Impending Judgment on
The United States of America
Foreshadowed by Ancient Israel
"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." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
INTRODUCTION:
There are only two nations in all history founded from their inception on God, His Word and His grace. They are Israel with the call of Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, and the United States of America founded by believers in the Lord Jesus Christ seeking freedom to worship the Almighty in spirit and truth. God said to Abram:
"I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3)
God has blessed all the families of the earth through Abraham in two major ways:
1. The 66 Books of the Word of God which contain the words of salvation and eternal life for all people were given and protected by the seed of Abraham.
2. Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, came through the seed of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
President George Washington secured the blessings of God for America early. In 1790 in reply to letters from Jewish congregations he wrote:
1. To the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island saying:
"All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens. ... May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.'' -- G. Washington, 1790
2. To the Hebrew Congregations of Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, and Richmond in these words:
"The power and goodness of the Almighty, so strongly manifested in the events of our late glorious revolution, and His kind interposition in our behalf, have been no less visible in the establishment of our present equal government. In war He directed the sword, and in peace He has ruled in our councils. My agency in both has been guided by the best intentions and a sense of duty I owe to my country. ... May the same temporal and eternal blessings which you implore for me, rest upon your congregations." -- G. Washington, late December, 1790
3. In office for less than a month President Washington blessed the children of Abraham when he answered a 6 May 1789 letter from the Hebrew Congregation of Savannah, Georgia:
"... I thank you with great sincerity for your congratulations on my appointment to the office which I have the honor to hold by the unanimous choice of my fellow citizens, and especially the expressions you are pleased to use in testifying the confidence that is reposed in me by your congregation ... I rejoice that a spirit of liberality and philanthropy is much more prevalent than it formerly was among the enlightened nations of the earth, and that your brethren will benefit thereby in proportion as it shall become still more extensive; happily the people of the United States have in many instances exhibited examples worthy of imitation, the salutary influence of which will doubtless extend much farther if gratefully enjoying those blessings of peace which (under the favor of heaven) have been attained by fortitude in war, they shall conduct themselves with reverence to the Deity and charity toward their fellow- creatures. May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors, planted them in a promised land, Whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation, still continue to water them with the dews of heaven and make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah." -- G. Washington, late May 1789
Some may deny this, but I cannot but see America in Isaiah 55:5 which in context says:
"Behold, I [the Father] have given Him [the Son] for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, Thou [the Son] shalt call a nation [the USA] that Thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee [the USA] shall run unto thee [the USA] because of the LORD thy [the USA's] God, and for the Holy One of Israel [the Son]; for He hath glorified thee [the USA]. 6 Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our [the USA's] God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:4-7)
God has used the United States of America as a base to send forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. More Gospel preaching missionaries have gone forth into all the world from America since it's beginning than all the time before that back to our Lord Jesus Christ.
For these two reasons God has blessed America above all nations of all history, 1) because America has been a blessing to the Israelites, and 2) because we have give God's Word to the world!
AMERICA'S INCEPTION, INAUGURATION AND DEDICATION TO GOD:
The USA was conceived on the 4th of July, 1776 with the unanimous Declaration of Independence by the thirteen United States of America.
However, this once Great Nation was not birthed until the Constitution was completed, the House, Senate and President were elected, and finally the inauguration of the first President. George Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789 in New York City, the Nation's first Capitol.
In Washington's inauguration speech he acknowledged Divine providence in the establishment of the Nation with these words:
"... it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellowcitizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage. ..."
After these thanksgivings to the Almighty, Washington rightly states that America may not expect the continued blessings of the past if our Nation disregards the eternal truths and laws of righteousness ordained by God. He stated it in these words:
"... we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people."
President Washington closed his speech with supplication to God for the new Nation of the United States saying:
"Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend."
After President Washington's inaugural address, he lead the House and Senate to nearby St Paul's Chapel for a 2 hour prayer meeting. This same Chapel is the longest standing structure in New York City, perhaps symbolic of the ancient temple of the Lord in Jerusalem which stood until the people forsook the Almighty and they were taken into the 70 year Babylonian captivity, and again into the 1,878 year Roman Diaspora (70 AD to 1948). There is a plaque in St Paul's Chapel with this prayer of Washington which reads:
"Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the Unites States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and specific temper of mind which were the characteristics of Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplications, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Washington freely acknowledged and adored the great Saviour of "whosoever" (John 3:15-16; Rev. 22:17). This is seen in his hand written prayer journal of his youth where he wrote:
"I humbly beseech thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins, for the sake of Thy dear Son, my only Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; be pleased to renew my nature and write thy laws upon my heart, and help me to live, righteously, soberly, and godly in this evil world; make me humble, meek, patient and contented, and work in me the grace of thy Holy Spirit."
