BETWEEN THE LINES

WHY I HAVE HOPE FOR AMERICA

Exclusive: Joseph Farah looks at U.S. chances when God judges the nations

“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.”

– Matthew 25:31-34

The natural me looks around at the direction of America and concludes: “There’s no hope.”

This country uniquely founded on a simple creed (We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness) has clearly lost its way.

Even our political system, so keenly devised, is horrifyingly broken.

Sin is glorified. Righteousness is savaged.

Life is redefined for convenience’s sake.

Liberty has come to mean licentiousness.

Happiness equals gluttony, as we amuse ourselves to death.

Those who read the Bible understand we will all be judged one day – every single person on earth.

What is not nearly as well-known to Christians and Jews is that every nation will also be judged.

I still retain hope that America will be judged among the sheep nations and not the goats.

It will take a miracle. But I still believe in miracles.

There are three facts that keep me positive – when I leave the natural realm and turn spiritual.

• There are still a lot of godly people in this country – tens of millions of believing Christians and Jews. You may not see them on television. You won’t see them teaching at universities or reporting the news (except at this news outlet). They may not be the silent majority any more, but they represent a significant minority. As things get darker and uglier in America as God is mocked, this body of believers is going to be turning to Him – and that’s just what He is waiting for. That’s when miracles happen.
• Among this remnant have arisen significant voices who recognize the fallen state of the nation, rallying around a very specific prescription God gave King Solomon thousands of years ago – a prescription for national renewal in times like these: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear one or more presidential candidates cite this verse before the 2016 election is upon us.
• Lastly, I am optimistic about America’s chances to be judged among the sheep and not the goats for two reasons – 1) Some nations are going to be judged favorably while others will not be. That is encouraging when I look around the world. 2) Because of the criteria that will be used by the Coming King of Righteousness – how nations treat “the brethren.”

Matthew 15:34-40 explains that. It’s often missed by those who read the Bible superficially, without context, or who accept at face value what they’re told by others the Bible says.

“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 hungred, 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 hungred, 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.”

Picture this: The Coming King – Jesus – is standing in His nation of Israel, the new ruler of the world. He has just saved His “brethren” from annihilation. And He is judging the nations on the basis of how they treated his brothers and sisters – the Jews, specifically, and other believers grafted into their covenant through faith in the One True Messiah.

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Which nation in the world today has treated Israel better than America? That’s not to say we haven’t stumbled here, too. That’s not to say we’ve been perfect. But perfection is not the standard for the judgment of nations any more than it is the standard for individual salvation. The standard for both is true repentance and the works that show it is sincere (James 2).

Will you pray with me for America’s turning away from its sin?

Will you pray with me that America turns away from its new found predilection toward persecution of the faithful?

Will you pray with me that America continues always to stand with Israel and its God?

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/04/why-i-have-hope-for-america/#xskoU33swTtkS5c8.99

My comments: I am in agreement with Joseph Farah in that which he prays for. However, we must remember that ALL THE NATIONS of the World come against Jerusalem and Chrsit Jesus in The Battle Of Armageddon. In the Word of God, I see individuals Judged as Sheep or Goats and not Nations. Christ will have people from every Nation as part of His Bride.