The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Lincoln Understood Repentance

Peter Marshall

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How can a nation mollify God’s anger over their continued rebellion against Him?

In a Christ in Prophecy series titled “America’s Christian Heritage,” Dr. David Reagan interviews a historian who shares what one of America’s greatest presidents — Abraham Lincoln — understood about the consequences of national sin.

For over forty years the Rev. Peter Marshall has gained national recognition as a teacher and writer on America’s Christian heritage. Because he believes that our nation is in moral and spiritual crisis and that the only hope for restoration is revival, his increasingly prophetic ministry focuses on two major themes — recovering the original American vision with the truth about our Christian heritage, and putting 2 Chronicles 7:14 on national repentance into practice.

Son of the famous Senate chaplain Dr. Peter Marshall and author Catherine Marshall, Rev. Marshall has devoted himself to a continent-wide ministry of preaching, teaching and writing. He has co-authored three best-selling books about God’s call on America and His hand on our history — The Light and The Glory, From Sea to Shining Sea, and Sounding Forth the Trumpet. His ministry is called Peter Marshall Ministries.

What Lincoln Understood

Dr. Reagan: You are working on a book right now about the Christian heritage of America as it relates to the Civil War. One of the things that comes to mind is that great proclamation that Abraham Lincoln issued during the Civil War in which he stated point blank that he believed that the Civil War was the result of this nation’s sin.

Rev. Marshall: No question about it.

Abraham Lincoln

Dr. Reagan: Lincoln said we needed to repent before the Lord. He asked everyone to go to their churches and synagogues, I think it was on a Thursday of a week, and pray to God to forgive us of our sins so that this war might come to an end. I believe if a President of the United States were to issue such a proclamation like that today, he would probably be impeached.

Rev. Marshall: Repentance is very much needed. It is desperately needed for us to have a President in the White House who will say that kind of thing. Now, President Reagan used to talk that way, but since then we have not had as much of that kind of talk. Of course, after 9/11 George W. Bush talked that way.

The problem is that we’ve lost that sense of God’s judgment because we have lost the sense of God’s call and His plan for the nation. If you understand God’s plan for the nation of America is to be a moral and spiritual leader, an example to the rest of the world of the possibilities of life on this planet, if you understand that, then you understand that if the nation turns its back on that call then comes the judgments.

For example, look at how God dealt with Israel. The Puritans saw parallels between God’s dealings with ancient Israel and God’s dealings with them. Repentance together as a nation was the only answer to God dealing with their sins.

Resource

America's Christian Heritage

America’s Christian Heritage DVD

Explore America’s Christian heritage!
America’s Christian Heritage is a 70-minute interview of the Reverend Peter Marshall, historian and author of the book The Light and the Glory and son of the famous Senate chaplain Dr. Peter Marshall and Catherine Marshall, author of the Christy novels.

Order your copy today!

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

8 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • The puritans also labeled those who did not follow their attempt at theocracy as witches or warlocks, practioners of witchcraft and burned them at the stake. I would say using the puritans as an example is not very well thought out.

    It appears that someone here endorses the same ideas as the late Reverend Falwell, Dr. James Dobson, and John Hageee which is a militant Christianity. They believe a Republican majority will allow them to supplant a theocracy or a platform for Dominionism.

    These ideas are based on ignorance concerning the scripture. Though I would like to see a spiritual revival in the land and many come to faith in Christ. This will not come by power hungry individuals seeking to control the masses under the umbrella of a profane Christianity.

    Their attempt to use their own interpretation of God as their platform to gain political power and wealth will fail as the Apostle John records when describing the fate of the "Whore of Babylon".

  • That the Puritans were a bunch of self-righteous witch burners is a stereotype made by those who have contempt for godly Christian living. One has only to read the works of the Puritans to see that their desire to lead the most godly life possible and the spiritual maturity they gained from that pursuit makes us Christians today look like spiritual pygmies.

