“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [are] temporary, but the things which are not seen [are] eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18.

Yes, we certainly see the things that are temporary quite clearly. Everything we see is temporary because we can’t physically see eternity. This nation of ours seems to be coming apart at the seams. The economy is in the tank; we are heading into one of the worst recessions this country has ever experienced. Our society is headed away from a democratic republic and socialism is now the order of the day.

We have a man campaigning to become our next president who pushes the concept of spreading the wealth around. This is socialism at its very core. If he becomes president he will have a whole horde of democratic senators and congressmen as well as many republicans at his beck and call, willing to do anything they can to help with this man’s concept of a “New World Order”.

As born again Christians we know this world is not our permanent home, but nonetheless it’s still difficult to watch as our temporary home implodes from within. I love my country, and I love my family, but most of all I love my Lord and Savior Jesus, who is the Christ. America ’s Christians should be in this same frame of mind. We are the body of Christ, and as such we make up what is known as His bride. The Bible tells us that Jesus will never let His bride get bloodied. In other words, we will never suffer the wrath of God we see described so thoroughly in the Book of Revelation.

Why in Heaven’s name would the Groom (Jesus Christ) want His Bride (the Church) bloodied? Think about it. The bride is walking down the aisle in a Church setting and as she gets closer to her groom he notices blood all over her dress, her face is beaten and raw, her hair is caked with dried blood and most of her teeth are missing. As his bride moves closer into his view, the bloodier she becomes. If you believe in the rapture of the Church occurring at the end of the Tribulation, you must picture the bride of Christ as described above.

If, on the other hand you believe in the Rapture of the Church occurring before the seven-year Tribulation period, as taught in the Bible, then you must understand that Christ’s Church will be taken out of the way before God’s wrath comes upon the earth. Will we go through persecution? You can count on it. Jesus said so Himself, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you, Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;” John 15:18 & 20.

We are certainly not greater than our Lord Jesus so we can be assured that we will not forego this persecution He speaks of. How is it coming and from where? Persecution can come from many different directions. If we elect a new president, for example, who is diabolically opposed to the God of the Holy Bible but not to the god of the Koran we can be assured, as those who are called by His name, we will come to understand the meaning of the persecution that Jesus warned us about. There are other forms of persecution that can and will affect us as Christians, but, basically, persecution for the American Christian will stem from Americans, both Christian and nonbelievers, electing a follower of Satan as our country’s leader.

Most people won’t admit to being followers of Satan; they may be completely oblivious to the whole concept of a god of this world. Nevertheless, whether they know it or not or acknowledge it or not, if they are against Jesus they are for Satan. Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 12, “He that is not with me is against me;” Matthew 12:30. He’s telling us that there are no grey areas; we are either on Jesus’ side or His adversary’s. Everyone has a religion. Atheists and agnostics serve the god of this world

Fear of the future in any case is sin because it shows we’re not trusting in our Lord and Savior for our protection and for our sustenance. How can we claim the protection of our Lord and turn around the next minute and complain about our fears. Fear leads to worry, and worry is sin. If you find yourself in this mode repent and come back and take hold of your Savior’s hand. Walking in fellowship with Jesus our Messiah means He will never leave you nor forsake you.

We can be at peace with the world even though the world is not at peace. We can take comfort in the joy we receive from the Lord. Peace and joy are ours to claim and we are only denying ourselves access to His comfort when we worry and fret about the future here on earth. For me, that mansion in Heaven, which Jesus tells us awaits all who are called by His name, is more of a draw now than ever before. These are the thoughts that should consume us, along with witnessing to the lost, when we are confronted with persecution in these last days.

Give God credit for who He is and what He’s done in the past. Let Him dwell in you and have control of all aspects of your life. Christians can lose their joy in the Lord through fear. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” Matthew 10:28.

God is in control no matter what may seem to the contrary. Everything happens for a reason. I have no idea who is going to be our next president but surely God is bigger than any man. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence,” 2 Samuel 22:3. Violence, what violence you may ask? There are people who, if they don’t get their own way, will turn to violence if the follower of Satan isn’t elected president. “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment,” Psalm 73:6. Different groups with agendas which they wish to push on all American’s will be major, progressive, and quite violent. Also, because we are in a recession, we may well feel the strain of an economy pushed to the limit on food distribution, fuel supplies, medical services, and any number of other essentials that become distributed only through national rationing. I believe it’s something we should be prepared for, however unlikely we feel this scenario to be at this moment.

Something Obama has made very clear to be acted upon in his presidency is the confiscation of guns from American households. However he pushes this through congress, the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution will be pronounced null and void. “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state , the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” On the heels of this travesty will be a final elimination of the 1st Amendment which is already being trampled, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; of abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition the government for a redress of grievances.” To Obama the Constitution means nothing. He won’t even allow his birth certificate to be made public. Why? Because there’s every indication he wasn’t born on American soil. It’s the same as someone applying for a job but refusing to give the prospective employer his resume.

Gone are the good ‘ol days if Obama is elected president of the United States of America . Ever wondered why America isn’t in Bible prophecy? I believe the US is subjugated to the status of a third world country, which will happen in warp drive mode in an Obama presidency. Why do I say this? There are a couple of reasons. First, the U.S. will completely turn its back on Israel , and second, immorality will flourish along with all the side issues that go along with immorality such as abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, pornography, sexual abuse of young children to name just a few. Both of these reasons will force God to remove His supernatural covering from where it’s been placed for the past two-hundred plus years.

Christians, stay the course. Hold fast to the faith, and keep looking up for your redemption is surely drawing near.

God bless you all,
Ron Graham