Is The Enemy To Blame?

By: Jim Josephsen

 
Looking at the history of mankind, we would conclude that the ways and times of peace are an anomaly, seemingly never sustainable. How true is the scripture, “and the way of peace they know not.”

A world with wars and conflict automatically is a world of enemies. Any country can catalog its list of enemies. From the perspective of the United States, the list seems never ending. China, North Korea, a resurging Russia to start; then continuing, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya. We can shift our focus to those that would love to see the United States and its allies collapse economically and the truth of the matter is the United States may not be far from obliging these enemies.

Continuing the list of enemies are individuals and groups such as Hugo Chavez, Osama bin Laden, Ahmadinejad, al Qaeda, the resurging Taliban, the many jihadist and terrorist groups scattered across the globe, ever growing, preparing for strikes against Western countries.

Then within America, some consider illegal immigrants or immigrants at large the enemy. Groups such as the NAACP, the ACLU or the Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR] or even the Democratic Party are considered by some as enemies of the United States.

Others think of the Bush Administration or the Illuminati or the Trilateral Commission as the enemy of the United States. No doubt among every nation from France to Germany, from Australia to Britain, all within Europe and even within the Middle East and Asian nations, there are those who look to this or that group or nation as the ultimate enemy, as the epitome of evil.

Certainly, there are peoples and groups and governments out there that are intent on attacking and destroying the Western world and its societies. Of certainty the United States and its allies along with Europe are faced with a new enemy – militant Islam – Islamofascism.

Islamofascism, a word not too new to this millennium and the world, describes a mutant version of Islam. Islamofascists combine concepts of traditional Islam, in the quest to once again attain the long-gone age of Muslim supremacy with Fascism, using military technology as a means of attaining its end. Motivated by its vehement hatred of Western culture and religion, if not stopped, Islamofascism will control vital Middle Eastern oil producing states. Ultimately, the goal is to engulf majority Muslim populations and infiltrate Muslim enclaves strategically developed within Christian nations, such as the United States, Britain and within Europe. Its final conquest is nothing less than to destroy the economy, society, religion and politics of these nations. Talk about an enemy.

Our elected officials propose various defenses against the new enemy. Depending on which side of the Congressional Chamber one sits will largely determine one’s approach toward defending the USA against its enemy. On the one hand, dialog and diplomacy is thought the best approach toward conquering the enemy. Others believe a good old-fashioned military kick in the backside will eliminate the foe.

Although each strategy seems logical, neither will work, for the Scriptures reveal the only way a nation can securely and successfully conquer its enemy.

The United States of America, entering now into the sunset of its existence, is facing social, economic, political, moral and civil conflict; all of which is escalating, breeding continual turmoil, social unrest, leading to its ultimate demise. Consider the real enemy!

Great detail and in-depth analysis can be given to each of these elements of American life. Discussion and dialog has been issued in previous Garner Ted Armstrong “Word From” Commentaries and Twenty-First Century Watch articles and more will be presented in the months ahead; covering the cause and effect, the natural results which become evident to a society bent on disobeying God and rejecting His laws; laws which when obeyed automatically bring peace and prosperity.

What nation needs enemies when such a nation is opposed to God? What nation needs enemies when such a nation’s collective behavior is an abomination to God? Such a nation, defiant toward God, will have more to worry about than the enemies which are outside. The United States seriously needs to consider its behavior and the consequences of disobeying God.

Not only the United States of America (a nation priding itself on liberty and freedom, a nation founded on so-called Christian values), but any nation that takes the name and claims awareness of Jesus Christ and God His Father will be held accountable for its behavior, right, wrong or indifferent.

Who needs enemies when not only the individual, but the nation, collectively (from its judicial system, religion, government to its most private citizen), is living in defiance toward God?

Should we be afraid, fearful, nervous, quaking? YES, we should if we refuse, as a nation, to heed the way of life that God has established as the way of peace and prosperity.

God’s prophets warned Israel that the day would come when their enemies would conquer them. The conquest would come as a result of God removing His protection from his people.

As history recorded, ancient Israel and Judah both fell and went into captivity, conquered by their enemies, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, respectively. Only the House of Judah was allowed to reconstruct, to come back to prominence after its seventy year captivity in Babylon. The House of Israel was sifted through the nations only to become the amalgamated nations of Britain (Ephraim – a company of nations) and the United States of America (Manasseh – a mighty single nation).

All prophecies recorded in the Scriptures are dual in fulfillment. Consistently written throughout the Bible are the terms, “in the latter days,” “in the time of the end,” “in the last days;” all of which refer to the time just prior to the return of Jesus Christ, back to earth to establish the Kingdom of God. The prophecies directed to the modern-day nations of the Children of Israel and the Children of Judah are all specific, indicating that God will remove His protection from them and allow their enemies to overtake them. Called the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:6-7), tribulation will rock the United States of America and the British Commonwealth nations.

God, through His prophets spoke to His people, imploring them to repent of their disobedience and sinful lifestyle. The prophets warned the people time and again, telling them that God would allow their enemies to overcome and destroy them if they did not repent.

God did not tell Israel they should be afraid of their enemies; rather they should be fearful of WHAT GOD WOULD ALLOW THEIR ENEMIES TO DO, if they did not repent.

Time and again, God told Israel not to fear the enemy, for God stated He would protect Israel from all their enemies – if they remained faithful to Him.

If God’s people would obey Him and keep His laws, notice what God promised: “The Lord shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be smitten (defeated before you); they shall come against you from one direction and flee from you in seven directions” (Deuteronomy 28:7).

If God’s people would not obey, but instead sin and break God’s Laws, notice the consequences: “you shall serve your enemies which the Eternal shall send against you … he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he shall destroy thee … the Eternal shall bring a nation against thee from afar … until he has destroyed thee” (Deuteronomy 28:48-51).

All through the prophecies, especially those which are targeted toward and apply to the end-time, modern-day House of Israel and House of Judah, God has warned his people, if they are disobedient to His Laws He will allow their enemies to conquer and destroy them.

However, if His people, those who claim to be His people, and those who claim to be Christian, seriously take upon themselves the responsibility of obeying God and keeping His commandments, then notice what would naturally be the consequences. Notice what God promises; and that promise extends to the United States of America and its brother nations today.

“The Eternal has made all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil [to punish those who disobey God]. Everyone that is of a proud heart is an abomination to the Eternal. Be sure of this, they will not go unpunished. By mercy and truth, sin is purged and by the fear of the Eternal, men depart from evil. When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Eternal, He makes even his enemies to live at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:4-7).

There is no need to worry about the enemy, when your life is pleasing to God. The choice is yours.