PRE-364-361. The Exclusiveness of Christ

361. The Exclusiveness of Christ

The Exclusiveness of Christ

Understanding the Present War

by David Wilkerson

October 29, 2001

[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]

On Thursday, September 20, 2001, the President of the United States gave a powerful speech to a joint session of Congress. He warned America that we are now at war against worldwide terrorism. The President called this war a battle between freedom and religious terrorism. The terrorists we're warring against seek to impose their religious beliefs upon the entire world.

That truly is the admitted goal of all Islamic extremists. They want to replace the Bible with the Koran. And they seek to impose a single religion upon the earth: Islam.

Yet the present war goes far beyond this conflict. The war we're involved in has always been, and always will be, between two eternal powers: Satan's principalities and powers, and God's only Son, the divine Christ. Let me explain.

This war started eons ago, in heaven. An actual war took place, with the archangel Michael and an army of angels fighting Lucifer and the rebellious angels who had aligned themselves with him. "There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Rev_12:7-9).

Lucifer, whom we call Satan, lost the battle. And he was cast down to earth with the other rebellious angels (who comprised a third of all the angels of heaven). So, now the war began to take place on earth. The devil set up a secret, underground kingdom with his demonized angels. And he began waging war against God's people by possessing the bodies of wicked human beings.

Satan started his own religion, uniting those he possessed into one worldwide body. He appointed demon-possessed people to be prophets, teachers, even rulers of nations. And he sent them forth to spread his unholy gospel. But the devil had a problem. He couldn't win converts through his teachings. He couldn't convict or persuade anyone with his gospel. Why? It didn't produce life. It couldn't provide peace, joy or power over enslaving sin.

So Satan had to resort to warfare. And his weapons became force and fear. In short, the devil raised up an army of terrorists to break down the opposition. And he used this bloodthirsty army to take over entire nations. He brought societies under his demonic rule, and he released millions of missionaries from these nations to spread his gospel. Many have since paid with their lives to enforce his one-world religion.

The war Satan wages has always been against God's people. "When the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [the church] which brought forth the man child [Christ]" (Rev_12:13). This persecution began with God's church in the wilderness. Satan possessed Egypt's Pharaoh so he might destroy Israel through slave labor. The devil knew Christ would come through the lineage of Israel. So he sought to obliterate Israel, in order to stop the birth of the "man child."

But Scripture says a "great eagle" swooped down to rescue God's people: "To the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness…where she is nourished for a time…from the face of the serpent" (12:14).

The Lord delivered his church out of Egypt, and covered them with divine wings of protection: "The Lord's portion is his people…he found him in a desert land, and…he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him" (Deu_32:9-12).

What an incredible image. Like a fierce mother eagle, God picked up his church and carried her through every trial: at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and in the Promised Land. He alone would keep and preserve the "woman" who would bear forth Christ.

Consider how Satan sent a flood of enticements to seduce Israel in the wilderness and the Promised Land.

Scripture tells us the dragon flooded Israel with demonic principalities: "The serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood" (Rev_12:15). The mission of these satanic powers was to seduce God's people into devilish idolatries. We see this happen as the nations surrounding Israel enticed them with sensuality of all kinds.

This awful demonic flood continued throughout Israel's history, from the time of the kings down through the prophets. David describes being overwhelmed by floods of ungodly men and deep waters. Likewise, Isaiah writes, "The enemy shall come in like a flood" (Isa_59:19).

Finally, at the close of the Old Testament, the church seemed mortally wounded. Satan's flood had just about defeated God's people. By now, Israel's worship was polluted, mixed with sensuality and idolatry. Their awful state caused God to cry out to his people, "Where is my fear?" (Mal_1:6). And to the priests he thundered, "O priests, that despise my name…ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar…I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand…

"Ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law… ye have wearied the Lord with your words…ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them" (1:6-7, 10; 2:8, 14, 17).

Yet, at the very end of Malachi, the last book of the Old Covenant, we see a ray of light. The Lord proclaims in the final chapter: "Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…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" (4:2-3).

