Revelation: Witness, Judgment, and the Throne

How God Destroys Nations - Part 1

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2005-05-01

Synopsis: John Weaver begins a series on how God destroys nations, using Isaiah 19 as the primary text. He argues that God's judgments are not always cataclysmic but often slow and imperceptible, yet equally destructive. The first way God destroys a nation is religiously—by removing truth and sending delusion. Egypt is judged because it is God's enemy and a false refuge for His people. When a nation rejects God's Word, He destroys its counsel, leaving only error. America is shown to have abandoned its Christian foundations, embracing pluralism and political correctness, which Weaver identifies as evidence of religious judgment.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles today to Isaiah chapter 19. Isaiah chapter 19. And we're going to read the first 17 verses. Isaiah chapter 19. I'm going to begin a short series today. I know there's going to be at least five messages. Probably that will be all. Unless I have to end up with a concluding message or two, but The series is entitled How God Destroys Nations. How God Destroys Nations. So look in Isaiah 19, verse 1. The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord riding upon a swift cloud and shall come into Egypt and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

[John Weaver] And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians. And they shall fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the council thereof. And they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord, and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, And the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away, and the brooks of defense shall be hempted and dried up.

[John Weaver] The reeds of the flag shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything sown by the brooks shall wither, and be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the water shall languish. Moreover, they that work in fine flax and they that we network shall be confounded, and they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all they that make sluices and ponds for fish.

[John Weaver] Surely the princes of Zion are fools. The counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. How say you unto Pharaoh? I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings. Where are they? Where are the wise men? And let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon each The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Nop are deceived, and they also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof. They have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. And that day shall Egypt be likened to women. It shall be afraid and fear, because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt.

[John Weaver] Every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. And that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts, one shall be called the city of destruction." I went ahead and read verse 18, but verse 17 is where we were to end.

[John Weaver] Now, remember, this series is entitled How God Destroys Nations. All I need to do is mention the word judgment. When we hear the word judgment, each one of us automatically thinks cataclysmically. Now, when I use that word, We understand exactly what it means because if something does not happen cataclysmically, most often people do not associate it with judgment. In other words, when something happens slowly, or what you and I would call naturally, we tend to label all such acts and all such things as mother nature, luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Why, when you talk about judgment, everyone knows that when God judges, that God judges cataclysmically.

[John Weaver] In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles, hold Isaiah 19, we're coming right back there, but look in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. Let me show you something that probably most of you did not know, and hopefully I will be able to show it to you. Notice in 2 Peter 2 and verse 5, what the Bible says. 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. The Bible says, talking about God, in fact, let's read verse 4 just so you can see its judgment. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment. So we're talking about judgment. Now watch verse 5.

[John Weaver] And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." Now, just stop right there for a moment. Each one of us knows that God brought a cataclysmic judgment upon the old world. There was a time when Noah stopped preaching and God opened the windows of heaven and opened the fountains of the deep and he brought the flood. The interesting thing is in verse 5 of 2 Peter chapter 2, the word flood in the Greek is kataklousmon. It is where we get our English word kataklousmik. So here was a cataclysmic flood. So Noah preached until one day there was a giant cataclysm, so to speak, and God brought the flood upon those individuals.

[John Weaver] Now, of course, the same truth is given us in verse six concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. When God had brought just Lot safely out of the city, look in verse six, the Bible says in turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemn them with an overthrow. making them an example unto those that afterwards should live ungodly. So just as God brought Lot out of the city and his family, God then rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain and destroyed them all cataclysmically.

[John Weaver] When you and I think of some of the preeminent judgments in the Bible, We think of such things as the destruction of the 400 prophets of Baal by Elijah, which was done in one day. We think of the smiting of Herod in Acts chapter 12, which was done instantly. We think of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. And we say, my, all of those were cataclysmic judgments. And that is true. God does sometimes judge in a cataclysmic manner. But that does not mean that God judges all of the time in a cataclysmic manner.

[John Weaver] The scripture does teach us in 2 Peter 2 and verse 6 that the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was to be an example to all of those that should hereafter live ungodly. However, that does not mean that every future judgment will be cataclysmic. What it does mean is that those who live ungodly shall be destroyed. Does not necessarily mean that they have to be destroyed cataclysmically. So here's what I'm trying to teach you right now. God is not and cannot be limited to cataclysmic judgments.

[John Weaver] He may judge in a manner that produces destruction and death very slowly. Each of us understand that death is death and destruction is destruction. And it really does not matter whether one dies quickly or whether one dies slowly, he's still dead. And it really does not matter whether a nation is destroyed quickly or slowly, it is still destroyed. We do not normally think of judgment in a slow terminology. We are prone to thinking cataclysmically, and yet the truth of the matter is this, that most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments.

[John Weaver] Do you remember when Adam sinned, what did God tell him? In dying thou shalt die. Do you realize that Adam lived 930 years, but he was still judged by God? And in dying, shalt thou die. In other words, his death was a slow death. King Saul was judged by God, and yet he still continued to reign another 20 years. So his judgment was a slow judgment. And you remember how wicked Ahab was. And although God decreed the death of Ahab, Ahab was not smitten instantly. He died later on. So the principle I'm trying to show you is this, that when God judges, he may either do so cataclysmically or he may do so slowly, but surely, yet it is equally God's judgment.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to Isaiah 42. Here's a principle. And look at this very closely, Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. Let me show you the principle of a slow judgment. Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading with verse 22. Look what God says concerning His people. Isaiah 42 and verse 22. But this is a people robbed and spoiled. They are all of them snared in holes.

[John Weaver] They are hidden in prison houses. They are for a prey and none delivered, for a spoil and none set to restore. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?" Now watch this question. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law. Therefore he has poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battle, and he has set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not. It burned him, yet he laid it not to heart."

[John Weaver] Now I want you to note, if you would closely, this phrase. Yet it burned him. Verse 25. Yet he laid it not to heart. Note what he says, he set fire on him round about, yet he knew it not. What does that mean? What does that indicate? It indicates what you and I would call a slow judgment. Whenever you read this passage and you see the words robbed and spoiled, snared in holes, hidden in prisons, For a spoil, fury poured out. All of these things indicate a slow judgment. And yet, when you read these phrases, yet he knew it not. In other words, it is something that happens slowly and imperceptibly, yet it did happen. It burned him, and yet he laid it not to heart.

[John Weaver] Now, everyone in this room knows the illustration of boiling a frog in water. You can take that boiling pot of water and pitch a bullfrog in, and guess what? He will instantly and immediately jump out. But yet you can put that same frog in a bowl of water and heat it very slowly, almost imperceptibly, and he'll sit there until he's cooked to death. You know, we are like that in America. In fact, people everywhere are like that.

[John Weaver] You snatch our rights from us all at once, and we will fight. However, you take those same rights away from us one at a time, and we will endure the tyranny until we are totally and absolutely enslaved. You see, enslavement that is done slowly is still enslavement. that is accomplished slowly is still destruction. Robbery done slowly and over a period of time is still robbery. If I broke into Dr. Holmes' house and oh, look at there, there's a thousand bucks laying right there and I reach down and I took it, is that robbery? Well, suppose I didn't break in his house. Let's just suppose I visited him several times at his invitation. And every time I was there, I just took a $100 bill. And I did that over a period of 10 weeks. Would it still be robbery? Well, of course. It doesn't matter whether it's done slowly or quickly. It's still theft and it's still robbery.

[John Weaver] Now, how in the world does God destroy nations? Now, the answer is given to us in Isaiah 19. I want you to look back there. Because this passage begins with the burden of Egypt. Now the word burden there literally means the prophecy concerning Egypt. So Isaiah then is giving this burden, this prophecy concerning the nation of Egypt.

[John Weaver] Now you've got to ask yourself a question right away. Why in the world must Egypt be destroyed? Because incidentally, it's not just Egypt, but many nations that God has destroyed over a period of years. But ask yourself this question, since we're looking in Isaiah 19, why must Egypt be destroyed? Well, let me give you two answers. First of all, Egypt historically has always been the enemy of God and the enemy of God's people. You must remember it was Egypt that defied God, enslaved his people, and resisted all demands to release Israel. When Moses went to Pharaoh and said, Thus saith the Lord, let my people go, what was Pharaoh's response? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. So historically, Egypt has always been the enemy of God's people. And incidentally, in Revelation chapter 11 in verse 8, you don't have to turn there, but when God is describing the wickedness of Judah and Jerusalem, in their corruption and their rebellion against him, he applies to Jerusalem the names of Sodom and Egypt.

[John Weaver] Because those two have always been known for their wickedness and their rebellion and being peculiarly the enemy of God. So the first answer is because Egypt is God's enemy. The second answer is this. was always a false reliance for Judah and for many Israelites. What do I mean when I say a false reliance or a false hope? Let me just read to you. You don't have to turn there, but let me just read 2 Kings 18 and verse 21. Listen to what the Word of God says. Now behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So as Pharaoh, king of Egypt, unto all men that trust upon him.

[John Weaver] You know what Israel did? Particularly Judah, the southern tribes. You know what they did? When God would judge the land and times got rough, they would flee into Egypt and stay there. In other words, the judgment was not there and so therefore They would flee there and depend upon Egypt. Many times they'd only fled into Egypt, but many times they depended upon Egypt, militarily speaking. Instead of trusting God, instead of repenting of their sins, they would hire the Egyptians for their protection and for their help. Now, what is God doing? God would not only destroy Egypt because Egypt historically is the enemy of God, but also because Egypt is a false god. and a false refuge and a false protection and all of those false refuges and protections must be destroyed if the people are going to return to God in repentance and faith.

[John Weaver] Let me just put it to you like this. Let me demonstrate it. When God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, you remember those in the book of Exodus? Do you realize that each plague was directed at a god of Egypt. God was knocking down the false gods. The last god was Pharaoh himself. He claimed to be a god. And Pharaoh, who claimed to be a god, could not even protect his own son, much less the sons and children of the people of Egypt. So every time God struck at Egypt. He was striking at a false God. Now let me tell you what God does. When God will bring us back to himself in repentance and faith, he not only takes care that we repent and believe, he also knocks out from under us the false props and the false hopes and the false refuges. And thus Egypt had to be destroyed. What God will do is he will remove any obstacle that hinders true repentance and true turning to him. Now, how does God destroy nations?

