Look up! Lift up your head! Your redemption draws near!
Once again a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, give your people this message: ‘When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman. When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’
“Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself, (Ezekiel 33:1-9, emphasis mine).
I have been told to stop saying things about God judging America. People I respect have said this to me. People in authority have said this to me. I actually lost a friend because I said that God was about to judge America. He thought I was anti-American and unfriended me. I have this question for them: do you think I am happy about the message? Apparently they are not hearing my broken heart. Maybe they think that because I live in Italy, I don’t care about America. People: all my family live in America! My precious grandchildren live in America! Of course I care about my country!
People said the same things to Jeremiah. And when judgment fell, Jeremiah was grieved. I don’t want the same thing to happen here. I love my country, but the government has made some really messed-up decisions that have led the people astray. When I give the message about the coming judgment, I am very aware of Ezekiel 33:1-9. If I give the warning, perhaps the people will repent, but maybe not. But if I fail to give the warning, I will be held responsible for their deaths.
And it’s not just America that is facing judgment. Judgment is coming upon the whole earth. But judgment starts at the house of God. America, founded as a Christian nation, has sent more missionaries out into the world than any other country[1]. But when the government prohibits prayer in school, permits abortion, and actually celebrates sin, God’s patience will eventually come to an end.
My critics have no idea how many hours I have sat up at night, praying for my country. Pleading with God to have mercy; begging Him to wake the American Christians to pray for our country. Do they think that judgment is a message I enjoy giving? Why don’t you ask Jeremiah how much he enjoyed giving the message of judgment?
Am I looking forward to the Rapture? Absolutely! What bride doesn’t look forward to her wedding day? Perhaps they read my joyful anticipation of the Rapture as enjoying giving the message of judgment. I see it this way: God has sweetened the bitter message of judgment with the promise of being taken into His wonderful Presence.
I do tend to keep straying back to the Rapture because it brings me solace. Maybe I should just keep the Rapture to myself. But I can’t do that, either because I have been called as an encourager to the Body of Christ. What’s more encouraging than the Rapture? Paul told us to encourage one another about the Rapture[2].
So I can’t neglect the negative message of judgment. Nor can I neglect the positive message of the Rapture. Both are prophetically accurate and Biblically sound. But I do think that some people have made assumptions. I mentioned the American eclipse as a warning of judgment and pointed out that the path of the eclipse continued out into the Atlantic Ocean to the very spot where Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were brewing. But never, not once did I say that the hurricanes were judgment. No! When God brings judgment, there will be no doubt because there will be few survivors. The hurricanes were warnings, too. And look, didn’t they get people praying? You see, I still have hope! And here’s my hope in a nutshell:
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land, (2 Chronicles 7:14).
If you see that as a negative message, then I suggest that you get on your knees, too. God is good!
[1] According to Christianity Today.
[2] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 5:1-11.
Walking By Faith in Europe 