God had a remedy for his hurting church. The Sun of righteousness would come bringing victory. Just when hell seemed to have won, heaven cried, "Help is on the way. Don't fear. The gates of hell will not prevail against God's people."

You see, God had known all along this demonic flood would come. Our Lord is never caught off guard. He knows the end from the very beginning. And he knew Satan's flood upon the church had to be thwarted before it consumed them.

Scripture reveals the help that was coming: "The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth" (Rev_12:16). Help came through the resurrection of Christ. When "the earth opened her mouth," it opened the grave that held the Messiah. Satan couldn't keep Jesus sealed under the earth. God opened the tomb, and Christ arose. And his resurrection swallowed up the power of Satan's flood. The victory of the cross predetermined the end of all opposition from hell.

What happened next? "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (12:17). Who is this remnant of the woman's seed? It's us, the church. The devil is now at war with God's people again, in these last days.

But Satan's attacks aren't aimed at what the world calls the church. His battle isn't against religious systems. Satan is attacking the holy seed, the Christ-exalting remnant. He's at war with those who believe and preach Jesus Christ as Lord.

There is a single issue and cause in this final war.

The issue at the center of this war is the divinity of Jesus. Is he the Christ, the only begotten of the Father, God in flesh, the Savior of the world? Or, was Jesus just another prophet who went about doing good? Was he an ordinary man, not divine, not the resurrected Savior who sits with God in glory?

The apostle Peter testified to the exclusiveness of Christ: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Act_4:12). Peter makes it absolutely exclusive: no other name under heaven provides eternal salvation. Jesus alone is the Messiah, the divine Son of God. And he won't share that glory with any other entity.

Likewise, Paul declares, "What is the exceeding greatness of his power…which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Eph_1:19-21). Paul then adds that Jesus is the exclusive head of all things: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body" (1:22'9623).

Paul also points out that one day every creature will acknowledge Jesus as Lord exclusively: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Php_2:9-11).

Every tongue in creation is going to testify, not that Mohammed is Lord, nor Allah, nor any of Hinduism's million gods, but that Jesus Christ is the one and only Lamb of God. That is the issue at the heart of this war. Yet, don't be mistaken: the present war isn't over a name. It's over the divinity of Jesus, the resurrected, Lord.

Right now, the backslidden, ecumenical church is racing into the arms of Satan's strategy for a one-world church. Eventually, this unified church is going to include all of the world's major religions: Catholicism, Greek Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, even Protestantism. And Satan will accomplish a single compromise between these religions, to bring this unity about. What will bind them together? The name of Jesus.

Of course, the Jesus who binds these groups together will be a different Christ, of a different gospel. Yet the very name will cause once-evangelical denominations to join with other faiths, saying, "We can agree on one thing: Jesus was a teacher and a prophet. And he's a spirit of human goodness in all of us. We all can accept him as a holy man."

Imagine the Creator of the universe being reduced to this. Jesus will no longer be accepted as the Christ, the divine Lord. The ecumenical church will do away with any idea of his resurrection and saving power. Instead, they'll use him to unite others in Satan's own one-world religion.

The fact is, the whole world can embrace a Jesus who's only a man. Satan has no problem with that. He can accept the world's admiration and praise of a human-only Jesus. Indeed, many writers have extolled Jesus' human works yet scoffed at his divinity. Some of the most flowery words ever written about him have been authored by agnostic ministers.

Can you see Satan's "love trap" in all of this?

When the devil's one-world church finally trumpets its message throughout the earth, millions of lukewarm Christians will be deceived. They'll reason, "This all-church union must be okay. Its leaders talk so much about Jesus. Anybody who speaks of Jesus this much has to have a legitimate Christian faith."

They couldn't be more wrong. The very mantra of Satan's devilish union will be, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." Today, evangelical leaders are already asking, "Why can't all groups be one in Jesus? After all, Jews acknowledge Jesus as a prophet. Muslims see him as a good man and a great teacher. Even Sikhs and Hindus respect Jesus."

Let me stop here to make something clear: I'm thankful for the national unity that has risen from the tragedy of September 11. I'm grateful that Americans of various faiths have been able to stand together as a nation united. I pray this unity remains long after our grief subsides.

