A message for nations

Friday, March 30, 2012

Paul Schneider

Dear Friend,

INTRO

There are so many, many reasons, signs given in Bible Prophecy, why we can expect the Rapture at any moment. Like Israel, America has turned her back on the Lord and like Israel we will soon reap a terrible harvest of God's judgment. Christian's may soon become the persecuted, as in other nations. Hopefully, the Rapture will take place BEFORE that takes place. The following article is taken from the Midnight Call magazine, Dr. Ron Bigalke, author.

ISRAEL

Amos 2:4-16 was written specifically to exhort ancient Israel, but the message of those verses also instructs modern nations. It is applicable to any nation or people that continually forsakes God's Word and the blessing that comes with obedience to that Word, and who boasts in their own strength. Israel was chosen by God to experience God's blessing in an entirely unique manner from any other nation (cf. Deut 28--30). God demanded that the nation repent format's moral deficiencies and religious hypocrisies. Nearly forty years after Amos warned the nation of Israel, the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom, and their ten tribes were lost among the Assyrian Empire. God's people never thought they would experience such devastation. If a nation disdains the sovereignty of God, the message of Amos is far too obvious that the Lord God will indeed shatter the false hope and security of those who live independent of Him and His revealed Word (cf I Thes 5:3).

DO WHAT IS RIGHT

(3:1-15) Each warning begins with the formula, "Hear this word" (3:1; 4:1; 5:1). Israel surely objected to the message of Amos on the basis of their elect status. God previously delivered Israel "from the land of Egypt" (2:10) because He made an eternal covenant with them (cf. 2:4-5; Deut 28-30). Israel assumed because they were "chosen among all the families of the earth" (3:2), that they would experience God's contain used unconditional blessing and salvation in spite of their actions. Amos indicated that election demands responsibility, in addition to privilege. The prophet indicated than blessing is conditioned upon faith and obedience to God's will in scripture. Election does not supersede God's sovereignty. Amos therefore insisted upon the continual unbound sovereignty of God. The prophet's message is personally relevant because both blessing and judgment are understood solely within the realms ordained by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and whose rule is more absolute than Amos could have experienced.

MORAL CASUALITY

Stressing the principle of moral casuality (3:3-4, 8), Amos indicated that the` nature of a person would be made manifest (known) inevitably by the manner of one's life. The reason for this truth is not some natural tendency; rather, it is because God is the Lord, and His will is moral. God's decree is explained in Galatians 6:7-8. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." Blessing and judgment are always dependent upon the continual free sovereignty of God and human responsibility.

THE INDICTMENT

From a cultural perspective, the indictment against God's people in Amos 3 is perhaps one of the sternest. The prosecution is most convicting. "But they do not know how to do what is right," declares the Lord, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels" (3:10). The indictment is threefold. First there was moral corruption ("they do not know how to do what is right"). Secondly, there was violence and devastation." Lastly, there was greed ("in their citadels") Those who forgot to do what is right deserve judgment, not blessing. The citadels were storehouses of "violence and devastation" because the nation could no longer distinguish between good (right) and bad (wrong). Israel's supposed allies were summoned not to attack or defend Israel, but to be witnesses of the "great tumults within her and the oppressions within her midst" (3:9). Wealth was obtained through dishonest gain and by oppressing the poor, which was hidden "in the citadels" to keep it safe from all intruders. The nation was extravagant in it's accumulation of wealth: the rich built winter and summer houses--"houses of ivory" and "great houses"-- without thankfulness or thought given to the Lord, but through corrupted worship (3:14; cf. I Kings 12:29-33; 2 Kings 10:29; Jer. 48:13).

CONCLUSION

God concluded that it was not wealth that was hidden, but "violence and devastation." God was just in His judgment (cf. Ezek. 45:9). He would punish Israel's transgressions" (3:14) and their wealth would come to an end" (3:15). Wealth is neither good or evil. However, when people love prosperity more than God, they will find themselves embracing all sorts of evil (I Tim. 6;10; Rev. 3:17-18). Those who trust in riches "will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf" (Prov 11:28). Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens (23:4-5). One must recognize every possession as a gift of God to be used for His glory. Deuteronomy 8:10-11 communicates a wonderful principle: "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. 'Beware lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes..."

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