[John Weaver] I'm going to give you five ways, but only one each week. Today, I want you to understand that God will destroy a nation religiously. And I find this very interesting. The very first thing that God does in the destruction of the nation is he destroys their religion. Let me show you. Look in verse one, Isaiah 19, the burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord writes upon a swift cloud and shall come into Egypt and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. Skip down to verse three. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the council thereof. And they shall seek to the idols and to the charmers and to them that have familiar spirits and to the wizards. Now, notice that particularly in verse one, that the idols of Egypt shall be moved at its presence. In verse three says they shall seek the idols and the charmers and to them that have familiar spirits and to wizards.

[John Weaver] In other words, when God comes into a land to destroy it, His very first act is to destroy it religiously. Now I want you to look in verse 1 at what God says. The burden of Egypt, behold the Lord riding upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved in His presence. Look, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof. The heart Is there a center of one's being and existence? When the heart ceases, so does the individual.

[John Weaver] The same is true of a nation. When the heart of a nation ceases, so does the nation. To attack the heart is a death-dealing blow. So God comes in a death-dealing blow to destroy Egypt. When nations turn from God, They do so to their own destruction. Listen to Psalm 9 verse 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God. Now listen, the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, people. Don't think just for a moment of that last eternal judgment. I want you to think also of temporal judgments in time and history. When he says the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, that means you can live in a nation in time and in history and it be a living hell on earth. That's why I said in verse three of Isaiah 19, the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof. He also adds. In verse three, look at it, and I will destroy the council thereof.

[John Weaver] Have you ever pondered this question? What does it mean when God destroys the counsel of an individual, or what does it mean when God destroys the counsel of a nation? It means that God is destroying what is usually referred to as good advice, common sense, that which is sagacious, wise, and good. Proverbs 11 and verse 14 tells us, where no counsel is, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

[John Weaver] Now listen to what he said. Where no counsel is, the people fall. Where there is no common sense, where there is no good advice, where there is no wise, sagacious reasoning, the people fall. Proverbs 24 and verse 6 also tells us, For by wise counsel thou shalt make war. And in the multitude of counselors there is safety. So when God says, I'm going to destroy the counsel of a nation, God says, I'm going to destroy her good advice and common sense. Listen carefully. When God takes away counsel, he takes away truth. And when he takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. Thus God says in verse 3, and look at it, And the spirit of Egypt shall fail to the midst thereof, And I will destroy the counsel thereof. So when God destroys the counsel, the wise, good advice and common sense, what's going to happen?

[John Weaver] And they shall seek to the idols and to the charmers and to them that have familiar spirits and to wizards. Let me ask you a question. Where did King Saul turn when God departed from him? The Witch of Endor. You see, when God takes away his truth, the only thing that is left is error. We have failed to grasp a simple principle. Listen carefully. Do you know why people believe a lie? There's my question. Do you know why people believe a lie? It is not simply because they do not have the truth. It's because they do not want the truth. Look in your Bible, whole Isaiah 19, but turn to Romans chapter 1. Here's the passage everyone is familiar with. But I want you to see it in light of what I've just said. The reason people believe a lie is not just simply because they do not have the truth, but because they do not want the truth. Look in Romans 1 beginning there with verse 21. Romans 1 verse 21.

[John Weaver] Because that when they knew God, They glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imagination, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, For even for their women did change the natural use of that which is against nature."

[John Weaver] Skip down to verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are inconvenient.

[John Weaver] Now, notice what the Bible says. Because when they knew God, they what? Glorified Him not as God. Neither were they thankful, but they became vain, stupid in their foolish imagination, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image.

[John Weaver] Now look in verse 28. Then even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Hmm. Now the word retain is a very revealing word. The Greek word is the word echo. Which means to have, to hold, to own, and possess. Look at it. And even because they did not like to hold, own, or possess God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.

[John Weaver] In other words, it was not that they did not have the truth, they did not want the truth. and they refused to hold the knowledge of God in their minds, and therefore God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Do you realize there is a principle in the Bible that teaches that God is not mocked? But neither is God mocked, and another truth is that God will not allow His Word to be mocked.

[John Weaver] What am I talking about? Well, look in your Bibles to Mark chapter 4 and verses 23 through 25. And you're going to find a simple truth, and that is this. When people refuse and reject the Word of God, God removes it. God will not allow His Word to be mocked. God will not allow His Word to continue in the hands and in the minds of those who reject it. Look in Mark 4.

[John Weaver] beginning there with verse 23. He said, if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Here's something vitally important. You got ears, you better listen. And he said to them, take heed what you hear with what measure you meet, it shall be measured to you. Now watch. And to you that hear, what's going to happen? Shall more be given. But watch. For he that hath, to him shall be given, And he that hath not from him shall be taken, even that which he hath." What is God saying? God is saying, if you don't use My truth, you will lose it. I will take it from you. God will not be mocked, and God will not allow His Word to be mocked either. Thus, when Israel turned her back upon God's truth, God removed His truth from Israel.

[John Weaver] How did he do that? Let me just tell you. There are two things that you need to observe as you read through the Bible. When God curses a people, he will either do one of two things. He will either, number one, remove his prophets from the land, the way he did Elijah. You remember that? For three and a half years, Elijah was in Serapheth with a widow woman. He was not in the land. God just simply removed Elijah out of the land. So there was no word from God. Or secondly, God can do as he did in the case of Jeremiah. He left Jeremiah in the land. He just told Jeremiah, pray not for this people.

[John Weaver] And whatever you tell them, you tell them I'm going to destroy them because that's exactly what I'm going to do. So in one instance, God removed his prophets. In another instance, he left them in the land. He just shut their mouths so they would not pray and intercede for the people for their good. And so they would not preach any reconciling words. The only words they preach were the words of judgment.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. Let me show it to you. 2 Chronicles 36. And let's begin reading there with verse 15. Second Chronicles 36 and verse 15. Second Chronicles 36, verse 15. And the Lord God of their father sent to them by his messengers, rising up the times and sending because he had compassion on his people, on his dwelling place. Now, watch. Let's stop right there. When God has compassion on a people, what does he do?

[John Weaver] He sends them his preachers. He sends them his prophets to proclaim his word. That's what the scripture says. But look what happened in verse 16. But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his, that is God's words, and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people till there was no remedy. Watch. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with a sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young men or maiden, old men or him that stooped for age.

[John Weaver] He gave them all into his hand. Do you see what the Bible said? God had compassion and he sent his preachers. But what happened? They despised the preachers. They mocked the prophets. They despised God's word. Until what happened? Until the wrath of God arose against them. And God destroyed the people. God will always destroy those. Who refuse his words, who refuse his prophets, and usually before he judges the people, he'll either remove his preachers or silence them so that the judgment may be full.

[John Weaver] Turn in your Bibles if you would to Isaiah 66. Isaiah 66 Here's a passage that should absolutely horrify individuals. Look at Isaiah 66. And let's read verse three. Isaiah 66. In fact, let's begin reading the verse one, let me just show you the graciousness of God on the one hand and the judgment of God on the other hand. Isaiah 66, verse 1, Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

[John Weaver] Where is the house that you build unto me, and where is the place of my rest? Now look what God says, For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord. But to this man will I look. Even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Now watch. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man. Why? Because he's not obeying God. Watch.

[John Weaver] He that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a dog's neck. He that offereth an oblation as if he offered swine's blood. He that burned incense as if he blessed an idol. Why? Yea, they have chosen their own ways and their soul delights in their abominations.

[John Weaver] Now, look what God says, I also will choose their delusions and will bring their fears upon them, because when I called, none did answer. When I spake, they did not hear, but they did evil before my eyes and chose that in which I delighted not. Did you hear what God said? God said, because you refused my words, Because you would not listen to me, you would have none of my truth. I will also choose your delusions. Now, let me ask you, what is God saying? I'm going to show it to you in the New Testament in just a moment, because the same truth is reiterated there. Here's what God is saying. God is saying, when you do not receive my word, when you do not believe my word and will not have my word and will not obey my word, I will send you a delusion. I'll send you a lie and you'll believe the lie. Now, here's my question. Why would God send the people a lie? Why would God allow a nation to believe a lie?

[John Weaver] Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to second Thessalonians chapter two. 2 Thessalonians 2. And we'll begin reading with verse 10. Here is why God will send a lie. Watch carefully. 2 Thessalonians 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Notice this phrase. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."

[John Weaver] So we're talking about people who are dying lost, dying undone, dying in their sins, dying in their rebellion. Watch. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. That is, they would not have anything to do with God. They would not have anything to do with His Word. They would not repent. They would not believe. Watch verse 11. And for this cause, because they reject God and His Word, and for this cause, God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Why? That they all might be damned who believe not the truth. but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Wow. What does God say? When you refuse my word, when you reject me, I'll send you a strong delusion and you'll believe a lie. And you'll believe a lie to your own damnation because you received not my truth.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, folks. We look around our nation. We look in our churches, and we wonder why there are so many who are deceived, ignorant, apathetic, uninterested, neglectful, and downright resistant to anything that is right, holy, just, and scriptural. I'm going to tell you why. It's because God has sent them a strong delusion. that they should believe a lie. Because they've refused and rejected the word of God. Let me tell you where we are in this country.

[John Weaver] And then I want to show you very quickly where we've come from. We're now living in a day of political correctness. We're living in a day of tolerance. By the way, the age of tolerance is an age where you become tolerant of any and everything until that which is wicked takes control and then there will be a new intolerance, you see. But we're living in this politically tolerant correct stage and we're being taught it really does not matter what anyone believes.

[John Weaver] That all religions are equal. Ecumenism, political correctness, has a leveling effect in religion. Let me explain it. To the politically correct demagogues, it means this, that Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Christianity are all equally true. and all equally lead to heaven and salvation. All religions, according to the politically correct crowd, according to the ecumenism, all religions lead to salvation, and therefore all religions are valid And none can claim superiority or exclusivity. And if you claim to have an exclusive religion, like Christianity, then you are politically incorrect and you are intolerant.

[John Weaver] And you must be dealt with. Now, folks, that is where we are in our land today. That is why you find Islam on the rampage in this country. That's why every cult, every ism, every schism imaginable is granted all kinds of political blessing and biblical Christianity is hated and despised. Do you realize in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was being signed, Samuel Adams said this, We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient.

[John Weaver] He reigns in heaven, and from the rising to the setting sun, let His kingdom come." What was Sam Adams saying? We are recognizing our Savior, Jesus Christ, as the Sovereign God of heaven and earth. He has the right to rule in this land. He has the right to rule in every land, and we need to say, let His kingdom Now, when our founding fathers used the word religion, it did not refer to all religions.

