My Vision of the Renovation of America

July 1, 2001

Snyder Bible Home   All Sermons  Search Entire Site        ©2001 Jackson Snyder

PREVIEW The End Times Made Simple: How Could Everybody Be So Wrong About Biblical Prophecy? by Samuel Waldron

Matthew 10:4040. "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet's reward; and anyone who welcomes an upright person because he is upright will have the reward of an upright person. 42. If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not go without his reward."

A. A. Allen Predicts Destruction 
Are you looking for A. A. Allen books and DVDs?

During the 50s and 60s, A. A. Allen was the best known Pentecostal evangelist. He had the largest tent in the world and Mammoth crowds were in attendance everywhere he staked it up. In his meetings, the terminally ill were healed, crutches were collected and burned and powerful demons were cast out in miraculous demonstrations of Holy Ghost power. Allen had his own city dedicated to God - Miracle Valley, Arizona - from where he broadcasted radio and television programs to the entire country.

In 1954, Allen published an influential little book entitled My Vision of the Destruction of America. It tells about a vision he had while atop the Empire State Building in New York.

"As I looked, suddenly from the sky I saw a giant hand reach down toward the Statue of Liberty. In a moment, her gleaming torch was torn from her hand, and in it was placed a cup. And I saw protruding from that great cup a giant sword. Never before had I seen such a sharp, glistening, dangerous sword.

"I heard these words, ‘Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, drink ye and be drunken, spue and fall, and rise no more’ (Jer 20:7). I was amazed to hear the Statue of Liberty speak out in reply, ‘I will not drink!’ Then as the voice of the thunder, I heard the Lord again saying, ‘Ye shall certainly drink!’ Then suddenly the giant hand forced the cup to the lips of the Statue of Liberty. The mighty hand of God forced her to drink every drop from the cup.

"Then as one drunken, I saw the Statue of Liberty become unsteady on her feet. I saw her splashing in the Gulf. I saw her stagger again and again. And as I watched, I wondered if the Statue of Liberty would ever be able to regain her feet. I seemed overwhelmed with a desire to reach out my hand to keep her head above water, for I knew that if she ever fell again she would drown there in the Gulf." (excerpts)

The rest of the vision describes the horrible destruction of America, a disobedient and sinful nation, by the hand of an angry God. This book was influential in it’s time, and it had a particularly strong effect on yours truly, who read it as a teen.

Prophets Predict Destruction in the 1980s

Since that time, many other religious prophets have threatened destruction or tribulation for America. In the late 1980s there were three books circulating in the Christian community that were very, very influential. Though their common message was not nearly as dramatic as Allen’s Empire State Building vision, it was essentially the same thing -- that America would soon be destroyed.

One was called 88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 1988 by an anonymous author. As October 1988 loomed nearer, many Christians put their affairs in order just in case it all really happened.

The second book is by Larry Burkett, a Christian financial counselor. The name of the book is The Coming Economic Disaster. Burkett predicted that the United States economy would fall out in 1990 or so, and that the United States would be financially destroyed. This week I tried to looked up that book in his catalog, but it has mysteriously disappeared.

The third book is by David Wilkerson, whose ministry was made into a movie titled The Cross and the Switchblade. Wilkerson wrote Blow the Trumpet, adding to the expectation that the U.S. was doomed for annihilation at any time.

By the 90s, TV doomsday preachers were really getting fired up for the end of the world. There was Ruby Ridge and Waco and Heaven’s Gate and Shining Path and scores of militia groups and the Y2K bug. Americans were preparing again for the destruction of the nation. It was in the mid 90s that we learned that the government considered Christians to be a criminal element . Listen to how the Attorney General of the United States defines a cult member:

"A cultist is one who has a strong belief in the Bible and the Second Coming of Christ: who frequently attends Bible studies; who has a high level of financial giving to a Christian cause; who home schools for their children; who has accumulated survival foods and has a strong belief in the Second Amendment; and who distrusts big government. Any of these may qualify a person as a cultist but certainly more than one of these would cause us to look at this person as a threat, and his family as being in a risk situation that qualified for government interference." (60 Minutes, June 26, 1994)
(This quote is suspected of being a hoax.)