And again, "... give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
So it is seen that America was founded by a free people who overwhelmingly elected a Christian President who led their elected representatives to a prayer meeting on the very day of the establishment of the United States.
Fast forward 212 years, 5 months, and 11 days, from April 30, 1798 to September 11, 2001. America has changed greatly! The Bible and prayer has been banned from schools, and replaced with the absurd theory of evolution. Millions of innocents have not been allowed the most basic of unalienable rights, not only liberty, not only the pursuit of happiness, but defenseless babies by the millions in the womb are now denied life! Homosexuality, pornography, alcohol and drug abuse are now rampant. New Age and other false religions abound. Many have embraced the United Nations and the Global Governance of the New World Order. The overwhelming majority of our elected officials are corrupt and ignore the Constitution they are sworn to uphold. All this because we have abandoned the Almighty who's hand was mightily upon this Nation at it's founding!!!
America is very much reminiscent of Solomon and ancient Israel which forsook their God and fell into idolatry, and later rejected and crucified Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:11; Matt 27:22-25; Acts 2:22-23).
SOLOMON'S COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD & THE APOSTASY FROM GOD THAT FOLLOWED:
Similarly to the founding of America and Washington's inauguration, it is recorded in 1 Kings 9 and 2 Chronicles 7 that Solomon constituted the Temple of the Lord. These passages tell the story of God's promise of blessing if Solomon and his children would walk before the Lord in integrity of heart and in uprightness; but if he and his children would not follow the Lord and keep His statutes and go and serve other gods and worship them, then the Lord would cut them off from the land which He given them.
Please carefully observe 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, 19-20:
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people;
14 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. . . .
19 But if ye turn away, and forsake My statutes and My commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house [the Temple], which I have sanctified for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. (Read the full text of 2 Chronicles 7 here.)
Almighty Jehovah first gave Israel warnings of impending judgment and eventually removed all Israel from the Land in the 70 years of Babylonian Captivity. First was the strong warning of the 10 northern tribes being removed into the Assyrian captivity. Their removal from the Land occurred in 722 BC. The details are recorded in 2 Kings 17 where it says:
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
This is seen again in 1 Chronicles 5:
25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day. (cf. 1 Chron. 5:6; 2 Chron. 30; Ezra 2; Ezek 37:15)
AMERICA IS FOLLOWING IN ANCIENT ISRAEL'S FOOTSTEPS:
As has already been alluded to America was founded on the last day of April, 1789 upon the Biblical principles of our first God fearing President, George Washington who was elected virtually unanimously by a predominantly principled if not Christian people.
As a young man Washington was well aware of the Christian Great Awakening in the Colonies of the 1730s and 40s. Preachers, not the least of whom was Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) shaped the hearts and minds of the people with the Scriptures, and thereby all but saved the colonies from going the way of anarchists France.
Edwards was also a reader of the works of theologian, educator and philosopher, John Locke (1632-1704). By the time of Locke's death his influence on the thinking of Americans had been firmly established. Locke directly influenced everything from the American idea of separation of powers to the Bill of Rights. But in spite of these facts modern universities make little to no mention of him. An example of the reason for this is his classic work, Two Treatises of Civil Government (1689), has over 1300 references to the Bible. His Biblical and libertarian views are opposed to the New World Order elite who control not only the schools, but also a large part of the media, politics, government, finance, big business, and religious organizations of today.
The American people today, as the ancient 12 tribes of Israel, have forgotten their heritage and Biblical foundation, and now stand at the precipice of God's judgment. And as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who heeded not warnings of impending judgment, nor humble themselves before God when the 10 tribes of Israel were taken away into captivity; in similar manner America was warned by God on September 11, 2001, and has not listened.
