give freedom of religion again and let's build these things.'

So he built them—v 3: "And he erected altars for Baal and made a grove as Ahab king of Israel did. And he worshipped all the host of heaven and served them." Universal, tolerant religion! But notice what happens, because God calls these abominations. And how does it affect the people and what happens in such a society where then lawlessness is turned loose?

"And he built altars in the house of the LORD of which the LORD said, 'In Jerusalem I will put My name.' Then he built altars for all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of the LORD…. [Right there in the temple area. 'Oh, let's put it here because that will sanctify it.'] …And he made his son pass through the fire and observed times and used witchcraft…. [The occult! When you leave God and you have lawlessness, the occult, inspired by Satan, takes over—or occultism, occult practices. And so you get involved in times and witchcraft.] …And he dealt with familiar spirits and wizards…. [Instead of consulting with God and the priest, he consulted with the witches and the witchcraft and the wizards.] He worked much wickedness in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger" (vs 4-6).

Now what happens when evil takes over and there seems to be no immediate punishment? Well, you go in deeper, and you go in deeper. So what happened? He went in deeper. Verse 7: "And he set a graven image of the grove which he had made… [He commissioned to have made.] …in the house of which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. And I will not again make the feet of Israel wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if… [the conditions are always upon human beings.] …if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them'" (vs 7-8).

Well, that didn't happen. "But they… [that is the people] …did not hearken. And Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations ever did whom the LORD destroyed before the children on Israel…. [Now we're rapidly approaching the same thing here in the United States, likewise in the U.K.] …And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying… [He sent prophets; warned them.] … 'Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, doing more wickedly than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols… [Just like we read in the first message that Jesus said, 'Many people will be led into sin.' This is how they are doing it, when it is endorsed by the leader, when it is supported by all of his advisors; in this case princes, or in our case governors and senators, and representatives, etc.] …Therefore, thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Behold, I am bringing evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, so that whoever hears of it both his ears shall tingle"'" (vs 9-12).

It's going to be something! Let me just stop here and pause and let's reflect on that for just a minute. If you want to know how bad it got, read the book of Lamentations, and that will tell you how hard it's going to be upon us. It's going to be something! because God is not going to be mocked. This nation had a Godly mission to help the rest of the nations of the world. And instead of helping them—teaching them God's way—along with the United Kingdom, we ended up turning our backs on God and becoming as evil or more wicked than those we were to teach them about the Word of God.

Yes, we did send Bibles into the world, but sending Bibles into the world without instructors to tell them what to do is not what God wanted. That was only part of it. That's like saying, like it says there in Luke 14, the man put the foundation down, but he wasn't able to finish it. So to send out the Word of God, which is the foundation, without the proper instruction as to what to do, and then from that how to have the right kind of civil government, didn't do any good. Instead, we went into those nations and said, 'Oh, what do you do? This looks interesting, let's do that.'

Verse 13: "'And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria… [Because He had already taken the ten tribes off into captivity.] …and the measuring line of the house of Ahab. And I will wipe Jerusalem as a dish is wiped, wiping and turning it upside down." Now if you think that sounds a little harsh, I invite you to get the book of Josephus and you read about the first destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., which was finally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. You will see how absolutely terrible the circumstances were; and yet, the people didn't repent. Even in times of distress, when God said, 'If you will just honor the Sabbath, I won't bring it upon you.' But just like their descendants today, if you went into a Sunday-keeping church and said, 'Now all of you need to start keeping the Sabbath,' they would run you out, tar and feather you, that's exactly what they wanted to do to Jeremiah, and he warned them, but they wouldn't listen.

Verse 14: "'"For I will forsake the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies. And they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies… [Remember, they own us with all of our debts. They hold the debts. We are mortgaged to every nation in the world, the majority to China; and they're going to demand payment, not printed money. 'If you can't pay it, we're coming and claiming the assets, because we hold the title.' You need to think on that!] (Here's why): …Because they have done what is evil in My sight, and have provoked Me to anger since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt even until this day"'" (vs 14-15).

Now what happens when the whole society is given over to the occult? Here's what happens: "Furthermore, Manasseh also shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin in doing the evil in the sight of the LORD" (v 16). So it can affect the whole society. And then what happens when people look around and try and see, 'Oh, where's the right? Can we find anyone who is not corrupted?'

Come here to Ecclesiastes 3 and let's see the lament of Solomon. We also see this today. You know what they're saying today: 'All these politicians are a bunch of liars.' Well, they have been for a long time. How about the judges? Solomon saw this.

Ecclesiastes 3:16 (pg 836): "And I again I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there… [That is lawlessness, because they did things to please people, rather than enforce the laws of God. Or in today's world, rather than enforce the rule of law, they went by the whims of what they thought it should be. Now one of the popular things for the Supreme Court—and they're having a hard time stopping it which was started by Sandra Day O'Connor—is quoting precedent of laws in foreign countries as a basis for interpreting our laws, rather than the Constitution. Now you stop and think: What would happen if our current president was able to replace one of those who was considered a conservative judge today, and it was 5-4 the other way? If you think he marched through a lot of things through the legislature, just think what would happen to this nation if that event would transpire.] …and in the place of righteousness… [In the pulpit, in the ministry, what do you find? Liars, cheats, thieves, adulterers, pedophilia.] …that wickedness [lawlessness] was there. I said in my heart, 'God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every purpose and for every work'" (vs 16-17).

