Latest Audio - 2025-05-03
How To Destroy America
Could America be destroyed?
Could it really happen?
The handwriting is on the wall for those who have eyes to see!
It appears to be happening - right now!
How is it happening?
Why is it happening?
How Is America Being Destroyed?
“Victor Davis Hanson (born September 5, 1953) is an American classicist, military historian, and a conservative political commentator. He has been a commentator on modern and ancient warfare and contemporary politics for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the National Review, the Washington Times, and other media outlets.
He is a professor emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno, the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in classics and military history at the Hoover Institution, and visiting professor at Hillsdale College.” (wikipedia.org)
As a historian he understands the lessons of history, so often forgotten or overlooked by today’s leaders.
What follows are excerpts from a transcript of a video presentation in which Mr Hanson asks the question:
“What If You Really Wanted To Destroy The United States? What Agenda Would You Pursue?
…And then I started thinking of civilizations; what was the stuff of civilizations that make them work? And it’s basic - their borders, their finances, their unity, their fuel, their food.
Destroy The Borders
So if you really wanted to, in civilizational terms, destroy the United States - the first thing I would do, if I was an enemy of the United States, was I would destroy the borders. In other words I would just let anybody come across our version of the Rhine or the Danube, as they happened in fifth century, and that’s pretty much what we have done the last 40 years, but particularly the last four years.
But what was behind all that? Joe Biden apparently thought that if he let in 12 million people without audits or background checks, would it alter the demography? Would it give him new constituencies for big government? What was the thinking about it? But it’s caused billions of dollars in increased expenses. It’s really damaged the inner city. It’s damaged the Rio Grande Valley. It’s damaged the San Joaquin Valley. We have all of this crime spike. Was it deliberate?
An Impossible Problem
Keep in mind that while these people were allowed into the USA freely, once safely over the border, everyone had the “right” to appeal against deportation. It’s not hard to see that to have 12 million individual court cases would be near impossible!
Money Printing
If you also wanted to hurt the United States, you know what I would do if I had nefarious intent? I would keep printing money and I would call it ‘BUILD BACK BETTER’. And the more inflationary it got, I would say it was going to be the ‘Inflationary Reduction Act’ and in that process I would borrow maybe $7 trillion within four years, maybe eight, and add to an existing $38 trillion in national debt so that the interest per day would be $3 billion. That would really hurt the United States.
Global Warming
You know what I’d also do? If I looked at the United States and I said ‘…They’ve got almost limitless supplies of natural gas, they’ve got almost more coal than any European country. They’ve got all of this oil. They once had a vibrant… they were the nuclear energy. They were the founders of nuclear power, they have all these dams with hydroelectric. I know what I’ll do, I will castigate all of that and say it makes either the environment too hot - global warming - or it ruins the natural landscape with dams, or it will kill us all through radiation.’
Whatever particular complaint I’d have I would stop it, as much as I could. I would dismantle nuclear power plants, cut back on natural gas, stop full drilling, fracking. Blow up dams rather than build them. And I’m talking about California for example, where the result would be 40 cents a kilowatt would make it unaffordable. That way, if you did all of that, a quarter of all the people who paid their power bills would default and that model would sweep across the United States.
Racism - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The third thing that I would do, and I think it's besides debt and borders and fuel, I would kind of sew disunity. And I would say that the content of our character is not as important as the color of our skin, and I would go back and reinterpret all of the hard won progress of the civil rights movement and sort of get rid of it. I would just say the color of our skin matters more than anything and so we’re going to hire on the basis of superficial appearance. We’re going to have reparations to go back eight generations and adjudicate who might have had an ancestor that owned a slave and who didn’t. And then I would say I’m going to predicate graduations, dorms, who gets to go into a dorm, who gets to go into a library, a safe space, on the basis of race - but I’m not going to call it racism or segregation, I’m going to call it ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ and mainstream it.
If I also wanted to create disunity, I would just say from now on - after 7,000 years of civilization - there are three sexes, not two, and women’s sports must include biological males. Not that it was an important topic but it would create enormous tension and disunity.