From Ryan Thompson 12/27/04
It turns out the Janet Reno "cultist" story is an urban legend. She never appeared on 60 Minutes on the date the legend states she did, nor does 60 Minutes have any records of her doing so, or any record of her ever having said those words on their show in any of her appearances.
http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-6D7D-1475E756-395F51CC-prod5
http://www.scambusters.org/urban-legends/janet-reno.html
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blreno.htmhttp://www.truthminers.com/truth/janet_reno_hoax.htm
http://www.truthminers.com/truth/janet_reno_hoax.htm
http://www.heggen.net/society/myth/urban_legends/janet_reno.htm
http://www.austinreview.com/articles/56.html
Thanks,
Ryan Thompson

I want to repeat that last sentence: "[we would] look at this person as a threat, and his family as being in a risk situation that qualified for government interference."

These words came from the person in charge of enforcing the federal law, Janet Reno. Never has there been such strong anti-Christian sentiment from any high government official before. Her words justified government bias against people of faith. At the same time, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church retained Hillary Clinton as their keynote speaker and gave the radical surgeon general, Jocelyn Elders, one of the highest honors the church bestows, despite the fact that both of these people are radically anti-family, pro-abortion and godless to the extreme. These circumstances and many others led many to believe that the nation was in demise. How long could God stand for it?

But now that day has passed and it is the 21st century. We as Christians have survived these last 40 years, even prospered, despite the doomsday prophets, secular, anti-family society and a hostile government. Many Christians have prospered in spite of a little persecution. Current issues that concern us include:

The National Education Association. It’s the most powerful force in the education today. The NEA represents 2.5 million public school teachers with revenues of over a billion dollars a year. This huge sum of money is used for "the enthusiastic promotion of homosexuality in classrooms across America," including the inclusion of homosexual teachers and curriculum.

The new leader of the Senate, Tom Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton, is openly promoting national gambling interests, having just received a $500,000 contribution from casinos in Las Vegas. Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton is supporting a bill to legalize gambling on school sports nationally.

According to a recent poll, a majority of Christians admit to using digital pornography. Christians say, "What I do in public doesn’t have anything to do with what I enjoy in the privacy of my home." But thousands of poor European and Asian girls are enslaved to provide for the perversions of the American public. Pornography brings in 10 billion dollars a year - much of that money comes from believers.

AND the Presbyterian Church just voted to remove chastity and fidelity from it’s qualifications for the clergy. Now Presbyterians pastors may feel free to be promiscuous with impunity. Although God considers adultery and homosexual behavior to be abominable, the Presbyterian Church does not.

These issues were in the news just last week. Locally, did you read in the Tri-City Ledger that law enforcement officers make $8.58 an hour. How does a person make a living on that, especially in such a dangerous and thankless job? Even locally we find a prime example of gross economic disparity. Pornographers and abortionists make billions of dollars as professional sinners, while a decent law enforcement officer is paid well below the national poverty level.

Friends, I don’t believe this country will be destroyed by the H bomb like Hal Lindsey says, nor by poisonous gas like Allen said, nor by economic ruin like Burkett says, nor by some rapture like Tim LaHaye says. This country, insofar as it is a nation under Yahweh, is already spiritually destroyed. However, it’s not my intention to leave you hopeless for the holidays. I have something great to share.

When Jesus says, "My Kingdom is not of this world" he means that he’s not the King of Israel or the Emperor of Rome. Jesus is surely a king, but his Kingdom is Heaven; ouranos in Greek. We have a planet by that exact name -- 7th from the sun. Maybe that’s heaven! When Jesus taught us to pray, he addressed his Father this way, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven." The Kingdom had come in him in some measure. But the balance of his Kingdom was for a future time.

In the Revelation to John, we see glimpses of his Kingdom coming, first, disguised as the Heavenly Temple (Rev 11:19). We see the Temple again later in mid-heaven and descending (Rev 14:17). Then we see it in the sky, resembling now a city. Finally, the ‘city’ lands on earth as a great nation with an area of 2,744,000,000 cubic miles.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that when people receive his disciples into their homes or hearts, they are also receiving Jesus into their homes or hearts. And not only are they receiving Jesus, but they are also receiving the Father. By extension, they receive the Father’s Kingdom, or Heaven, into their homes and hearts. Jesus sends his disciples out to make ready for the Kingdom of Heaven to descend to earth. The disciples were promised great rewards for their efforts. Did you notice that Jesus said that whoever receives a disciple or prophet would get the same reward as the prophet? That means that whoever gives me a quart of peas will receive my reward. This Kingdom of Heaven, which resided up there somewhere when the first disciples were preaching, this Kingdom was on its way down even then. And the greatest rewards, both theirs and ours, will be bestowed when

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev 11:5b)

When we put it all together, we learn that the ultimate destination of Heaven is earth. When it gets here, it will not be called the Kingdom of Heaven anymore - that would be ludicrous, since ‘heaven’ means ‘sky.’ The Kingdom will be known then as "New Israel" with it’s capital city "New Jerusalem." How do I know this? Why, Yahweh declares it; "Behold, I make all new" (Rev 21:5).