[John Weaver] It was not referring to Judaism. It was not referring to Islam. It was not referring to Shintoism or Buddhism. When they used the word religion, they were referring to Christianity. Listen to what President John Adams said on October 11, 1798. Listen. We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion or Christianity. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. What was he saying? Our Constitution was made for a Christian people, a people who were going to abide by the law of God. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

[John Weaver] Do you realize our founding fathers took this sentiment that we must be pinned together either by the Bible or the bayonet? In 1983, Alabama courts in the case of Jaffrey versus the Board of School Commissioner of Mogul County, Judge Brevard Hand quoted from the United States Supreme Court where Justice Story gave this succinct definition of the First Amendment. When we read that Congress shall have no power to establish a religion, here's what Brevard Hand quoting from Justice Story said, the First The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity by prostrating Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian denominations

[John Weaver] and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government. What did he just say? He just got out of his mouth that this was to be a Christian nation. And when it says that Congress shall not establish a religion, all that means is it cannot make the Baptists the established religion. It cannot make the Presbyterians or the Lutherans the established religion. It was not to prostrate Christianity and elevate Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity. No, no, no. All it was to say was no denomination of Christianity would have superiority over the other. And Congress had no right to elevate the Baptists or the Presbyterians or the Lutherans, and that's it. Now, what has happened in our nation? Are you listening?

[John Weaver] We have been destroyed religiously. We were once a Christian nation with Christian law, Christian ethics and Christian morals based upon the Word of God. Do you realize when our country was formed that each state not only believed the Bible, but each state had laws requiring every ruler to believe in Jesus Christ and to believe in the inspiration of the Bible. Every state, every colony, Each state believed that Christianity was the true religion and each state believed that Christianity was to be the law of the land. Now what has happened? We have turned from the foundation of our founding fathers and we have become a multicultural, multi-religion, multi-nightmare society with no morals, no ethics, no direction, and no hope.

[John Weaver] Psalm 11, verse 3 asks a simple question. What can the righteous do if the foundations be destroyed? And may I tell you folks, the foundations have been destroyed in our country. and they're continuing to be destroyed. When God would judge Israel, He allowed her to degenerate into religions. Well, all you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 12. What did Jeroboam's son Nebat do? He made him two golden calves, put one in Dan, one in Bethel, and he said, These be thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

[John Weaver] You don't have to go down to Jerusalem. You just worship right here in Dan and Bethel. He started a new religion. And Judah fell into the same trap. All you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 11, where Solomon introduced idolatry into the land and built altars to all these false gods. We have degenerated in this country to a land of religions instead of a land of Christianity. The breakdown and destruction of Christianity in America can be viewed as nothing less than the judgment of God upon America. When God destroys a nation, he first destroys that which unifies. that supports the nation, and that's her religion. And that which initially unified and supported these states that joined together in that compact was biblical Christianity. And the reason he destroys the religion first is because it is pagan, idolatrous, and an affront to his majesty.

[John Weaver] What did he say in Isaiah 42? My glory I will not share with another, nor give my praise to graven images. And all of our multi-religions are an affront to his majesty.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just try to conclude this today by asking and answering two questions. How can we tell when a nation is being judged religiously?

[John Weaver] Now that's what God did to Egypt. How can we tell when a nation is being judged religiously? Well, the answer is simple. There's a two-pronged test. The first test is this. What is a nation's basis for truth? What is a nation's basis for truth? Let me ask you, what is our nation's basis or foundation for truth? Is it the Word of God, or is it political correctness? Is it God, or is it the Supreme Court? Is it God, or is it the legislature? Is it the rule of God, or is it the rule of man? If the basis for truth and righteousness is not the Word of God, Well, instead of me just saying it, turn in your Bibles, Jeremiah 7 and look at verse 28. Let God say it. Jeremiah 7, verse 28. The first test is you've got to ask, what is the basis? What is the basis? Of a name, what is the nation's basis for truth? Look in Jeremiah 7, verse 28. If it is not the word of God, here's what God says that we're to say.

[John Weaver] He tells Jeremiah, but thou shalt say to them, this is a nation that obeyed not the voice of the Lord, their God, nor received correction. Truth is perished and is cut off from their mouth. Isn't that amazing? God said, if you reject my word, you have no truth. You know why we're in the mess we're in in America? We don't have truth. We do not have truth. We have rejected it. We've turned from it.

[John Weaver] I've told people I could work out these problems we have in a heartbeat. Every problem has a solution, folks. I never have any problem with problems. Problems can be resolved. Problems can be fixed. Problems can be worked out. I never have a problem with problems, I only have a problem with people. If people are willing to do what's right, then the problem will be worked out. And the reason we're having the problems is there's no basis for truth, the government doesn't know the truth, and the people don't want the truth. So God says, if my word is not your basis, then you're humanist. And truth is perished and cut off from their mouth. And that's why you don't obey me.

[John Weaver] Now the second test is equally simple, and I've already hit upon it, but I'm going to say it plainly. Are the people concerned whether or not they really have truth? We're talking about a two-pronged test. The first one was, what is the nation's basis for truth? The second one is, are the people genuinely concerned whether or not they have the truth? Do the people of a nation genuinely express a concern to do right and to be right and believe right?

[John Weaver] If not, look at Jeremiah 5 and verse 31 and you have your answer. Jeremiah 5 verse 31. Look at it. Jeremiah 5 verse 31, God says, The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so. And what will you do in the end thereof? God says, You will like it right now, but wait till judgment falls. Then you'll wish you had the truth and you listen to the truth.

[John Weaver] You know, it is so frustrating. And I think of Jeremiah so many times, the weaving prophet who preached to a people who would not listen. They normally would not repent. They would not listen. And it's so frustrating when you see people so deep in problems and a nation so corrupt when you know what the answer is. But none will listen. And they love to have it that way.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn to one last passage, look in Second Kings 17, you talk about a picture of America. Here it is, go to Second Kings 17. Remember now, we like to profess that we're a Christian nation. We like to say that we're a Christian people. Well, In 2 Kings chapter 17, the king of Assyria had conquered Israel. He removed the people from the land and he put a bunch of other folks there.

[John Weaver] And so here's what happens. Verse 26. 2 Kings 17 verse 26. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land. Therefore, he sent lions among them, and behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land." So, you know, God's not sovereign to them. He's a little local God. Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, carry thither one of the priests whom you brought from Thessalonica. Let them go there and let them teach them the manner of the God of the land. And one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. Now remember, Bethel is where one of the golden calves was. So he's not really teaching the truth. He's teaching how they worship the golden calf. Now watch. So verse 28. Then one of the priests, whom they had carried away from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

[John Weaver] How he had every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places, which the Samaritans had made every nation in their cities where they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succoth, Benoth, and the men of Kuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Eshema, and the Avites made Nimhaz and Tartac, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anamelech, the gods of Sepharvon. So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the Lord, and served their own gods after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

[John Weaver] Unto this day they do after the former manners. They fear not the Lord, Neither do they after their statutes or after their ordinances or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob whom he named Israel. What did they do? They said we fear the Lord. But what did they do? They made their own idols and worshipped and served them. We like to profess that we are a Christian land and we are a Christian nation and yet We don't care one whit about God's word or God's law or what God says. We live and act as a nation and worship as a nation as the heathen. God judges nations. And the first way he judges them is religiously.

[John Weaver] And when God removes His truth, the only thing left is a lie. And when people believe a lie, they're doomed and damned. Our Lord Himself said, You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. If you do not know Jesus Christ, you do not know truth. And if you do not know the Word of God, you do not know truth. For He is the living Word, and the Bible is the written Word, and God, the God of Scripture, is the God of truth. Let's pray. Father, we are so thankful today for Jesus Christ. We're so thankful for Your truth, Lord. And Lord, no matter what the world does, no matter what every other person in America does, Lord, I want you and I want your word. We as a church want you and we want your word. And we want to be governed by your law. And we want to submit ourselves to thee and walk in obedience and bring honor and glory and majesty to the one true and living God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] O Lord, help us to be biblical. Help us to be godly. Help us to honor thee. And help us, Lord, at all times to hold to Thy truth without compromise, without fear of man. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.

How God Destroys Nations - Part 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	5405981
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation: Witness, Judgment, and the Throne
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-05-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 051: How God Destroys Nations — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Opening

All right, let's open our Bibles today to Isaiah chapter 19. Isaiah chapter 19. And we're going to read the first 17 verses. Isaiah chapter 19. I'm going to begin a short series today. I know there's going to be at least five messages. Probably that will be all, unless I have to end up with a concluding message or two. But the series is entitled "How God Destroys Nations." How God Destroys Nations. So look in Isaiah 19, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 19:1-17

"The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." "And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up." "The reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish." "Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt." "Every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction."

I went ahead and read verse 18, but verse 17 is where we were to end.

Introduction: Cataclysmic vs. Slow Judgment

Weaver explains that while God sometimes judges cataclysmically (e.g., the Flood, Sodom), most judgments are slow and imperceptible, yet still destructive.

Now, remember, this series is entitled "How God Destroys Nations." All I need to do is mention the word judgment. When we hear the word judgment, each one of us automatically thinks cataclysmically. Now, when I use that word, we understand exactly what it means, because if something does not happen cataclysmically, most often people do not associate it with judgment. In other words, when something happens slowly, or what you and I would call naturally, we tend to label all such acts and all such things as mother nature, luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Why, when you talk about judgment, everyone knows that when God judges, that God judges cataclysmically. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles—hold Isaiah 19, we're coming right back there—but look in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. Let me show you something that probably most of you did not know, and hopefully I will be able to show it to you. Notice in 2 Peter 2 and verse 5 what the Bible says. 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. The Bible says, talking about God—in fact, let's read verse 4 just so you can see it's judgment:

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:4-6

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."

So we're talking about judgment. Now watch verse 5.

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:4-6

"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly."

Now, just stop right there for a moment. Each one of us knows that God brought a cataclysmic judgment upon the old world. There was a time when Noah stopped preaching and God opened the windows of heaven and opened the fountains of the deep and He brought the flood. The interesting thing is in verse 5 of 2 Peter chapter 2, the word "flood" in the Greek is kataklusmon. It is where we get our English word cataclysmic. So here was a cataclysmic flood. So Noah preached until one day there was a giant cataclysm, so to speak, and God brought the flood upon those individuals.

Now, of course, the same truth is given us in verse six concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. When God had brought just Lot safely out of the city, look in verse six, the Bible says, "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." So just as God brought Lot out of the city and his family, God then rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain and destroyed them all cataclysmically. When you and I think of some of the preeminent judgments in the Bible, we think of such things as the destruction of the 400 prophets of Baal by Elijah, which was done in one day. We think of the smiting of Herod in Acts chapter 12, which was done instantly. We think of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. And we say, my, all of those were cataclysmic judgments. And that is true. God does sometimes judge in a cataclysmic manner. But that does not mean that God judges all of the time in a cataclysmic manner.