What Am I Getting At?
It seems to me that in the last four years, if you had an agenda that was designed to hurt the United States, in terms of an influx of 12 million foreigners that were unaudited, an unprotected border, a repression on energy, a desire to print money rather than to cut expenses and save money and go toward a balanced budget, and a way to divide the people. If you wanted to do all that, you couldn’t have done a better job than what we have seen from 2021 to 2025.” (youtube.com)
Even The Russians Warned America Against Socialism And Open Borders
“History shows us how great empires like Rome fell not because they could be beaten militarily, but because they could collapse from within. When the population of that country fails to unify under a single culture, that nation’s flag, only social unrest will result. All the enemies of that nation have to do is instigate protests and influence the media to lie to the people and just watch an independent republic melt away.
Yuri Bezmenov, a former KGB agent defected to Canada, gave lecture tours throughout the US in the 1980’s warning Americans of the perils of not responding to the false narratives of radicals advocating SOCIALISM AND OPEN BORDERS.” (12160.info)
“Hard times create strong men.
Strong men create good times.
Good times create weak men.
And, weak men create hard times.”
(G Michael Hopf:- goodreads.com)
Now - The Era Of Weak Men
The way in which today’s world is led is described in the book of Isaiah.
“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and WOMEN RULE OVER THEM. O my people, THEY WHICH LEAD THEE cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)
Back in the Second World War, times were hard - and dangerous. Strong leaders led the people to victory - leading to good times.
But this in turn created weak men - and now we see the end result - heading right back to hard times. But this time, no soft landing! If Jesus Christ does not step in to end the coming war, there would be no survivors! (Matthew 24:22)
The Fall Of The Roman Empire
Back in 1969, the Plain Truth Magazine ran a series of articles on the fall of the Roman Empire.
“There were those who warned the Romans of the inevitable end of their ways…
Romans, as a whole, would not listen.
And Rome fell.
Today, people are surrounded by the lessons of history…
The news is full of warnings…
Few are listening.
Will our nations also fall?
The five major causes for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire deduced from the writings of Edward Gibbon and noted historians of the Roman world are these:
- The breakdown of the family and the rapid increase of divorce.
- The spiralling rise of taxes and extravagant spending.
- The mounting craze for pleasure and the brutalization of sports.
- The mounting production of armaments to fight ever increasing threats of enemy attacks.
- The decay of religion into a myriad of confusing forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide.”
The Warning - Updated
We can now update the list of warnings to include open borders, global warming, racism - renamed ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ - mixed up genders, woke issues, the list goes on and on.
Every one of these factors is brimful and running over today. You see it in the media and on the internet. The growing incidence of divorce, broken homes and juvenile delinquency, inflation and taxation, the pleasure binge, the revelation of the gigantic “military–industrial complex,” the startling growth of occultism and alternative religions.
WHY?
Why Is All This Happening?
“Once the British peoples and the Americans – the ‘lost’ Israelites now supposing they are Gentiles – found themselves basking in the pleasant sunshine of such wealth and power, they were less willing than their ancient forefathers to yield to their GOD and HIS WAYS. They felt no need of Him, now! It seems few ever turn to God until they find themselves in desperate need or trouble.” (The United States and Britain in Prophecy - Chapter 13)
This is what God has to say about His People:
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, CAUSE THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL TO CEASE FROM BEFORE US.” (Isaiah 30:9-11)
God Is Correcting His People
“So now, if twentieth-century Ephraim and Manasseh – Britain and America – refuse to turn to God in obedience – refuse to live the way that causes, retains, and increases blessings, God will punish them in a manner far more INTENSE – and even strip entirely from them this colossal, unprecedented national blessing – RETURNING THEM TO CAPTIVITY AND SLAVERY – as continuing verses of this prophecy show.
Do you think so great a fall could not come to so great powers as Britain and America? Do you say, ‘It can’t happen HERE?’ Do you think the GREAT GOD who was able to GIVE them such unprecedented world leadership and power and wealth is not able to take it away from them and throw them, like their ancient forefathers, back into SLAVERY?
