Unprevailing Prayer, Its Cause and Remedy: When an individual is in acute distress, or when a major disaster befalls a nation, there is an immediate resort to prayer to God. The United States of America is deeply afflicted today because of governmental maladministration, with increasing economic difficulties and with steadily mounting unemployment. Carefully hidden by the Jewish controlled media, of course. The moral standards of past years have given way to a permissive society (straight out of the Jewish Talmud) and that which was formerly considered sinful has become, more or less, the norm of the present generation. Indeed, the indecent behavior of groups, of Queers, and the present Administration, and individuals is countenanced to an appalling degree.
Inviting Trouble: Grave concern for the future is frequently expressed by God-fearing leaders, some of whom are calling upon the people to earnestly pray that the United States may be blessed of God. IT IS WELL TO REITERATE THAT THERE IS A TIME TO PRAY AND THERE IS A TIME TO ACT, FOR PRAYING, WITHOUT PROPER ACTION, IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. There are Biblical requirements to be met if relief is to come, for only by complying with Scriptural directives will surcease from turmoil and desperation be found. God will not; indeed, He cannot, bless an individual, or a nation, where there is a refusal to turn away from unrighteous and sinful practices.
Nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that god is taking note of the sincere desire on the part of those who are seeking blessings for our nation. It is unfortunate that, at this time, there must be a negative response to these petitions because there is �sin in the camp.� Just as Joshua was required to remove the evil in the midst of the camp of Israel before God could answer his prayer for the nation (Joshua 7), equally so, our governmental leaders today must do likewise.
Under present conditions, we are only praying ourselves into trouble. The prayers of an unrepentant people, who ignore the fact that the bible is the Divine Formulary for prevailing prayer, are courting disaster. The thought has been expressed that the eruptions of the Mount St. Helens volcano, within the very borders of the United States, are a sign of impending Divine wrath.
Apparently, those who are sponsoring prayer campaigns are not taking into consideration the fact that there is only one course for God to pursue to ultimately compel His people to do that which will enable Him to bestow the blessings they are praying for. In fact, most of the so-called Judeo-Christian leaders are more interested in how much money they can bring in. The Prophet Jeremiah points out that it is through an increase in the pressure of trouble, as God�s hand rests heavily upon His people, that the desired end will be accomplished: �Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know; I will cause them to know mine hand and my hand; and they shall know that my name is The Lord (that is, Jehovah, the God of Israel).� (Jeremiah 16:21)
The Elijah Syndrome: The Prophet Malachi preindicated the course we must pursue in order that God may bless our nation. It is to heed the requirements embodied in what may be called the Elijah Message. Three distinct periods of activity were to be carried on during the Christian Era. Two phases are mentioned by the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 16:16) and the final phase by the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:17-19). They are as follows:
1). The Fishing Period, covering centuries of proclaiming the Gospel of salvation.
2). The Hunting Period, seeking out the latter0day Identity of the House of Israel.
3), The watchmen Period, warning that the time is at hand for Divine Judgment.
It is well to bear in mind that these periods all interact upon one another and they may overlap. Nevertheless, in each case, as the emphasis on one type of activity diminishes, the phase to follow commences to come to the forefront.
Our Lord Jesus constituted His disciples fishers of men, with the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom being emphasized from that generation to the 20th century. By 1844, the Hunting Period began to manifest itself in an awakening of the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Celtic and kindred peoples to their identity as modern Israel in the world today. The years 1914-1917 being a turning point in history, the watchmen Period commenced, for watchmen began to become active following the taking of peace from the earth after World War I. Their commission is to warn of the coming of the sword, eventuating in the judgment of the Great and Terrible Day of Divine Wrath.
The last two phases of activity; the hunters and the watchmen, occupy the period during which the fullness of the Elijah Message is to be proclaimed. That same period is also designated as the Tarrying Time.
The Elijah Message is a call to remember the Law of the lord, including the Commandments, Statutes and Judgments, as well as a call to awaken to the knowledge or our origin and identity, thus turning the hearts of the children to acknowledge their forefathers. In the phrase, �I will send you Elijah,� the Hebrew word, translated send, can also be rendered �appoint,��bring in the way,��spread,��shoot forth.� The Hebrew rod, translated turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, can also be rendered �slide back,��return to the starting place,��recall to mind,��restore,��back home again,��to turn back.� (Malachi 4:4-6)
The Hunting Period: A period of time which we appear to be in, is being devoted to recalling to mind our origin, acknowledging, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel as our forefathers. (Isaiah 51:1-2)
The Watchman Period: Which we are apparently in, is being devoted to warning of war, who our real enemies are, and the coming of the Great and Terrible Day of divine Wrath.
