Martin Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) offers a sobering warning from the grave:
If the West goes down and is defeated, it will be for one reason only: internal rot . . . If we continue to spend our lives in jollification, doing less and less work, demanding more and more money, more and more pleasure and so-called happiness, more and more indulgence of the lusts of the flesh, with a refusal to accept our responsibilities, there is but one inevitable result—complete and abject failure. Why did the Goths and Vandals and other barbarians conquer the ancient Roman Empire? Was it by superior military power? Of course not! Historians know that there is only one answer: the fall of Rome came because of the spirit of indulgence that had invaded the Roman world—the games, the pleasures, the baths. The moral rot that had entered into the heart of the Roman Empire was the cause of Rome’s “decline and fall.” It was not superior power from the outside, but internal rot that was Rome’s ruination. And the really alarming fact today is that we are witnessing a similar declension in this and most other Western countries. This slackness, this indiscipline, the whole outlook and spirit is characteristic of a period of decadence. The pleasure mania, the sports mania, the drink and drug mania have gripped the masses.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
The United States is Mystery Babylon the great and will not fall slowly over hundreds of years but rather in one hour.
Isaiah 13, 14, 18, 21 and 47
Jeremiah 50 and 51
Daniel 8:8
Habakkuk 1 and 2
Zechariah 2:7
Zechariah 5
Revelation 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19
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Sad but true and the church by in large is drunk with the pleasure mania, sports mania, entertainment mania and all that goes along with it. You speak out against it and you are looked at like you have two heads.
Case in point, last night when I got together with some believers I was incredulous that some were speaking positively of ultimate fighting and were unwilling to draw a line in the sand even with such blatant violence. Here, I opened my mouth as I often do and jumped into the fray and shared how UF is not of God by any stretch of the imagination. I told them probably a generation, maybe two and we’ll have gladiatorial games where they will be killing each other with sword or weapon in hand.
We all need to examine our lives and see how we have been so intoxicated by our society and how it has woven its web around us, our families and our churches. The best place to start is with the family alter, the TV. Herein, we need to break free from this web of deceit and live separate and distinct lives “wherein they [will] think it strange that [we] run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you…as of evildoers, [yet that] they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation [mode of living, lifestyle] in Christ.”
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Great timely quote!
Ease and Entertainment is the idol of today, hence the craze over all the shows that give nobody’s a ‘chance’ to become a ‘success’ overnight.
It’s this micro-wave thinking that has plagued many believers into a slothful approach to all things. Diligence is a lost virtue, which is a major reason why we see decline in preaching, in study, in prayer, in family discipleship, in healthy marriages, and so on—–If it’s worth anything it takes diligence and that STILL by grace!!!!
grace and peace
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UnprofitableServant,
The US of A, as bad as it is, is not in the Bible.
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It is only the last few generations that have become so affluent and had things so easy. As a result people have become so shallow and self centered, constantly needing to be entertained and amused all day and every day. Every whim is indulged and instant gratification is applauded as something good and something we all need to do. It is so easy to get caught up in this and to stay focused on the things that will count for eternity.
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Steve Farrar’s book, Get in the Ark, is a warning to this country, written about 10 years ago, making the same points as you, jude. http://www.amazon.com/Get-finding-Safety-Coming-Judgment/dp/0785273107
Ya’ll are on target – this country is self satisfied and knows not how desperately people need God.
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Manfred,
If you can stop believing what TBN, CBN and “God”TV says, you will be able to see clearly.
The church in America doesn’t want you to see what is plainly the truth as then they would lose their Old Testament “tithes” and members as a result. Then the “pastors” would have to get a real job that didn’t involve fleecing the flock of God.
Yes, America is in the Bible and it is Babylon the great.
Take a look at the scriptures posted above and ask the one true God to reveal to you who it is.
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Entertainment is both an indicative measure of the moral decay in this country as well as a challenge for a Christian to contend with if he/she wants to somewhat participate in “society”. About a year ago there was a soft core porn segment on T.V. masquerading as a blue jean commercial. If that scene had been in a movie made 30 years ago, it would’ve had an “R” rating and kids would not have been allowed to see it. I had a friend tell me that she saw a “Girls Gone Wild” commercial air in the middle of the day during a commercial break for a show her kids were watching. With all of this going on, is it any real wonder that kids today are taking nude pictures of themselves and sending them via text message to each other? From the way the media presents it, these aren’t isolated incidences but are becoming a growing concern.
In regards to the article listed above, I have a history book from a class I took last year that attributes the fall of Rome to subcoming to Greek culture. There’s a great quote in that book in regards to that observation, if I remember to do it I’ll look it up and post it on here tomorrow.
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This is a great quote and should be made know far and wide to every Christian.
We see the decadence in the church, and it is condsidered normal.
Normal Christianity is found in the book of Acts.
God bless.
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Manfred – Looks like a very interesting book. I will have to get it. Thanks for sharing. This quote below is SO true and has been my burden for a while.
“The problem with America is not the unbelieving world. The problem with America is the people of God. Our gospel is cancelled [sic] by the way we live.”