The Handwriting IS on the Wall!
You need, now, to UNDERSTAND the remainder of this prophecy of Leviticus 26 – and also of Deuteronomy 28 – and the many other prophecies relating to them and events soon to VIOLENTLY affect YOUR life! For MANY prophecies warn us of a CERTAINTY that it will be trouble such as NEVER happened to any nation or people!
Knowing our identity – knowing how the British and American peoples are identified in the prophecies – you need now to become AWARE of what is said about us in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Hosea, Amos, and the other prophecies – what JESUS foretold – as well as in these prophecies written by Moses!
And you need, also, to know why a just and loving God is going to punish His chosen people – people He chose for a glorious PURPOSE they have refused to perform.
The very fact of punishment implies CORRECTION. We need to understand that correction is applied to correct WRONG WAYS harmful to us – to turn us around into RIGHT WAYS that will cause desired blessings! Understand! God punishes every son he loves (Hebrews 12:6).
God’s punishment only reflects God’s LOVE – turning us from causing evil results to the way that brings happy results! God is now about to STOP US from bringing colossal evils on ourselves! God is not angry because we are harming HIM – but because we are harming ourselves – whom God loves!
The prophecies do not stop with revealing the unprecedented multiplied intensity of punishment already beginning to descend upon America and Britain. The prophecies record also the RESULT of that intensified punishment. The result will be a corrected people.
The result will be an eye-opening realization of what we have done to ourselves. The supreme punishment will teach us, at last, our lesson! The punishment will break our spirit of REBELLION! It will lift us up from the cesspool of rottenness and evil into which we have sunk. It will teach us the way to glorious peace, prosperity, abundant well-being!
On beyond the frightful national calamities now descending upon us will come a BLESSING inconceivably greater than the national material birthright we have possessed.” (The United States and Britain in Prophecy - Chapter 13)
Who Ultimately Allows Leaders That Lead People Astray?
The Bible answers this vital question:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.” (Romans 13:1)
This explains that all authority comes from God, so those in positions of authority are there because God allows it.
The prophet Daniel wrote: “ …He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” (Daniel 2:21)
But if God is allowing the present crop of leaders - we have to ask - why? Aren’t there more qualified people available, people with wisdom and experience?
Right now, the way is being prepared for the greatest time of trouble that this world has ever seen. EVER!
(Jeremiah 30:7)
God Uses People Who will Fulfil His Plan
This is made clear in Revelation 17:
“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” (Revelation 17:13)
Here we see ten nations, with different languages, cultures, and a history of not getting on together, suddenly, giving their power and strength to the Beast.
How come they are suddenly united?
Why the sudden change of heart?
Why do they surrender their sovereignty?
“For God hath put in their hearts to FULFIL HIS WILL, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, UNTIL THE WORDS OF GOD SHALL BE FULFILLED.” (Revelation 17:17)
How would you destroy America?
Watch - it’s already starting!
Right now!
And remember:
“On beyond the frightful national calamities now descending upon us will come a BLESSING inconceivably greater than the national material birthright we have possessed.” (The United States and Britain in Prophecy - Chapter 13)
"Read the Next Verse!"
"Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:9,10)
After the death of Mr. Armstrong in January 1986, Satan incited an all-out attack on the church. After just a matter of months the leaders of WCG launched their agenda: their ultimate goal being to take God's church back 'into the fold' of wordly Christianity. And this they achieved within just one decade. The truth which Christ had revealed to His church through His end-time apostle was all but obliterated.
