One of the six basic doctrines of Christianity listed in Hebrews 6:1-2 is “eternal judgment.” One very revealing factor that was illuminated by the responses from our West Coast prophecies were the teachings and comments some made about God’s judgment. It is hard not to question if some of these Christians, especially those in ministry, had actually ever studied the Scriptures on this important subject. This compelled me to start asking believers when was the last time they heard a sermon on God’s judgment, and to date I have not found a single one who remembers hearing even one sermon on this important and basic Christian doctrine.
I cannot remember the last time that I taught on this subject either. I did study it in some depth for about two years when I was a new believer. I have taught on it some in the past, but with the exception of a few references, I have not taught on this important subject in depth for more than twenty-five years. So I am not pointing fingers at others in this any more than I am considering myself guilty of overlooking this important matter too. However, I do have enough of a foundation to recognize how much, if not most, of what is being taught about God’s judgment is not biblical, but is sometimes in basic conflict with what the Bible reveals on it. Some comments or opinions I’ve heard lately were in direct conflict with even the teachings of Jesus Himself. That is revealing.
I was expecting some of this because of previous experience, but I think this time it has revealed a much deeper level of how far from sound biblical doctrine much of the church in America has received. It is true that “the kindness of God leads to repentance” (see Romans 2:4), and we never want to forget this. However, like the basis of many false teachings, if we take this one slice of a verse out of context we can be led astray by it, as many are. Understanding the judgments of God are crucial for understanding what God is doing, and even God Himself, so let’s care enough to read this in its whole context.
Therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you
judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
But we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such
things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing
that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself
in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who WILL RENDER TO EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality,
eternal life;
but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
wrath and indignation.
There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and
also of the Greek,
but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek.
For there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:1-11).
It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance, but as we see here, if we do not repent because of His kindness we can surely expect wrath. The Jews who were in such pursuit of righteousness in those times were so sure that they were exempt from the wrath of God that they were recipients of some of the most intense. Their righteousness had become self-righteousness, which caused them to even persecute the Righteous One Himself. Even so, the Lord exclusively reached out to them for years before sending His apostles to the Gentiles. It was God’s kindness that kept reaching out so that they would not have to endure His wrath, but a time came when wrath was inevitable.
It is in His kindness that He has been sending warnings to the U.S. that would cause the repentance so that His judgments will not have to come on us. This does not mean that His judgments will never come to all who do evil because it is made very clear in the Scriptures above.
The judgment of God has been coming upon America, and it will intensify if we do not recognize the evil that has been taking over and repent of it. We have already paid a terrible price for not hearing, and I for one pray for the grace to be as clear as possible about what is happening and why so that it will not have to continue. It will continue without repentance and without revival and returning to the Lord. As the saying goes, “If you do not change your direction, you will end up where you are headed,” and America is now headed for increasingly serious discipline. The disasters coming upon us are a message, and if we would listen they can be stopped.