Nonsense. I've been reading Greg Laurie for years as well as listening to his sermons. The vast majority of his work is about living in Christ, not eschatology. What you wrote is mendacious and you should be ashamed.
Posted on 03/20/2014 8:01:21 AM PDT by xzins
Bible prophecy related to the end times mentions many nations, including Libya, Iran, Iraq Ethiopia, and possibly even China and Russia, but not the United States of America. In an article on his blog, Pastor Greg Laurie gives three plausible reasons for the nation's exclusion.
"Where is the United States? Why are we not in the last-days scenario?" asks Laurie, pastor of Harvest Church in Riverside, Calif.
One reason why the United States is not mentioned in Scripture is perhaps because the nation "might be devastated by a nuclear war," the pastor writes. "It is a horrible scenario and one that none of us would want to see, but we cannot rule it out as a possibility."
The threat remains despite the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, Laurie argues. "It could indeed be a rogue terrorist nation with nuclear capabilities, or even a terrorist group that could set off the dominoes falling onto each other. I hope this isn't the case, but we cannot rule it out."
Laurie is for a strong military for that reason. "We need to take seriously any foreign threats. But having said that, what about an internal collapse?"
A second possible reason could be that the U.S. might decline as a world power, Laurie says, quoting Proverbs 14:34, which reads, "Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
"As our country becomes more and more secular, systematically eliminating God and the Bible from our education system, courts, and the arts, we will begin to reap the inevitable results of sin. We will begin to rot from the inside," the pastor warns. "I think to some degree, we already have [seen that happen] as we have seen the breakdown of the family, rampant crime and so many other problems that have come from disobeying God."
Laurie points out that what once was freedom of religion seems to have now become freedom from religion. "We have succeeded in getting God out of our schools, out of our sporting events, out of our public places and out of our workplaces."
The nation needs to remember that the freedom we enjoy is built on the foundation of absolute truth, he says. "And when you remove that foundation, this freedom actually can turn into anarchy."
A third possibility could be that the U.S. will witness a revival, "which I find a lot more hopeful," Laurie goes on to say. "That is not to say a revival would eliminate us as a world power. But if our nation had a revival, it would affect us. Think about this. Let's say, for example, that one-fourth of all Americans are believers. This would mean that we have approximately 78 million true believers in our country today… When the Rapture of the church takes place, don't you think there would be an impact on the United States…?"
Laurie said we need to, therefore, pray for revival in our country today. "When I say that our nation needs God, I don't mean that we need whatever god everyone happens to believe in," he clarifies. "The only hope for America is when we turn back to the true and living God – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who gave us the Bible as the revelation of who he is, the God who loved us so much that he sent his own son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place."
“Christians are “grafted on” to those Jews who, hearing the gospels, formed the early church (Romans 11). America* having been founded on Christian principles, is a part of the metaphysical meaning of “Israel” (*in these days, “America” is the majority in this nation who remain Christian and constitutionally “Under God”, yet are increasingly at the mercy of the tyrannical secular/fascist state.)”
Replacement theology is about as unscriptural as it gets. There is a very clear distinction between the promises of the God to Israel and those to the church and if you can’t tell that difference then you are either ignorant of scripture or intentionally twisting scripture to meet your preconceived notions of what you feel “should be” rather than what God’s word is actually saying.
Seventh-Day Adventist
Where did they say America is going?
Since it is a great city, why would it be America?
I would be surprised if Babylon in Revelation 17-18 is not ... Babylon.
I believe I’ve read that St. Paul, the apostle, declared “I am determined to know among you nothing save Christ, and Him crucified,” although I am unable to cite chapter and verse.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
I wonder who this refers to? It sure wont be the USA under oboma but maybe some remnant left over after the coming wars?
Nonsense. I've been reading Greg Laurie for years as well as listening to his sermons. The vast majority of his work is about living in Christ, not eschatology. What you wrote is mendacious and you should be ashamed.