Neither have blood washed believers in our Lord Jesus Christ turned from your wicked ways, and humbled yourselves, and sought the face of the Almighty in prayer that He might forgive our nation's great sins, and heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14). Most believers continue to live like the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17), care not for God's holy Word (2 Tim. 2:15), have no concern for the lost to witness to them of the saving grace of Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:17; Jude 22-23; Prov. 11:30), and fail to attend the House God faithfully (Heb. 10 23-25; 1 Tim. 3:15)! For born again, but worldly believers who are not dull of hearing, heed these verses of God's Word:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1) "Submit your selves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:7-10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
Oh God, forgive us for we have left our first love, Jesus; help us to see our need of repentance, and help us do the first works (Rev. 2:4-5)!
9/11: AMERICA'S WAKE UP CALL & THE PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENTS OF IT'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS:
As the 10 northern tribes worshiped false gods and for it went into the Assyrian captivity first in 722 BC; so likewise the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who remained in the land did not take heed of God's warnings, but also rebelled against God and fell into the Babylonian captivity in 606 BC.
It is recorded in the Congressional Record, 107th Congress that on the day after 9/11 that Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle (D, South Dakota) in his Floor Statement on a 'Joint Resolution of Condemnation for the September 11, 2001 said:
"Mr. President, it is with pain, sorrow, anger, and resolve that I stand before this Senate, a symbol for 212 years of the strength of our democracy, and say that America will emerge from this tragedy, as we have emerged from all adversity, united and strong. ... The world should know that the Members of both parties in both Houses stand united. The full resources of our Government will be brought to bear in aiding the search and rescue and in hunting down those responsible and those who may have aided or harbored them. Nothing, nothing can replace the losses that have been suffered. I know there is only the smallest measure of inspiration that can be taken from this devastation. But there is a passage in the Bible from Isaiah that I think speaks to all of us at times such as this: 'The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.' That is what we will do. We will rebuild and we will recover. The people of America will stand strong together because the people of America have always stood together. And those of us privileged to serve this great Nation will stand with you.” (View the video below)
Senator Daschle said that it was with "... anger, and resolve that [he stood] before [the] Senate, a symbol for 212 years of the strength of our democracy ..." This takes us back 212 years from 2001 to 1789 to the first Constitutionally instituted assembly of the Senate on April 30, 1789 and the day of the swearing in of George Washington as the first president of the United States of America. Unlike the first spokesman of our Republic, not democracy, Daschle rather than calling for prayer to seek God's will, as Washington did at his inauguration, pronounced a curse on our country. It is for this reason that God commands His people (2 Chron. 7:14) on this wise:
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
As Senator Daschle quoted Isaiah 9:10 from the corrupt New International Version little did he know that he used a verse which God used to pronounced a curse upon Israel for their sin of pride and idolatry. His verse comes just after the great prophetic passage concerning both the 1st and 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, the original Lord of the United States. Here is the verse in context with Isaiah 9:10 in bold from the pure English translation:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 9:6-13, King James Bible)
Three years later on September 11, 2004, Democratic Candidate for Vice President John Edwards (D, North Carolina) spoke the same curse upon America using the same verse. Speaking at the prayer breakfast for the Congressional Black Caucus he said:
"Good morning. Today, on this day of remembrance and mourning, we have the Lord’s word to get us through. 'The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.' ... And let me show you how we are building and putting cedars in those three hallowed places - the footprints of the Towers, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania. ... Walk with me through this day. And you will see that while those bricks fell and the sycamores cut down, our people are making those cedars rise. ... Each time that bell tolls, it calls us to a greater purpose. It calls us to never forget. It calls us to do the Lord’s work here on earth. And it calls on us to always remember that when we walk through this day together - the cedars will rise, the stones will go up, and this season of hope will endure." (See the video below, and Remarks to the September 11, 2004 Congressional Black Caucus Prayer Breakfast).
Both Tom Daschle and John Edwards left office in disgrace amid scandals. Daschle was President Obama's nominee to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, but he withdrew his name on February 3, 2009, amid a growing controversy over his failure to accurately report and pay income taxes. On June 3, 2011, Edwards was indicted by a North Carolina grand jury on six felony charges related to an extramarital affair he admitted to following his 2008 campaign.
THE INTERPRETATION & TIMELINE OF ISAIAH 9:8-13:
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
From the prophetic message of peace and justice through Jesus Christ, "the Prince of peace" (Isaiah 9:6-7), the prophet turns and begins his pronouncement of judgment and doom upon Israel in verse 8.
The prophetic Word of judgment had "lighted upon Israel" because of her pride and arrogance (Isaiah 9:8).