Yes, yes, yes, STOP preaching to the world about their sin and let us clean up our own house and get the plank out of our eye.
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UnprofitableServant,
I don’t have cable or dish and don’t watch any of those shows, et. al. you pointed out.
You – and anyone else – can read INTO the Scriptures whatever you want. That does not make it true.
That this country is a bed of sin no more makes it a part of Scripture than any other country. The Bible is not written with codes concealed within. The countries described in Scripture are those that were known then to the people being addressed in the letters, etc.
The US of A is not unique regarding the sins and apostasy cited in Scripture. We who live here tend to think more of ourselves in every way than we ought.
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At the risk of sounding like I’m blowing my own horn, this sounds like a post I did a while back, listing the various things that America has in common with ancient Rome.
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fp,
Indeed, many valid comparisons have been made between these two powerful, morally decayed world super powers. There is, after all, nothing new under the sun 🙂
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pilgram,
I have been re-reading Phillip Schaff and Edward Gibbon on the fall of the Roman Empire and you can’t get far without seeing the reflection of America in the pages.
The apostasy that becomes very apparent with Constantine becomes blatantly obvious by the time you get to the bloodshed and fall of Constantinople.
There is slow evil progress, from 312AD to the end of the Crusades 1200AD, that carries with it, the whole way, the stench of apostasy. It is the same stench that is filling the Church today, that most do not smell because of the familiarity to the source.
Like the Prophets of old, today’s messengers of truth may be required to validate their faith with their own blood. I think many are being prepared for just such a sacrifice.
Steve Blackwell
http://www.IndyWatchman.com
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Manfred,
Not reading anything into the scriptures, just properly discerning the identity of Babylon the great from the description in the scriptures.
And to be clear, I reject the “Bible Codes”.
You said,
“The countries described in Scripture are those that were known then to the people being addressed in the letters, etc.”
Babylon the great exists during the time of the end and great tribulation. It did not exist at the time of John the Apostle.
You also said,
“The US of A is not unique regarding the sins and apostasy cited in Scripture. We who live here tend to think more of ourselves in every way than we ought.”
The Word makes it clear that Babylon the great is unique in that its sin reaches to heaven and is paid double for it’s corrupting the world with it’s fornication.
And it isn’t thinking “more of ourselves”, it’s thinking much less of ourselves to those of us who see the truth that America is Mystery, Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.
It’s tough to see the forest for the trees in Babylon….
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UnprofitableServant
I guess we have both fallen into the trap of discussing the visible issue and failing to peer into the underlying issues that are truly at point; our presuppositions.
I hold to an amillennial view, not a future view; therefore I do not see what you do.
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brother Michael,
Your comment on the Church is spot-on, and makes me think of the lyrics to a Petra song “Seen and Not Heard”:
Too many black sheep in the family
Too many stones from a house of glass
They’ve heard the story, they’ve heard the lines
But talk is too cheap to change their minds
They want to see some vital signs
Convictions – in the way we live
Convictions – not a narrative
Actions speak a little louder than words
(Chorus)
Seen and not heard, seen and not heard
Sometimes God’s children should be seen and not heard
There’s too much talk and not enought walk
Sometimes God’s children should be seen and not heard
Delayed reaction to hostility
Brings us into reality
Cause when we answer in our defense
They can see through the false pretense
They want to see some evidence
Commitment – no more alibis
Commitment – not a compromise
Actions speak a little louder than words
Let your light so shine in all you do
With an answer near when they come to you
Don’t let your mouth start talkin’
Until your feet start walkin’
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Whiteheart did a song called “Bye Bye Babylon” that is very appropriate as well.
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UnprofitableServant,
Excellent song and powerful message! You are right, it’s very appropriate.
Thank you for sharing, brother.
– Jeff H
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Hi Jeff,
Luke 17:10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
Here is an interesting article that I saw today.
“Government Of The Devil, By The Devil, And For The Devil”
http://www.americandaily.com/article/95
Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
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servant,
While it’s true that Haiti – and most nations in that part of the world – voodoo was/is practiced and such practice is evil and of the Devil, that report you linked to has more in common with the National Inquirer than with historical records.
Note this report on Pat Robertson’s recent declaration (which is in line with the report to which you linked) yet is disputed by credible reports that delineate between the evil that was performed and that which men have imagined.
http://5ptsalt.com/2010/01/13/pat-robertson-on-haiti-earthquake-deal-with-the-devil/
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Hi Manfred,
The point I was getting at with the above story was the US is also responsible for the evils in Haiti by supporting a Marxist dictator which can be proven by other sources.
I saw the report by Pat Robertson and regardless of what he is saying is true or not, Pat Robertson is a charlatan.
It’s the Pat calling the kettle black.
And the fact that America is indeed responsible for “all who were slain on the earth”.
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UnprofitableServant,
Thanks for clearing that up 🙂 Anyone who supports Marxist monsters does indeed share responsibility for what passes thereafter. This country has much to be ashamed of, not the least of which is Abe Lincoln as President.
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