AMERICA IN PROPHECY, PART 3,
BY DR. RICHARD BOOKER—
Moral collapse proceeds economic collapse. The great empires of history collapsed because of moral failures as much as they did from military defeats. America is the only nation in the history of nations that was birthed out of religious persecution and with a Judeo-Christian world-view and vision. It is this Judeo-Christian heritage that has made America great. I use the term Judeo-Christian because without the Judeo there would be no Christian. The Pilgrims and Puritans came to America because of religious persecution by the State Church of England. They were godly people who saw themselves establishing a colony in the new world that would be a shining light of God’s redemption to the nations.
William Bradford, who was appointed governor of the new colony wrote, “Thus out of small beginnings, greater things have grown by His hand who made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light enkindled here has shown to many, yes, in a sense our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.”
Cotton Mather wrote that William Bradford, was a person of study as well as action. He had mastered Latin and Greek but the Hebrew he most of all studied. Because he said, “he would see with his own eyes the ancient oracles of God in their native beauty.” He was also well skilled in history, in antiquity, in philosophy and theology. But the crown of all was his holy, prayerful, watchful and fruitful walk with God.”
There were 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower who survived the 65 days at sea. They arrived at Plymouth, Mass. on Dec. 26, 1620. Of this number, more than half died in the first winter due to sickness and inadequate provisions. Less than 50 pilgrims were left, and of that number, some were too old to have children. When you do the math, only a small handful of godly women gave birth to America. Miraculously, thirty years later, in 1650, thirty of the original colonists were still alive and they had 160 descendants living at that time.
The Mayflower Compact
Before they landed, the pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact which was their covenant they would live by as a colony. It was modeled on the covenant of their separatist congregation in England. It reads in part:
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”
Whether one likes or not, the record is clear that the Pilgrims intended to establish America as a Christian democratic republic. They did not want a national Christian Church of America. They understood the wisdom of separating organizationally the government of the people from the religion of the people. They advocated freedom of religion not freedom from religion. They certainly did not have in mind separating God from the government. They wanted to separate church and state but not God and state. Unfortunately, America has lost its vision.
Our founding fathers stated that the American democracy was designed for a moral people and would not survive unless there was a moral consensus of the citizens. Born as a self-governing people under the moral laws of God, America now despises the laws of God that made us great. While America has been a great light to the nations, our light has gone out because we have abandoned our Judeo-Christian heritage.|
Everyday America flaunts its immorality in the face of God as if we dare Him to judge us. Many believe the Almighty has accepted our dare. What do you think?
Dr. Richard Booker is a bestselling author and speaker and the Founder of Sounds of the Trumpet and the Institute for Hebraic-Christian Studies. He is a contributing editor for the Jerusalem Connection. To invite him to speak to your congregation or conference and to learn more about his work, see his web site at: www.rbooker.com. This is the first of six articles on America in Bible prophecy. The articles are excerpts from Dr. Booker’s new book, “The End of all Things is at Hand—are You Ready?” To get the full text, order this book directly from Dr. Booker’s web site at www.rbooker.com.