PASTOR’S COMMENTS 10-29-04

Dear Brethren,     

On the cover page of the U.S.News&World Report, October 25, 2004, in bold headlines is written the following in the same colors:

  WHY VOTERS FOR BOTH SIDES ARE SO ANGRY

THEDEEP 
   DIVIDE

The question is asked inside the cover: "Has America ever been quite so divided? ... By almost every measure, the race is literally too close to call, and barring a major stumble by either candidate, its shaping up like – yikes! – a crazy rerun of four years ago "This election is rubbing some raw — ANGRY IN AMERICA   There’s this rolling anger that people don’t know where to direct."

Great Divisions in Many Areas —

America is not only divided because of the presidential election, but divided in many areas, such as abortion and other areas. And always there is anger on both sides of any situation.

Sound advice has been offered and still is very good counsel: Stay away from the subjects of politics and religion.  Either one can evoke flare-ups of heated anger and bring about the loss of friendships, and at the same time, in this day and time, can carry over into beatings and the killing of others.

This also carries over into other areas as well.  There are the killings that go on every day and night virtually everywhere in this country and elsewhere.  There is no place of any size that does not experience killings from one source or another.  And it is getting worse as the following quote reveals:

The Associated Press, October 25, 2004 "After reaching a low point in 1999 of about 15,500 homicides, the number has crept up steadily since then to more than 16,500 in 2003 - or almost six murders for every 100,000 U.S. residents... The FBI report indicates there were 819 juvenile gang killings last year, compared with 580 in 1999...."

According to what I read in Newspapers and view in reality on television, and on movie screens, anything goes anymore.  Sex with anyone for whatever reason is good, abortion and gay rights are good, all conservatives are evil, etc.

From our local newspaper: The Record, 10/28/04, page B7, Opinion Page, Cal Thomas, wrote: "The anger of the Big Media (the three broadcast networks and the most influential newspapers (i.e. The New York Times and Washington Post), in anticipation of a [president] Bush win has gone beyond the fringe of a Michael Moore film or a George Soros 527 group.  London's Guardian newspaper printed a column by Charles Brooker, who after mocking [president] Bush with the familiar leftist invective, concluded: "The world will endure four more years of idiocy, arrogance and unwarranted bloodshed, with no benevolent deity to watch over and save us.  John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinkley Jr. --- where are you now that we need you?" 

A Very Sad Commentary of our Time ---

This is the very sad state this great country and the United Kingdom have degenerated into in the closing years of this age.  And it should be added that the other nations of Israel are no exceptions in all areas of lawlessness (God’s laws).

From the speculation that is generated about this election, it would appear there will be a greater degree of anger demonstrated all across this country regarding whoever goes into office, and if so, could lead to real violence in numerous places. 

Prolonged Court battles are also expected if the race is very close and in question.

Remember, we as God's people, do not promote or endorse any politician, on the national or local levels. We know it is God who sets up leaders as well as removes them (Daniel 4:25,32; 5:20; John 19:10-11).  Our part is to pray about the election, as well as pray for our leaders who are in office, or will be in office, and that is as far as our responsibility goes (Romans 13:1-7); I Peter 2:17).

“... Every kingdom DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF IS BROUGHT TO DESOLATION, AND EVERY CITY OR HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF WILL NOT STAND” (Matthew 12:25).

This should enable us to see why this country is in very grave danger as Jesus said of any nation so divided would be brought to desolation.

Based on the deeply entrenched polarization with the heated anger and bitterness we now see before this election, we cannot help but wonder very seriously, what will the next one be like in 2008? Based on what we now see, it would appear it will be much worse.

Prophecies make known we are living in the last days. There is not much time left!  It would be well for all of us to realize all the more that we need to be close to our God knowing He is our only hope for any real future with happiness, harmony, and peace.

A Possible Repeat in our Time? --- 

It is our hope and prayer that the history of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. will not be repeated in our time. As you may recall there were the factions among the Jewish people who began to fight each other and brought all the Jewish people into a state of famine due to these factions even destroying their food supplies.

As the result they became much easier prey for Titus and his Roman armies to slay, conquer, and enslave the survivors.

The members in God's Church at that time found themselves very much persecuted by these factions for not getting involved in their fierce struggles.  History does not record, that I have seen, the numbers of the members who were probably beaten, and some few possibly even killed, because of their neutrality.

As these very angry people and factions here in this country, and elsewhere, become more and vocal, any number of us can possibly expect the same kind of persecution, and for the same reasons. Much of their anger will then be directed at the Church of God. History records peoples always look for a scapegoat just as did the emperor Nero of Rome.  After setting Rome on fire he blamed the Christians for it.

Hitler and his Nazis did the same in WWII, with the Jews, and succeeded in savagely and viciously killing 6, 000,000 of them.

When we look at the warnings Jesus Christ gave to His Church in numerous Scriptures about the persecution in the end-time, we should realize we will also suffer the same much as our brethren did in past times. One such Scripture records what Jesus Christ Himself said to His disciples of the future:

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.  They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming, that whoever kills you will think he offers God service.  And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me, but these things I have told you that when the times comes you may remember I told you of them …” (John 16:1-4).

This very heavy and trying persecution won’t be easy to bear, but Jesus Christ will enable us to bear it, and with most, if not all, will make a way for us to survive it just as He did the Church in Jerusalem.  He will then enable us to make our way to the Place of Safety as He did with them (Luke 21:36; Revelation 3:8, 10; Matthew 24:13).

As I conclude this writing, I ask each of you to please think about all of the scattered brethren, and pray for each of them.  Some are going through some very difficult and trying times and they very much would appreciate you beseeching God on their behalf.  And, please know, your prayers are effectual for them (James 5:16).

Our love and prayers from here are for each one of you,

Don Billingsley