America: A Sheep Nation
Malachi 4
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
I believe America is still a Sheep Nation. America is not Babylon as some suggest, neither is New York City Babylon. Babylon is Babylon unless a prefix is added to the name such as in Mystery Babylon. Mystery Babylon is interpreted, according to end time theology, and represents the coming “One World Religion” where all religions become synchronized as serving the same god. We see this clearly in Revelation chapter seventeen. It is very important for Americans to understand our character as a Sheep Nation and to act accordingly. It is an incredible responsibility.
What Makes America a Sheep Nation?
The answer is, “the way we treat the Jewish people.” This was one of the great teachings of Jesus Christ concerning his own people, the Jews. The Bible is filled with a picture of the latter days of time and the place Israel, as a nation, and the distinct children of Israel, would occupy. The Bible says that Jerusalem would be a cup of trembling to all other nations. That particular statement in the book of Zechariah has been fulfilled to the ultimate. The words of Zechariah are breathtaking. “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.” (Zechariah 12:2-4). This development has been in process since 1948, when Israel became a nation, and has finally reached a time of scary reality.
Jerusalem is the city of God. It is the central city of the entire earth already, but will become the capital city of the Millennium reign after the Son of God returns to set up His kingdom. All of this is presently in preparation as the nations of the earth are sifted. Every nation of the world is being forced to decide the place they will occupy and the action they are willing to take. As it develops in this war-like atmosphere, Jerusalem and Israel will continue to be a thorn. Will we try to stop terrorism everywhere but in Israel? Will Israel be forced to give up Jerusalem to become the capitol of Palestine? Whatever happens in the short term, it will be rectified in the final reckoning. Our duty as a nation is to make certain we never forsake Israel.
Suddenly, Israel’s problem with terrorism is being elevated to a worldwide problem. Of course, this was already happening, but no one dared draw a comparison. Now, we are forced to draw the comparison and to realize that Arafat is of the exact same character as Bin Laden. Our government, led by President George W. Bush, is doing a wonderful job of building constituents for the elimination of the horrible threat. Yet, in naming the terrorist groups, those operating in Israel were the only ones missing on the list. Why? Because of one reason alone and that reason is Israel. Will we allow this worldwide coalition to force us to forsake Israel? I do not think so, but it is scary to think about. Will we eliminate every cell of terrorist except those operating in Israel? Again, I do not think so, but the thought is grave.
The place of Biblical principles in American history has guaranteed our partnership with Israel. The presence of many Jews as American citizens has further assured our love for them and their right to a nation of their own. We have been blessed because of this union with the Lord Jesus Christ’s brethren. They may have been our enemies for the Gospel’s sake, but they are beloved of the Father. “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” (Romans 11:28.) Many good people have spoiled their own life and misled many other people because they failed to rightly discern this passage of Scripture in Romans chapter eleven. The Jewish nation and people as a majority still reject their and our Messiah, but that is soon to change.
Psalm 72
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
America: A Sheep Nation
I cannot imagine a truth more important to America at this time in our history. When we speak of this idea of a “Sheep Nation,” we are dealing with responsibility, not privilege. The Bible is perfectly clear that both individuals and nations will answer to the Creator and Sustainer of this universe. The Scripture states, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17). Again the Psalmist David said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . .” (Psalm 33:12). A nation that is a friend to Israel does not have the liberty to continue in the dark sins of greed, unbridled pleasure, etc., and, especially, the killing of the unborn in abortion, the acceptance of deviant lifestyles, and generally the forsaking of God’s commandments. We will be held to a higher standard because of knowledge and the millions of professing Bible believers in America. Our airwaves are filled with religious and Biblical broadcasting. We have sent tens of thousands of missionaries from these shores. We have no excuse for Biblical ignorance. Our great problem as a nation is that we are still conscience driven, but disobedient. Our character is one of deep conviction, but shallow living. In the last days since September 11, 2001, there has been a surge of deep soul searching, but very little repentance of sin. The majority of this nation still respects the Ten Commandments, but does not obey them with strict surrender. If God should judge us with the standard of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ten righteous people would have saved the city from fire and brimstone.), we will be spared. America still has a remnant of godly citizens in every religious tradition that live exemplary lives. We better be extremely grateful for this. But, we must not treat our sins as a nation lightly. Repentance should be the resounding message all across America.
Let’s look at Jesus’ Word, concerning the idea of what constitutes a Sheep Nation. This is a fairly long passage, but please read it carefully. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:31-40).
The time of this ultimate fulfillment is after He returns to the earth to establish His kingdom worldwide. Yet, the basis of determining those nations that are judged as “Sheep Nations” will be by their deeds before He returns. If we are as close to the end as I believe we are, then our actions toward Israel at the present time will be the basis of His judgments. Please note that this entire judgment is premised on how we treat “His brethren.” The nation of Israel and the Jewish people are not always easy to love. They are still a very secular people and often driven by the incredible fears and horrors of their past two thousand years. They are strong willed and even arrogant in their incredible capacities to be creative, successful, and to survive against multiple odds. The Jewish people are characterized with a passionate thirst for the future. If they have a characteristic that is most “Divinely given” it is their “passionate thirst for the future.”
Deuteronomy 26
8 And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God:
The future of Israel is absolutely incredible and we should share the joy of this by regularly “praying for the peace of Jerusalem.” There is a passage in the writings of Israel, which reminds us of the future of Jerusalem. It is found in Isaiah chapter sixty-two. The entire chapter promises Israel of her coming glory. One verse will show you a picture of what the Heavenly Father is planning. “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” (Isaiah 62:3-4.)
But, the part I want you to see is how the God of Israel and the church has appointed angels to watch over Jerusalem. Remember, this began well over two thousand years ago. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.” (Isaiah 62:6-9).
Already, for over twenty-six hundred years, angels have kept a vigil over the walls of this city. He then reminds every Bible reader and believer to give Him, our Eternal God, no rest until He makes this city, His city, Jerusalem, a “praise in all the earth.” No wonder the city of Jerusalem is a thorn to the whole unregenerated world.
Ezekiel 39
28 Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
The Arab People
Being a friend to Israel must not mean that we are enemies to the Arab people. They are sons and daughters of Abraham, also. If we can convince the Arab people that we can defend both of these distinct peoples, Israel and the Arab nation, it would be a giant step toward some semblance of peace. Often we Christians, when defending Israel, come across as being enemies of everyone else in the Middle East. It is clear that millions of Arabs are just as willing to be friends of Israel as we are in America. Thousands of Arabs have died because they were not willing to join the Jihad of radical Islam. There is a host of devoted Arab Christians that serve Jehovah God as we do. There must always be a clear distinction between Arabs that are our friends and Arabs that hate everything the West believes.
We must not, as a nation, allow ourselves to be drawn into a holy war on Islamic people. We defend every world citizen’s right to choose his/her own faith. At the same time, we must refuse to put our faith in a context of a “One World Religion” or compromise the uniqueness of the Lord God Jehovah that gave His only Begotten Son.
Conclusion
Reading the literal truth of Holy Scripture reveals the uniqueness of our present times. We are privileged to live in such an hour that Bible prophecy is experiencing an explosion of fulfillment. I have absolute assurance that the Rapture can occur at any moment. No one can set a date. It is a truth beyond argument that the Father will choose the day in which He will send His Son into the mid-air to rapture the overcomers. Be ready at a moment’s notice. If you have been cleansed by the Blood and there is no sin reigning in your mortal body and if the Holy Spirit is constantly allowed to maintain the fire of His presence in your life, you are ready.