The scripture does teach us in 2 Peter 2 and verse 6 that the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was to be an example to all of those that should hereafter live ungodly. However, that does not mean that every future judgment will be cataclysmic. What it does mean is that those who live ungodly shall be destroyed. It does not necessarily mean that they have to be destroyed cataclysmically. So here's what I'm trying to teach you right now. God is not and cannot be limited to cataclysmic judgments. He may judge in a manner that produces destruction and death very slowly. Each of us understand that death is death and destruction is destruction. And it really does not matter whether one dies quickly or whether one dies slowly, he's still dead. And it really does not matter whether a nation is destroyed quickly or slowly, it is still destroyed. We do not normally think of judgment in a slow terminology. We are prone to thinking cataclysmically, and yet the truth of the matter is this, that most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments.

Biblical Examples of Slow Judgment

Adam's death over 930 years, Saul's 20-year reign after judgment, and Ahab's delayed death illustrate slow divine judgment.

Do you remember when Adam sinned, what did God tell him? "In dying thou shalt die." Do you realize that Adam lived 930 years, but he was still judged by God? And "in dying, shalt thou die." In other words, his death was a slow death. King Saul was judged by God, and yet he still continued to reign another 20 years. So his judgment was a slow judgment. And you remember how wicked Ahab was. And although God decreed the death of Ahab, Ahab was not smitten instantly. He died later on. So the principle I'm trying to show you is this, that when God judges, He may either do so cataclysmically or He may do so slowly, but surely, yet it is equally God's judgment.

The Principle of Slow Judgment in Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42:22-25 describes Israel being robbed and burned slowly, yet not perceiving it, like a frog boiled gradually.

I want you to look in your Bibles to Isaiah 42. Here's a principle. And look at this very closely, Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. Let me show you the principle of a slow judgment. Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading with verse 22. Look what God says concerning His people. Isaiah 42 and verse 22:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:22-25

"But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes."

"They are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?" Now watch this question. "Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart."

Now I want you to note, if you would closely, this phrase: "Yet it burned him." Verse 25: "Yet he laid it not to heart." Note what he says, "it set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not." What does that mean? What does that indicate? It indicates what you and I would call a slow judgment. Whenever you read this passage and you see the words "robbed and spoiled," "snared in holes," "hidden in prisons," "for a spoil," "fury poured out"—all of these things indicate a slow judgment. And yet, when you read these phrases, "yet he knew it not." In other words, it is something that happens slowly and imperceptibly, yet it did happen. "It burned him, and yet he laid it not to heart."

Now, everyone in this room knows the illustration of boiling a frog in water. You can take that boiling pot of water and pitch a bullfrog in, and guess what? He will instantly and immediately jump out. But yet you can put that same frog in a bowl of water and heat it very slowly, almost imperceptibly, and he'll sit there until he's cooked to death. You know, we are like that in America. In fact, people everywhere are like that.

Why Egypt Must Be Destroyed

Egypt is God's historical enemy and a false reliance for Judah, so God removes false refuges to bring repentance.

Now you've got to ask yourself a question right away. Why in the world must Egypt be destroyed? Because incidentally, it's not just Egypt, but many nations that God has destroyed over a period of years. But ask yourself this question, since we're looking in Isaiah 19, why must Egypt be destroyed? Well, let me give you two answers. First of all, Egypt historically has always been the enemy of God and the enemy of God's people. You must remember it was Egypt that defied God, enslaved His people, and resisted all demands to release Israel. When Moses went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go," what was Pharaoh's response? "I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." So historically, Egypt has always been the enemy of God's people. And incidentally, in Revelation chapter 11 and verse 8, you don't have to turn there, but when God is describing the wickedness of Judah and Jerusalem, in their corruption and their rebellion against Him, He applies to Jerusalem the names of Sodom and Egypt.

Because those two have always been known for their wickedness and their rebellion and being peculiarly the enemy of God. So the first answer is because Egypt is God's enemy. The second answer is this: Egypt was always a false reliance for Judah and for many Israelites. What do I mean when I say a false reliance or a false hope? Let me just read to you. You don't have to turn there, but let me just read 2 Kings 18 and verse 21. Listen to what the Word of God says: "Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him."

You know what Israel did? Particularly Judah, the southern tribes. You know what they did? When God would judge the land and times got rough, they would flee into Egypt and stay there. In other words, the judgment was not there and so therefore they would flee there and depend upon Egypt. Many times they'd not only fled into Egypt, but many times they depended upon Egypt, militarily speaking. Instead of trusting God, instead of repenting of their sins, they would hire the Egyptians for their protection and for their help. Now, what is God doing? God would not only destroy Egypt because Egypt historically is the enemy of God, but also because Egypt is a false god and a false refuge and a false protection, and all of those false refuges and protections must be destroyed if the people are going to return to God in repentance and faith.

Let me just put it to you like this. Let me demonstrate it. When God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, you remember those in the book of Exodus? Do you realize that each plague was directed at a god of Egypt? God was knocking down the false gods. The last god was Pharaoh himself. He claimed to be a god. And Pharaoh, who claimed to be a god, could not even protect his own son, much less the sons and children of the people of Egypt. So every time God struck at Egypt, He was striking at a false god. Now let me tell you what God does. When God will bring us back to Himself in repentance and faith, He not only takes care that we repent and believe, He also knocks out from under us the false props and the false hopes and the false refuges. And thus Egypt had to be destroyed. What God will do is He will remove any obstacle that hinders true repentance and true turning to Him. Now, how does God destroy nations?

God Destroys a Nation Religiously First

Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God attacking Egypt's idols and counsel, destroying its religious foundation as the first step of judgment.

I'm going to give you five ways, but only one each week. Today, I want you to understand that God will destroy a nation religiously. And I find this very interesting. The very first thing that God does in the destruction of the nation is He destroys their religion. Let me show you. Look in verse one, Isaiah 19: "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." Skip down to verse three: "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." Now, notice that particularly in verse one, that "the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence." In verse three it says "they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."

In other words, when God comes into a land to destroy it, His very first act is to destroy it religiously. Now I want you to look in verse 1 at what God says. "The burden of Egypt, behold the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence." Look, "and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof." The heart is the center of one's being and existence. When the heart ceases, so does the individual. The same is true of a nation. When the heart of a nation ceases, so does the nation. To attack the heart is a death-dealing blow. So God comes in a death-dealing blow to destroy Egypt. When nations turn from God, they do so to their own destruction. Listen to Psalm 9 verse 17: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Now listen, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Let me tell you something, people. Don't think just for a moment of that last eternal judgment. I want you to think also of temporal judgments in time and history. When he says "the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell," that means you can live in a nation in time and in history and it be a living hell on earth. That's why I said in verse three of Isaiah 19, "the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof." He also adds, in verse three, look at it, "and I will destroy the counsel thereof." Have you ever pondered this question? What does it mean when God destroys the counsel of an individual, or what does it mean when God destroys the counsel of a nation? It means that God is destroying what is usually referred to as good advice, common sense, that which is sagacious, wise, and good. Proverbs 11 and verse 14 tells us, "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."

The Consequence of Rejecting Truth

When God removes truth, people turn to lies (idols, charmers, wizards). Romans 1 and 2 Thessalonians 2 show God sends delusion to those who reject His Word.

Now listen to what he said.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 11:14

"Where no counsel is, the people fall."

Where there is no common sense, where there is no good advice, where there is no wise, sagacious reasoning, the people fall. Proverbs 24 and verse 6 also tells us, "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety." So when God says, "I'm going to destroy the counsel of a nation," God says, "I'm going to destroy her good advice and common sense." Listen carefully. When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. Thus God says in verse 3, and look at it, "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the counsel thereof." So when God destroys the counsel, the wise, good advice and common sense, what's going to happen?

"And they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." Let me ask you a question. Where did King Saul turn when God departed from him? The Witch of Endor. You see, when God takes away His truth, the only thing that is left is error. We have failed to grasp a simple principle. Listen carefully. Do you know why people believe a lie? There's my question. Do you know why people believe a lie? It is not simply because they do not have the truth. It's because they do not want the truth. Look in your Bible—hold Isaiah 19—but turn to Romans chapter 1. Here's the passage everyone is familiar with. But I want you to see it in light of what I've just said. The reason people believe a lie is not just simply because they do not have the truth, but because they do not want the truth. Look in Romans 1 beginning there with verse 21. Romans 1 verse 21.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." Skip down to verse 28: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient."

Now, notice what the Bible says. "Because that, when they knew God, they" what? "Glorified him not as God." Neither were they thankful, but they became vain, stupid in their foolish imagination, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image. Now look in verse 28. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge." Hmm. Now the word "retain" is a very revealing word. The Greek word is the word echo, which means to have, to hold, to own, and possess. Look at it. "And even as they did not like to hold, own, or possess God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind."

In other words, it was not that they did not have the truth, they did not want the truth. And they refused to hold the knowledge of God in their minds, and therefore God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Do you realize there is a principle in the Bible that teaches that God is not mocked? But neither is God mocked, and another truth is that God will not allow His Word to be mocked. What am I talking about? Well, look in your Bibles to Mark chapter 4 and verses 23 through 25. And you're going to find a simple truth, and that is this. When people refuse and reject the Word of God, God removes it. God will not allow His Word to be mocked. God will not allow His Word to continue in the hands and in the minds of those who reject it. Look in Mark 4.

Beginning there with verse 23. He said, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." Here's something vitally important. You got ears, you better listen. "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you." Now watch. "And unto you that hear"—what's going to happen?—"shall more be given." But watch. "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." What is God saying? God is saying, if you don't use My truth, you will lose it. I will take it from you. God will not be mocked, and God will not allow His Word to be mocked either. Thus, when Israel turned her back upon God's truth, God removed His truth from Israel.

How did He do that? Let me just tell you. There are two things that you need to observe as you read through the Bible. When God curses a people, He will either do one of two things. He will either, number one, remove His prophets from the land, the way He did Elijah. You remember that? For three and a half years, Elijah was in Zarephath with a widow woman. He was not in the land. God just simply removed Elijah out of the land. So there was no word from God. Or secondly, God can do as He did in the case of Jeremiah. He left Jeremiah in the land. He just told Jeremiah, "Pray not for this people."

