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Political Corruption
In writing to the Corinthians, Paul passionately wrote, “We ... beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” II Corinthians 6:1. He outlined the meaning of preserving the integrity of truth and honor of a Christian life – at all cost. Then, he pointedly warned against certain activities that would mar the purity of that commitment. They were to avoid being “unequally yoked” to unbelievers, to come out and be “separate” so Jesus would be able to receive them and be a “Father” unto them. II Corinthians 6:14, 17-18. The importance of this counsel goes deep.
“If our citizenship is above,
what right have we to be engaging in political strife? We are not called to
any such service [II Corinthians Though not to be meshed with nor be engrossed over political issues, political corruption is a sign of the end. It is to be watched. Contentious words and actions are on the rise in the U.S. political arena as never before in its history. Corruption in government and scandle among its leaders is reaching epic proportions. This has always been part of politics to some degree in its never ending vying for power. In Old Testament times deceit and force were among the evils recorded by its writers. In Christ’s day contentious political favors were extended from and to the Roman government when appointing the high priest for Israel – “God’s people.” Though the world is the theater where the final battle between right and wrong will be fought, the power players in the last scenes are the United States and the papacy, the sea beast and the land beast (Revelation 13). Since the United States will be the final catalyst and force to bring unholy demands on the world in support of the papacy, that nation’s use of power, its political trends and sympathy to Rome reveal a pacesetting evolution which will fulfill prophecy. Deception, centralization of power and imposing arbitrary standards on conduct are becoming part of the foretold actions.
The most corrupt administration
to lead the U.S. came to power in 1992. This was analyzed at “ADMINISTRATION RECORDS SET
Members of the executive branch cabinet or staff during his tenure were convicted of these crimes:
Numerous non-governmental agencies that investigates corruption in the U.S. government and Congress during those years were investigated themselves.[3] During those years major security breaches occurred with top secrets on defense and technology. New levels of demonizing Christianity were reached, even at the cabinet level, and by the president’s wife. Public denouncement of opponents occured regularly of deeds the administration and Democratic party were guilty of.[4] Congress was bypassed as the Executive Branch began to negotiate international treaties.[5] During that era the rule of law was propelled into political waters. The constitution became “fluid” and subject to opinion.[6] And in the final few days of office, 30,000 pages of new federal regulations were passed by executive order.[7] Again, bypassing Congress. A spin-off of those years has developed where lying at all levels has brought shameless honor.[8] Though party changes came into the federal government with the presidency of George Bush, old time corruption with new twists have emerged. Rep. James Traficant was stripped of his house membership in July 2002, Sen. Robert Torricelli was charged with accepting bribes and gifts. Hush money is circulating in Washington, and investigators are discovering that an individual that was pardoned by the outgoing president is a donor to the ex-president.[9] Because of the above, web sites have sprung up reporting on scandles, impropriety, charges and indictments of our country’s leaders.[10] Perhaps the most important spin-off of this, which is occurring with blinding force, is the growing voice for a moral mandate in public office. This is coming from many sources, as has been reported many times in this publication and well documented by Alan Fine’s work in the January 2003 issue of EndTime Issues... magazine.[11] At the same time, politics is getting dirtier with strong media support.[12] Hate speech against the Bush administration is being encouraged by many elected leaders. Voices of unreason are rising in the political arena. Blatant deception in reporting is affecting American thinking. In Revelation 7:1 John saw four angels on the four corners of the earth, holding the four “winds” of the earth that they should not blow. In apocalyptic language winds represent strife or destructive judgments. These angels were told to hold back the winds so they would not hurt the earth, sea or any tree. This has been shown to mean limiting earthquakes, tempest and political strife from creating devastation or chaos.[13] “The Lord God of heaven will not send upon the world His judgments for disobedience and transgression until He has sent His watchmen to give the warning.... “While the angels hold the four winds, we are to work with all our capabilities.”[14] “... while already nation is rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there is not now a general engagement. As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle.”[15] “... when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.”[16] “Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.”[17] This imagery suggests the four winds will be loosened suddenly. But, earthquakes are on the rise, tempest and destruction is increasing and politics is becoming more scurrilous. Why? The “hands” of the angels are loosening. God has restraining control of these powers, but He has permitted their hands to partially let go of those controls.[18] “Four mighty angels are still holding the four winds of the earth. Terrible destruction is forbidden to come in full. The accidents by land and by sea; the loss of life, steadily increasing, by storm, by tempest, by railroad disaster, by conflagration; the terrible floods, the earthquakes, and the winds will be the stirring up of the nations to one deadly combat, while the angels hold the four winds, forbidding the terrible power of Satan to be exercised in its fury until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.”[19] Political strife is one of the end-time signs that God is holding in check. Yet that restraint is lessening as a warning and a sign; the end is near. A warning to repent, a sign that we might be “children of the light (I Thessalonians 5:5).” “We are living in the midst of an ‘epidemic of crime,’ at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. The corruption that prevails, it is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day brings fresh revelations of political strife, bribery, and fraud. Every day brings its heart-sickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering, of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. Who can doubt that satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?”[20] References:
1.
Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 25.
3.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14844
and http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14980
4. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JOHNLEO/j10006
19.shtml
5.
wysiwyg://31/http://www.townhall.co...ists/phyllisschlafly/ps0007 19.shtml
6.
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/articles/03-05-01/Osburn.html
7. Jones,Bob; Start the
Presses, World,
8. Belz, Joel,
World,
9.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=Nation200102NAT20010213a.html
10. http://www.constitution.org/uslaw/corrupt.txt
11. http://www.worldfreeinternet.net/news/nwslb.htm
12.
wysiwyg://280/http://www.washington...n/A46452-2002Sep20?language=printer
and http://www.foxnews.com/printer
and http://www.newsmax.com/cgi-bin/printer_friendly.pl
13. Testimonies to
Ministers, p444;
Review and Herald,
14.
Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 14, 17.
15.
Ibid., p. 14.
16.
Ibid., vol. 6, p. 408.
17.
The Great Controversy, p. 614.
18.
Early Writings, p. 38.
19.
The Review and Herald,
20.
Ministry of Healing, pp. 142-143.
Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; EndTime Issues...,
Prophecy Research Initiative |