But the unity of religions we're about to see will involve something much different. What I foresee is contained in Jesus' prophecy: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Mat_7:22).

Almost all religions perform exorcisms. And certain churches claim great successes in exorcizing demons. But many such churches do their exorcisms, teachings and good works in a different Jesus' name. As Christ points out, these people will claim at the judgment, "Lord, we did all these things in your name. We were Jesus people." But the Lord will answer, "Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (7:23).

Jesus will tell them, "I don't know you. And you certainly don't know me. I was the living Son of God, but you told everybody I was just a man. You tried to take away the power of my gospel. You've got the wrong Jesus. Now, depart from me. You have no part in my kingdom."

Paul warns us not to be corrupted away from "the simplicity that is in Christ" (2Co_11:3). The Greek word for simplicity in this verse means singleness, exclusiveness. In other words, "Christ isn't a complex entity. The truth about him is very simple: Jesus is God. He is divine, born of a virgin, crucified and raised from the dead. But I'm afraid you're being corrupted away from this single, exclusive truth." "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [the utter exclusiveness] that is in Christ" (11:3).

Paul then warns of ministers who preach a different Jesus: "If he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him" (11:4). Paul was telling the Corinthians, in essence, "You're listening to another gospel, not to the gospel of Christ. You're hearing about another Jesus, not the one who saved you. And I fear you're going to be corrupted by this different Jesus, who isn't the real Christ at all.

"You don't know it, but you're being led away from the divinity of Christ. And I can't believe you put up with it. You're bearing with these teachers who are corrupting you. You don't even test what they say, to see if it's scriptural. Right now, you're losing your discernment. You're sitting under a demonic gospel, with another Jesus being exalted. And you don't know where it's leading you."

A great persecution is coming to the holy remnant of saints.

Satan's ecumenical union of churches will bring about a great persecution. And the union itself will be the chief persecuting force. Even now, the Russian Orthodox Church is pressuring Russia's government to shut down all evangelical churches in that country. They want to drive out evangelical Christianity completely from their midst.

Here in America we see the beginnings of the same kind of pressure. I was handed a videotape of a network TV interview with a well-known evangelist. The interviewer asked the minister point blank: "Will Muslims be saved? And will Jews be saved if they don't believe in Jesus?"

Clearly, the evangelist was being pressed into a corner. He knew if he answered with Peter's statement, "There is no other name whereby men can be saved except Jesus Christ, the Son of God," he would have been despised. The press would have crucified him.

Instead, the evangelist was applauded for his answer: "Muslims love Jesus. And Jews have the Spirit of Jesus in them. Yes, they'll both be saved." I couldn't believe what I heard this committed Christian leader saying.

It's impossible to be accepted by the world if you take a stand on the divinity of Christ. You'll be shunned and rejected, made a target of mockery. On the other hand, any minister who's praised by the world and by other religions has compromised Christ's gospel. Such a person preaches another Jesus.

I believe the whole world will make this the defining question in the days ahead: "Do you believe in the exclusiveness of Jesus Christ? Are people going to hell because they don't believe he's the only way to salvation?" We'll be confronted with this by non-believing friends, coworkers, potential employers. They may not ask it in such literal terms, but the question will remain nonetheless. And if we take a stand, answering, "Yes, I believe Jesus alone can save," we'll be seen as religious bigots. We'll be mocked and persecuted as being politically incorrect and intolerant.

As evangelical Christians, we at Times Square Church are not anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic or anti-anyone. We believe God loves the whole world. He loves Jews, Muslims, homosexuals, atheists. But as Christians, we're compelled to disagree about faith with each of these, because we stand on the Bible as God's Word.

You may think such persecution won't come until the distant future. But right now, various ecumenical groups are drafting theological statements for the one-world church union. And they're dealing with what they call "the Jesus issue."

Already the European Union of nations has drawn up laws forbidding any criticism of its activities. Soon, no one will be able to publicly question the union. I believe this type of climate will give rise to the one-world church. The European Union's laws are now only a step away from forbidding "religious bigotry" and outlawing proselytizing in the name of any religion.