And whatever you tell them, you tell them I'm going to destroy them because that's exactly what I'm going to do. So in one instance, God removed His prophets. In another instance, He left them in the land. He just shut their mouths so they would not pray and intercede for the people for their good. And so they would not preach any reconciling words. The only words they preached were the words of judgment.

Now, look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. Let me show it to you. 2 Chronicles 36. And let's begin reading there with verse 15. 2 Chronicles 36 and verse 15. "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." Now, watch. Let's stop right there. When God has compassion on a people, what does He do?

He sends them His preachers. He sends them His prophets to proclaim His word. That's what the scripture says. But look what happened in verse 16: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age." "He gave them all into his hand." Do you see what the Bible said? God had compassion and He sent His preachers. But what happened? They despised the preachers. They mocked the prophets. They despised God's word. Until what happened? Until the wrath of God arose against them. And God destroyed the people. God will always destroy those who refuse His words, who refuse His prophets, and usually before He judges the people, He'll either remove His preachers or silence them so that the judgment may be full.

Turn in your Bibles if you would to Isaiah 66. Isaiah 66. Here's a passage that should absolutely horrify individuals. Look at Isaiah 66. And let's read verse 3. Isaiah 66. In fact, let's begin reading in verse 1, let me just show you the graciousness of God on the one hand and the judgment of God on the other hand. Isaiah 66, verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."

"Where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Now watch. "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man." Why? Because he's not obeying God. Watch. "He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations."

Now, look what God says: "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." Did you hear what God said? God said, "Because you refused my words, because you would not listen to me, you would have none of my truth, I also will choose your delusions." Now, let me ask you, what is God saying? I'm going to show it to you in the New Testament in just a moment, because the same truth is reiterated there. Here's what God is saying. God is saying, when you do not receive my word, when you do not believe my word and will not have my word and will not obey my word, I will send you a delusion. I'll send you a lie and you'll believe the lie. Now, here's my question. Why would God send the people a lie? Why would God allow a nation to believe a lie?

Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. And we'll begin reading with verse 10. Here is why God will send a lie. Watch carefully. 2 Thessalonians 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." Notice this phrase. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 10: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."

So we're talking about people who are dying lost, dying undone, dying in their sins, dying in their rebellion. Watch. "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." That is, they would not have anything to do with God. They would not have anything to do with His Word. They would not repent. They would not believe. Watch verse 11: "And for this cause"—because they reject God and His Word—"and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Wow. What does God say? When you refuse my word, when you reject me, I'll send you a strong delusion and you'll believe a lie. And you'll believe a lie to your own damnation because you received not my truth.

Let me tell you something, folks. We look around our nation. We look in our churches, and we wonder why there are so many who are deceived, ignorant, apathetic, uninterested, neglectful, and downright resistant to anything that is right, holy, just, and scriptural. I'm going to tell you why. It's because God has sent them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Because they've refused and rejected the word of God. Let me tell you where we are in this country.

America's Religious Destruction

America has abandoned its Christian foundation for political correctness and pluralism, fulfilling the pattern of religious judgment seen in Israel.

And then I want to show you very quickly where we've come from. We're now living in a day of political correctness. We're living in a day of tolerance. By the way, the age of tolerance is an age where you become tolerant of any and everything until that which is wicked takes control and then there will be a new intolerance, you see. But we're living in this politically tolerant correct stage and we're being taught it really does not matter what anyone believes. That all religions are equal. Ecumenism, political correctness, has a leveling effect in religion. Let me explain it. To the politically correct demagogues, it means this, that Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Christianity are all equally true and all equally lead to heaven and salvation. All religions, according to the politically correct crowd, according to the ecumenism, all religions lead to salvation, and therefore all religions are valid and none can claim superiority or exclusivity. And if you claim to have an exclusive religion, like Christianity, then you are politically incorrect and you are intolerant.

And you must be dealt with. Now, folks, that is where we are in our land today. That is why you find Islam on the rampage in this country. That's why every cult, every ism, every schism imaginable is granted all kinds of political blessing and biblical Christianity is hated and despised. Do you realize in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was being signed, Samuel Adams said this: "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient." "He reigns in heaven, and from the rising to the setting sun, let His kingdom come." What was Sam Adams saying? We are recognizing our Savior, Jesus Christ, as the Sovereign God of heaven and earth. He has the right to rule in this land. He has the right to rule in every land, and we need to say, "let His kingdom come." Now, when our founding fathers used the word "religion," it did not refer to all religions.

It was not referring to Judaism. It was not referring to Islam. It was not referring to Shintoism or Buddhism. When they used the word "religion," they were referring to Christianity. Listen to what President John Adams said on October 11, 1798. Listen. "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion or Christianity. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." What was he saying? Our Constitution was made for a Christian people, a people who were going to abide by the law of God. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

Do you realize our founding fathers took this sentiment that we must be pinned together either by the Bible or the bayonet? In 1983, Alabama courts in the case of Jaffree versus the Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, Judge Brevard Hand quoted from the United States Supreme Court where Justice Story gave this succinct definition of the First Amendment. When we read that Congress shall have no power to establish a religion, here's what Brevard Hand quoting from Justice Story said: "The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity by prostrating Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian denominations" "and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government." What did he just say? He just got out of his mouth that this was to be a Christian nation. And when it says that Congress shall not establish a religion, all that means is it cannot make the Baptists the established religion. It cannot make the Presbyterians or the Lutherans the established religion. It was not to prostrate Christianity and elevate Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity. No, no, no. All it was to say was no denomination of Christianity would have superiority over the other. And Congress had no right to elevate the Baptists or the Presbyterians or the Lutherans, and that's it. Now, what has happened in our nation? Are you listening?

We have been destroyed religiously. We were once a Christian nation with Christian law, Christian ethics and Christian morals based upon the Word of God. Do you realize when our country was formed that each state not only believed the Bible, but each state had laws requiring every ruler to believe in Jesus Christ and to believe in the inspiration of the Bible. Every state, every colony. Each state believed that Christianity was the true religion and each state believed that Christianity was to be the law of the land. Now what has happened? We have turned from the foundation of our founding fathers and we have become a multicultural, multi-religion, multi-nightmare society with no morals, no ethics, no direction, and no hope.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12

Psalm 11, verse 3 asks a simple question: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" And may I tell you folks, the foundations have been destroyed in our country. And they're continuing to be destroyed. When God would judge Israel, He allowed her to degenerate into religions. Well, all you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 12. What did Jeroboam the son of Nebat do? He made him two golden calves, put one in Dan, one in Bethel, and he said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." "You don't have to go down to Jerusalem. You just worship right here in Dan and Bethel." He started a new religion. And Judah fell into the same trap. All you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 11, where Solomon introduced idolatry into the land and built altars to all these false gods. We have degenerated in this country to a land of religions instead of a land of Christianity. The breakdown and destruction of Christianity in America can be viewed as nothing less than the judgment of God upon America. When God destroys a nation, He first destroys that which unifies, that which supports the nation, and that's her religion. And that which initially unified and supported these states that joined together in that compact was biblical Christianity. And the reason He destroys the religion first is because it is pagan, idolatrous, and an affront to His majesty.

Two Tests of Religious Judgment

A nation is judged religiously when its basis for truth is not God's Word and when people do not care about having truth (Jeremiah 7:28; 5:31).

Now that's what God did to Egypt. How can we tell when a nation is being judged religiously? Well, the answer is simple. There's a two-pronged test. The first test is this: What is a nation's basis for truth? What is a nation's basis for truth? Let me ask you, what is our nation's basis or foundation for truth? Is it the Word of God, or is it political correctness? Is it God, or is it the Supreme Court? Is it God, or is it the legislature? Is it the rule of God, or is it the rule of man? If the basis for truth and righteousness is not the Word of God—well, instead of me just saying it, turn in your Bibles, Jeremiah 7 and look at verse 28. Let God say it. Jeremiah 7, verse 28. The first test is you've got to ask, what is the basis? What is the basis of a nation? What is the nation's basis for truth? Look in Jeremiah 7, verse 28. If it is not the word of God, here's what God says that we're to say.

He tells Jeremiah, "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth." Isn't that amazing? God said, if you reject my word, you have no truth. You know why we're in the mess we're in in America? We don't have truth. We do not have truth. We have rejected it. We've turned from it.

I've told people I could work out these problems we have in a heartbeat. Every problem has a solution, folks. I never have any problem with problems. Problems can be resolved. Problems can be fixed. Problems can be worked out. I never have a problem with problems, I only have a problem with people. If people are willing to do what's right, then the problem will be worked out. And the reason we're having the problems is there's no basis for truth, the government doesn't know the truth, and the people don't want the truth. So God says, if my word is not your basis, then you're humanist. And truth is perished and cut off from their mouth. And that's why you don't obey me.

Now the second test is equally simple, and I've already hit upon it, but I'm going to say it plainly. Are the people concerned whether or not they really have truth? We're talking about a two-pronged test. The first one was, what is the nation's basis for truth? The second one is, are the people genuinely concerned whether or not they have the truth? Do the people of a nation genuinely express a concern to do right and to be right and believe right? If not, look at Jeremiah 5 and verse 31 and you have your answer. Jeremiah 5 verse 31. Look at it. Jeremiah 5 verse 31, God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 5:31

"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

God says, you will like it right now, but wait till judgment falls. Then you'll wish you had the truth and you listened to the truth.

Conclusion: A Call to Hold to Truth

Weaver urges the church to remain committed to God's Word and truth, rejecting the nation's pluralistic drift, and closes in prayer.

And when God removes His truth, the only thing left is a lie. And when people believe a lie, they're doomed and damned. Our Lord Himself said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." If you do not know Jesus Christ, you do not know truth. And if you do not know the Word of God, you do not know truth. For He is the living Word, and the Bible is the written Word, and God, the God of Scripture, is the God of truth. Let's pray. Father, we are so thankful today for Jesus Christ. We're so thankful for Your truth, Lord. And Lord, no matter what the world does, no matter what every other person in America does, Lord, I want You and I want Your word. We as a church want You and we want Your word. And we want to be governed by Your law. And we want to submit ourselves to Thee and walk in obedience and bring honor and glory and majesty to the one true and living God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.

O Lord, help us to be biblical. Help us to be godly. Help us to honor Thee. And help us, Lord, at all times to hold to Thy truth without compromise, without fear of man. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Slow Judgment

Summary: God's judgments are often gradual and imperceptible, not always cataclysmic, yet they result in complete destruction.

Evidence: Weaver cites Adam's 930-year life, Saul's 20-year reign after judgment, and the frog-in-boiling-water analogy to illustrate slow judgment.