People who use the term Amerika never have the US interests at heart.
New Left pioneered using that term here. People like Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayres and Occupy people love that term.
It’s used only as a term of derision.
However, it’s clear in 2 Thessalonians that the Apostle Paul had a Christian Education program that included eschatology.
In fact, it makes sense: Our salvation is proven by Jesus resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection means Jesus is still alive. Since He’s alive, He can return. Jesus said he’d return.
I may have painted American Evangelicals with a fairly broad brush but in my judgement it is a well deserved broad brush. The belief that America is somehow an exception and that its people are more righteous than the rest of the world is endemic in that community, its leaders and the books/tapes/movies that they produce. That speaks of arrogance and pride that no Christian should have, we are not citizens of this world but of heaven so don’t tie your sense of belonging to any one country and don’t think that because you live here that it will not be brought low. Amerika is now the source of and amazing amount of evil that is being spread around the world, everything from abortion to Sodomy is being aggressively promoted by Amerika and if you don’t think that God won’t judge that then you don’t really believe in a righteous God.
“It’s used only as a term of derision.”
True and it is how I use it just like I use the term Kalifornia rather than California. It accurately describes the state of both our country and my current home state. Our rights have been stripped from us and socialist have taken over all the levers of power and the people voted for it. It is what it is and if you don’t see that then you need to take off those rose colored glasses and take a good hard look at what Amerika has become.
I may have painted American Evangelicals with a fairly broad brush but in my judgement it is a well deserved broad brush. The belief that America is somehow an exception and that its people are more righteous than the rest of the world is endemic in that community, its leaders and the books/tapes/movies that they produce.
And regarding our citizenship. fwiw, I hate seeing both the American and Christian flags in a church. However, we are about to relearn why nationalism isn’t just about pride. It’s about survival.
And I will never forget the wise words of a visiting pastor in my old evengelical church back in the late 1980’s: Where would the early church have been if they had put their faith in Rome.
Also, for what it’s worth, I used to broad a brush painting you with the “judge not...” post. It was just the first thought that came to mind and once something is posted here, the concrete has set. My apologies. It was way to strong.
Also, I moved to my fairly new small farm in central KY in 2011 from my 45 year home of Seattle in the spirit of Revelation 18:4.
Now you're going to tell me that CNN shouldn't be wasting their time on Malaysian Air Flight 370, or something.....
By your theological structure, no one can judge anything or anyone. Therefore, the Bible becomes worthless and unusable.
In Matt 7, Jesus was speaking about hypocrisy; not whether or not a believer is to judge/not judge.
“mendacious”
Hmmmm.
What about Revelation 3:7-12:
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Consider the letter is to Philadelphia, the name of the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the birth of this country. While much of the Church in Europe is lost, there are still churches in America that have "kept My Word and have not denied My Name."
And what about those that say they are Jews and are not, this country is full of them.
But the most amazing verse is 3:10, "I will also keep you from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world." While Christians are being persecuted now around the globe, we remain relatively free to worship here in the United States. Are we now in the Tribulation and is America being spared the worst of it?
Finally, note verse 11: "Behold, I am coming quickly . . ." What does 'quickly' mean? What about a country that didn't exist 300 years ago, we arrive on the scene at the end of time, so we are the only ones to whom it could be written, "I am coming quickly"
“Also, I moved to my fairly new small farm in central KY in 2011 from my 45 year home of Seattle in the spirit of Revelation 18:4”
I hear you and if I could I would have moved out of here but those doors are closed to me right now. I wish you well and that God’s grace and mercy would shine on your life and witness there.
Being there was little other "theological structure" given at that location (his comment) then why could not the scripture which he quoted, be applied as in context of the unstated (yet coupled) passage, concerning the judgments one makes towards others, will be directed towards themselves also.
There is no free lunch?
That’s the best you can do? Try not being an accuser of the brethren if you don’t know the facts.
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