The Beginning of Sorrows The Beginning of Sorrows The Beginning of Sorrows

Many years ago someone much wiser than me said something that has remained with me to this day. It was something that created within me a keen interest to discover its truth for myself. And so my search began. At first, with my limited education in theology and religious history, it was very hard for me to believe. But the more I researched and studied, the stark reality of his words proved true:

•  Christianity, the church, has always prospered amid persecution.

     The reason for my early dismissal seemed logical--that the church should thrive in times of great prosperity. And indeed it does if one only looks outwardly. We live in an age of such great ingenuity, industrial spirit and technological advancement only a sage or prophet could have foreseen the degree of the nation's future greatness. As welcomed as technology and science have been, unfortunately, they have overtaken and become the new religion. Our leaders, both secular and religious, have sacrificed us on the altar of their technocratic secular material shrine.

      Modernism has given way to a now  

This had its subtle beginnings. The enlightened sophisticated secularists began chipping away at Christianity's long-held Biblical beliefs and its central place within America's communities, seeking to project its on secular view of the world and matters related to creation—i.e., abortion, redefining marriage, gender identity, etc.—not to mention their incessant search for life on some distant planet in another galaxy. Just one question, if there is, doesn't one think it would have been found by now, or, we would have been found?

Anyway, a new priesthood emerged, rewriting the order and every facet of society and culture. They decided if they could not defeat the churches on doctrine and Biblical truth they would co-opt it institutionally. They would challenge Christianity on the relevance of its ancient beliefs—no longer in vogue, they declared. How could a religion so ancient be relevant among a people so advanced and sophisticated than our predecessors?, they spouted. And these are the post-modern preachers (typically young) now leading many churches.

For more than two centuries now, America has enjoyed its freedom of religion it fought so bravely to win. Millions have come to a new country founded on the belief no state should involve itself in matters and decisions that solely lie within its churches' institutions. Only an intellectually dishonest person would deny that our roots as a free country had its beginnings steeped in the faith of Christianity—with the Bible as its road map. Either that or they have not read one single document penned by many of our founding fathers. Agreed, some of our early fathers were not Christian themselves. Of those who weren't, the book many, Christian and non-Christian alike, most quoted was the Bible. Note the religious affiliation of those who signed the Declaration of Independence.

In the beginning, many of the colonies did try to establish a central state church based on the faith of the majority of its colony. However, this effort gave way to the framers of our national constitution who wisely objected to such an effort that would have divided our country from the very beginning. Holding to the motive that most held who escaped countries that did enforce a strict state religion, they very carefully crafted a document that would prohibit this from ever happening in this new world they were beginning to carve out for themselves and future generations. Thankfully, they were successful. The individual would be free to worship or not to worship as their conscience dictated.^[1]

Having experienced persecution for their faith and practice in the Old World, the early pioneers were very sensitive to the desire that all immigrants had to escape tyranny as well. Although the framework of our new government largely developed from the principles and teachings of the predominately Judeo-Christian population, laws were enacted to protect the individual's rights to worship or choose not to worship as their own conscience dictated. These principles were not only heavily rooted in the moral teachings of the Judeo-Christina faith, the newly emerging work ethic, also derived from Biblical teachings, lay the foundation for our nation to prosper as it grew from infancy into the engine of industry and science it is today.

The new world exploded with freedom and prosperity—freedom for the individual to set the course of his or her own destiny. Word of this new freedom quickly traveled abroad. Soon, millions began to brave the oceans to come to our shores. At first these were people with great motivation, skill and talent. They came to build, seeking a life they were long denied by the nations from which they escaped. But as with all things that become great, men of lesser character were drawn here as well—men of much lesser motives, in many cases, evil in nature. They are busy stripping away from us the very freedoms we forged for ourselves in the blood of our ancestors. Tyranny has followed us to our shores and now is quickly metastasizing into our daily lives, enslaving us in ways our fore-fathers would easily recognize and rebel against.