In my opinion, this is all part of Satan's wrath against the holy seed of Christ on earth. He's waging war by enraging multitudes, regardless of their belief, against Christians. More and more, we'll see the devil mobilizing masses to confront anyone who believes Jesus alone has the power to save. Suddenly, everyone who ignored us before will ask us pointedly, "Do you believe Jesus is the only way to heaven? I'm a good person, but I don't believe in anything. Are you telling me I'll go to hell because I don't believe your Jesus is God?"

Taking a stand for truth may cost us our jobs, careers, friendships. In some countries, it's already costing Christians their lives. Yet Jesus is our example of how to respond. When the high priest asked, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?", Jesus answered without hesitation, "I am" (Mar_14:61-62).

Soon the whole world will ask us to accept another Jesus. They'll pressure us to put aside our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. They'll want us to deny his virgin birth, his supernatural power, his miracles, his sacrificial death, his resurrection, his second coming. Yet, as his followers, we know these are truths on which eternity hinges. And we must be willing to die for them.

I've already decided how I'm going to answer. To anyone who poses these questions, I'll state with love and compassion: "You have the right to believe as you choose. Or, you have the right to disbelieve. You can worship any god, or you can worship nothing. I won't interfere with any path you pursue. But I also have the right to believe what I choose. And I believe there is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved, but Jesus Christ. My God loves everybody. And the cross of Christ is proof of that love."

The Victor in this war has already been predetermined.

The book of Daniel gives us a prophetic look at how the present war is going to end. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and Daniel interpreted it:

"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image…whose brightness was excellent…and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay" (Dan_2:31-33).

The king had dreamed of a huge image in human form, bright, shining and terrible. Its entire body was made of sturdy metal. Yet its feet were made of clay. Daniel pointed out that this image represented the kingdoms of the world, and the clay signified the weakness of the last world powers. These kingdoms would become less bright and terrible as the end approaches. Then Daniel continued:

"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then the…pieces became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away…and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" (2:34-35).

The stone Daniel describes here is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the Rock of Ages. And he's coming down out of heaven to smash all earthly empires. When the world sees this happen, our Lord's divinity will be undeniable. Every knee will bow before him and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We're not going to bring down terrorists with our weapons, bombers or missiles. We can't rid the world of such vile wickedness by human might. God says the kingdom of his Son will finally break and consume all evil empires. Yes, there will be justice. But it will come from the heavenly Father above.

What a day it's going to be when all the world's terrorists wake up before the judgment seat of Christ. They'll think, "We were promised paradise for our sacrifice. We were told we would have beautiful women, and luscious food and drink, for all eternity." But they'll suddenly realize that the very name they tried to wipe out completely now stands before them as their Judge.

My message to you here boils down to this single verse: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Joh_14:6). Jesus' statement here is absolutely exclusive. No Muslim, no Hindu, no Jew, no Gentile, nobody can come to the Father by any way except Christ.

Just as Jesus asked his twelve disciples, he asks us today: "Whom do men say that I am?" (Mar_8:27). The disciples answered, "John the Baptist: but some say, Elias [Elijah]; and others, One of the prophets" (8:28). But Jesus' real question to his followers came next: "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?" (8:29).

Our answer must be the same as Peter's: "Thou art the Christ" (8:29). May this be our confession before the whole world, now and forever.

362. The Towers Have Fallen But We Missed The Message

The Towers Have Fallen But We Missed the Message

by David Wilkerson

October 8, 2001

[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were destroyed. Five days later, as I was preparing this message, I looked out the window of my study in our 30th-floor apartment. Huge clouds of smoke were still smoldering from the ruins. They rose from the rubble and drifted out over the Hudson River, passing above the Statue of Liberty.

The following Sunday, just before I preached this message at Times Square Church, I wept at the sight of the utter devastation. I pleaded with God for mercy: mercy for the grieving families who lost loved ones. Mercy for the workers still digging through the rubble, hoping to locate survivors, but finding only corpses and severed body parts. Mercy for all the police officers, fire fighters and volunteers, who wept openly over the indescribable horrors they saw.

