What Is Ahead for America?

In the very thick of the United States' election season, many Americans have lost sight of the Big Picture! Where is the U.S. really headed? Are any of the current presidential candidates even remotely capable of solving the truly massive problems that will certainly confront the next U.S. President?

Furthermore, those few Americans who are genuinely willing to believe and trust the God of the Bible may ask: is our vaunted "democratic process" really the best way to run a nation?

Few realize that—partly because of democracy—the U.S. is headed for a financial catastrophe unless major changes occur! As Election Day approaches, will either the Democratic or Republican nominee have the boldness to tell citizens just how serious the problem really is—and how it must affect each of them in the pocketbook?

Four years ago, neither major candidate had such nerve. As USA Today pointed out in a front page article shortly before the 2004 election: "American taxpayers have a hidden debt of at least $53 trillion [Emphasis ours] in government obligations, mostly from Medicare, Social Security and the federal debt. This debt equals $473,456 per household, dwarfing the $84,454 in personal debt per household owed for mortgages, car loans and other borrowing. The federal government would have to double taxation or cut benefits in half immediately to make good on its promises of providing health care and pension benefits for retirees in the coming decades. Both major political parties and the presidential candidates have avoided confronting the problem for fear of angering voters" (October 4, 2004).

Has anything really changed? Of course, the actual debt has grown larger—USA Today not long ago reported that the debt figure had increased to $516,348 per household. A colossal financial "iceberg" is about to hit "Battleship America," and possibly even sink it, but the "fear of angering voters" will likely keep this issue out of public view again this election year!

Why?

Because, in our modern "democracies" (whether pure democracies or representative republics), politicians must be very selective about which facts they tell the voters. Generally, they must tell people only what they want to hear—whether it is true or not. When politicians confront the public with too much reality, it usually amounts to committing political suicide! The most successful politicians are usually the ones who promise the most: "I'll cut your taxes and still give you greater benefits." That is "democracy at work."

Many of the original American leaders—George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and others—were extremely intelligent, highly educated and thoroughly familiar with English common law and the principles upon which American democracy was built. Their background made them capable of establishing and sustaining "democratic" institutions—at least for a while. By contrast, the vast masses of uneducated and mis-educated people around the world, who have never had the slightest experience with democratic values or institutions, cannot reasonably be expected to make democracy successful. Many of the early American leaders recognized this fact. John Adams, second President of the U.S., actually stated: "We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and true religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

What constitutes a "moral and religious people"? Millions of Muslims around the globe feel that "American democracy" has flooded the world with wretched films, magazines and music glorifying illicit sex and violence, tearing apart families and blaspheming God. It is hard to argue with that! Americans should remember that a recent Chief Executive, faced with evidence of his own immorality, had a hard time defining what "is" is! He artfully weaved and dodged when answering questions about his actions, but in the end he still became known as a philanderer—a deeply immoral person—who set a truly horrible example as President of our nation.

More recently, the state of New York lost its Governor, who resigned when he was confronted with evidence of his involvement with a "high class" prostitute! Then, amazingly, the former Lieutenant Governor admitted, upon taking office as Governor, that he and his wife had had extramarital affairs! Most citizens seem to be "going right along" with so many immoral situations in government—and, in fact, throughout our entire society. For because of the constant drumbeat of the media—promoting fornication, adultery, homosexuality and other perversions that encourage a loose standard of living—such behaviors are becoming pretty much "standard" in our supposedly "Christian" nation!

We must quit kidding ourselves!

If the God of the Bible is real—and He is!—He will not bless such an immoral nation much longer! "Western democracy" is no longer producing the kinds of leaders that it once did, and our leaders are being overwhelmed with catastrophes they will be increasingly unable to manage, which will greatly weaken the prestige and power of the U.S. and the British-descended nations. A loving God will use these catastrophes to shake people into an awareness of how vulnerable they are. For the peoples of America and its British-descended allies are destined to be brought down—to be truly humbled by national tribulation beyond anything they have ever experienced!

The Eternal God tells us, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:7–8). We in this Work of the living God have for many years been telling you exactly what will happen! Many of you realize that. But do you realize how the prophesied end-time events are now seeming to speed up—affecting our daily lives, our standard of living, our government and our sense of security in ways they never have before?

So, then, what really is just ahead for America?

Within the lifetimes of most of you reading this magazine, the real Jesus Christ of the Bible will return to sit on a throne in Jerusalem and rule this entire world! The Bible speaks of this clearly from one end to the other—though most professing Christians have never been taught about it. Christ will be the "King of kings and Lord of lords"—ruling right here on this earth, guided and empowered by Almighty God the Father (Revelation 19:15–16).

At that time, what will Christ's government actually be like, and what will today's true Christians—true saints of God—be doing? Will they be off in heaven doing nothing, or idly playing on harps?

Your Bible says: "No!"

Rather, God's word clearly describes the genuine government to be set up on this earth, and the part you readers may then be playing in it—if you become a genuine Christian and "overcomer" with God. The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:2–3). Paul then went on to explain how the Christians in Corinth were supposed to learn to practice God's government in the Church by correctly "judging" problems among themselves. We who are truly Christian must learn and practice the correct form of government—for that kind of government will soon be ruling this entire earth! Will it be a "democracy"? No! From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture shows that positions in God's government have always been filled by appointment—not by politicking or making deceptive promises to "buy" votes.

Jesus promised, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'—as I also have received from My Father"(Revelation 2:26–27). So, we who are willing to obey our Creator must learn to overcome our human selfishness, and through God's Spirit learn to practice God's government right now!

May we begin to yearn for God's truly fair and loving form of government, which will bring genuine peace and prosperity to every human being on this earth! And may each of us do our part to prepare to be in that government and fulfill the purpose for which God is calling true Christians at this time.

Christ's Kingdom—His government—is coming soon. That is what is just ahead for America, and for a very confused and suffering world. May God speed that day!