The Best Commentary On The Bible Is The Bible Itself

	The Reflections Newsletter Monday, May 25, 2009 **In This Issue** What Will Be America's Ultimate Destiny? What Does the Bible Say About...? Welcome to the Reflections Newsletter from Reflect His Glory.  RHG is a co-ministry with Creation Science Ministries.  Feel free to send this to your relatives and friends.   What Will Be America's Ultimate Destiny? Where is the United States in Bible prophecy?  The easy answer to this question is that without a crystal ball, we cannot even guess.  But this question has been asked by many people over the past several years.  While I have addressed this question in our Bible studies, both ABF and Small Groups, I thought I would take a brief look at what the Bible has to say about America’s future. As far as I can tell, the United States appears to be conspicuously absent from Biblical prophecy.  Biblical scholars tend to disagree on this subject.  No surprise there, eh?  There are a whole host of conjectures concerning America's fate, but the fact of the matter is that the Bible does not specifically explain God's plan for the US. However we can learn many things about America's possible future by looking at the parallels between the US and the Northern Kingdom of Israel as described in the book of Hosea.   We should also look at it from God's point of view.  The people had exchanged their loyalty to their heritage for pagan worship with golden calves and such.  What was the result of the lack of loyalty.  Widespread adultery, social injustice, violent crime, religious hypocrisy, political rebellion, selfish arrogance, and spiritual ingratitude.  Does this sound familiar to you at all? The Northern Kingdom enjoyed material prosperity unequaled since the days of Solomon, but they had sunk to the depths of immorality and idol worship.  You could say that it was the best of days... it was the worst of days.  As a result of their sin God judged Israel and they were effectively destroyed by their enemies. The United States also enjoys unprecedented wealth and prosperity, but as a nation we have turned our back on God.  Again, you could say that it was the best of times... it was the worst of times.  Granted, you can say that the wealth that we the people of the USA have enjoyed for so long has diminished recently.  But at the same time, we can ask, "Why has God not judged America?  Or is it too late?  Or is there still time?"  The Lord has power over all that is in heaven and earth and He alone has the power to transform our nation.  God made a promise to the people of Israel that may apply to us as well: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14 This call for repentance is not addressed to our President, our Congress, the liberal left, or the conservative right: It is addressed to "My people, who are called by My name."  It speaks to the Body of Christ.  Our stewardship of this nation does not begin and end at the ballot box.  There is much more required of us.  We need a national revival - and it must start with you and me. "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come of You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.  Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name."     1 Chronicles 29:11-13  KJVER     What Does the Bible Say About...?   In this section of the Reflections Newsletter we answer questions that have been asked.  If you have a question that you would like ask, and do not mind having it printed in the newsletter, (your name will not be mentioned), feel free to send your question in an email to me at biblequestions@reflecthisglory.org.  Of course, you may call me anytime by phone at 801.302 -1111. The question for this issue is, "How do you reconcile the everlasting nature of our salvation with Revelation 3:5?" The verse in question is part of the message to the seven  churches of Revelation, given to us in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3.  Specifically, it is in the letter to the church at Sardis, one which as a whole was spiritually dead, but still had a believing remnant.  Our Lord Jesus said to that church: "He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels,"  Revelation 3:5  KJVER This is a figure of speech in which an affirmation is expressed by the negative of a contrary statement.  By a denial of the opposite, (I will not blot out), our Lord Christ Jesus affirms emphatically that the overcomer's name will be retained in the book of life. For sure there are many who profess to be Christians, but who firmly and resolutely, at some point, turn their backs on the Lord God and embrace a life of sin.  While I cannot make a blanket statement about such individuals, I can say that many of them were most likely never really saved from the beginning of their walk.  Jesus said that we would know His true followers by their fruits (Matthew 7:20).  The absence of such fruit for an extended period of time, even a lifetime, gives a strong indication that a person was never grafted into the true vine of Christ Jesus, as described in John Chapter 15.     **MEMORY VERSE OF THE MONTH** But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Cor 15:10  KJV ER   We solicit your prayers and support of this ministry. God Bless. 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"Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him,
"If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed;
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31-32