Religious Destruction as First Judgment

Summary: When God judges a nation, He first destroys its religion by removing truth and sending delusion, leading to idolatry and error.

Evidence: Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God moving Egypt's idols and destroying its counsel; Romans 1 and 2 Thessalonians 2 describe God giving people over to lies.

Rejection of God's Word

Summary: A nation's rejection of biblical truth results in God removing His Word and prophets, leaving the people without counsel and vulnerable to deception.

Evidence: 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 shows God sending prophets whom the people mocked; Mark 4:23-25 teaches that those who reject truth lose even what they have.

America's Apostasy

Summary: America has abandoned its Christian heritage for pluralism and political correctness, evidencing religious judgment.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts the founding fathers' Christian convictions with modern tolerance of all religions, citing John Adams and Justice Story.

False Reliance and Idolatry

Summary: God destroys false refuges and idols to bring His people back to repentance and faith in Him alone.

Evidence: Egypt was a false reliance for Judah (2 Kings 18:21); God's plagues targeted Egypt's gods, culminating in Pharaoh's defeat.

Key Arguments

Judgment is not always cataclysmic

Summary: Most of God's judgments are slow and natural-looking, but they are still divine judgment leading to destruction.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments' and gives examples like Adam and Saul.

Religious judgment precedes national collapse

Summary: God first destroys a nation's religion—its idols, counsel, and truth—before other forms of judgment.

Evidence: Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God moving idols and destroying counsel; 'the heart of Egypt shall melt.'

Rejecting truth leads to believing a lie

Summary: When people refuse God's Word, He sends strong delusion so they believe falsehood and are damned.

Evidence: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says God sends delusion to those who did not love the truth.

America has been destroyed religiously

Summary: The nation has shifted from biblical Christianity to pluralism, evidencing God's judgment on its religious foundation.

Evidence: Weaver cites founding fathers' statements and contrasts them with modern ecumenism and political correctness.

Two tests reveal religious judgment

Summary: A nation is under religious judgment if its basis for truth is not God's Word and if people do not care about having truth.

Evidence: Jeremiah 7:28 says truth has perished; Jeremiah 5:31 says people love false prophets.

Scripture References

Isaiah 19:1-17

Context: Primary text for the sermon; describes God's burden against Egypt, including religious and economic judgment.

2 Peter 2:4-6

Context: Used to show cataclysmic judgments (angels, Flood, Sodom) as examples but not the only pattern.

Isaiah 42:22-25

Context: Illustrates slow judgment: Israel robbed, burned, yet not perceiving it.

Revelation 11:8

Context: Jerusalem spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, showing Egypt's symbolic wickedness.

2 Kings 18:21

Context: Egypt is a bruised reed; trusting it brings harm, showing it as a false reliance.

Psalm 9:17

Context: The wicked and nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, including temporal judgments.

Proverbs 11:14

Context: Where no counsel is, the people fall; used to explain destruction of counsel.

Proverbs 24:6

Context: By wise counsel you make war; safety in multitude of counselors.

Romans 1:21-28

Context: People knew God but rejected Him; God gave them over to a reprobate mind and vile affections.

Mark 4:23-25

Context: Take heed what you hear; to him who has, more will be given; from him who has not, even what he has will be taken.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16

Context: God sent prophets, but people mocked them until wrath came with no remedy.

Isaiah 66:1-4

Context: God will choose their delusions because they did not answer when He called.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Context: God sends strong delusion to those who did not love the truth, that they might be damned.

Psalm 11:3

Context: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

1 Kings 12

Context: Jeroboam set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, starting a false religion.

Isaiah 42:8

Context: God will not give His glory to another or praise to graven images.

Jeremiah 7:28

Context: Truth has perished and is cut off from their mouth because they did not obey God.

Jeremiah 5:31

Context: Prophets prophesy falsely, priests rule by their means, and people love to have it so.

2 Kings 17:26-34

Context: Samaritans feared the Lord but served their own gods, a picture of syncretism and false religion.

John 8:32

Context: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Historical References

Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD

Context: Mentioned as an example of a cataclysmic judgment.

Samuel Adams and the Declaration of Independence (1776)

Context: Adams declared the restoration of Christ as Sovereign; used to show America's Christian founding.

President John Adams (1798)

Context: Adams stated the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious (Christian) people.

Jaffree v. Board of School Commissioners (1983)

Context: Judge Brevard Hand quoted Justice Story on the First Amendment's intent to prevent rivalry among Christian denominations.

Founding Fathers' view of religion

Context: Weaver argues that 'religion' in early America meant Christianity, not all religions.

Important Quotes

most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments.

Significance: Central thesis that divine judgment is often gradual, not always cataclysmic.

When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood.

Significance: Explains the mechanism of religious judgment: removing truth leads to deception.

God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Significance: Key verse (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) showing God actively sends delusion as judgment.

We have been destroyed religiously.

Significance: Direct application to America, asserting the nation is under religious judgment.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Significance: Psalm 11:3 quoted to emphasize the severity of America's moral and religious collapse.

They feared the Lord, and served their own gods.

Significance: 2 Kings 17:33 used to illustrate syncretism and false profession of faith, likened to modern America.

Discussion Questions

How does the concept of slow judgment challenge our typical expectations of divine punishment?

Context: Weaver argues that most judgments are gradual, like Adam's 930-year life or the frog in boiling water.

In what ways might God be destroying a nation religiously today, and how can we discern it?

Context: The sermon describes religious destruction as removing truth and sending delusion; the two tests are basis for truth and concern for truth.

Why does God target a nation's religion first when bringing judgment?

Context: Weaver explains that religion is the unifying foundation; destroying it removes false refuges and idols.

How should Christians respond when they see their nation embracing pluralism and rejecting biblical truth?

Context: The sermon ends with a call to hold to truth without compromise, but does not prescribe political action.

What is the relationship between rejecting God's Word and believing a lie, according to 2 Thessalonians 2?

Context: God sends strong delusion to those who did not love the truth, resulting in damnation.

Applications

Examine your basis for truth

Summary: Believers must ensure their foundation for truth is God's Word, not cultural or political correctness.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'What is a nation's basis for truth?' and applies it personally by urging commitment to Scripture.

Hold to truth without compromise

Summary: In a nation under religious judgment, Christians must remain faithful to biblical truth regardless of societal pressure.

Evidence: Weaver prays, 'Help us, Lord, at all times to hold to Thy truth without compromise, without fear of man.'

Recognize slow judgment in personal and national life

Summary: Believers should be alert to gradual spiritual decline and not assume God's patience means approval.

Evidence: The frog-in-water analogy warns against imperceptible destruction; Isaiah 42:25 says 'he knew it not.'

Reject false refuges and trust God alone

Summary: Just as Egypt was a false reliance for Judah, believers must identify and abandon any substitute for God.

Evidence: Weaver states God destroys false props to bring people to repentance and faith.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:51:15Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T09:16:45Z

