Do we have more time?

Do we have more time?                            November 12, 2016

 

One Personal thought about the 2016 elections. 

The enemies are at our gates, Isis, Islamic state, Russia, China, criminals from south of the borders, etc.  

Our current leaders proclaim we are not a Christian nations, the emails release by Wikileaks show how much hatred the left has for Christians/Catholics.  Way before Mrs. Clinton called millions of Americans a “basket of deplorables,” and her top campaign advisers and liberal allies openly mocked Catholics, Southerners, Christians and a host of other groups. 

Our government allows abortions, burn our children in the fire, go after Christian Believers, etc. 

2016 elections, we found 

80+ white Christians voted for Trump, prayers for Trump

51+ Catholics voted for Trump 

Pastors said he became a Christians a couple of months ago, all the Christian Ministers layed hands on President Elect Trump. 

It has come out yesterday after the elections, Trump and Mike Pense (openly profess His belief in Jesus) prays each morning together. 

Trump publicly said he is against abortion and will select Supreme Court Judges to overturn their previous decision.   

He made this statement abortion and protecting Christians as an oath or covenant before mankind and God.  Because of that oath, It looks like God is going to honor the oath and give the United States, more time.   

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

Is there an example in the Scriptures similar to what has happen.  

The Holy Spirit brought to my mind about the fall of Jerusalem and how they were given one more chance or grace from God. 

The fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. after a two-year siege,  

City to be Burned  

Jeremiah 34:1-22  This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD while Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his authority, along with all the people were fighting against Jerusalem and all its towns: (2)  This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah. Say to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Look, I'm giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire.   

Here Jeremiah told King Zedekiah that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed and be set on fire.  Which did happen. 

Babylonians temporarily retire from siege to meet with Pharoah Hophra 

(3)  You won't escape from him. You will certainly be captured and given into his control. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye, he will speak to you face to face, and you will go to Babylon.'"'   

Nebuchadnezzar was feared (cf. Ez 12:13; Jer 52:11). He was probably one of the most absolute despots that has ever ruled on the planet earth. In the book of Daniel, when he thought someone didn’t perform quite up to snuff and through them into the fiery furnace. When his advisors weren’t quick to give him the answer he wanted, he wanted to tear them limb from limb and make their houses a dunghill. It is interesting that it is hinted at when the Lord tells Zedekiah that he will not escape. 

(4)  Yet, hear this message from the LORD, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says to you, 'You won't die by the sword. 

(5)  You will die peacefully, and as they burned fires for your ancestors, the former kings who were before you, so they'll burn fires for you, wailing, "Oh how terrible, your majesty!"' For I've spoken the message," declares the LORD.   

(6)  Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all of this in Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah,  (7)  while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, namely Lachish and Azekah. (They were the only fortified cities that remained among the cities of Judah.)   

These two cities are southwest of Jerusalem about the southern extent of the siege in the land of Judah. Lachish (now Tel-ed-Daweir) is about 35 miles southwest and Azekah (now Tel-ez-Zakhriyeh) is about 50 miles southwest.  

Laws of Slave Trade 

Laws of slave trade. covered in Exodus 21:1-11. 

Exodus 21:2   "When you acquire a Hebrew servant he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh he is to go out a free man without paying anything. 

The concept about the ear and the doorpost is to be a slave for life. Leviticus 25:39-55. A man can indenture himself to pay off a debt. Indenturing can only go to the year of jubilee. Could not indenture oneself beyond the year of jubilee. 

Deuteronomy 15:12-17   "When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them free.  (13)  But when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed.  (14)  Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the LORD your God has blessed you, so give to them.  (15)  Don't ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I'm giving you these commands today. 

(16)  "Should that slave say to you, 'I won't leave you,' because he loves you and your household, and it was good for him to be with you,  (17)  then take an awl and pierce through his earlobe into the door. Then he will be your slave forever. You may do the same for your female slaves. 

The law of the slave was linked to the fact that they were slaves in Egypt and God redeemed them. They are not to abuse the slaves. The 8th century prophets, Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, and Amos have special passages telling them not to do social injustice to their slaves. The fact that they were indentured servants was no reason to abuse them. No one paid attention to the Law.  