We are warned in Matthew 24; "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24) Note: "it were" is not in the original text, so Satan's prime objective appears to be to deceive even the very elect of God's church. We're not at the "signs and wonders" stage – yet, but it would be prudent not to let our guard down. Knowing what is prophesied in this area, we'd be wise to prepare ourselves for more deception, because we could still 'lose our crown' if not very, very careful. (Revelation 3:11)
During the recent apostasy a very effective means of leading brethren astray was to "wrest the scriptures", banking on the fact that many of the brethren wouldn't take the time to check up on the passages being quoted – and importantly, the context in which they are found. And so in this Pastor's Report I want to examine 4 areas in which we could be taken off track, and if kept in mind, will also aid our personal Bible study:
- Cherry-picking
- Even Satan quotes Scripture
- Missing the Context
- A Personal Agenda
Cherry-picking
In his articles and sermons Mr. Armstrong often pointed people to "the next verse", which gave a fuller understanding of what he'd just written or quoted. This example from Ephesians is one which many of us will recognise:
From Mr. Armstrong's 1981 sermon "Are You Ready?":
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
That is, the faith that you have. Some of you try to work up faith and wonder why you don’t have more faith. Brethren, you can’t work up faith. Faith is the gift of God. It says so right here. But you receive eternal Life as the gift of God, and you can’t earn it yourself. And so it says:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
And right there most preachers stop. I remember (Oh, I think this is at least 40 years ago.) a man who then was quite a famous evangelist on the air. He’s been dead a good many years now. He read that and stopped! I said “Go on. Read that next verse.” I shouted into the radio! Of course, he didn’t hear me! That was before the days of television; but I shouted, and I said “Go on. I dare you! Read that next verse.” But, of course, he wouldn’t. Well, let me read it.
Ephesians 2:9-10 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS , which God hath before ordained that we should WALK in them [in good works]. ("Are you Ready?" - October 15 1981)
Another very clear example of cherry-picking certain scriptures to prove your particular point comes from the Seventh Day Adventist "prophetess" Ellen G. White, and her personal rendition of Isaiah 24:
At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole earth—consumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory. Christ takes His people to the City of God, and the earth is emptied of its inhabitants. “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.” “The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.” “Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned.” Isaiah 24:1, 3, 5, 6. (The Great Controversy, chapter 41 – Desolation of the Earth)
Now notice what the first six verses of Isaiah 24 actually say. The passages highlighted are the ones she ignored – as they show clearly that some people are still alive at the time:
- Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
- And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
- The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.
- The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
- The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
- Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isaiah 24:1-6)
Ms White deliberately leaves out the fact that not ALL the inhabitants of the earth perish, as this would conflict with the SDA's fundamental belief #24 – "The Investigative Judgment" which requires the earth being emptied of its inhabitants. The main thrust of the doctrine seems to be that it's only those who have accepted Christ in their lifetime who are saved from destruction. Without the revelation of the meaning of God's Holy Days, they are completely adrift with their doctrines, and have to tamper with the scriptures to make them fit. Not even "read the next verse" ... but read the WHOLE verse!
Small wonder that the overall thrust of her book in which this misquoted passage from Isaiah is found is called "The Great Controversy", and describes the confrontation between God and Satan. But there is no battle between God and Satan – another truth which the Holy Days reveal! God remains supreme at all times and only allows Satan a limited jurisdiction for a specific reason, until he is removed entirely.
Even Satan quotes Scripture
During the recent apostasy false ministers would indeed quote scripture in their sermons or articles, but adulterated the meaning to back up their agenda. Hardly a new methodology – Satan used the same in the Garden of Eden:
- Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden (Genesis 3:1)
Whereas, what God HAD said to Adam was positive:
- And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16,17)
A subtle – and negative – emphasis to God's command, putting Him in a unfavourable light. No doubt the same approach was used when Lucifer, as he was then, manipulated the minds of the angels under his supervision. Satan even attempted the same formula when Christ met him head-on, recorded in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Regarding turning the stones to bread, Christ rebuffed Satan with "it is written", quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. "OK," thinks Satan ... "I can quote scripture too." ...
- And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Matthew 4:6)
Satan picked out one verse from Psalm 91 to try to make a point, but it was out of context with the rest of the word of God. As Christ pointed out, we shouldn't put God to the test as Satan was proposing. (Matthew 4:7, Deuteronomy 6:16). Just because an individual quotes scriptures, doesn't necessarily mean they are giving you God's unadulterated truth on a subject.
