Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Revelation 2:4-5
God has blessed me with twenty years in ministry, and I have traveled to dozens of countries. Included are some of the richest and some of the poorest nations, some of the most free and some of the most persecuted. I’ve been to Israel twice and walked where Jesus walked. I’ve seen man at his best and worst. I share all of this just to make the point that I’d like to believe I have some perspective on the world as a result of my travels and ministry.
Here is what I have learned from my experience. In many ways, America is still one of the best places to live. But, we have gotten far too comfortable, lazy, and arrogant due to the prosperity God has given us. We now use our freedom to forsake our first love (the verses above). We’ve always been flawed, but now we are reckless and of little faith.
Let me take this opportunity to share with you the primary prophetic message God has given me to share with American believers. So take a deep breath and a long sip of coffee to hear this with open ears.
The Body of Christ in America is too comfortable, and also too preoccupied with trying to figure out when the “rapture” will take place (regardless of when they believe it happens). As a result, many have failed to consider the possibility – and even the likelihood – that God will judge America before we are taken from earth. His judgment on us may have nothing to do with the End of the Age. And this judgment will include hardship, persecution, illness, and death that we did not think was possible this side of the rapture. Does that make sense to you?
In other words, God could send His Son back for His people before the horrors described in Bible prophecy, and we could still live through unimaginably troubling times in America first. Why do we think that America is immune to hard times? Are we so special that we can ignore His Word and yet still expect His blessings to continue? Further, why should we expect a carefree life when there are believers in Iraq, China, North Korea, etc. that have paid the ultimate sacrifice? Why should we never expect major terrorist attacks or a foreign invasion, plagues, famine, pestilence, etc.? Repent, America, before it’s too late!
