Do you agree that America is losing its protection from God quickly, and that we need the nation to collectively repent in order to be spared the sufferings that are happening and that are on the way? The Bible doesn't state that we will repent and its sad, so sad.

Pastor Betters responds:

Modern day Iraq and parts of Iran form what we know to be Biblical Babylon. Babylon is spoken of in a negative way throughout the Bible, not the least of which is in the Book of Daniel. It was an empire rooted in oppression, slavery, and occultism. When Daniel was a teenager he along with his people were deported from Jerusalem, their homeland, and enslaved by King Nebuchadnezzar (605 BC). Daniel's entire adult life was spent in slavery. His last prophecy took place in his eighties. His name, Daniel, means "God is my Judge" and serves to illustrate that Israel's bondage was due in part to their own sin and rejection of God's rule in their lives. Wicked Israeli Kings such as Jehoiakim who ruled apart from God's law led the nation to this degradation and humiliation. This is not to say that Babylon was justified in their oppression. In fact, as the Book of Daniel unfolds, God indeed dealt with the cruelty and defiance of Babylon. He judged the King thoroughly (Daniel 4:28-33). Yet, in His mercy God used the preaching of Daniel to bring this insane King to repentance (Daniel 4:34-36). Imagine that - a Hussein-like king repenting of his sin and glorifying God.

It is no surprise that when Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator his greatest desire was to restore Iraq to its former glory as Babylon. God used America to bring this vision to a grinding halt. Even though our society is rooted in the Judeo-Christian legacy we are far from being a Christian nation. God is judging all the nations of this world because all have gone astray including America. There is just as much need for America to repent as there is for Iraq, Iran, and all of the terrorists.

Modern day Babylon is no longer one nation. She is the whore of Revelation, the kingdom of this world ruled by none other than Satan. This fallen world is full of evil. There are no Christian nations. The only nation that can lay claim to being Christian is the Church of Jesus Christ made up of the truly saved. God's kingdom is now a spiritual kingdom. God will judge all the nations of the earth - America included for their rejection of the cross. He will use each nation against each other (Matthew 24:7) as instruments of His wrath. Then, unlike in the day of Daniel, it will be too late. God will send His wrath as He brings to an end all of civilization as we know it.

Although God is not the author of evil He is in control of its flow. Just as God raised up Pharaoh and Pontius Pilate (and justly judged them) so He raises up nations to judge one another in their sin and depravity. His purpose in so doing is that man everywhere might call upon the name of the Lord. But as we are witnessing it today they instead harden in their sins and turn more and more toward their false religions such as Islam, humanism, and practical atheism.

I remember clearly how our churches were packed out in the aftermath of 9/11. It didn't last, did it? Why, because true repentance is life changing. What happened after 9/11 was nothing short of an attempt to put new wine into old wineskins. The result of such defiance is that the second condition (where we are spiritually today) is worse than where we were (before 9/11). Even though God may very well have used the hate of evil men who flew airplanes into buildings to call our nation back to Himself we can be sure of two things - those who died as Islamic martyrs are now in hell, and those who refused to repent are on their way there.

Yet, we still live in an age of grace and mercy. Who knows? Perhaps Iraq, Iran, and the nations that sponsor terrorism will see the light of the cross. And perhaps Americans will, as well. We must preach the Gospel and leave the judgment to God Who does all things well.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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