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The Trumpet Sounds and No One Seems to Care An intensity of epic proportions is breaking upon this world. Moves are underway to impeach President Bush,1 Pope John Paul II is frantically trying to avert the war in Iraq by creating an exile provision for Saddam Hussein through international diplomacy,2 many across this nation are calling for a boycott of French products because of obstructionism, North Korea is threatening to test fire potentially lethal missiles, and environmentalists are crying foul over possible Alaska oil drilling. Demonstrations against the war are about to plague this nation. Confusion, a spirit of retaliation and unrest are widespread. Pastors and many large religious organizations are once again calling for a national revival. Craig von Buseck, producer of the Christian Broadcasting Network3 asked pointedly, “What will be the result if the hedge of protection that has been around the United States comes down?” He noted that we would be vulnerable to physical and spiritual terrorism. (Prophecy does note that a point in time will come when national ruin will come to this nation.4) Von Buseck then said, “Just as serious as the threat from the outside is the danger of America crumbling from within. The history of the world is littered with the carcasses of great civilizations that have been destroyed, not from external attack, but from internal moral collapse. “If there was ever a time in the history of mankind for revival, it is now. “The Church Needs revival. “‘If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV).” There is an alarm that is reverberating throughout Christian churches here in the United States. An ill defined subliminal fear is gripping many hearts. The outcry is related more to what might happen to our nation, its assets or people than it is over the great issues of eternity. A revival call is being heard everywhere. It portrays a secularized reason for knowing God. Like most of the bystanders at the baptism of Jesus, only a few saw or really heard the display of heavenly grace. Today, very specific things are occurring that herald the soon coming of Jesus, but the trumpet isn’t being heard. Christians are waiting for some specific sign to be motivated to prepare for Jesus return. Some expect specific laws restricting worship. Others anticipate Jewish work on the Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and Sadducees in Galilee, “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:3. The issues of turmoil throughout the world are important to know about. But unless they are discerned in a spiritual motif, one is a hypocrite. Long ago, in a dual prophecy, the young prophet Amos gave warning after warning to God’s people. “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?” Amos 3:6. God’s wrath is about to be poured out in judgments. He warned through Amos that economic collapse was coming (4:6), natural disasters would follow (4:7), lack of water would supervene (4:8) and terrible plagues would devastate (4:9-10). Amos described a lion roaring (symbolizing a judgment was about to come), a trumpet was sounding, “repent,” but no one seemed to care. This draws upon the sad imagery of Revelation 3, where the Laodicean Christians felt a need of nothing ( Then Amos pled for Bethel – the house of God where worship occurs. There was a time when it could be said of the place of Bethel (that sacred place of worship), “The Lord is in this place” (Genesis 28:16). But the cry now regarding so many churches and “professed” Christians is nothing more than “The Lord was in this place.” Judgment is about to begin at the house of God (Revelation 11:1-2). Amos pled, “Seek the Lord – lest he breath out like fire into the house of Joseph.” (5:6). His protection is about to be withdrawn. As unrest and turmoil mount, it will soon be seen that there is no healing balm left. The cry is going out to turn to the Lord. It is a final appeal to have an eternal friendship with Jesus. Judgments are coming. Most fearful of all, the time to finish a covenant relationship with God is running out. Few realize that a point in time will be reached where their eternal destiny has been forever made. Few Christians realize that in Bethel, judgment comes before the rest of the world. It is time to solicit the transforming power of heaven. It is time to fully grasp that salvation is a verb and not a noun – a covenant activity. It is now time to make everything second place to having a heart fully submitted to Him. References 1World Net Daily – 3/12/03. 2Sunday Herald, Scotland – 3/9/03. 3CBN.com – 3/10/03 4Selected Messages, bk 2, p. 373. |