Samaria, in Ephraim was the capital of the 10 tribes of Israel where their king sat (Isaiah 7:9-10).
Israel had said, "... in the pride and stoutness of heart, the bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." They had survived an initial attack by and a partial captivity of Gilead, Galilee, all the land of Naphtali by the Assyrians (2 Kings 15:29), but determined "in the pride and stoutness of heart that it would not happen again. They would use stronger building materials for their fortifications, "hewn stones" like those used by Solomon in the building of the Temple (1 Kings 5:17). They would replace the "sycomores" that were cut down by the Assyrians with strong "cedars."
Where it says, "... the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him" (Isaiah 9:11) it speaks of Assyria. Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel had been allies (Isaiah 7:1-2), but when Assyria defeated Syria and her capitol, Damascus in 732 BC, then they too became Israel's adversary. So thus it is said, "the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth." Isaiah 9:12).
Time Line of the Captivity of Israel:
1. In 2 Kings 15:27-29 which dates about 758 B.C. we read of the initial captivity of Israel:
"In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria." (2 Kings 15:27-29)
2. Our Text, Isaiah 9:8-13, was penned about B.C. 740.
3. Around B.C. 740 Israel and Syria's unsuccessful try to take Jerusalem (2 Kings 16:5-6), and Judah requests the help of King Tiglathpileser against Syria and receive it (2 Kings 16:7-9).
4. Syria and Damascus fall to Assyria in approximately B.C. 732.
5. In 2 Kings 17:1-6 which dates about 722 B.C. we read of the final captivity of Israel:
"In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." (cf. 1 Chron. 5:26)
Reasoning behind the prophecy of Isaiah 9:8-13:
Again in verses 12 and 13 of our text in Isaiah 9 it says, "... For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For the people turneth not unto Him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts." It was the Lord God Almighty who had smitten Israel, for their pride, idolatry and rebellion, but they refused to repent. Continuing from where we left off in 2 Kings 17 we continue from verse 7 to 12 to find the reason for God's fierce anger:
"For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."
The above passage from 2 Kings 17:7-12 is similar to the place the United States of America finds herself today. Help us, O Almighty God!
The Lord's chastening rod for the punishment of Israel:
"O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. ... Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood." (Isaiah 10:5-7, 15)
The end of this chastening rod of the Lord:
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him ... as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt." (Isaiah 10:24-26)
The remnant of Israel to return:
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God." (Isaiah 10:20-21)
AMAZING PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 9:9-10 POINTS PEOPLE TO THE TRUE GOD & ONLY SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST:
Words full of Pride saying, Hewn Stones for Bricks and Cedars for Sycomores:
America as Israel of old has not heeded God's warnings, and as we will see there are amazing parallels between the events of 9/11 and Isaiah 9:9-10.
When Assyria first attacked Israel she cut down many of the the sycamore trees. Samaria representing the 10 tribes of Israel said, "... in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." (Isaiah 9:9-10)
Matthew Henry (1662-1714) in his commentary says this concerning the passage:
"They say, in the pride and stoutness of their heart, Let God himself do his worst; we will hold our own, and make our part good with him. If he ruin our houses, we will repair them, and make them stronger and finer than they were before. Our landlord shall not turn us out of doors, though we pay him no rent, but we will keep in possession. If the houses that were built of bricks be demolished in the war, we will rebuild them with hewn stones, that shall not so easily be thrown down. If the enemy cut down the sycamores, we will plant cedars in the room of them. We will make a hand of God's judgments, gain by them, and so outbrave them."
John Gill (1697-1771) in his commentary on Isaiah 9:10 wrote:
"The sycamores are cut down; which grew in the fields, and outer parts of the cities, and were but a mean sort of wood, and which the Assyrians cut down to serve several purposes in their siege; of this sort of trees, ... but we will change them into cedars; that is, will plant cedars in place of them; trees tall and large, very delightful to look at, of great worth and usefulness, and very durable; though this may regard not so much the planting of them as the use of them in building, and the sense be agreeable to the former clause; that as, instead of brick, they would build houses with hewn stone; so, instead of sycamore wood, which was not so substantial and durable, and fit for building, they would make use of cedar, which was both beautiful and lasting. ... [T]hey flattered themselves they should be gainers, and not losers, by the Assyrian invasion; thus deriding it, and despising the prophecy concerning it.”