Our church was allowed to set up a relief tent at ground zero of the disaster. Ministry leaders and volunteers from our congregation worked tirelessly around the clock, helping to feed and encourage the weary workers.

Six weeks prior to the disaster, the Holy Spirit forewarned our pastoral staff that a calamity was coming. We had scheduled several major events for the weeks ahead, including our Missions Conference and Youth Convention. But God's Spirit prompted us to cancel them all. Instead, we felt stirred to call our congregation to prayer.

We decided to hold prayer meetings four nights a week. From the very beginning, each meeting was marked by an awesome stillness that settled over the congregation. We sat quietly in the Lord's presence, often without a sound, for up to an hour, followed by soft weeping and heartrending repentance. In one meeting, I had to steady my knees with my hands, to keep them from trembling in God's awesome presence.

During this visitation from the Lord, the Holy Ghost revealed there was a reason for the weeping in our hearts. We were being so moved because a tragedy was coming. A severe calamity was coming to the nation. And even though we didn't know what it was, our hearts were stirred to intercede concerning it.

Then suddenly, the calamity struck. And it hit not only our city, but the nation's capital. One network anchor declared, "Think of it, our two symbols of power and prosperity have been smitten in one hour." Little did he know, he was quoting Rev_18:10 : "Alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come."

As a policeman from our church helped out at ground zero, his fellow officers kept asking him, "What's this all about? What's happening?" Meanwhile, the whole nation has been asking, "Where is God in all this?"

We're right to ask this question. We need to understand where God is in this calamity. And to do that, we have to trust his holy Word alone. We've heard hundreds of opinions from media experts and politicians. But all their rhetoric has begun to sound the same. There's no real understanding about the meaning of this sudden destruction.

There is one thing I can assure you of: God wasn't taken by surprise. He knows the thoughts of all human beings, including every ruler, despot and terrorist. The Lord monitors the movements of every person in the entire mass of humankind. He knows when we sit down or stand up. And I can tell you, this one thing is sure: God has everything under control. Nothing on the face of the earth takes place without his knowledge of it, his permission for it, and, at times, his doing behind it.

If You're a Christian, You Know God Has Delivered a Message to America and the World through this Disaster.

Ministers and theologians everywhere are saying, "God had nothing to do with these disasters. He wouldn't allow such awful things to happen." Yet nothing could be further from the truth. This kind of thinking is causing our nation to rapidly miss the message God wants to speak to us through the tragedy.

The fact is, we have to have a word from God. Like many pastors, I've wept and grieved over this awful calamity. I've sought the Lord in prayer and through his Word. And I want to tell you, I've experienced a grief that's even deeper than the mourning for innocent people dying. It's a grief that says if we miss God's message, if we turn a deaf ear to what he's loudly proclaiming, then much worse is in store for us.

The prophet Isaiah speaks directly to what we've just experienced. (If you object to using the Old Testament for examples, consider Paul's words on the subject: "All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" [1Co_10:11]. Paul makes it clear: the examples of the Old Testament reveal just how God moves in times like ours.)

At the time that Isaiah prophesied, God had been dealing patiently with Israel for about 250 years. The Lord had sent "light afflictions" upon his people, calling them to repentance. He was trying to woo them out of their brazen idolatry and back into his blessing and favor.

All of the prophets throughout the years had spoken to Israel the same essential word: "Humble yourselves." Scripture says, "They served idols…yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes" (2Ki_17:12-13).

But God's chosen nation rejected his call to repentance. "They would not hear, but hardened their necks" (17:14). These people mocked the prophets who called them to humility. And, instead, they "followed vanity, and became vain…and they left all the commandments of the Lord their God…and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord…therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel" (17:15-18).

God Sent Wake-Up Calls to Israel.

The Lord's first wake-up call to Israel came in an invasion by Assyria. This arch enemy attacked two Israelite provinces, Zebulun and Naphtali. Fortunately, the attacks were limited to these two points, and the damage was minimal. Yet God was clearly speaking to his people. The Lord's chosen nation lost their sense of security. Yet they still missed the message God was speaking.

