June 29th, 2018
Conservative commentator Molly Hemmingway made an interesting observation yesterday. She noted that two days ago, the Left was in complete outrage that children were being "ripped away from their parents" at the border. Around mid-afternoon yesterday, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced that he was retiring from the Supreme Court. That gives President Trump the historic opportunity to nominate another constitutionalist justice to the high court.
Immediately, the same liberals who were screaming about children being ripped away from their mothers at the border began screaming that they were going to lose the right of mothers to rip babies from their wombs.
I don't believe it takes too much intellect to see the dichotomy -- and hypocrisy -- here. That's why I think it's not a case of smarts, but a case of sin. Just as the Left is placing the "rights" of illegal immigrants above the rights of American citizens, so it is placing the "rights" of women above the rights of precious, defenseless not-yet-born children.
I shudder to think of the judgment for such a grievous sin that God has reserved for America.
And I have no doubt that our Founding Fathers would be grieved as well.
That's why each Fourth of July, I devote this program to a review of what it is that makes the United States of America so unique and blessed of God. And each year, I sense that we are edging closer to the loss of that blessing and protection.
Our nation exists today because her founders recognized their dependence on God and acknowledged it in the foundation and framework of this magnificent house we call the United States of America. We dismiss that recognition at our peril.
The United States of America is the world's only superpower. Its economy is the engine that drives the world. Even in our difficult times, it is still the cornerstone on which the global economy rests.
Twice in one century, the United States saved Europe, and the rest of the world, from the domination of tyrants. Later, America drove the Soviet Empire into the ground and, in so doing, secured freedom for untold millions of citizens and scores of nations.
It is undeniable that, to this day, America remains the last, best hope of the world's oppressed.
Yet the United States of America exists in the shadow of an uncertainty. Have you ever thought about the fact that even our National Anthem acknowledges that it is possible to forfeit or lose the magnificent heritage that is the United States of America? When Francis Scott Key penned the words to The Star Spangled Banner, he ended the first verse (which is the one customarily performed as our nation's official anthem) with a question: "O' say does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
Whether he was being prophetic or simply poetic is not important. His inclusion of that question rightly implies that America's great freedom and promise cannot be taken for granted. It came into existence through the great courage and sacrifice of our forebears. It can fade from existence through the antipathy and apathy of its current and future citizens.
That's why so many of our Founding Fathers found it imperative to insist that the form of government they established can only prosper if the citizenry is predominantly Judeo-Christian. They minced no words when they proclaimed that our democracy can only succeed if it remains founded on the principles of Christianity and respectful of its Judeo-Christian roots.
Yet, today as no time in our history, those very roots and principles are under ferocious attack. It's as if major players in our society have hoisted their axes, determined to chop away at the roots of our democracy until the magnificent tree of American freedom shivers and falls.
That's why there is no time to lose. As Christians and patriots, we must seek God's mercy for our faltering nation. The forces of darkness have succeeded in marshaling their greatest assault yet. And the speed with which recent changes have weakened the basic foundations of our society is nothing compared to what we may see in the coming years. If we are to see our nation saved, we must earnestly call out to God, repent of our sins as a nation, and humble ourselves before Him.
As we languish in the summer doldrums, pray earnestly every day for our beloved nation. Pray that truth will be revealed. Pray that blinders will be removed. Pray that God will exalt Himself through the testimony of His people. And pray that He will watch over and protect this "shining city on a hill" that truly owes its success and glory to His precepts.
America celebrates its independence in a few days. Join me as I pose this most critical question: "Does the Flag Still Wave?"
Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Check your local listings.
I wish all of you a "Happy Independence Day!" Remember, amid the fun and festivities take time to reflect on this precious gift that God has given us and our world: The United States of America! And take time to thank God for the men and women who gave their all to buy our freedom and to keep it. May God bless you and your family and may God always bless America!
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
Watchman Warning: A Sure Word - By Hal Lindsey -
Some evangelical Christians kiddingly state their position on Bible prophecy as "pan-tribulationist," or "pan-millennial." Then they give the punch line. "I believe it will all pan out."
I understand what gives rise to such thinking. In order to understand Bible prophecy, you have to dig into scripture. "Rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) requires diligence and effort. And to top it off, those who study prophecy sometimes come away with different opinions.
For that reason, many followers of Christ throw their hands in the air and say, "I'm not going to think about it. I trust God. He will take care of things. It will all pan out."
Yes, God is sovereign. His side wins. But it is sad when people who love God ignore so much of His counsel. The Bible is a prophetic book. Some scholars say that one-fourth of it is prophecy. Others say the percentage is even higher - maybe one-third. Either way, prophecy is clearly important. If the only thing we need to know is that it will "all pan out," then why did God put so much prophetic teaching in His word?
If you find prophecy intimidating, remember that all Bible doctrines seem inexhaustible to the human mind. Consider the Attributes of God. You can spend a lifetime on any one of His attributes - and barely scratch the surface. But just because we cannot exhaust a topic, does not mean we can't have real knowledge of that topic. We can't fully grasp God's omnipotence, but because His word tells us about it, we can have a true and real understanding of it. Based on His word, we can know what it is, and we can rationally discuss it.
In John 14:3, Jesus said, "I will come again." That is a clear and concise statement. He said it because He wants us to know it. We can trust those words. It doesn't tell us everything about end-times prophecy, but it tells us something real - something we can build our lives on. Jesus is coming back!
Ironically, that's where some so-called theologians begin to disagree. Jesus explained many times and in many ways that He will return. The fact that some dispute the obvious is no reason to doubt the obvious. "I will come again" is as clear as, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...." (John 3:16)
Trust it. Lean on it. Find comfort in the knowledge.
At Christmas we often recite Isaiah 9:6-7. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever." (NKJV)
Those verses foretell Christmas, but they don't end there. They take us from the manger into eternity future - and give us loads of information about what must happen along the way.
The Book of Revelation reveals amazing and glorious things about Jesus. It takes things said about Him in the Old and New Testaments to their logical and astounding conclusions. I hate to think that anyone would ignore Revelation because naysayers have convinced them that they can't understand it. You may not understand all of it, but just reading it will build your faith and enlarge your vision of Christ.
Prophecies in Daniel give us tremendous evidence that the Bible could only be written under the inspiration of God. In Matthew 24, Jesus gave one of the longest of His recorded speeches, and it was all about His Second Coming.
More and more, I hear people say, "I heard all that stuff years ago. Nothing happened, so I don't believe it." In saying things like that, they are unwittingly fulfilling yet another sign of the coming Day of the Lord.
2 Peter 3 says, "In the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4)
Verses 8-10 say, "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief."
Bible prophecy laid out the first coming of Jesus with perfect accuracy and in stunning detail. As we look around at our own time, we can already see that the details about the Lord's Second Coming are just as perfect and just as stunning. And we are seeing it all in our own time with our own eyes.
We live in one of history's most amazing moments. And you're here to witness it. So, watch and study. Don't miss the joy and amazement of the times you live in.
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