    That passion for God you wish so hard for the Church to get again, Rodney, should in part begin in emulating the Puritan's faith and spiritual disciplines.

  • Rodney said "The puritans also labeled those who did not follow their attempt at theocracy as witches or warlocks, practioners of witchcraft and burned them at the stake"

    In his comments Rodney uses the following descriptions of people he disagrees with: "militant", wanting "to supplant a theocracy", have "ideas are based on ignorance"; are "power hungry individuals seeking to control the masses"; "use their own interpretation of God"; want to "to gain political power and wealth"; and are "Whore(s) of Babylon".

    I'm glad you're not one of those Puritans who go around labeling people, Rodney!

  • Sorry Rodney, but it seems that you also are a classic example of the product of "revisionist" history.

    Back in the 60's, I read several books on the histories of witchcraft and Satanism in America and the rampant revisionism that had already been going on for a number of decades to obfuscate and hide what really happened with the Puritans and the so-called Salem Witch Trials.

    These books had extensive research in the county records, public records, publishings, and letters showing growing panic in the communities because of real abductions of infants and young children that were found to have been sacrificed in satanic rituals.

    Granted in that kind of panic there were certainly a lot of false accusations for every little personal quirkiness, especially towards those of diminished capacity and a lot of innocent people were tortured and executed. Many accusations were also later found to be coming unsolicited from Satanist maintaining the guise of righteousness. Yet even today, with modern forensics, we find many in prison that were wrongly convicted.

    But, now who do think would have a vested interest in hiding all that valid information showing real substance behind the events and then portraying the Puritans as 'religious extremists' and 'unenlightened', fearful neanderthals from the medieval 'dark ages'?

    And who were all the people that flocked to Anton LeVey's First Church of Satan when he opened it in SF in the early 60's [the pinnacle of western "enlightenment"…]?? 'Unenlightened', fearful neanderthals from the medieval 'dark ages', or rather, educated, "enlightened", top businessmen, politicians, and the social elites, not for fad, but attraction to real power?!?

    You've been running a somewhat dour theme in the last several posts, but I have to agree with Nathan & Billy that this one was a little over the top.

  • Rodney,

    I checked your profile and saw your "about me". I want to tell you I believe anyone who served his country in the military has my ultimate respect and admiration for your service. Thank you for that and thank God for all our soldiers. You sound like a good guy.

    So, nothing personal, but of course we can still disagree here and express quite passionately our beliefs.

  • Billy, that is just it, we can disagree freely. The fact is that a powerless Church seeks to compensate by gathering to themselves powerful political figures. The problem however is that these political figures enjoy the campaign money they provide and nothing more.

    The power of the Church is not found in the halls of our government, it is found in the Gospel and the willingness to share it with the lost. If the Church would cease from seeking earthly power and influence and focus on what matters most, then perhaps they could tap into power that comes from above.

    Only this power can change the hearts of men and women and ultimately change the direction of the nation. Drop the aspirations for a theocracy and seeking to elevate themselves in the spheres of power or wealth and direct their energy in things eternal. That after all is the Great Commission.

    The Kingdom of God is not made by man consisting of earthly substance, it is formed by the souls of men and women as mortar and brick upon brick is laid. Stop chasing politicians coattails and start following the train flowing from the Royal Robe of the Lord and God, Yeshua.

  • Billy, when Yeshua addressed the Pharisee and the Sadducee as recorded in the gospels, you will notice that this was not designed as a motivational speech. The truth is, that the same Lord that lives and is seated at the right hand of the Father today, would have much more to say than I regarding the spiritual condition of the Church today. We are not so blinded that we can not see the pitiful state it is in, dimly lit and ready to die along with this nation.

  • Rodney,

    Actually I agree with a lot of what you say but found your comments about a godly man like Jerry Falwell quite offensive. I think that goes for James Dobson too. However I am no fan of John Hagee.

    And I would point out that a secular liberal theocracy in my opinion would be infinitely more destructive than any other force out there (with the exception of Muslim theocracy).

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