Israel then received a second wake-up call. This one was very severe. Two nations whom Scripture calls the "enemies of Israel" — the Syrians and the Philistines — combined forces for a sudden attack. According to Isaiah, this attack came from both "before, and…behind" (Isa_9:12). This means the invaders came from the east and the west, surrounding Israel. And their sudden attack was totally devastating.

Now we come to the heart of my message, and to the question most Americans are asking: Where was God in this sudden invasion of his chosen land? What were his people to make of the disaster that had come upon them? Isaiah tells us God was faithful to speak to his people: "The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel" (Isa_9:8). God spoke a clear word. And he sent the message to the whole nation.

Beloved, this verse tells us something very important at our own time of devastation. It says simply, "God always sends his word." Never in history has the Lord left his people clueless in a time of calamity. He has never abandoned us and forced us to figure out things on our own. He always provides a word of understanding.

Even now the Lord is raising up godly watchmen to speak for him in these times. These shepherds are grieving, weeping and repenting as they seek God's face. And I believe they're hearing and understanding the Lord's message behind the present events. Moreover, they're not afraid to proclaim dire warnings, because they know they've heard from God. They're compelled to speak of his purposes behind our calamities.

I Have to Speak a Word None of Us Wants to Hear.

Many readers won't receive the word I'm about to deliver. They'll think it's heartless, cruel, unkind in a time of grieving. But, I tell you, if we don't hear God's truth and face it, our nation is doomed. Here is the word I hear the Lord speaking to us right now: "The Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together…for the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts" (Isa_9:11; Isa_9:13).

The Bible makes it crystal clear: God used enemy nations to chasten his people. The Lord wielded these enemies as an instrument of warning to Israel, calling the nation to repent. "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" (10:5-6).

God charged this coalition of Israel's enemies to chasten his chosen people. The Lord was trying to warn Israel, "You've lifted yourself up with pride. Now I'm about to bring you down. I'm going to allow you to be disciplined by your enemies."

The enemy coalition launched their massive attack. And, suddenly, the Israelites watched in horror as their buildings began to collapse. Fires raged throughout the cities, burning down stately structures. In a short time, Israel was in flames. And God's people began to wail, "The bricks are fallen down…the sycamores are cut down" (9:10).

After witnessing the recent disasters in New York and Washington, we can begin to imagine the emotions of the ancient Israelites. Yet, did Israel repent after this horrifying attack? Was there a nationwide acknowledgment that God was sending them a warning? Did the rulers hear God speaking through the awful calamity? No. Israel's reaction was just the opposite. The people's initial fear quickly gave way to a flood tide of national pride. "All the people…say in the pride and stoutness of heart" (9:9).

The Hebrew word for stoutness in this verse signifies a sense of greatness. In other words, once the attack died down, the Israelites regained their confidence. They declared, "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars" (9:10). They were saying, in other words, "These calamities aren't from our Lord. They're simple fate, unfortunate disasters that can't be explained".

"We're a great and mighty nation. We're made up of a proud, unbending people. And we're going to let the world know we're coming back. We'll build everything back bigger and better. Where we used bricks before, we'll use stone. And where we once built with cheap construction, we'll use better materials. We're a God-blessed nation. And we're going to come through this disaster stronger than ever."

Doesn't this all sound very familiar? The Lord himself used an evil enemy to send a warning of chastisement to his people. He wanted to wake them up to their compromise, bring them back to himself, pour out his blessings on them, and surround them with his protection. Yet, throughout their days of grief and horror, God's people never once acknowledged his hand in it all. No one asked, "What is the Lord saying through all this? Is he trying to speak to us?" No one thought for a moment that such a proud, great nation could be humbled and chastised. On the contrary, the people used the occasion to defy any such thought. They refused to hear God's warning to them.