Now note the following parallels of Isaiah 9:9-10 and 9/11:
1. A sycomore was cut down:
A falling steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center struck down a sycomore tree at the northwest corner of the graveyard knocking it over and protecting Saint Paul's Chapel where George Washington had prayed on the day of the founding of America on April 30, 1789!
On September 14th Saint Paul’s was finally inspected for damage. Unlike the buildings on the same street, Church Street to the Northwest, across from the Twin Towers Saint Paul’s sustained no damage. The workers expected to find a pile of rubble, but not a bit of the walls or the roof had been damaged. There was only a cracked window, but the building’s structure was as sound as it had ever been.
2. The sycamore was changed:
On November 22, 2003 a 21 foot tall Norway Spruce, dubbed "the Tree of Hope," was lifted into the same place that the sycamore had stood at the northwest corner of the Saint Paul's property.
The Norway Spruce (of the Genus & Species: Picea abies) is the same kind of tree, a pine, as the "cedar" (Cedrus libani) spoken of in Isaiah 9:10. They are both in the same biological Kingdom (Plantae), Division (Pinophyta), Class (Pinopsida), Order (Pinales) and Family (Pinaceae).
During it's dedication ceremony as it was being lowered to the place where the sycamore once stood, a clergyman said: "We are gathered here today on holy ground. Ground hallowed by its witness to the dust, and death and destruction of September 11th. The ground is sanctified by our presence here as we dedicate this Tree of Hope in witness the divine within each of us." That phrase, "the divine within each of us" is not Christian, but is occult New Age language, and no ground is sanctified or made holy by any man's presence.
Furthermore, there is NO "divine within each of us," but only in those who are "born again" believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:5-16; 1 Pet 1:18-23; James 1:18, 21; Titus 3:5), and the witness to it is not a tree, but is God Himself! That is the only way people may become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).
This pine tree was decorated and used as a pagan christmas tree. The Word of God tells us that we should not learn the way of pagans such as in setting up idolatrous trees:
"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen. ... For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (Jeremiah 10:2-4)
3. In pride and stoutness of heart National, State and local leaders said, we will build:
We have already seen what Tom Daschle and John Edwards said, even using the very words that God used to curse Israel (Isaiah 9:10), but not understanding that they pronounced a curse on America, because the Country is sinful before the Lord. However, the Governor of New York, and Mayor of New York City spoke "in pride and stoutness of heart" likewise:
In a speech on the Senate Floor of the United States on September 12, 2001 Skull and Bones Senator John Kerry said:
"I believe one of the first things we should commit to - with federal help that underscores our nation's purpose - is to rebuild the towers of the World Trade Center and show the world we are not afraid - we are defiant." (John Kerry Speech on 09/12/2001)
New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani said on the day of the crisis:
"We will rebuild: We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again." (Quoted in the article by Tess Taylor entitled: Should the Twin Towers be Rebuilt).
New York State Governor, George E. Pataki said the following on the 4th of July 2004:
"Today we build the Freedom Tower. ... Let this great Freedom Tower show the world that what our enemies sought to destroy, our democracy, our freedom, our way of life -- stands taller than ever." (Governor Pataki's complete speech, Laying of the Cornerstone for Freedom Tower, is available here in pdf format.)
The first openly sodomite state governor in United States history, New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey, usurped God Almighty's words concerning the building of His second Temple at the return of the Jews from the 70 year Babylonian captivity. Governor McGreevey said this on the July 4, 2004 at the dedication of the Freedom Tower:
"The glory of this latter house shall exceed the former." (Book of Haggai 2:9. See New York Times story, Rebirth Marked by Cornerstone at Ground Zero by David W. Dunlap, July 5, 2004).
4. The bricks are fallen down:
The fallen bricks and most everything else that once stood at Ground Zero was reduced to dust and ashes, and piles of twisted and molten metal.
Richard Pyle in his January 4, 2002 Associated Press article makes it sound better than it actually was. Pyle wrote this concerning the World Trade Center site:
"For three months, the 16-acre site had the look of post-World War II Berlin with its buildings skeletonized and reduced to piles of bricks by Allied bombing raids." (Source: The Attack and Aftermath article: Changes continue at World Trade Center site as visitors get more of a glimpse into wreckage)
5. They say, we will build with hewn stones:
The symbol of Israel's rebuilding was the quarried stone. The first stone used in the construction of the Freedom Tower was the hewn stone from New York granite which was lowered by crane in a ceremony on July 4, 2004. Governor George Pataki said this at the ceremony:
"Today is indeed, a momentous day. Today we take 20 tons of Adirondack granite -- the bedrock of our state -- and place it as the foundation, the bedrock of a new symbol of American strength and confidence. Today, we lay the cornerstone for a new symbol of this city and this country and of our resolve in the face of terror. Today we build the Freedom Tower." (New York Lays Cornerstone For Freedom Tower, CNN).
