Prayer - Part 1
Unprevailing Prayer, Its Cause and Remedy: When an individual is in
acute distress, or when a major disaster befalls a nation, there is an
immediate resort to prayer to God. The United States of America is deeply
afflicted today because of governmental maladministration, with increasing
economic difficulties and with steadily mounting unemployment. Carefully
hidden by the Jewish controlled media, of course. The moral standards of
past years have given way to a permissive society (straight out of the
Jewish Talmud) and that which was formerly considered sinful has become,
more or less, the norm of the present generation. Indeed, the indecent
behavior of groups, of Queers, and the present Administration, and individuals
is countenanced to an appalling degree.
Inviting Trouble: Grave concern for the future is frequently expressed
by God-fearing leaders, some of whom are calling upon the people to earnestly
pray that the United States may be blessed of God. IT IS WELL TO REITERATE
THAT THERE IS A TIME TO PRAY AND THERE IS A TIME TO ACT, FOR PRAYING, WITHOUT
PROPER ACTION, IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. There are Biblical requirements
to be met if relief is to come, for only by complying with Scriptural directives
will surcease from turmoil and desperation be found. God will not; indeed,
He cannot, bless an individual, or a nation, where there is a refusal to
turn away from unrighteous and sinful practices.
Nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that god is taking
note of the sincere desire on the part of those who are seeking blessings
for our nation. It is unfortunate that, at this time, there must be a negative
response to these petitions because there is "sin in the camp." Just as
Joshua was required to remove the evil in the midst of the camp of Israel
before God could answer his prayer for the nation (Joshua 7), equally so,
our governmental leaders today must do likewise.
Under present conditions, we are only praying ourselves into trouble.
The prayers of an unrepentant people, who ignore the fact that the bible
is the Divine Formulary for prevailing prayer, are courting disaster. The
thought has been expressed that the eruptions of the Mount St. Helens volcano,
within the very borders of the United States, are a sign of impending Divine
wrath.
Apparently, those who are sponsoring prayer campaigns are not
taking into consideration the fact that there is only one course for God
to pursue to ultimately compel His people to do that which will enable
Him to bestow the blessings they are praying for. In fact, most of the
so-called Judeo-Christian leaders are more interested in how much money
they can bring in. The Prophet Jeremiah points out that it is through an
increase in the pressure of trouble, as God's hand rests heavily upon His
people, that the desired end will be accomplished: "Therefore, behold,
I will this once cause them to know; I will cause them to know mine hand
and my hand; and they shall know that my name is The Lord (that is, Jehovah,
the God of Israel)." (Jeremiah 16:21)
The Elijah Syndrome: The Prophet Malachi preindicated the course
we must pursue in order that God may bless our nation. It is to heed the
requirements embodied in what may be called the Elijah Message. Three distinct
periods of activity were to be carried on during the Christian Era. Two
phases are mentioned by the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 16:16) and the final
phase by the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:17-19). They are as follows:
1). The Fishing Period, covering centuries of proclaiming
the Gospel of salvation.
2). The Hunting Period, seeking out the latter0day Identity of
the House of Israel.
3), The watchmen Period, warning that the time is at hand for
Divine Judgment.
It is well to bear in mind that these periods all interact upon one
another and they may overlap. Nevertheless, in each case, as the emphasis
on one type of activity diminishes, the phase to follow commences to come
to the forefront.
Our Lord Jesus constituted His disciples fishers of men, with
the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom being emphasized from that
generation to the 20th century. By 1844, the Hunting Period began to manifest
itself in an awakening of the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Celtic and kindred
peoples to their identity as modern Israel in the world today. The years
1914-1917 being a turning point in history, the watchmen Period commenced,
for watchmen began to become active following the taking of peace from
the earth after World War I. Their commission is to warn of the coming
of the sword, eventuating in the judgment of the Great and Terrible Day
of Divine Wrath.
The last two phases of activity; the hunters and the watchmen,
occupy the period during which the fullness of the Elijah Message is to
be proclaimed. That same period is also designated as the Tarrying Time.
The Elijah Message is a call to remember the Law of the lord,
including the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments, as well as a call to
awaken to the knowledge or our origin and identity, thus turning the hearts
of the children to acknowledge their forefathers. In the phrase, "I will
send you Elijah," the Hebrew word, translated send, can also be rendered
"appoint," "bring in the way," "spread," "shoot forth." The Hebrew rod,
translated turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, can also be
rendered "slide back," "return to the starting place," "recall to mind,"
"restore," "back home again," "to turn back." (Malachi 4:4-6)
The Hunting Period: A period of time which we appear to be in,
is being devoted to recalling to mind our origin, acknowledging, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob/Israel as our forefathers. (Isaiah 51:1-2)
The Watchman Period: Which we are apparently in, is being devoted
to warning of war, who our real enemies are, and the coming of the Great
and Terrible Day of divine Wrath.