I ask you: does Israel's example hit home with you, after everything we've witnessed in recent weeks? Please don't misunderstand me. I thank God we have a moral President leading our country. I thank the Lord for all the devout Christians who serve in high office. Our church prays diligently for our nation's leaders. And we're grateful for the temporary outpouring of prayer nationwide. It's encouraging to see people sobering up and beginning to rethink their lifestyles.

Yet, even so, we risk missing God's message to us. Think about it: when our public assemblies call for a moment of silence, we think it's true repentance. When we see politicians singing "God Bless America," we think our nation has turned back to God. When we see sporting events observe a silent minute at halftime, we think it's a spiritual experience.

But is this all that's going to come out of our recent disaster? Will people in sports stadiums stand in silence for a minute, then go back to painting their bodies in wild colors, chug beer after beer, and scream maniacally for their favorite team?

Like most Americans, I wept as I saw Senators and Congressional leaders standing on the steps of the Capitol, singing, "God bless America…stand beside us, and guide us…" Yet, as I was crying, the Lord reminded me, "Many of the leaders you see singing have worked to rule me out of American society. They are even determined to remove my name from American history books. And they've allowed the murder of millions of babies through abortion."

Suddenly, I was struck by the absolute hypocrisy of it all. We give lip service to God, but we continue our slide into the mire of immorality.

When a Nation Is Under Divine Correction, It Will React in One of Two Ways.

A nation under chastisement may humble itself and repent, as Nineveh did. Or, it may give lip service to God, but then turn inward to its own strength to rise above the correction. There will be a rallying cry, stating, "We have the strength to endure any disaster. And we have the ability and resolve to overcome any problem. We're truly a great nation."

I'm as patriotic as any American. And I'm as thrilled as anyone at the unity our nation is experiencing. I thank God for the heroic efforts and incredible sacrifices we've seen in the wake of the terrorist attacks. The whole world is in awe of the fortitude and love displayed by the people of New York, Washington, D.C. and America in general.

But we face the same danger Israel did. In our fiery patriotism, we could easily miss God's message to our nation. And right now, we're standing at the very same crossroads where Israel stood.

I wonder: if we had lived in Isaiah's day, would we have listened to his prophetic warnings? Or would we have turned a deaf ear to him? Both Jerusalem and the nation of Judah refused to believe they could be brought low. Yet Isaiah prophesied, "Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?" (Isa_10:11). God was saying, in essence, "I've judged other nations for the very idolatry you're practicing. Why wouldn't I judge you? What makes you exempt from my law?"

All across America, people are holding meetings for "prayer and remembrance." It's right and honorable (and totally scriptural) to remember those who have died. But why are we so afraid to also call for meetings of "prayer and repentance"? Right now, most Americans are focused on remembrance and revenge. Yet, where is the call in America to turn back to God?

As for the punishment of terrorists, Isaiah addresses this issue as well. He declares, "When the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria" (Isa_10:12). Indeed, when God was finished using Assyria as "the rod of mine anger," he destroyed them. Likewise, God will bring down any terrorists who attack and murder innocent people. It won't be long before they meet their eternal destiny in hell.

Here Is the Message I Believe God Is Trumpeting in Our Calamities.

Deep in my spirit, I hear the Lord saying, "I've prospered you above all nations. Yet, for years you've persisted in worshipping idols of gold and silver. I've endured your shameless sensuality, your mockery of holy things, your shedding of innocent blood, your tireless efforts to remove me from your society. Now time is running out for you.

"I've sent you prophet after prophet, watchman after watchman. You've been warned again and again. Yet still you won't open your eyes to your wicked ways. Now I've stricken you, in hopes of saving you. I want to heal your land, to destroy your enemies, to bring you back into my blessing. But you don't have eyes to see it."

If God wouldn't spare other nations that have outlawed him, why would he spare America? He'll judge us even as he judged Sodom, Rome, Greece and every other culture that has turned its back on him.

Consider what God spoke through Ezekiel: "Cast away from you all your transgressions…and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" (Eze_18:31-32).

For anyone who doubts that God feels pain, here is proof positive of his great compassion. He too feels grief and sorrow over death. He's telling us in this passage, "I take no pleasure in seeing you suffer and die. That's why I'm pleading with you now: turn from your sin and live."

