June 19, 2012
First of all, Joel is a Christian jew who's written several best sellers of which mostly focus on Bible prophecy and how it relates to the days we are living in. He also, in the past, worked on several political campaign committees and has met and talked with many national leaders such as Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel as well as American presidents, congressmen and senators.
I had the pleasure of not only hearing him speak once here in the area but also meeting him and having a brief discussion on our shared passion .... Bible prophecy. As I stated prior, this past Saturday's program was based on his latest treatise ... "Implosion" ... In a nutshell, it was a discussion on how much trouble America is in as he sees it and if there is really anything any of us can do about it.
The title .. "Implosion" .. says exactly how he feels concerning America's fate. Joel truly feels America is coming apart at the seams, as do I. ... He related it this way ... America is the Titanic and sooner than later, we will hit an iceberg that will capsize our nation. ... What are those icebergs? ... National debt (almost 16 trillion & counting) ... moral decay such as gay rights, pornography (which grosses more $$$ than CBS, NBC, and ABC combined), abortion (53 million murders & counting), the family unit disintegrating (divorce, parents killing their entire families), and on and on .....
... And where is the Church? According to Joel, the "light" has pretty much gone out. Think of this ... 84% of Americans claim to be Christian ... so how can this all happen, if that were the case? ... God talked about the last days church. Here's a couple of examples ... To start, ll Timothy 3:1-5 says, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3) without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4) treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - 5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. ..." ... Also, Revelation 3:14-22 talks about the rich and lukewarm Church of Laodicea, which many prophecy watchmen, including myself, believes represents the final condition of the earthly church just prior to Christ's return.
So we claim it, but we obviously don't live it! ... We read what the Bible says but we apparently don't much care. Joel says that we have been lulled to sleep. ... He used this great analogy to explain our dilemma (and hence, the title of this commentary). ... He says that we are like frogs in a big pot of water. The fire starts under the pot and the water slowly gets hotter & hotter .... until it comes to a boil. ... Now during this process, the frog doesn't realize the temperature change and slowly boils to death ... he dies almost before he realizes what is happening!
People claim to be worried and concerned, but like the frogs in the pot, they are soon to face catastrophe and are seemingly unaware. ... Look at this event as an example ... we had 19 people show up! ... Now I know it was Saturday ... and the sun was out ... and ... and ... I rest his and my case.
Continuing, some here in America really believe we can still solve our serious national issues through the political process. Joel said, and I agree with him 100%, that Washington will NEVER save this country ... maybe it can help avoid an iceberg or two along the way, but ultimately, it will not be the answer.
Let me share an excerpt from a comment I wrote to a so-called conservative christian website who, at the beginning of the Republican campaign, was not a Romney supporter because of his Mormon affiliation, but now, since Mr. Romney is the apparent candidate, is spouting all things wonderful about him ... The excerpt reads, "The article may be correct in all the wonderful things Mr. Romney has accomplished in his life ... but the part that bothers me is the 'compromise' people are willing to accept. Anyone who reads and understands even the basics of scripture knows that the man is a member of a cult. I don't know about any of you, but I don't want my president taking advice and instruction from some self-appointed cult leader and prophet in Salt Lake City. Jesus is very specific when it comes to the consequences of compromise in any shape or form .... Now, the real dilemma ... Obama is NO better! In fact, he claims to be a christian but supports everything contrary to what scripture teaches. ... So what do we do? ...There is no such thing that is acceptable to Christ in the form of the "lesser of two evils" ... they are both evil! ... My suggestion to all who are trying to justify either of these two candidates is this ..... focus more on saving souls and a whole lot less on trying to find some flawed human being to take us out of our 'worldly condition.' ... It has to be prayers instead of petitions, people! Voting for either of these two choices ... and knowing what they stand for ... and you knowing what you're doing .. to me .. is compromising your faith. ... I, for one, can't live with that." ...Needless to say, I obviously agree with Joel when he says the political machine will not save our country or our world.
So what can we do? ... As Joel said, and I once again agree .... America is slipping ... sliding back into the pack. ..... How will it happen? ... Economic collapse ... war or terrorists ... natural disasters ... who knows for sure, but rest assured, it will happen. ... We just don't know exactly how far she will fall and exactly when ...
In closing, Joel made some of the most powerful statements one could make concerning each of our individual decisions relating our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He said very plainly that everyone's decision would determine where they would spend ALL OF ETERNITY (that's forever) ... in a fiery hell where there would be no possible escape ... or a paradise where we will live with those we love in joy & good health FOREVER! ... When you think just for a moment the consequences of a half-hearted effort toward God ... when we think about those we really care for who don't know Christ and know their eternal fate ... It's really mind-blowing!
So quit wasting time and start spreading the good news of Jesus Christ! .... The cost of waiting or procrastinating is just too great ... for both you and the ones you love.
Until next time,
Red