Prayer - Part 2
Confirming the Law of the Lord
The final two periods under consideration were to be active during
the Latter Days, when the Gospel of the Kingdom began to be concentratedly
promulgated, although proclaimed as a witness only. (Matthew 24:14) Again,
this involved the necessity to acknowledge our identity and responsibility
as the latter-day House of Israel and, coupled with this, there is the
express command to restore the administration of the Law of the Lord. The
Prophet Malachi recorded the pronouncement of the Lord: "Remember ye the
law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
with the statutes and judgments." (Malachi 4:4)
Our Lord Christ confirmed these laws, even the least of them,
declaring that they had not been abrogated when He stated categorically:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not
come to destroy (the Law), but to fulfill (prophecy). For verily I say
unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no
wise pass from the law, till all (prophecy) be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore
shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he
shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall
do and tech them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:17-19)
The dictionary defines "righteousness" as conformity with a standard
of what is right in order to be blameless or guiltless.
Righteousness: Strong's Concordance #1343 dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay);
from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:
KJV-- righteousness.
Thayer's Definition: #1343 dikaiosune-
1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought
to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God a) the doctrine
concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of
thinking feeling, and acting
2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each
his due.
The Scriptures show that the standard of righteousness is the Law
of the Lord. The Psalmist proclaimed: "The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment
of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter
also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping them there is great reward." (Psalm 19:7-11)
On one occasion, Christ indicated a difference in the practice
of the Christian attribute of righteousness: "For I say unto you, that
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew
5:20)
While Christ is "the end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth," (Romans 10:4) this verity, as Paul expressed it, does
not, by any means, set aside the Commandments, Statutes and judgments of
the Law of the Lord. Among the meanings of the word "end," both "termination"
and "purpose" are found, referring to what our Lord accomplished for the
believer by the finished work of His death on the stake and His resurrection
from among the dead. Writing to the Galatians, Paul explained that the
laws, contained in ordinances were "our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24) Paul then pointed
out: "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
(Galatians 3:25)
This Christian instruction is related to the justification of
the believer by faith upon the acceptance of Christ as our Savior. After
conversion, the Christian's attitude toward the Law of the Lord is expressed
in Psalm 119, where it is stated: "blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the Lord." (Psalm 119:1)
The Christian affirms: "I will praise thee with unrighteous of
heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments...Let thy mercies
come unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word...And I
will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved." (Psalm 119:7;
41; 47)
The Psalmist testified that "great peace have they which love
thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165) It is of interest
to discover that the marginal rendering of the latter phrase is "they shall
have no stumblingblock." The great stumblingblock to answers to prayer
today is the penchant on the part of Christians to scorn the Law of the
Lord, prompted to do so largely by the false and erroneous instructions
from the Judeo-Christians leaders of today.
The Law For the Nation
Many examples could be cited concerning the operation of the Law
of the Lord in national administration, but one example will suffice. The
Commandments of the Law of the Lord govern personal conduct; the Statutes
of the Law of the Lord are for the nation to administer; the Judgments
of the Law of the Lord are decisions rendered for the equitable administration
of justice in accordance with the requirements set forth under both the
Commandments and the Statutes. For instance, the following Commandment
enjoins the individual not to murder: "Thou shalt not kill (the Hebrew
word is more accurately translated ‘murder')." (Exodus 20:13)
The Statute instructs those who administer the affairs of state
how to deal with a murderer: "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall
be put to death." (Numbers 35:30)
Prayer - Prayer 3
A Judgment is rendered condemning any other type of punishment,
other than death, for a murderer: "Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction
for the life of a murderer, which id guilty of death: but he shall be surely
put to death." (Numbers 35:31)
The failure to execute the murderer pollutes the land, as it is
stated: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it
defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is
shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." (Numbers 35:33)
Actually, under present circumstances, it is an affront to God
to petition Him to bless America, citing 2 Chronicles 7:14, which contains
the Divine invitation: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land."