I have a vision for the United States that I want to share. Once upon a time in the future, the United States Senate is debating legalizing gambling on junior high school sports. In the heat of it, a tall, glowing man walks through the wall and approaches the Minority Leader Mr. Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton. Following him are twelve more tall, glowing men, who have also entered through the wall. The Senate is in an uproar. "Who are these? What are these? How dare they disturb Senate gambling hearings." Vice President Cheney calls for the sergeant at arms to apprehend these intruders, then he presses the tiny red button under his desk. But the policemen in the room find themselves completely powerless. They are paralyzed - like in a dream. "Get at it, men! Arrest them!" cries Senator Kennedy. But there is no response at all.

The thirteen tall, glowing men take places around the Senate chamber. Some senators try to run out, but are kept from it by these strong intruders. Finally their leader makes his way to Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton’s desk, who, for the first time in his political career, has nothing to say. It is the glowing man who does all the talking: "Mr. Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton," he says calmly, "my name is Yahshua ben David ben Yahweh. Some call me Jesus Christ. I have been sent here by my Father whose name is Yahweh Elohim Tsaviot. We have come to gather the tribes of Israel. In order accomplish this, we are taking over your nation this day. Resistance is futile. There are a million of us - the elect of Yahweh of all ages - empowered by the Sword of the Spirit. We have already incapacitated your military, defused your nuclear arsenal and disabled all your internal security measures.

"Mr. Daschle-Kerry-Reid-Clinton, Yahweh El Elyon, the great judge, considers your Senate to be morally unfit for ruling New Israel. The Senate stands convicted of willfully breaking the ninth and tenth commandments of the Law. You and all of your colleagues are hereby dismissed, with the exception of thirteen senators who have kept their garments unspotted. By the grace of the Almighty, the rest of you will retire to your homes for the duration of your natural lives. You will never engage in politics or any other devious practices that might lead people astray. All your money, assets and accounts are hereby forfeited and disbursed among the poor. Yahweh Yireh will provide you each with $30,000 in severance pay. Failing to keep the terms of your probation will result in your exile to Madagascar. There will be no questions and no exceptions! You are now dismissed. Go home and find honest employment."

Two hundred forty-three Senators quietly exit the chamber while the thirteen Senators remaining begin to glow and grow. These thirteen Senators become glorified priests of the Messiah in the twinkling of an eye. They reign over the New Israel forever.

Now that’s only the beginning of my vision of the renovation of America. All across America, powerful, glowing saints begin to rule, organize and judge. They rule sternly, they organize benevolently, they judge righteously. Soon, the devil himself is imprisoned. He will no longer deceive the nation. The great evils of society are ameliorated. Ordinary people begin to do extraordinarily wonderful things. Thousands are converted in the New Israel. Thousands of thousands receive a prophet’s reward.

Abortion, gambling, prostitution, pornography and lawlessness are not tolerated and are soon forgotten. Children are cherished. The aged and infirm are cared for and strengthened. The poor no longer feel compelled to buy lottery tickets -- their needs are met. Pornography is destroyed along with pornographers. The NEA votes to post The Ten Commandments in every schoolroom, and teachers are hitherto godly and decent. Homosexuals, perverts, pedophiles and the promiscuous are miraculously healed by the saints of Yahweh.

A year later, those who have died start appearing. The last thing they remember is falling asleep; but now here they are to be cherished by astonished families. People love each other, for people are changed. Jesus is renovating America. And it’s only just begun. He has finally returned, and his return is glorious.

One last little vignette for you: Now that he’s broke, Former Senator Kennedy feels a lot younger for some reason. He uses what little money he has left to find an honest job. Now, Kennedy is working as the sheriff of Flomaton making $11.75 an hour. There isn’t much call for law enforcement anymore; he feels lucky to have a job. But it’s lonely in the Flomaton sheriff’s office. Kennedy sips another cup of stale coffee and thinks about the ‘good old days.’ He mutters to himself, "There’s no abortion, pornography, gay rights, or campaign contributions anymore. I fought hard for those rights, and there was a lot of money in it then. Just how does Jesus think he’s going to pay for all these social programs?"

Kennedy looks out the window and takes another sip of his coffee. Another minute goes by. The office is hot, but he’s feeling OK. "By gosh, I’m feeling better," he mumbles. Then some guy outside sees him through the grimy window pane and notices that Sheriff Kennedy is smiling.

Top
New Century Sermons
Home