Clean Transcript

How God Destroys Nations - Part 1

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles today to Isaiah chapter 19. Isaiah chapter 19. And we're going to read the first 17 verses. Isaiah chapter 19. I'm going to begin a short series today. I know there's going to be at least five messages. Probably that will be all, unless I have to end up with a concluding message or two. But the series is entitled "How God Destroys Nations." How God Destroys Nations. So look in Isaiah 19, verse 1: "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it."
#1 | 0:00 to 0:55 | cleaned
"And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up."
#2 | 0:55 to 1:33 | cleaned
"The reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish."
#3 | 1:33 to 2:03 | cleaned
"Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt."
#4 | 2:03 to 2:59 | cleaned
"Every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction." I went ahead and read verse 18, but verse 17 is where we were to end.
#5 | 3:00 to 3:19 | cleaned
Now, remember, this series is entitled "How God Destroys Nations." All I need to do is mention the word judgment. When we hear the word judgment, each one of us automatically thinks cataclysmically. Now, when I use that word, we understand exactly what it means, because if something does not happen cataclysmically, most often people do not associate it with judgment. In other words, when something happens slowly, or what you and I would call naturally, we tend to label all such acts and all such things as mother nature, luck, chance, fate, or fortune. Why, when you talk about judgment, everyone knows that when God judges, that God judges cataclysmically.
#6 | 3:20 to 4:20 | cleaned
In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles—hold Isaiah 19, we're coming right back there—but look in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. Let me show you something that probably most of you did not know, and hopefully I will be able to show it to you. Notice in 2 Peter 2 and verse 5 what the Bible says. 2 Peter 2 and verse 5. The Bible says, talking about God—in fact, let's read verse 4 just so you can see it's judgment: "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." So we're talking about judgment. Now watch verse 5.
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"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." Now, just stop right there for a moment. Each one of us knows that God brought a cataclysmic judgment upon the old world. There was a time when Noah stopped preaching and God opened the windows of heaven and opened the fountains of the deep and He brought the flood. The interesting thing is in verse 5 of 2 Peter chapter 2, the word "flood" in the Greek is kataklusmon. It is where we get our English word cataclysmic. So here was a cataclysmic flood. So Noah preached until one day there was a giant cataclysm, so to speak, and God brought the flood upon those individuals.
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Now, of course, the same truth is given us in verse six concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. When God had brought just Lot safely out of the city, look in verse six, the Bible says, "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." So just as God brought Lot out of the city and his family, God then rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain and destroyed them all cataclysmically.
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When you and I think of some of the preeminent judgments in the Bible, we think of such things as the destruction of the 400 prophets of Baal by Elijah, which was done in one day. We think of the smiting of Herod in Acts chapter 12, which was done instantly. We think of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. And we say, my, all of those were cataclysmic judgments. And that is true. God does sometimes judge in a cataclysmic manner. But that does not mean that God judges all of the time in a cataclysmic manner.
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The scripture does teach us in 2 Peter 2 and verse 6 that the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah was to be an example to all of those that should hereafter live ungodly. However, that does not mean that every future judgment will be cataclysmic. What it does mean is that those who live ungodly shall be destroyed. It does not necessarily mean that they have to be destroyed cataclysmically. So here's what I'm trying to teach you right now. God is not and cannot be limited to cataclysmic judgments.
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He may judge in a manner that produces destruction and death very slowly. Each of us understand that death is death and destruction is destruction. And it really does not matter whether one dies quickly or whether one dies slowly, he's still dead. And it really does not matter whether a nation is destroyed quickly or slowly, it is still destroyed. We do not normally think of judgment in a slow terminology. We are prone to thinking cataclysmically, and yet the truth of the matter is this, that most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments.
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Do you remember when Adam sinned, what did God tell him? "In dying thou shalt die." Do you realize that Adam lived 930 years, but he was still judged by God? And "in dying, shalt thou die." In other words, his death was a slow death. King Saul was judged by God, and yet he still continued to reign another 20 years. So his judgment was a slow judgment. And you remember how wicked Ahab was. And although God decreed the death of Ahab, Ahab was not smitten instantly. He died later on. So the principle I'm trying to show you is this, that when God judges, He may either do so cataclysmically or He may do so slowly, but surely, yet it is equally God's judgment.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to Isaiah 42. Here's a principle. And look at this very closely, Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. Let me show you the principle of a slow judgment. Isaiah 42, and let's begin reading with verse 22. Look what God says concerning His people. Isaiah 42 and verse 22: "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes."
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"They are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?" Now watch this question. "Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart."
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Now I want you to note, if you would closely, this phrase: "Yet it burned him." Verse 25: "Yet he laid it not to heart." Note what he says, "it set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not." What does that mean? What does that indicate? It indicates what you and I would call a slow judgment. Whenever you read this passage and you see the words "robbed and spoiled," "snared in holes," "hidden in prisons," "for a spoil," "fury poured out"—all of these things indicate a slow judgment. And yet, when you read these phrases, "yet he knew it not." In other words, it is something that happens slowly and imperceptibly, yet it did happen. "It burned him, and yet he laid it not to heart."
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Now, everyone in this room knows the illustration of boiling a frog in water. You can take that boiling pot of water and pitch a bullfrog in, and guess what? He will instantly and immediately jump out. But yet you can put that same frog in a bowl of water and heat it very slowly, almost imperceptibly, and he'll sit there until he's cooked to death. You know, we are like that in America. In fact, people everywhere are like that.
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You snatch our rights from us all at once, and we will fight. However, you take those same rights away from us one at a time, and we will endure the tyranny until we are totally and absolutely enslaved. You see, enslavement that is done slowly is still enslavement. Destruction that is accomplished slowly is still destruction. Robbery done slowly and over a period of time is still robbery. If I broke into Dr. Holmes' house and oh, look at there, there's a thousand bucks laying right there and I reach down and I took it, is that robbery? Well, suppose I didn't break in his house. Let's just suppose I visited him several times at his invitation. And every time I was there, I just took a $100 bill. And I did that over a period of 10 weeks. Would it still be robbery? Well, of course. It doesn't matter whether it's done slowly or quickly. It's still theft and it's still robbery.
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Now, how in the world does God destroy nations? Now, the answer is given to us in Isaiah 19. I want you to look back there. Because this passage begins with "the burden of Egypt." Now the word "burden" there literally means the prophecy concerning Egypt. So Isaiah then is giving this burden, this prophecy concerning the nation of Egypt.
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Now you've got to ask yourself a question right away. Why in the world must Egypt be destroyed? Because incidentally, it's not just Egypt, but many nations that God has destroyed over a period of years. But ask yourself this question, since we're looking in Isaiah 19, why must Egypt be destroyed? Well, let me give you two answers. First of all, Egypt historically has always been the enemy of God and the enemy of God's people. You must remember it was Egypt that defied God, enslaved His people, and resisted all demands to release Israel. When Moses went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go," what was Pharaoh's response? "I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." So historically, Egypt has always been the enemy of God's people. And incidentally, in Revelation chapter 11 and verse 8, you don't have to turn there, but when God is describing the wickedness of Judah and Jerusalem, in their corruption and their rebellion against Him, He applies to Jerusalem the names of Sodom and Egypt.
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Because those two have always been known for their wickedness and their rebellion and being peculiarly the enemy of God. So the first answer is because Egypt is God's enemy. The second answer is this: Egypt was always a false reliance for Judah and for many Israelites. What do I mean when I say a false reliance or a false hope? Let me just read to you. You don't have to turn there, but let me just read 2 Kings 18 and verse 21. Listen to what the Word of God says: "Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him."
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You know what Israel did? Particularly Judah, the southern tribes. You know what they did? When God would judge the land and times got rough, they would flee into Egypt and stay there. In other words, the judgment was not there and so therefore they would flee there and depend upon Egypt. Many times they'd not only fled into Egypt, but many times they depended upon Egypt, militarily speaking. Instead of trusting God, instead of repenting of their sins, they would hire the Egyptians for their protection and for their help. Now, what is God doing? God would not only destroy Egypt because Egypt historically is the enemy of God, but also because Egypt is a false god and a false refuge and a false protection, and all of those false refuges and protections must be destroyed if the people are going to return to God in repentance and faith.
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Let me just put it to you like this. Let me demonstrate it. When God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, you remember those in the book of Exodus? Do you realize that each plague was directed at a god of Egypt? God was knocking down the false gods. The last god was Pharaoh himself. He claimed to be a god. And Pharaoh, who claimed to be a god, could not even protect his own son, much less the sons and children of the people of Egypt. So every time God struck at Egypt, He was striking at a false god. Now let me tell you what God does. When God will bring us back to Himself in repentance and faith, He not only takes care that we repent and believe, He also knocks out from under us the false props and the false hopes and the false refuges. And thus Egypt had to be destroyed. What God will do is He will remove any obstacle that hinders true repentance and true turning to Him. Now, how does God destroy nations?
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I'm going to give you five ways, but only one each week. Today, I want you to understand that God will destroy a nation religiously. And I find this very interesting. The very first thing that God does in the destruction of the nation is He destroys their religion. Let me show you. Look in verse one, Isaiah 19: "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." Skip down to verse three: "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." Now, notice that particularly in verse one, that "the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence." In verse three it says "they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."
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In other words, when God comes into a land to destroy it, His very first act is to destroy it religiously. Now I want you to look in verse 1 at what God says. "The burden of Egypt, behold the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence." Look, "and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof." The heart is the center of one's being and existence. When the heart ceases, so does the individual.
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The same is true of a nation. When the heart of a nation ceases, so does the nation. To attack the heart is a death-dealing blow. So God comes in a death-dealing blow to destroy Egypt. When nations turn from God, they do so to their own destruction. Listen to Psalm 9 verse 17: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Now listen, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
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Let me tell you something, people. Don't think just for a moment of that last eternal judgment. I want you to think also of temporal judgments in time and history. When he says "the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell," that means you can live in a nation in time and in history and it be a living hell on earth. That's why I said in verse three of Isaiah 19, "the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof." He also adds, in verse three, look at it, "and I will destroy the counsel thereof."
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Have you ever pondered this question? What does it mean when God destroys the counsel of an individual, or what does it mean when God destroys the counsel of a nation? It means that God is destroying what is usually referred to as good advice, common sense, that which is sagacious, wise, and good. Proverbs 11 and verse 14 tells us, "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."
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Now listen to what he said. "Where no counsel is, the people fall." Where there is no common sense, where there is no good advice, where there is no wise, sagacious reasoning, the people fall. Proverbs 24 and verse 6 also tells us, "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety." So when God says, "I'm going to destroy the counsel of a nation," God says, "I'm going to destroy her good advice and common sense." Listen carefully. When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood. Thus God says in verse 3, and look at it, "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the counsel thereof." So when God destroys the counsel, the wise, good advice and common sense, what's going to happen?
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"And they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards." Let me ask you a question. Where did King Saul turn when God departed from him? The Witch of Endor. You see, when God takes away His truth, the only thing that is left is error. We have failed to grasp a simple principle. Listen carefully. Do you know why people believe a lie? There's my question. Do you know why people believe a lie? It is not simply because they do not have the truth. It's because they do not want the truth. Look in your Bible—hold Isaiah 19—but turn to Romans chapter 1. Here's the passage everyone is familiar with. But I want you to see it in light of what I've just said. The reason people believe a lie is not just simply because they do not have the truth, but because they do not want the truth. Look in Romans 1 beginning there with verse 21. Romans 1 verse 21.
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"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature."
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Skip down to verse 28: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient."
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Now, notice what the Bible says. "Because that, when they knew God, they" what? "Glorified him not as God." Neither were they thankful, but they became vain, stupid in their foolish imagination, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image.
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Now look in verse 28. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge." Hmm. Now the word "retain" is a very revealing word. The Greek word is the word echo, which means to have, to hold, to own, and possess. Look at it. "And even as they did not like to hold, own, or possess God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind."
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In other words, it was not that they did not have the truth, they did not want the truth. And they refused to hold the knowledge of God in their minds, and therefore God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Do you realize there is a principle in the Bible that teaches that God is not mocked? But neither is God mocked, and another truth is that God will not allow His Word to be mocked.
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What am I talking about? Well, look in your Bibles to Mark chapter 4 and verses 23 through 25. And you're going to find a simple truth, and that is this. When people refuse and reject the Word of God, God removes it. God will not allow His Word to be mocked. God will not allow His Word to continue in the hands and in the minds of those who reject it. Look in Mark 4.