There can be no expectation that God will hear from heaven and
heal our land while it is a land defiled by the blood of countless numbers
of innocent victims of murderers who are not put to death. The Lord has
stated emphatically that "the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that
is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it." Therefore, all criminals
who have been convicted of committing murder must be put to death. The
death penalty must also operate under the Low of the Lord in many other
cases; for instance, where the degrading sin of Sodomy is practiced. (Leviticus
18:22; 20:13)
The Covenant People
To cite a verse of Scripture and disregard, or misapply, the context,
invariably leads to a distortion of its meaning. For example, in the invitation
given in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord specifically names those to whom He
is speaking: "If my people, which are called by my name." These are the
people of the covenant who made everlasting commitments to the Lord, as
pointed out in the booklet, "The Bond of the Covenant:" "A covenant of
nationhood was made with our forefathers at Mount Sinai when the Lord instructed
Moses to convey the following message to the House of Jacob: ‘Now therefore,
if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be
a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priest (ministers of state), and an
holy (set apart) nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto
the children of Israel.' (Exodus 19:5-6)
Moses came down from the Mount and called for the Elders of the
people, before whom he presented God's proposal. The Elders evidently laid
the matter before the entire congregation of Israel and their thrice-given
response is recorded: ‘All the people answered together, and said, All
that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the
people unto the Lord.' (Exodus 19:8 24:3, 7)
From that day and forward, the people of Israel, and their posterity;
the present-day Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic, Nordic, Slavic
and kindred nations of the House of Israel which have devolved from the
House of Jacob/Israel have been bound by this vow to abide by the terms
of the National Covenant. The Lord accepted the word of our forefathers
to this end and, throughout all succeeding generations, the people have
been held accountable for the oath taken at Mount Sinai." (The Bond of
the Covenant, pp. 6-7)
Today our nation is suffering under the curses written into the
National Covenant (Leviticus 26:14-20; Deuteronomy 28:5868), having failed
to heed the instruction of Moses: "Therefore, thou shalt love the Lord
thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and
his commandments, alway." (Deuteronomy 11:1)
A Bitter Pill
God will answer the prayers for national blessings when our nation
makes an open avowal of its heritage as the latter-day House of Israel,
accompanied by a public declaration that the terms of the covenant God
made with our forefathers at Mount Sinai will be honored. This will be
the bitterest of all pills to be swallowed by those who have been in outspoken
opposition to the great Biblical truths pertaining to the identification
of the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Celtic and kindred peoples with the modern
Israel of God. The Scriptural, historical and prophetic evidence establishes
this fact beyond refutation and coming events will confirm what is asserted
here. When Soviet Russia, who is Gog, at the head of the Great Confederacy,
(The Price of Disobedience, pp. 8-10) strikes out, upon the command of
the Kremlin masters, to implement their long-planned aggression to obtain
world control, all the people, including both church and civil leaders,
will willingly head the admonition of the Prophet Joel, for it will be
only through Divine intervention that God's people can escape annihilation.
All the nations of the present-day House of Israel will respond
to the call for prayer: "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breast:
let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and
the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine
heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them; wherefore
should they say among the people, Where is their God?" (Joel 2:16-17)
This is the prayer that will bring about Divine deliverance, for
the Prophet Ezekiel declares: "So the house of Israel shall know that I
am the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall
know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because
they trespassed against me." (Ezekiel 39:22-23)
The Strong Deliverer
Through the Prophet Isaiah we are prophetically informed that
"when the enemy shall come in like a flood," the Spirit of the Lord shall,
according to the marginal rendering, "put him to flight." (Isaiah 59:19)
The King James Version states that the Spirit of the Lord shall "lift up
a standard" that will repel the foes of His Kingdom. For many years there
has been a question concerning the nature of that "standard" and only now
has this been clarified by penetrating analysis of the whole context of
this prophecy. Knowing that punctuation and paragraphing are features which
are added to the ancient text of the Bible manuscripts, we have become
aware that Isaiah 59:19-20 would be more accurately translated: "So shall
they fear the name of the Lord form the west, and the glory from the rising
of the sun when the enemy shall come in like flood. The Spirit of the Lord
shall lift up a standard against him (and put him to flight), and the Redeemer
shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob,
saith he Lord."
The meaning of this is that the revelation of "the Glory of the
Lord" will be manifested by the appearing; that is, the shining forth,
of the Sign of the Son of man in heaven. (Matthew 24:30) (Orion, the Glorious
One) This new comprehension of the order of climactic developments gives
us a firm clue concerning the timing of the Divine act of intervention
and what will be involved in relation to other spectacular events to take
place at that junction.
Prayer - Part 4 (Last One)
It should be stressed that when the Redeemer comes to Zion, He
will come to those who "turn from transgression in Jacob." In the very
next verse, the Lord declares: "As for me, this is my covenant with them"
(Isaiah 59:21) and, addressing the people through the Prophet Ezekiel,
the Lord states plainly what He will do: "I will cause you to pass under
the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will
purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me."