��������������� Confirming the Law of the Lord
The final two periods under consideration were to be active during the Latter Days, when the Gospel of the Kingdom began to be concentratedly promulgated, although proclaimed as a witness only. (Matthew 24:14) Again, this involved the necessity to acknowledge our identity and responsibility as the latter-day House of Israel and, coupled with this, there is the express command to restore the administration of the Law of the Lord. The Prophet Malachi recorded the pronouncement of the Lord: �Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.� (Malachi 4:4)
Our Lord Christ confirmed these laws, even the least of them, declaring that they had not been abrogated when He stated categorically: �Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy (the Law), but to fulfill (prophecy). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all (prophecy) be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and tech them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.� (Matthew 5:17-19)
The dictionary defines �righteousness� as conformity with a standard of what is right in order to be blameless or guiltless.
Righteousness: Strong�s Concordance #1343 dikaiosune (dik‑ah‑yos‑oo'‑nay); from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification: KJV‑‑ righteousness.
Thayer�s Definition: #1343� dikaiosune‑
1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God� a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due.
The Scriptures show that the standard of righteousness is the Law of the Lord. The Psalmist proclaimed: �The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping them there is great reward.� (Psalm 19:7-11)
On one occasion, Christ indicated a difference in the practice of the Christian attribute of righteousness: �For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.� (Matthew 5:20)
While Christ is �the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,� (Romans 10:4) this verity, as Paul expressed it, does not, by any means, set aside the Commandments, Statutes and judgments of the Law of the Lord. Among the meanings of the word �end,� both �termination� and �purpose� are found, referring to what our Lord accomplished for the believer by the finished work of His death on the stake and His resurrection from among the dead. Writing to the Galatians, Paul explained that the laws, contained in ordinances were �our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.� (Galatians 3:24) Paul then pointed out: �But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.� (Galatians 3:25)
This Christian instruction is related to the justification of the believer by faith upon the acceptance of Christ as our Savior. After conversion, the Christian�s attitude toward the Law of the Lord is expressed in Psalm 119, where it is stated: �blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.� (Psalm 119:1)
The Christian affirms: �I will praise thee with unrighteous of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments...Let thy mercies come unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word...And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.� (Psalm 119:7; 41; 47)
The Psalmist testified that �great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.� (Psalm 119:165) It is of interest to discover that the marginal rendering of the latter phrase is �they shall have no stumblingblock.� The great stumblingblock to answers to prayer today is the penchant on the part of Christians to scorn the Law of the Lord, prompted to do so largely by the false and erroneous instructions from the Judeo-Christians leaders of today.
������������������������ The Law For the Nation
Many examples could be cited concerning the operation of the Law of the Lord in national administration, but one example will suffice. The Commandments of the Law of the Lord govern personal conduct; the Statutes of the Law of the Lord are for the nation to administer; the Judgments of the Law of the Lord are decisions rendered for the equitable administration of justice in accordance with the requirements set forth under both the Commandments and the Statutes. For instance, the following Commandment enjoins the individual not to murder: �Thou shalt not kill (the Hebrew word is more accurately translated �murder�).� (Exodus 20:13)
The Statute instructs those who administer the affairs of state how to deal with a murderer: �Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death.� (Numbers 35:30)
A Judgment is rendered condemning any other type of punishment, other than death, for a murderer: �Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which id guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.� (Numbers 35:31)
The failure to execute the murderer pollutes the land, as it is stated: �So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.� (Numbers 35:33)
Actually, under present circumstances, it is an affront to God to petition Him to bless America, citing 2 Chronicles 7:14, which contains the Divine invitation: �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.�
