Is America Doomed?

Just over a month ago, a friend forwarded to me a sixteen-minute video that went viral. Dana Coverstone is the pastor of an Assembly of God church in Kentucky. In his video, Dana testified of God giving him dreams about America’s future. He warned of foreign soldiers on the ground, hyperinflation, and cities burning during September, October, and November of this year.

At first, I seriously considered what Dana shared. The previous week, a prophet I know saw a war coming to the United States. Dana doesn’t claim to be a prophet but talked of having previous dreams of disease and protests that came to pass. He advised, “Let's see what happens through November and see if I’m right about this.” So I shared Dana’s video on my Facebook page (later removing it) and added the comment: “Perhaps this can be averted through prayer and fasting.” Jonah prophesied the downfall of Nineveh but that was delayed because of its inhabitants repenting.

Many pundits have predicted the demise of America. The wife of a state senator I know recently wrote on her Facebook page: “We are not a free country right now.” Certainly, we’ve seen troubling things over the past few weeks: looting, buildings on fire, reports of coin shortages, and politicians imposing lockdowns. However, I’ve read other prophecies proclaiming hope for America and the church. Last Sunday during a service, handouts were given about Bob Jones’ “100-year prophecy.” The Lord had shown this late prophet awesome things manifesting per decade: “I saw up to the 2060s and the church here was not beat down.” This suggests the Second Coming may not happen for another 40 years.

Two days later while watching an online prayer meeting, a 1974 prophecy from Kenneth E. Hagin was read. The opening lines were: “'No, the time of the end is not yet. No, America is not doomed', I heard Him say, 'No, judgment will not fall as yet. Some have seen some things in the spirit and didn’t know how to interpret it. They interpreted it as happening now. I didn’t say it was going to happen now. In the spirit you see things in the distance — and even in another age. When the Church age is over, judgment will fall. But judgment will not fall upon the Church. For the only judgment that the church will face is the judgment seat of Christ.'”

1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.” One prophet may see something in the future that appears to contradict what another prophet is seeing. Sometimes these prophecies make more sense when they are put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The events they are seeing could happen years apart. Even if a war occurs upon American soil later this year, that doesn’t mean it’s all over for this country. We survived other challenges like the Civil War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and 9/11.

The United States has a history of sending soldiers and missionaries to other countries to help promote freedom both naturally and spiritually plus providing aid in response to natural disasters. I don’t see God allowing that to stop. Sodom and Gomorrah would have been spared if He had found at least ten righteous men there. I am one of the millions of professing believers here. I will continue praying for this land while preaching the gospel in various American cities. Many other ministers are believing for a Third Great Awakening that will reap a great harvest of souls in this country and others.

I choose to believe the best about America.

“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” - Psalm 85:6

The Ministry of Church Security

Photo courtesy of 2wayradiodirect.com

Last Sunday afternoon while riding with a pastor to his church, we got to talking about ministers hiring security personnel for protection. My friend told me of a Messianic pastor he knows who has bodyguards because of death threats. Little did we know a mass shooting had just taken place at a church in Texas. A lone gunman killed twenty-six people plus wounded twenty others at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Two men then chased after the killer who was eventually killed himself.

Ever since 9/11, many places in America have implemented increased security including churches. Occasionally, I’ve been asked to have my backpack examined, which I use to carry my laptop for taking notes during services. This used to annoy me. Then last year at a church leadership conference, I attended a workshop taught by the man in charge of security there. The information he shared gave me a greater appreciation for what they do. One thing he pointed out was his team look at their jobs as a ministry.

After learning of the attack in Sutherland Springs, I thought of what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “…and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” The Body of Christ should never cower in fear but stay on the offensive by fulfilling the Great Commission. Don’t forget we also have God’s angels for protection (see Psalm 91:11). Once I heard John Hagee talk about a time when a gunman came up to him during a service and fired six shots point blank. Not a single bullet hit Pastor Hagee. Nevertheless, John has security men stationed near him while he preaches to discourage future assailants. 

One shouldn’t be critical of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs for not doing enough to prevent this tragedy. A generation ago, something like this would have been unthinkable in America. Satan is now exerting great wrath knowing he has a short time left (Revelation 12:12). Two years ago, a white supremacist killed nine African-American worshipers at a Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina. Eight years before that, a megachurch in Colorado Springs was attacked by a gunman who killed two people. That death toll might have been higher if a member of the church’s safety team hadn’t carried a licensed firearm. 

In these last days, every believer needs to be alert naturally and spiritually. Pastors can do their part by keeping their congregations covered in prayer and (if the Lord leads them to) step up security at their church.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8

Universal Reconciliation

There are Christians so afraid of offending non-believers that they avoid talking about hell. Some of who are buying into the doctrine of Universal Reconciliation. This is a belief that everyone will have eternal life and even Satan will someday be reconciled to God. The latter concept should immediately raise red flags since Revelation 20:10 says the devil will be “…cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Verse 15 from the same chapter says, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." These Scriptures make no room for parole for the condemned.

It’s true that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) But two chapters later, it says in verse 1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Even some full gospel ministers have embraced Universal Reconciliation. A few years ago, Carlton Pearson (pictured above) began preaching a “Gospel of Inclusion” or “universal salvation.” Bishop Pearson, who had attended Oral Roberts University, formally declared belief in this doctrine at his New Dimensions Church, which later merged into one of the largest Unitarian Universalist congregations in the world. The Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops officially declared him a heretic.

The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16) but He’s also a God of judgment. We cannot sugarcoat the truth of Scripture for fear of offending others. I pray that ministers like Carlton Pearson will awaken from this deception and boldly preach the truth about hell…as well as heaven.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” - Romans 11:22

Feeding the Bread the Life

There is a large homeless population in Washington, DC. Whenever I'm street witnessing in the nation's capital, I'm occasionally approached by people wanting money. Often they will say it’s for food. That's why I usually carry extra snacks in my backpack like crackers and granola bars that I offer to hungry panhandlers. Con artists who really want money for drugs or alcohol will frequently refuse the food.

This afternoon as I approached a Metro station, I noticed a man standing by the escalators and correctly discerned he was begging for money. He asked me for some change and I responded by asking this man if he was hungry. When he replied, "yes", I told him I had fruit bars with me and offered him the choice of either strawberry or fig flavor. After choosing a strawberry fruit bar, I gave Joseph a tract and asked if he knew for sure where he would spend eternity when his life ended. Joseph said he was hoping to go to heaven and initially didn’t think anyone could know for sure of their eternal destiny. I politely pointed in the tract what 1 John 5:12-13 says...

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you maycontinue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

After sharing other Scriptures with Joseph, he eventually prayed to get born again. Glory to God!

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” - John 6:33