(Ezekiel 20:37-38)
The reason for such drastic action is stated: "Because they had
not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted
my Sabbaths." (Ezekiel 20:34)
A Time of Trouble
the Prophet Daniel was given to understand that there would be
a time of trouble unlike any previous period in history and "at that time
shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children
of thy people. (Daniel12:1) All of these happening are for the "who" to
understand (Daniel 12:3, 10), for the Prophet Word is comprised of marvels
of that which reveals, and yet conceals, the order of events soon to transpire.
Those who are not "wise" will remain in a quandary to the very climax,
being numbered among those who are in the category of "enemies." (Revelation
11:11-12)
Eventually, the deepening confusion of the passing of the old
order will be terminated. This will give way to the inauguration of Divine
rule, as it was pointed out to Daniel: "And the kingdom and the dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given
to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Daniel 7:27)
It is stated in Study in Daniel, by Howard B. Rand: "The statement,
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, can be rendered
literally, But the righteous once of the holy ones of the Most High shall
receive the kingdom. This is important, for the holy ones, or set-apart-ones,
which Jesus Christ is to reign forever...The Israel peoples are holy to
the Lord because the Israel race was called, chosen and set apart to serve
Him and be used to accomplish His purpose. But rulership in that Kingdom
is to be given only to the righteous ones among the holy ones, who alone
qualify for positions of authority and power in the Kingdom by virtue of
having become overcomers." (Study in Daniel, pp. 189-190)
Guests of the Bridegroom
It was pointed out in News in Brief No. 31 that, before the final
phase of judgment completely destroys the world economy, the Israel people
are counseled: "Holy thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the
day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice (a feast):
he hath bid (marginal rendering: ‘sanctified' or ‘prepared') his guests."
(Zephaniah 1:7)
Matthew's Gospel in the New Testament states that the revelation
of the Lord's presence will follow the appearing of the Sign of the Son
of man in heaven, (Matthew 24:30) which will be a special alert that the
time will have come for those receiving invitations to the Marriage Supper
to enter that Festival as guests of the Bridegroom, who is our Lord Jesus
Christ. It is stated: "He shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds (the
winds of war), from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:31)
It is of intriguing interest to note that the Prophet Zephaniah
states the Lord will punish "all such as are clothed with strange apparel."
(Zephaniah 1:8) In the Scriptures, white, or brightness, is associated
with righteousness. In early times, white garments were worn on festal
occasions to indicate both purity and rejoicing. In the New Testament,
we are told that those clothed in white raiment, (Revelation 3:5) for a
garment of white, or brightness, is analogous to the robe of righteousness
which must be worn by each guest at the Marriage Supper. Otherwise, the
intruder will be found guilty of being clothed in "strange apparel' and
will be dealt with accordingly. (Matthew 22:10-13)
Paul used stern language in writing to those whom he called "dull
of hearing," stating: "For when the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles
of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk its unskillful in the word of righteousness
(that is, the precepts of the Law of the Lord): for he is a babe." (Hebrews
5:12-13)
While righteousness is imputed, by faith, to all who accept Jesus
Christ as their personal Savior, yet Christians must, by their works, put
on the robe of righteousness or remain but a babe in Christ. The determination
to follow in the way of righteousness will become evident in personal behavior
that manifests the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-26) There will
be growth in grace, progressing toward maturity, by "those who, by reason
of use (habit), have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
(Hebrews 5:14) to refuse to be thus attired is to fall short of the spiritual
measurements required in order to be fitted with the robe of righteousness
which will be provided, at the behest of Jesus Christ, for all those in
attendance at the Marriage Supper.
Garmented in Righteousness
As for the nations of modern Israel, to be restored as the Kingdom
of God upon the earth, John envisioned the day to come when, having endured
great tribulation, they will elect to keep the terms of the national Covenant
made with their forefathers at Mount Sinai. They will then reaffirm their
willingness to administer the Law of the Lord as the law of the land and,
thereupon, they will brought into full favor with God as His people; that
is, as the "wife" who "hath made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)
John prophesied: "To here was granted that she should be arrayed
in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints." (Revelation 19:8)
John beheld the reconvenanted "wife," whom the Lord Himself had
married, (Jeremiah 3:11, 14) garmented in righteousness and presented to
Him when He returns in triumph to the earth, following the close of the
Marriage Supper. (Revelation 19:11-14) Isaiah foretold the wondrous future
fact to follow: "Thy people also shall be al righteous." (Isaiah 60:21)
The effect of this will be that "violence shall no more be heard in thy
land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders." (Isaiah 60:18) Thereafter,
according to the prophet: "They shall call them, the holy people, the redeemed
of the Lord." (Isaiah 62:12)