- For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
- Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (II Corinthians 11:15)
Missing the Context
If an individual wants to set up a high street business which depends on consistent 'footfall', there are three things he needs to keep in mind: 'location, location, location'. A similar point can be made regarding getting a true understanding of a particular verse in the Bible: 'context, context, context'. That brings to mind a lady we had been through college with saying she didn't bother to do her own Bible study, but would just read the articles printed in the Good News or Worldwide News ... "as the men who wrote them obviously knew what they were writing" ... i.e. had done the studying for her, and she didn't bother to check the context. A dangerous approach, as it turned out. How often have we heard Mr. Armstrong on the World Tomorrow programmes encouraging his listeners to "go and blow the dust off your Bibles" ... and "don't believe me, believe what you read in your Bible"!
A major point to keep in mind regarding context is that the Bible was not divided into chapters until the early 13th century. Much earlier the Hebrew texts were divided into paragraphs (called parashot) that were identified by two different letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Apparently the Torah was divided into 154 sections so they could be read aloud over the course of 3 years. But the numbered verse divisions we use today were not introduced until the middle of the 16th century. We need to remember that the chapter and verse divisions in the Bible are entirely man-made, and mostly by unconverted individuals and are not inspired. Nowhere in the Bible can we read of someone quoting chapter and verse ... but rather..."it is written", and "which was spoken by the prophets".
A good example of an unnecessary and unsatisfactory chapter break is the man-made chapter break between Matthew 24 and 25. After mentioning the dreadful worldwide scenario, and the need for us to be aware of the times we are in (v32,33) from verse 42 onwards, Christ goes straight into discussing the critical spiritual qualities needed at the end time, flowing straight into ... "THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, etc" (Matthew 25:1), the parable of the talents, and also the message re. the sheep and the goats at Christ's second coming – all impressing on us the spiritual qualities we must develop.
Another example of the importance of context can be found Acts 10. Just taking a few verses on their own out of this vision given to Peter could easily cause someone to think it's OK now to eat any type of meat – pork, shellfish, reptiles etc – which in the past were labelled unclean:
- And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
- Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
- And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
- But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
- And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (Acts 10:11-15)
But Peter did not jump to such an assumption – and it is clear we shouldn't either. From the context of the whole chapter, we know it's about God calling gentiles into His church, as Peter then states:
- And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (Acts 10:28)
Another instance regarding the importance of context is in first Corinthians chapter 2. If we take verse nine on its own we could come to the conclusion that we have NO idea what God has in store for His people – UNLESS we read before and after verse nine, and realise that most of that chapter is discussing the difference between those given God's spirit and those that have only the spirit in man, and therefore lack this vital understanding.
- But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
- But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (I Corinthians 2:9,10)
Lastly, a common but far-reaching misconception among the scattered churches of God these days is to use the following command of Peter to say we must "move on from Mr. Armstrong", and modify or even change the foundational teaching he was inspired to give to the church.
- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (II Peter 3:18)
Reading the context of the whole chapter, it becomes clear that the very opposite is true:
- That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (II Peter 3:2)
- As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (II Peter 3:16-18)
A Personal Agenda
Arguing to water down and liberalize God’s Word reminds me of the Protestant minister in the 1890s, when women adopted the “new” style of hairdo of a topknot on top of the head. He quoted from one text only, without regard to others on the subject, shouting out that “the Bible says, Matthew 24:17, ‘top not come down.’” Sure enough it says that but in context and in line with other Scriptures, it means no such thing. (PGR - May 23 1980)
The above is an amusing example, but of much more importance to us today, there are some leaders in the scattered churches of God who play down/dismiss Mr. Armstrong's role as Christ's end-time apostle and the Elijah to come. But the understanding of what an apostle IS, and who it was that fulfilled this Christ-given role at the end time is vital! If God's people are regularly listening to Mr. Armstrong's sermons and Bible studies, and reading his books and articles they won't be deceived by being told that "Oh, Mr. Armstrong never said ... X or Y or Z" ... because they will know differently. Keeping our feet firmly on the foundation of the spiritual heritage left to us, we're less likely to be taken in by an individual's personal agenda, whatever it might be.