There can be no expectation that God will hear from heaven and heal our land while it is a land defiled by the blood of countless numbers of innocent victims of murderers who are not put to death. The Lord has stated emphatically that �the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it.� Therefore, all criminals who have been convicted of committing murder must be put to death. The death penalty must also operate under the Low of the Lord in many other cases; for instance, where the degrading sin of Sodomy is practiced. (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)
�������������������������� The Covenant People
To cite a verse of Scripture and disregard, or misapply, the context, invariably leads to a distortion of its meaning. For example, in the invitation given in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord specifically names those to whom He is speaking: �If my people, which are called by my name.� These are the people of the covenant who made everlasting commitments to the Lord, as pointed out in the booklet, �The Bond of the Covenant:��A covenant of nationhood was made with our forefathers at Mount Sinai when the Lord instructed Moses to convey the following message to the House of Jacob: �Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priest (ministers of state), and an holy (set apart) nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.� (Exodus 19:5-6)
Moses came down from the Mount and called for the Elders of the people, before whom he presented God�s proposal. The Elders evidently laid the matter before the entire congregation of Israel and their thrice-given response is recorded: �All the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.� (Exodus 19:8 24:3, 7)
From that day and forward, the people of Israel, and their posterity; the present-day Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic, Nordic, Slavic and kindred nations of the House of Israel which have devolved from the House of Jacob/Israel have been bound by this vow to abide by the terms of the National Covenant. The Lord accepted the word of our forefathers to this end and, throughout all succeeding generations, the people have been held accountable for the oath taken at Mount Sinai.� (The Bond of the Covenant, pp. 6-7)
Today our nation is suffering under the curses written into the National Covenant (Leviticus 26:14-20; Deuteronomy 28:5868), having failed to heed the instruction of Moses: �Therefore, thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.� (Deuteronomy 11:1)
���������������������������������� A Bitter Pill
God will answer the prayers for national blessings when our nation makes an open avowal of its heritage as the latter-day House of Israel, accompanied by a public declaration that the terms of the covenant God made with our forefathers at Mount Sinai will be honored. This will be the bitterest of all pills to be swallowed by those who have been in outspoken opposition to the great Biblical truths pertaining to the identification of the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Celtic and kindred peoples with the modern Israel of God. The Scriptural, historical and prophetic evidence establishes this fact beyond refutation and coming events will confirm what is asserted here. When Soviet Russia, who is Gog, at the head of the Great Confederacy, (The Price of Disobedience, pp. 8-10) strikes out, upon the command of the Kremlin masters, to implement their long-planned aggression to obtain world control, all the people, including both church and civil leaders, will willingly head the admonition of the Prophet Joel, for it will be only through Divine intervention that God�s people can escape annihilation.
All the nations of the present-day House of Israel will respond to the call for prayer: �Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breast: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them; wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?� (Joel 2:16-17)
This is the prayer that will bring about Divine deliverance, for the Prophet Ezekiel declares: �So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me.� (Ezekiel 39:22-23)
�������������������������� The Strong Deliverer
Through the Prophet Isaiah we are prophetically informed that �when the enemy shall come in like a flood,� the Spirit of the Lord shall, according to the marginal rendering, �put him to flight.� (Isaiah 59:19) The King James Version states that the Spirit of the Lord shall �lift up a standard� that will repel the foes of His Kingdom. For many years there has been a question concerning the nature of that �standard� and only now has this been clarified by penetrating analysis of the whole context of this prophecy. Knowing that punctuation and paragraphing are features which are added to the ancient text of the Bible manuscripts, we have become aware that Isaiah 59:19-20 would be more accurately translated: �So shall they fear the name of the Lord form the west, and the glory from the rising of the sun when the enemy shall come in like flood. The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (and put him to flight), and the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith he Lord.�
The meaning of this is that the revelation of �the Glory of the Lord� will be manifested by the appearing; that is, the shining forth, of the Sign of the Son of man in heaven. (Matthew 24:30) (Orion, the Glorious One) This new comprehension of the order of climactic developments gives us a firm clue concerning the timing of the Divine act of intervention and what will be involved in relation to other spectacular events to take place at that junction.
