The Daily Word of Righteousness

Three Aspects of God's Eternal Plan, #8

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)

In the last days the Divine witness will go forth to all nations, not by the power of men but by the Spirit of God. There will be believers who will choose to lay down their life for the Gospel, turning aside from their own desires and ways so Christ might live and work in them. As was true of Samson, the Church will accomplish more by its death than it ever has by its life.

The fleshly doctrine of the "pre-tribulation rapture" reveals that Christian people have become discouraged regarding the task of making disciples of the nations. They want to leave the earth to Satan and Antichrist and go to Heaven so they will have no more problems.

It is God's will that the members of nations be informed of the Gospel so those whom the Lord has called can be saved and enter the program of discipleship. The nation that refuses to help the Lord's witnesses as they seek to save the lost and to teach people to obey the Lord Jesus will experience the wrath of God.

The only way we can participate in bringing people to salvation, or perfecting the Church, or compelling obedience to the Gospel on the part of the nations of the earth, is to move in perfect union with the Head—Christ.

The Christian churches of today have the most marvelous opportunity of all history to bring the Gospel to all the nations of the earth. The Lord is waiting for those who are willing to be crucified with Christ, who will come into complete union with the Head of the Body, the Lord Jesus, so He may work with and in them to bear witness of salvation and the soon coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth. Each one who thus yields to the Lord Jesus will be clothed with power sufficient for the task of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom for a witness to all nations of the earth.

There is a movement today known as "Reconstructionism" that is determined to establish a theocracy in the United States. Reconstructionism is an attempt by well-meaning Christians to force the moral laws of the Kingdom of God on the secular community. However, as nearly as we can tell, Reconstructionism is not being led by the Lord but by zealous believers. The prevailing spirit seems to be one of irritation and anger because sinners are continuing in their sin.

The Lord gave us the formula for healing our land.

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. (II Chronicles 7:14)

If righteousness is to come to our nation, it is the believers in Christ who must humble themselves, pray seek God's face, and turn away from our wicked behavior. The promise to those who do what God has said is that their sins will be forgiven and their land healed.

Present-day Reconstructionism is doomed to failure because it is being guided and empowered by people who themselves have never been crucified with the Lord. They are not living by His resurrection life but by their own angry determination to force the moral laws of the Kingdom on their country. It appears the proponents of the new "kingdom" movement are not in union with the Head—the Lord Jesus. They still are very much alive in their self-will and self-centeredness, as evidenced by their behavior. Their hatred of Judaism is clear proof they are not being led by the Spirit of God.

To be continued.