So their day is coming, without a doubt! And the day of our demise lies just ahead of us. It's going to come in a way that is going to take our breath away! We won't expect it. Now stop and think for just a minute. What happened this last week? The FBI arrested three men, black men, could have been white men, doesn't make any difference, who were in prison in New York. They embraced Islam. What were they going to do? There was quite a lengthy investigation, the FBI was on the ball and foiled the trap. They were going to have car bombs in front of Jewish synagogues in the Bronx, blow them up. They were going to have shoulder-held antiaircraft guns to shoot down airplanes. They caught them, but the question is how many more are out there whose time to do that lies ahead of them. We need to think since we've had it so nice and so good—we think! That's horrible to think on. You shouldn't dwell on that. Let me ask you a question, if you're not warned ahead of time, then you will surely say, 'No one told us.' Isn't that true? Yes! So there we have it.

Let's see what we need to do, let's see how we need to do it. Here's what we need to do, without fail every day, in God's way. And every day in God's way means:

• walk in faith,
• believe in hope
• live in love

—every day! Don't get entrapped into thinking that political means will solve the problems—they won't. Don't get entrapped into thinking that you can work it out on your own, because it won't happen. You need to do it God's way.

Psalm 118:5: "I called upon the LORD in distress… [So take all your troubles to God.] …the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place…. [He gave me relief from it.] …The LORD is on my side… [That is provided you're on God's side.] …I will not fear. What can man do to me?.... [This is how we need to face these situations. Here's the only thing that's going to work, v 8:] …It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (vs 5-6, 8). No man's going to solve it;

• That's why Christ is returning.
• That's why He's going to take over all the governments in the world.
• That's why we need to be concentrating on building the character of God in our lives, because we're going to rule and reign with Christ.

Don't put any confidence in any man.

Verse 9: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in princes." That is politicians. You can't trust them. I wonder what the record would be like, if it ever could be known, what has been happening the last eight, ten or twelve years in the United States Congress. There's one man in Britain who would say, 'Yes, and in the Parliament in England.' He says if you think Obama is spending money, he's a patsy compared to Brown. Here's what we need to do, here's how we can stay focused and do what God wants. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and to understand what is happening is preparation so that when it happens, you're not going to be taken by surprise.

Here's where we need to concentrate. Psalm 119:1: "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD…. [Which is the way of God. Add to that the New Testament with the Spirit of God, the righteousness of God, the love of God.] …Blessed are they who keep His testimonies and who seek Him with the whole heart" (vs 1-2). Believing God, loving God, seeking Him with all your heart and mind and soul and being, that's the only thing that's going to work. That's the only thing that's going to keep us sane.

"They also do not iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently…. [That's how we are to do it. And living in a Laodicean time, we really need to focus in on words like diligent and zealous, wholehearted, and all of those things—right? Yes.] …O that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!.... [So here it shows that we have to fight human nature. Human nature doesn't want to do that. Human nature wants to go its own way.] …Then I shall not be ashamed when I have respect unto all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart when I have learned Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; O forsake me not utterly" (vs 3-8).

Verse 121—This has to be our attitude, our behavior, plea to God: "I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to those who oppress me…. [Because we're going to see a lot of oppression coming along.] …Be surety for Your servant for good… [That means make Your Word good to me, Lord.] …let not the proud oppress me. My eyes fail for Your salvation and for the word of Your righteousness. Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies. It is time for the LORD to work, for they have made void Your law…. [So there is going to come a time when the circumstances are just right, when God looks down and says, 'Now is the time.' God is going to intervene and work for us.] …because they have made void Your law. Therefore I love Your commandments above gold—yea, above fine gold…. [We're beyond the point where money can help. Those days will be coming. Here needs to be our whole concerted attitude:] …Therefore I esteem all Your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (vs 121-128).

So that's what we need to be doing: living in the world, though not of the world; and seeing the mystery of lawlessness working at every level, and increasingly so as time goes on. This is how we need to understand it from the Word of God and this how we need to lead our lives and set our minds.

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 12:9
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• Luke 17:26-28
• Genesis 19:1-26
• Psalm 5:1-12
• Isaiah 32:4-7
• Proverbs 15:6-12, 26, 28-29
• Proverbs 21:4, 6-8, 10-12
• 2-Kings 21:1-16
• Ecclesiastes 3:16-17
• Psalm 118:5-6, 8-9
• Psalm 119:1-8, 121-128

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Judges 21:25
• 2-Thessalonians 2
• Luke 14

Also referenced:

Books:

• Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which? by Fred R. Coulter
• Josephus

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 6-26-09
Formatted: bo—6/29/09