It should be stressed that when the Redeemer comes to Zion, He will come to those who �turn from transgression in Jacob.� In the very next verse, the Lord declares: �As for me, this is my covenant with them� (Isaiah 59:21) and, addressing the people through the Prophet Ezekiel, the Lord states plainly what He will do: �I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me.� (Ezekiel 20:37-38)
The reason for such drastic action is stated: �Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths.� (Ezekiel 20:34)
����������������������������� A Time of Trouble
the Prophet Daniel was given to understand that there would be a time of trouble unlike any previous period in history and �at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. (Daniel12:1) All of these happening are for the �who� to understand (Daniel 12:3, 10), for the Prophet Word is comprised of marvels of that which reveals, and yet conceals, the order of events soon to transpire. Those who are not �wise� will remain in a quandary to the very climax, being numbered among those who are in the category of �enemies.� (Revelation 11:11-12)
Eventually, the deepening confusion of the passing of the old order will be terminated. This will give way to the inauguration of Divine rule, as it was pointed out to Daniel: �And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.� (Daniel 7:27)
It is stated in Study in Daniel, by Howard B. Rand: �The statement, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, can be rendered literally, But the righteous once of the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom. This is important, for the holy ones, or set-apart-ones, which Jesus Christ is to reign forever...The Israel peoples are holy to the Lord because the Israel race was called, chosen and set apart to serve Him and be used to accomplish His purpose. But rulership in that Kingdom is to be given only to the righteous ones among the holy ones, who alone qualify for positions of authority and power in the Kingdom by virtue of having become overcomers.� (Study in Daniel, pp. 189-190)
����������������������� Guests of the Bridegroom
It was pointed out in News in Brief No. 31 that, before the final phase of judgment completely destroys the world economy, the Israel people are counseled: �Holy thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice (a feast): he hath bid (marginal rendering: �sanctified� or �prepared�) his guests.� (Zephaniah 1:7)
Matthew�s Gospel in the New Testament states that the revelation of the Lord�s presence will follow the appearing of the Sign of the Son of man in heaven, (Matthew 24:30) which will be a special alert that the time will have come for those receiving invitations to the Marriage Supper to enter that Festival as guests of the Bridegroom, who is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is stated: �He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds (the winds of war), from one end of heaven to the other.� (Matthew 24:31)
It is of intriguing interest to note that the Prophet Zephaniah states the Lord will punish �all such as are clothed with strange apparel.� (Zephaniah 1:8) In the Scriptures, white, or brightness, is associated with righteousness. In early times, white garments were worn on festal occasions to indicate both purity and rejoicing. In the New Testament, we are told that those clothed in white raiment, (Revelation 3:5) for a garment of white, or brightness, is analogous to the robe of righteousness which must be worn by each guest at the Marriage Supper. Otherwise, the intruder will be found guilty of being clothed in �strange apparel� and will be dealt with accordingly. (Matthew 22:10-13)
Paul used stern language in writing to those whom he called �dull of hearing,� stating: �For when the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk its unskillful in the word of righteousness (that is, the precepts of the Law of the Lord): for he is a babe.� (Hebrews 5:12-13)
While righteousness is imputed, by faith, to all who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, yet Christians must, by their works, put on the robe of righteousness or remain but a babe in Christ. The determination to follow in the way of righteousness will become evident in personal behavior that manifests the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-26) There will be growth in grace, progressing toward maturity, by �those who, by reason of use (habit), have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.� (Hebrews 5:14) to refuse to be thus attired is to fall short of the spiritual measurements required in order to be fitted with the robe of righteousness wh8ich will be provided, at the behest of Jesus Christ, for all those in attendance at the Marriage Supper.
�������������������� Garmented in Righteousness
As for the nations of modern Israel, to be restored as the Kingdom of God upon the earth, John envisioned the day to come when, having endured great tribulation, they will elect to keep the terms of the national Covenant made with their forefathers at Mount Sinai. They will then reaffirm their willingness to administer the Law of the Lord as the law of the land and, thereupon, they will brought into full favor with God as His people; that is, as the �wife� who �hath made herself ready.� (Revelation 19:7)
John prophesied: �To here was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.� (Revelation 19:8)
John beheld the reconvenanted �wife,� whom the Lord Himself had married, (Jeremiah 3:11, 14) garmented in righteousness and presented to Him when He returns in triumph to the earth, following the close of the Marriage Supper. (Revelation 19:11-14) Isaiah foretold the wondrous future fact to follow: �Thy people also shall be al righteous.� (Isaiah 60:21) The effect of this will be that �violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders.� (Isaiah 60:18) Thereafter, according to the prophet: �They shall call them, the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord.� (Isaiah 62:12)