The last 30 chapters in Jeremiah show how Judah disobeyed God’s rules, so it is no surprise that they were abusing this. Jerusalem is under siege and they recognize that the place is about to go down. There is nothing like a terminal countdown to bring them all to repentance. For a little there is while a commitment by them to get their act together and repent.  Did this not happen on 9-11?  Could this not be happening with Trump because of his oath on abortion and protection of Christians? 

(8)  This is this message from the LORD that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem proclaiming release for them.  (9)  Each person was to set free his male and female slaves who were Hebrews, so that no Jewish person would enslave his brother.   

They had abused all these limitations for slaves. They were in violation of the Torah. Zedekiah had the people in Judah let them all go, which they do for a little while. Under siege they are suddenly becoming very religious. The Babylonians fold up their tents and leave for a while to meet Pharaoh Neco. When the Babylonians retired, these people reneged on their covenant. Sick, healed and return to the way we were. 

They made a covenant to release them, once the threat was gone, they forced them back into labor. God is offended by that, which we will see in chapter 34. They make this covenant, Zedekiah has a new covenant, they are going to free up the Hebrews that are in a form of servitude. 

(10)  All the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed that each would set his male and female slaves free so that they would not enslave them any longer. They obeyed and they released them.  (11)  But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves that they had set free, and they forced them to become male and female slaves.  

Returned = repented. They reneged on their deal. They made a solemn covenant before the king that they were going to turn them loose but they changed their mind. 

(12)  Then this message from the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD:  (13)  "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I made a covenant with your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. I told them:  

Specific reference to their own origin, He made a covenant and He keeps His covenants. 

(14)  "At the end of seven years, each of you is to set free your fellow Hebrew who has sold himself to you and has served you for six years. You are to send him out from you with no further obligation." But your ancestors didn't obey me or pay attention.  (15)  You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming release for one another, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name.   

Zedekiah had this covenant ratified in the Temple and God honored it, now they reneged. 

Polluted God’s Name

(16)  But then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves whom you had set free according to their desire, and you forced them to become male and female slaves."'  

When we make a covenant before the Lord and don’t keep it, we pollute God’s name. That is what makes vows so dangerous. Resolve to do things, but don’t make vows. 

(17)  "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'You haven't obeyed me by each of you proclaiming a release for your brothers and neighbors. Now I'm going to proclaim a release for you,' declares the LORD, 'a release to the sword, to plague, and to famine, and I'll make you a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth.  (18)  I'll give over the men who transgressed my covenant, who haven't fulfilled the terms of the covenant that they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—  

Calf in two:  a reference to an ancient practice in making an agreement. They would take an animal, typically one who is offered for an offering, and would cut it in pieces and set the pieces aside and then would pass between them. In going between the pieces, they seal the covenant. If they break the covenant they will be cut in pieces. This is just a gesture to seal the bargain.  

(19)  the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf.   

The ones who didn’t keep the covenant will be cut in pieces 

(20)  I'll give them to their enemies who are seeking to kill them, and their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the animals of the land. 

(21)  I'll give Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his officials into the domination of their enemies, to those who are seeking to kill them, and to the army of the king of Babylon that is coming against them. 

(22)  Look, I'm in command of them, declares the LORD, and I'll bring them back to this city. They'll capture it and burn it with fire, and I'll turn the towns of Judah into desolate places without inhabitants.'" 

God is going to command Babylonians to come back, they have gone for a while, and the princes of Judah assumed they were gone for good. 

Remember, I said:  Babylonians temporarily retire from siege of Jerusalem to meet with Pharoah Hophra, Egypt in battle 

I know we have different opinions or feelings about our new President Elect, but for me a relief was taken off my shoulders and maybe our Lord God gave us some more time because of Donald Trump oath or covenant.  Only time will tell. 

1 Timothy 2:1-3 First of all, then, I urge you to offer to God petitions, prayers, intercessions, and expressions of thanks for all people,  (2)  for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.  (3)  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

Remember, we are to continue praying for our Leaders, it seems like we might have a little more time left.  We need to keep our faith in Jesus. 

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! Because of his great mercy he has granted us a new birth, resulting in an immortal hope through the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, from the dead  (4)  and to an inheritance kept in heaven for you that can't be destroyed, corrupted, or changed.  (5)  Through faith you are being protected by God's power for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of this era. 

Our real security is with our Lord Jesus