Here we have seen 5 clear cut parallels from Isaiah 9:9-10 between the only two nations in history that were founded upon the truth of the one true God and His holy Word. Namely Israel and the United States. The have been fulfilled upon Israel to the letter, and are likewise being fulfilled upon America in our day. God gave warning before hand of more severe judgment if left unheeded.
Again the 5 prophetic signs seen both in ancient Israel and modern America were: 1) Sycomores were cut down by the enemy; 2) Bricks had been knocked down by the enemy; 3) In pride and defiance leaders said, we will rebuild; 4) The sycamores were replaced with pine trees; 5) They laid hewn stones in the place the fallen brick. The bottom line: Israel went into captivity; America has been warned!
But that is not all. There are more prophetic signs of warning!
MORE AMAZING PROPHECIES POINTING PEOPLE TO CHRIST BEFORE THE SOON COMING TRIBULATION:
1. The sign of the Shamittah and Jubile that occurred just after 9/11 on the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement:
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 says:
"At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release [shamittah], And this is the manner of the release [shamittah]: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release [shamat] it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release [shamittah]."
The Hebrew "shamita" or "shamittah" (literally: "release") begins on the first day of the new Sabbatical Year or seven year cycle. Personal debts are considered forgiven as of the end of this 7th year. This day also ends the year long rest of the land which was mandated in the Law of Moses for the Land of Israel (Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:1-7; Deut. 15:1-9, 31:10-11). The land rests during the seventh year, just as no work was to be done on the seventh day.
The Hebrew Calendar has two different New Years: One for the Biblical Feast Days which begins on the first of the seven feasts, Passover (during the March / April time frame; The Biblical month of Nisan, also called Abib). The other is the Civil Calendar that begins during the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, which means "the head of the year") on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishrei (September / October time frame). The first of Tishrei is when the numbered year changes, and this date is most significant for determining the Shemittah (release) and Yovel (Jubile) years. The Jubile come after 7 Shemittahs (49 years), at the beginning of the 50th year on the 10th of Tishrei which is the Day of Atonement.
The Shemittah is still observed in contemporary Judaism. Since the reestablishment of Israel in 1948 the Shamittah years have been observed in 1950-1951 (The Hebrew calendar year of 5712), 1958-1959 (5719), 1965-1966 (5726), 1972-1973 (5733), 1979-1980 (5740), 1986-1987 (5747), 1993-1994 (5754), 2000-2001 (5761), 2007-2008 (5768). The next Shamittah will be 2014-2015 (5775).
Today the Jubile is not observed, because all 12 tribes must be present in the land, but all 12 cannot be identified at this time. However, if it was observed, the latest Jubile would have began on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) on September 27, 2001, and the most recent Shemittah began on September 30, 2008.
It is interesting that just after 9/11 when the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reopened on September 17, 2001, after having been closed for a week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed down 7%, having fallen 684 points by the end of trading. It was the biggest-ever one-day point decline up until that time. By the end of the week, the DJIA had fallen 1369.7 points (14.3%), its largest one-week point drop in history. It cannot be a coincidence that by the time the NYSE closed it was Tishrei 1, 5762 in Israel on the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashana) which was also the Shemittah, the day of the release of debts. (See September 2001 Calendar with Biblical months, days and feast days)
But that's not all! Seven years later and the next Shemittah on September 30, 2008, in Israel, the 29th in New York the same thing happened again. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 7% again, having dropped 777 points. Approximately $1.2 trillion of the market value was lost. (See September 2008 Calendar with Biblical months, days and feast days)
2. The next Shamittah will occur in conjunction with the 7th Passover / Tabernacles Lunar Tetreds:
In 2005, artist Steve Tobin created a ten-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a sycamore tree’s root structure fo Trinity Wall Street. The sycamore in question is known as “the tree that saved St. Paul’s Chapel,” because it took the brunt of damage from debris falling from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and the chapel remained relatively unscathed.
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