In July 1776, none of us were alive when the Founding Fathers declared America independent from British rule. Contemporary and secular scholars often overlook the fact that they were steeped in a Judeo-Christian worldview. But the United States was clearly established as a nation that recognized “Nature’s God” as the author of our liberties and worthy of our praise.
I was alive in 1976, when America celebrated its bicentennial. A collection of national treasures (or at least their replicas) came to my school—undoubtedly one of many such traveling museums. Even then, the “Spirit of ’76” was a slogan that rang with pride and appreciation.
Now, just fifty years later, many in our own country would rather denounce than celebrate our national heritage. Their scorn is heaped highest on the faith foundations our Founders unashamedly endorsed: reverence for God, respect for the Savior, and a recognition that the affairs of men are subject to His overarching authority. We’ve come a long way—in the wrong direction. And as we mark a national milestone, we’re reminded that history is moving toward God’s appointed end.
For two millennia—eight times as long as America has endured—Christians have studied the prophetic promises in Scripture and taken God at His Word. They have longed to be gathered to Christ and dwell in the place He has prepared for us. But they have also been conduits of His blessing on this earth—seeking the welfare of the societies in which they live. They have also acted as a restraint on the wickedness that will surely break out once the Church is removed.
You may be “proud to be an American,” a Canadian, or any other nationality among the family of nations. But those distinctions pale in comparison to your status relative to Jesus Christ if you have citizenship in the Kingdom of God. If you are His, glories beyond imagination await you. And if you are not, neither your passport nor your pedigree will save you from the wrath that will soon be poured out on an unrepentant world.
Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. Praise God for the blessings and grace He has indeed shed on this land. And thank Him that He has invited us to become citizens of Heaven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But even as we await the Rapture and the unfolding of all the events described in Revelation, time marches on in the here and now. Our task—serving our soon-coming King wherever He has placed us—grows more urgent by the day.
Resource
Following the trajectory of our Overview of the End Times Prophecy Chart, our Lamplighter magazine’s theme this month (download free) is the Trumpet Judgments that will be poured out during the Tribulation. We’ll also touch on other activities that will be taking place in Heaven during that culminating period.
CELEBRATE AMERICA? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
The author of the article wrote “I was alive in 1976, when America celebrated its bicentennial.” Well, so was I. I was 13 years old. I celebrated America then, too. But it was a different America than the one that exists today. Even then in 1976 it had already take the first of 3 major steps that will lead to our destruction.
STRIKE ONE: 1973. Abortion is legalized. This is the most horrendous of all sins of America. SIXTY-SIX MILLION babies aborted in America since 1973. This one strike alone is enough to justify the divine destruction of our nation.
STRIKE TWO: 2015. Gay marriage is legalized. This is not just another sin. It is an abomination. It has led to the entire LGBTetc. sickness and the ultimate sin of gender identification and mutilation of minors. If the LGBTetc. crowd can’t abort the child in the womb they will destroy it mentally and physically after birth.
STRIKE THREE: America turns against Israel. Happening now, current day. The Bible says the WHOLE WORLD will turn against Israel. Yes, that includes America. Already the Democrats are nearly unanimously against Israel. That trend is seeping into the Republican party. And the President of the United States, the narcissistic Donald Trump has used vile language and threats against Netanyahu while also saying he would be “honored” to meet with Iran’s Supreme Leader; declared he (Trump) is in “charge” of Israel’s fate (instead of God who is really in charge); has declared that Israel will “stand alone” against Iran if they don’t do all he (Trump) demands; did not finish the job in Iran and now wants to sell F35 fighters to Turkey who is an end times player with Russia and Iran, et al.
America and its government, like everything humans have done and created since our downfall from the Garden of Eden, is a sinful institution created by sinful human beings and is unworthy of praise. And unless America repents and turns from it’s evil ways it will not be healed and will be destroyed. And those three STILL EXISTING MAJOR SINS I listed above are still in place and there is no indication we will repent from them.
So, should I honor America now as it exists at 250? From a Biblical Christian perspective the answer is:
STRIKE ONE!
STRIKE TWO!
STRIKE THREE!
YOU’RE OUT!
I wish to add to my previous comment about why I won’t celebrate America 250 the following:
Despite the sins of our nation, yes, God has blessed America in many ways. Incredible blessings. That being said, all celebration, praise and thanks goes to God alone for His mercy and grace on this country. A mercy and grace which we are not worthy of. Like the forgiveness of the sins of the individual the mercy upon our nation is a gift, a free pardon and not an earned prize.
Again, America since 1973 with legalized abortion, gay marriage and the coming full betrayal of Israel is not the same America as the one I grew up in. I do NOT recognize this country anymore as the one I once loved and was proud of. Evil is taking over. And I am amazed and awed by the speed at which this is happening and at the depth of evil that I never imagined. This is why I wrote the things I did in my previous comment. I’m not celebrating my position of turning against and calling out the coming utter demise of America. I am mourning it with a heavy heart.
Lamplighter magazine is so informative. Those who know the Bible hold the hope of actually getting to be with Christ in heaven. We can actually see God’s prophetic time clock coming together in historical events. There are lots of anticipating weary believers out there as we so many things upside down. Ephesians 6:12 says for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. This is why we see the behavior of so many doing what ought not to be done and acting with depravity.