Let me here interject a biblical principle within the immediate context. [Much of Genesis 1 is filled in by other parts of the Bible] There is this instruction in Isaiah: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? …precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28:9-10). But most who try to apply this principle in biblical understanding take each “little” verse out of its context, to “interpret” their own ideas into it. (Mystery of the Ages - Chapter 3)
To understand any general subject in the Bible, it is necessary to view all the scriptural evidence touching that particular subject. And we cannot read our inherited or desired meaning into any particular passage; for “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20), but each passage is interpreted by, and in the light of, other texts.
For example. It is quite popular to quote Romans 3:20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight,” and from this passage alone assume that salvation comes by faith, in disobedience to God’s Law! Those who thus interpret this passage never tell you that in Romans 2:13 the same Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified.” (What is Faith - part 2)
Our Life in Context
The world situation today is dire in just about every respect. Everything points to the fact that we are very close to the end of Satan's 6000 year rule over mankind, and yet even at this last hour, we can still be overcome with the cares of this life. It is doubtful whether there is one church member who is not unaffected by a worry or deep concern of some kind – whether it be ill health, financial issues, family worries, bereavement, loneliness etc. The quote below from Mr Armstrong was given in the final few years of his life, after he had suffered the untimely death of his son Richard, the death of his beloved wife Loma, the disloyalty of GTA and many formally trusted ministers, heart problems and virtual blindness which removed his ability to read the scriptures which had been SO precious to him for the best part of 60 years. Yet he shows us here how to keep OUR life in context:
James 1:1-2 James, a servant of God [He doesn't say I am the big I am, I'm a big boss and I've got a big high position now. He's just a servant] and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting[s]. (2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into [different] temptations;
Now, other translations translate that trials, troubles or tests that will come. Sometimes they will come from other people. But I think the Greek word here and that James intended means, includes, temptations as well as troubles and trials that come from other people. Often they really come from Satan even though other people are used to bring them.
So "count it all joy." We don't. We don't count it joy. How do you count it when troubles come, when everything is going wrong, when there's real trouble? How did you count it about two and a third years ago now when the trouble hit the Church? Or was that as bad as when some trouble hits you personally, maybe a real serious financial trouble, something terrible? Do you count it joy? Or are you really troubled and think, Oh boy, that's tough, that's terrible? But he says to count it joy because we're on the way in a transient, chemical, temporary existence into life, and there aren't going to be any more troubles when we get there.
And enduring these troubles, in enduring them, and in coming through them through faith in Christ, we become stronger ourselves, and we're stronger characters, and we are going to have that much more that will give us joy and enjoyment in the Kingdom of God and in ALL eternity. (Beginning of James and Unleavened Bread, 23 April 1981)
Just two weeks ago we kept the Passover, which then led into the Days of Unleavened Bread ... priceless understanding of an incredible Plan for mankind that, if not careful, we could take for granted. On occasion we get a "wake up call" when we come across religious beliefs that are the complete antithesis of the Truth revealed in God's Holy days. Take this segment from Ellen G. White, regarding the work of the saints during the millennium, and the Last Great Day:
In union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death ...
... At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of "the judgment written." (https://ellenwhite.info)
The 'Investigative judgment' couldn't be further from the truth, that Christ came " ... that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). Within the SDA's doctrines there's no concept of those called now being trained to teach God's way in the millennium, and bring more sons into the God family – OUR life and calling couldn't be more positive, because we know our trials are part of our training, and are temporary:
- For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
- For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
- While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:16-18)
Like studying the word of God, where it's vital to get the subject matter in context, if we are not going to fall at the last hurdle, we need to get OUR life – including trials and troubles – in context too, and the best way to do that is to immerse ourselves in the wonderful future that God has promised us individually, to our "seed" and to all those that who have ever lived, if they are willing.
- When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
- Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
- The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
- Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
- They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
- He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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