God weeps especially over those calamities that befall innocents. In these past weeks, you can be sure Jesus has been weeping over the victims of the terrorist attacks. He is said to "bottle the tears of his saints." Indeed, I believe many of the tears shed by Christians are God's own tears, prompted by his Spirit in us.

Yet, at times, God's justice and righteousness cause him to restrain his pity. And he's forced to carry out his righteous judgments as a last resort. The greatest example of this is the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus. Justice demanded that the sins of the whole world be laid on an innocent man, and that this man would be condemned to die for all. Tell me, who could be more innocent than God's own Son? Yet Christ willingly gave himself as a sacrifice, to offer deliverance and salvation to all of humankind.

What Will Happen to America If We Miss God's Message?

What will be our nation's fate if we reject God's call to turn wholly to him? What will happen if abortions continue and fetuses are used for research…if we keep erasing our Savior's name from American history…if we rebuild all things bigger and better, only to enrich ourselves more…if we rely on our armed might rather than on God for power?

Isaiah describes what happens to every nation that rejects God and boasts of its own greatness: "Wickedness burneth as the fire…they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry…they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm" (Isa_9:18-20).

Devouring fires will rise to the heavens. Darkness will cover the land. The economy will be hit with a staggering blow. And there will be disunity in the nation, in communities, in neighborhoods, in families. People will look out only for themselves, in a desperate fight to survive. And God help you if you come near them.

I was given a prophetic message nine years ago, and I delivered it at Times Square Church on September 7, 1992. Let me share it with you now:

"This warning is not meant to scare you. It's meant only for you to take to the Lord and pray. This is what I believe God has shown me":

"Thirty days of chastisement will fall on New York City such as the world has never seen. God is going to let down the walls. There will be unimaginable violence and looting. The violence will be so ferocious, it will shock the whole world. Our streets will be lined not just with the National Guard but with militia".

"A thousand fires will burn at the same time throughout the city. The Los Angeles fires were confined to a few sections of that city, but New York will be ablaze in all its boroughs. Times Square will be ablaze, and the flames will ascend into heaven and be seen for miles. Fire trucks will not be able to handle it all".

"Trains and buses will be shut down. Billions of dollars will be lost. Broadway shows will stop completely. Businesses will flee the city in an unstoppable hemorrhage. Such things are expected in Third World countries, but not in a civilized nation like the United States. Yet, in not too long a time afterward, New York City will go completely bankrupt. The Queen City will be cast into the dirt, becoming a city of poverty".

"You may ask, when will all this happen? All I can say is, I believe I will be here when it happens. Yet, when it does, God's people are not to panic or fear."

Calls and messages have flooded our ministry offices, asking, "Was the terrorist attack on September 11 the calamity you were prophesying back in 1992?" No, not at all. What I saw coming will be much more severe. Indeed, if America rejects God's call to turn back to him, we'll face the same judgments Israel faced. And they will hit not only New York but every region in the country. Even the heartland won't be spared. The nation's economy will collapse, and violence will erupt. Fires will consume our cities, and tanks will rumble through the streets.

Perhaps you wonder, as I have, "Can any of this be avoided?" Yes, absolutely. I believe we'll be given a reprieve if our President proves to be a Josiah. You may well remember Josiah as the king who sought the Lord with all his heart. We all should pray that God would give our President the same spirit that Josiah had, to tremble at his Word. The Lord spoke the following to Josiah:

"Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof…because they have forsaken me, and have (worshipped) other gods…But [say] to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the Lord…Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, and thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse…I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore…thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place" (2Ki_22:15-20).

God told the king, in essence, "As long as you're in power, trembling at my Word and relying on me, you won't see the judgments to come. They won't happen during your reign."

I believe our window of opportunity to respond to God's call is brief. We all should pray that our nation repents and turns back to the Lord. But our most intense prayers should be for our own hearts: "Lord, let me tremble not at the disasters, but at your Word. I want to hear your voice in all of this. Cause me to turn wholly to you."

By: David Wilkerson