Since the dawn of man, men of evil character have always sought to rule. It doesn't take much of an historian to gather that. All one has to do is look within our own time. The desire to conquer and rule remains in every generation. Prosperity, decline and war has always been with us. Tyranny always lurks within the halls of government—tyrants just waiting to strike at the most vulnerable time of a nation. Don't kid yourself, they are among us today! If you listen carefully you will detect their common language, once spoken in secret but now publicly flaunting it in their writings and from their lecterns in every level of education.

So, I now come to my point. We have arrived once again at just such a time—indeed, a time of the beginning of sorrows. But for one man who was providentially seated at the head of our government, one who could marshal a vast amount of men, material and resources, our nation would already have fallen. Providentially, he stands every day against the tyranny that is deeply entrenched within every level of our government. But one has to wonder, how long can he continue to stand? And who will succeed him in this effort to keep a nation from going over the brink? Unfortunately, there is no Joshua on the near horizon who would take the reins of power as he did following Moses' time of leadership of an emerging prosperous nation.

Our nation has become weak. This is no accident. Sensing our weakness, there is an emerging power which will transform and weaken her even further. The world is taking notice. They are beginning to plead for our survival because, as they fearfully say, if America falls, so too will all other developed countries. This will be devastating for the under-developed nations. Millions will die. Third world nations will cease to exist. Imagine the horror—the pain, the sorrow, the suffering and death! Yet still, imagine being a Christian living in those nations—christians who are hated and hunted even now.

Often I have been asked what will be our state as Christians as we come closer and closer to the end. I simply point to Jesus' own words. Many are shocked to think that if they are alive prior to Christ's return they will experience persecution. But one cannot argue with the words of Jesus. It will be a time of great sorrow! And if it will be a time of great sorrow, then obviously there must be a time of the beginning of that sorrow. Therefore, sorrow begins wherever and whenever tyranny is born.

When you look at America today, it is easy for any to see she is well past tyranny's stage of incubation. Its infectious toll has been nothing short of widespread devastation. Not one American hasn't been touched by its tentacles in some form or another. (One example)

Although infected, we have mostly enjoyed our freedoms for almost three centuries—albeit with a false sense of security. However, the physical, social and political barriers of that security are now being eroded at an alarming rate. Society is in serious decline. Good is evil and evil has now become good. We are killing the unborn and newly born by the 100's of thousands every year. The booming economy, Americas last gasp at greatness, has been undermined by those men, and women, of lesser character who have heretofore avoided public scrutiny. The prediction of its collapse has now come true. If we are to survive as a people, a nation, we can no longer afford to live with blinders! Complacency will be costly! There is a coming storm, a time of sorrows. We are past the stage for preparation. It is time for action!

So, I must caution all those who read, consider this time we are now in. You say, there always have been earthquakes and disease, pain and suffering. But I ask you, on such a planetary scale and to such a degree as now—businesses are failing, economies are crashing, nations are collapsing. Those who are honest are telling us of the failings coming, statistics that are shocking, as each nation tries to struggle to its feet again, if they survive this current world-wide lockdown.

After considering this time I believe to be a time of the beginning of great sorrows, just as Jesus forewarned, do not take His warning lightly. Indeed, if it is, then the parable of the ten virgins must be heeded with great sincerity.

Does His Light reside within you? Does it burn as brightly as it should? Have you gone on life's journey so far that you cannot find your way back to Him in time? Is there sufficient fuel within your lamp to last until He appears? Will you be awake when He returns? Finally, are you ready for His return?

He says there will be two in bed and one will be taken and one left, two grinding and one taken, the other left, two in the fields, one taken, one left.

Are you certain of the two you will be the one taken?

References:

1. ANTITHESIS, Christianity in Nineteenth Century - Pg 23
2. America's Founders and Presidents Speak for Themselves
3. Is It Possible To Build A Christian Nation?
4. Quote - Noah Webster
5. Rousseau's Civil Religion: the Idolatry of Tolerance
6. The Challenge of Religious Pluralism
7. The State of The Union
8. Was America Founded As A Christian Nation?