CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – “THE FINAL APOSTASY”
FROM its inception, Israel has been the subject of Satan’s closest attention.
As a general rule, it is true to say that where we observe sustained Satanic attack, we may be certain that the subject of the attention is something that bothers him greatly.
When we consider the reason for Israel’s formation, training, and Jehovah’s covenant relationship with the nation, it is not difficult to see why the Prince of Darkness has always remained in close touch. His interference has been evident from the time of the Exodus, hence the cry of the people:
“And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full,. for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3)
They had just witnessed the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, but for all that, they were unable to comprehend the Lord’s deliverance.
By the year 975 BC, Jehovah had had enough of this rebellious people, who were, by this time, even in open conflict with their brethren of other tribes.
” Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel… return every man to his house; for this thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24)
It would, of course, have been possible for the Lord to have destroyed the entire nation, because of their disobedience to His Laws. By this time, the Northern Kingdom had embraced calf worship (the religion of Egypt) as their state religion, and they also practised Baalism.The Southern Kingdom also had periods when the pure temple worship was replaced by the worship of Baal.
From this time, the nation was divided and the Assyrians took the Northern Kingdom into captivity. One hundred and twenty years later, a similar fate befell the Southern Kingdom.
An examination of both kingdoms will reveal the fact that Satan has pursued his attack upon them both, although his strategy has differed in each case.
I assume that the reader knows of the fact that the Northern Kingdom is to be found today in the British Isles, the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, the U.SA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Israel in the Isles has come under Satan’s special attack for the very good reason that we have a descendant of the Royal House of David reigning over us. It is unfortunately true that the people are no longer aware of their lineage, and look upon themselves as Europeans. St. Paul tells us, in Romans 11:25:
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
In spite of God’s intervention, time after time, down through the centuries, the people are blind to their special covenant relationship with Jehovah. Because of this blindness, we have become obsessed with breaking our ties with our kith and kin throughout the world, instead forming a close liaison with the gentile nations of Europe.
This European dream is being fully realised in the European Union, which is not merely a trading agreement, as many people think, but it includes integrationon every level.The average British citizen is still blissfully unaware that his freedom, which is taken for granted, is about to end.
There has never been any doubt that the main thrust of Satan’s attack would be against the Northern Kingdom. Revelation 12:17 makes the point clear:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”
The Southern Kingdom (the Jews of today) does not have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It could be said that we no longer keep the Commandments, and have abrogated the testimony of Jesus Christ. The answer, of course, is that nationally we did do so until quite recently. The fact that we no longer do so is entirely due to Satan.
These islands are the victims of a highly successful campaign to eradicate Christianity from the national consciousness. It is a three-pronged attack, and may be identified thus:
1) From within the Church.
2) From the media.
3) From the Government.
We may trace the origins of the problems of the Established Church to the Oxford Movement in 1833. At that time, a number of clerics wished to restore the ceremonial that had fallen into disuse at the time of the Reformation. Since that time, more and more of the clergy have reintroduced Roman Catholic dogma and practices into their services. This has resulted in a theology that is an amalgam of paganism, Christianity, and the traditions of men. Such an explosive mixture of truth and error has had a disastrous effect upon the laity. The Gospel of Christ, brought to these islands only a short while after the crucifixion, is now only a mere shadow of the original. It was such men as Paulinus, Ninian, Govan, Padern, David, Columba, and the Cornish woman, Saint Morwenna, who faithfully preached Christ crucified and Christ risen to a nation hungry for the light of Christ’s love and teaching.
Although the victory of the Reformation in this nation gave a much-needed respite to Rome’s entrenchment of these islands, we are now fast approaching yet another dark age. Today, the Church has a bedrock of clergy whose heart is nearer to Rome than to the Reformed religion. At the commencement of this new century, we have not only a resurgence of Romish ritual, but even worse, clergy who no longer accept the authority of Scripture. Added to this, the Scriptures that are now used in our public religious services, are but a shadow of the Authorised translation of 1611.
For generations, the Church’s doctrine was solidly based upon the Thirty-Nine Articles of religion. Although these Articles were the result of the work of theologians, and not necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit, as the Scriptures undoubtedly are, nevertheless, they are the finest set of guidelines for sound doctrine devised by man. It may be noted that they are soundly grounded in the Protestant faith, hence the reason why the Church has discarded them.
Yet a further casualty in the dash to Rome is the Book of Common Prayer. This has been replaced with a banal liturgical mish-mash that points towards Romish dogma. The overall result of this sustained attack on the Reformed faith is that we are rapidly sliding back into the dark ages when ritualism and superstition were accepted. Those faithful members of the Church who are solidly Reformed in their faith have left their churches in disgust, and many now have no place of worship which they feel able to attend.
The second thrust of Satan’s attack is aimed at the average citizen, who has little or no interest in Christianity; this group sadly represents the majority.
All branches of the media are pushing the theory of Evolution, and pornography, to the extent that they are accepted as the norm. Nature programmes on TV teach Evolution as an accepted fact, and state that mankind has evolved from the higher primates. To think otherwise is to be frowned upon as some kind of religious freak.
Pornographic material is thrust upon the public, and there is little escape from it. Newspapers, magazines, films and books are often based on filth of every kind. All this material is available to young children, who are brought up to believe that it is a normal way of life.
Satan’s third area of attack is directed upon those who have been appointed to rule over us. It has been said that a nation only gets the government it deserves. If that is true, we certainly have our deserts!
What is not generally understood, is that a nation stands or falls by what is on its Statute Books. Today, our government is responsible for laws being passed that are in direct contravention of Divine Law for Israel; for example, sodomy, and the breaking of the Sabbath.
In order to understand current events, it is helpful to look back to an earlier traumatic period in Israel’s history. In 1491 BC, an event occurred which placed a great responsibility upon the nation:
” And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.” (Exodus 24:3)
Notice, it was not an individual promise, but a national one.… all the people answered with one voice
From that moment on, the nation as a whole gave their solemn promise to keep all the Commandments of Jehovah. One of the main problems at that time with Israel, was idolatry. Heathen worship was embraced from the surrounding nations. By 1120 BC the situation was so bad that:
” In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)
Thus has the wheel of history turned full circle. The Northern Kingdom, at the beginning of the twenty first century, is in a similar position to that of the nation as it was three thousand years ago, where “:. .everyman did that which was right in his own eyes”
As we observe Israel in the Isles in this terrible state of apostasy, it is easy to lose heart and exclaim: “There is nothing we can do!”
This most certainly is not true. There is a great deal that we can do, those of us who love the Lord, and who are aware of our identity; we can all pray!
” Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Again, we are told in Isaiah 65:24:
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
These texts are our God given authority to approach the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, on matters that affect us individually and nationally.
The need for constant prayer to uphold the nation in these last days, is vital. Remember, our prayers are helping to shorten these critical days, and will help to bring in the “new age of peace” which Scripture promises.
Just as Jehovah dealt with the nation in those far off days, so will He once more intervene. Israel’s period of chastisement was for a period of 2,520 years. That has now passed into history, and we now look forward to the return to this earth of the Saviour of mankind and the Redeemer of Israel, in great glory, accompanied by His holy angels.
” Even so, come quickIy, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