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Beginning there with verse 23. He said, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." Here's something vitally important. You got ears, you better listen. "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you." Now watch. "And unto you that hear"—what's going to happen?—"shall more be given." But watch. "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." What is God saying? God is saying, if you don't use My truth, you will lose it. I will take it from you. God will not be mocked, and God will not allow His Word to be mocked either. Thus, when Israel turned her back upon God's truth, God removed His truth from Israel.
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How did He do that? Let me just tell you. There are two things that you need to observe as you read through the Bible. When God curses a people, He will either do one of two things. He will either, number one, remove His prophets from the land, the way He did Elijah. You remember that? For three and a half years, Elijah was in Zarephath with a widow woman. He was not in the land. God just simply removed Elijah out of the land. So there was no word from God. Or secondly, God can do as He did in the case of Jeremiah. He left Jeremiah in the land. He just told Jeremiah, "Pray not for this people."
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And whatever you tell them, you tell them I'm going to destroy them because that's exactly what I'm going to do. So in one instance, God removed His prophets. In another instance, He left them in the land. He just shut their mouths so they would not pray and intercede for the people for their good. And so they would not preach any reconciling words. The only words they preached were the words of judgment.
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Now, look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. Let me show it to you. 2 Chronicles 36. And let's begin reading there with verse 15. 2 Chronicles 36 and verse 15. "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." Now, watch. Let's stop right there. When God has compassion on a people, what does He do?
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He sends them His preachers. He sends them His prophets to proclaim His word. That's what the scripture says. But look what happened in verse 16: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age."
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"He gave them all into his hand." Do you see what the Bible said? God had compassion and He sent His preachers. But what happened? They despised the preachers. They mocked the prophets. They despised God's word. Until what happened? Until the wrath of God arose against them. And God destroyed the people. God will always destroy those who refuse His words, who refuse His prophets, and usually before He judges the people, He'll either remove His preachers or silence them so that the judgment may be full.
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Turn in your Bibles if you would to Isaiah 66. Isaiah 66. Here's a passage that should absolutely horrify individuals. Look at Isaiah 66. And let's read verse 3. Isaiah 66. In fact, let's begin reading in verse 1, let me just show you the graciousness of God on the one hand and the judgment of God on the other hand. Isaiah 66, verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."
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"Where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Now watch. "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man." Why? Because he's not obeying God. Watch.
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"He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations."
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Now, look what God says: "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." Did you hear what God said? God said, "Because you refused my words, because you would not listen to me, you would have none of my truth, I also will choose your delusions." Now, let me ask you, what is God saying? I'm going to show it to you in the New Testament in just a moment, because the same truth is reiterated there. Here's what God is saying. God is saying, when you do not receive my word, when you do not believe my word and will not have my word and will not obey my word, I will send you a delusion. I'll send you a lie and you'll believe the lie. Now, here's my question. Why would God send the people a lie? Why would God allow a nation to believe a lie?
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Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians 2. And we'll begin reading with verse 10. Here is why God will send a lie. Watch carefully. 2 Thessalonians 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 10: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." Notice this phrase. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 10: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."
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So we're talking about people who are dying lost, dying undone, dying in their sins, dying in their rebellion. Watch. "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." That is, they would not have anything to do with God. They would not have anything to do with His Word. They would not repent. They would not believe. Watch verse 11: "And for this cause"—because they reject God and His Word—"and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Wow. What does God say? When you refuse my word, when you reject me, I'll send you a strong delusion and you'll believe a lie. And you'll believe a lie to your own damnation because you received not my truth.
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Let me tell you something, folks. We look around our nation. We look in our churches, and we wonder why there are so many who are deceived, ignorant, apathetic, uninterested, neglectful, and downright resistant to anything that is right, holy, just, and scriptural. I'm going to tell you why. It's because God has sent them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie. Because they've refused and rejected the word of God. Let me tell you where we are in this country.
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And then I want to show you very quickly where we've come from. We're now living in a day of political correctness. We're living in a day of tolerance. By the way, the age of tolerance is an age where you become tolerant of any and everything until that which is wicked takes control and then there will be a new intolerance, you see. But we're living in this politically tolerant correct stage and we're being taught it really does not matter what anyone believes.
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That all religions are equal. Ecumenism, political correctness, has a leveling effect in religion. Let me explain it. To the politically correct demagogues, it means this, that Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Christianity are all equally true and all equally lead to heaven and salvation. All religions, according to the politically correct crowd, according to the ecumenism, all religions lead to salvation, and therefore all religions are valid and none can claim superiority or exclusivity. And if you claim to have an exclusive religion, like Christianity, then you are politically incorrect and you are intolerant.
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And you must be dealt with. Now, folks, that is where we are in our land today. That is why you find Islam on the rampage in this country. That's why every cult, every ism, every schism imaginable is granted all kinds of political blessing and biblical Christianity is hated and despised. Do you realize in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was being signed, Samuel Adams said this: "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient."
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"He reigns in heaven, and from the rising to the setting sun, let His kingdom come." What was Sam Adams saying? We are recognizing our Savior, Jesus Christ, as the Sovereign God of heaven and earth. He has the right to rule in this land. He has the right to rule in every land, and we need to say, "let His kingdom come." Now, when our founding fathers used the word "religion," it did not refer to all religions.
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It was not referring to Judaism. It was not referring to Islam. It was not referring to Shintoism or Buddhism. When they used the word "religion," they were referring to Christianity. Listen to what President John Adams said on October 11, 1798. Listen. "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion or Christianity. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." What was he saying? Our Constitution was made for a Christian people, a people who were going to abide by the law of God. It is wholly inadequate for any other.
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Do you realize our founding fathers took this sentiment that we must be pinned together either by the Bible or the bayonet? In 1983, Alabama courts in the case of Jaffree versus the Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, Judge Brevard Hand quoted from the United States Supreme Court where Justice Story gave this succinct definition of the First Amendment. When we read that Congress shall have no power to establish a religion, here's what Brevard Hand quoting from Justice Story said: "The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity by prostrating Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian denominations"
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"and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government." What did he just say? He just got out of his mouth that this was to be a Christian nation. And when it says that Congress shall not establish a religion, all that means is it cannot make the Baptists the established religion. It cannot make the Presbyterians or the Lutherans the established religion. It was not to prostrate Christianity and elevate Mohammedanism or Judaism or infidelity. No, no, no. All it was to say was no denomination of Christianity would have superiority over the other. And Congress had no right to elevate the Baptists or the Presbyterians or the Lutherans, and that's it. Now, what has happened in our nation? Are you listening?
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We have been destroyed religiously. We were once a Christian nation with Christian law, Christian ethics and Christian morals based upon the Word of God. Do you realize when our country was formed that each state not only believed the Bible, but each state had laws requiring every ruler to believe in Jesus Christ and to believe in the inspiration of the Bible. Every state, every colony. Each state believed that Christianity was the true religion and each state believed that Christianity was to be the law of the land. Now what has happened? We have turned from the foundation of our founding fathers and we have become a multicultural, multi-religion, multi-nightmare society with no morals, no ethics, no direction, and no hope.
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Psalm 11, verse 3 asks a simple question: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" And may I tell you folks, the foundations have been destroyed in our country. And they're continuing to be destroyed. When God would judge Israel, He allowed her to degenerate into religions. Well, all you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 12. What did Jeroboam the son of Nebat do? He made him two golden calves, put one in Dan, one in Bethel, and he said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."
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"You don't have to go down to Jerusalem. You just worship right here in Dan and Bethel." He started a new religion. And Judah fell into the same trap. All you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 11, where Solomon introduced idolatry into the land and built altars to all these false gods. We have degenerated in this country to a land of religions instead of a land of Christianity. The breakdown and destruction of Christianity in America can be viewed as nothing less than the judgment of God upon America. When God destroys a nation, He first destroys that which unifies, that which supports the nation, and that's her religion. And that which initially unified and supported these states that joined together in that compact was biblical Christianity. And the reason He destroys the religion first is because it is pagan, idolatrous, and an affront to His majesty.
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What did He say in Isaiah 42? "My glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." And all of our multi-religions are an affront to His majesty.
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Now, let me just try to conclude this today by asking and answering two questions. How can we tell when a nation is being judged religiously?
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Now that's what God did to Egypt. How can we tell when a nation is being judged religiously? Well, the answer is simple. There's a two-pronged test. The first test is this: What is a nation's basis for truth? What is a nation's basis for truth? Let me ask you, what is our nation's basis or foundation for truth? Is it the Word of God, or is it political correctness? Is it God, or is it the Supreme Court? Is it God, or is it the legislature? Is it the rule of God, or is it the rule of man? If the basis for truth and righteousness is not the Word of God—well, instead of me just saying it, turn in your Bibles, Jeremiah 7 and look at verse 28. Let God say it. Jeremiah 7, verse 28. The first test is you've got to ask, what is the basis? What is the basis of a nation? What is the nation's basis for truth? Look in Jeremiah 7, verse 28. If it is not the word of God, here's what God says that we're to say.
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He tells Jeremiah, "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth." Isn't that amazing? God said, if you reject my word, you have no truth. You know why we're in the mess we're in in America? We don't have truth. We do not have truth. We have rejected it. We've turned from it.
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I've told people I could work out these problems we have in a heartbeat. Every problem has a solution, folks. I never have any problem with problems. Problems can be resolved. Problems can be fixed. Problems can be worked out. I never have a problem with problems, I only have a problem with people. If people are willing to do what's right, then the problem will be worked out. And the reason we're having the problems is there's no basis for truth, the government doesn't know the truth, and the people don't want the truth. So God says, if my word is not your basis, then you're humanist. And truth is perished and cut off from their mouth. And that's why you don't obey me.
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Now the second test is equally simple, and I've already hit upon it, but I'm going to say it plainly. Are the people concerned whether or not they really have truth? We're talking about a two-pronged test. The first one was, what is the nation's basis for truth? The second one is, are the people genuinely concerned whether or not they have the truth? Do the people of a nation genuinely express a concern to do right and to be right and believe right?
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If not, look at Jeremiah 5 and verse 31 and you have your answer. Jeremiah 5 verse 31. Look at it. Jeremiah 5 verse 31, God says, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" God says, you will like it right now, but wait till judgment falls. Then you'll wish you had the truth and you listened to the truth.
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You know, it is so frustrating. And I think of Jeremiah so many times, the weeping prophet who preached to a people who would not listen. They normally would not repent. They would not listen. And it's so frustrating when you see people so deep in problems and a nation so corrupt when you know what the answer is. But none will listen. And they love to have it that way.
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I want you to turn to one last passage, look in 2 Kings 17, you talk about a picture of America. Here it is, go to 2 Kings 17. Remember now, we like to profess that we're a Christian nation. We like to say that we're a Christian people. Well, in 2 Kings chapter 17, the king of Assyria had conquered Israel. He removed the people from the land and he put a bunch of other folks there.
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And so here's what happens. Verse 26. 2 Kings 17 verse 26: "Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land." So, you know, God's not sovereign to them. He's a little local God. "Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord." Now remember, Bethel is where one of the golden calves was. So he's not really teaching the truth. He's teaching how they worship the golden calf. Now watch. So verse 28: "Then one of the priests, whom they had carried away from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord."
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"Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence."
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"Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." What did they do? They said we fear the Lord. But what did they do? They made their own idols and worshipped and served them. We like to profess that we are a Christian land and we are a Christian nation and yet we don't care one whit about God's word or God's law or what God says. We live and act as a nation and worship as a nation as the heathen. God judges nations. And the first way He judges them is religiously.
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And when God removes His truth, the only thing left is a lie. And when people believe a lie, they're doomed and damned. Our Lord Himself said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." If you do not know Jesus Christ, you do not know truth. And if you do not know the Word of God, you do not know truth. For He is the living Word, and the Bible is the written Word, and God, the God of Scripture, is the God of truth. Let's pray. Father, we are so thankful today for Jesus Christ. We're so thankful for Your truth, Lord. And Lord, no matter what the world does, no matter what every other person in America does, Lord, I want You and I want Your word. We as a church want You and we want Your word. And we want to be governed by Your law. And we want to submit ourselves to Thee and walk in obedience and bring honor and glory and majesty to the one true and living God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
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O Lord, help us to be biblical. Help us to be godly. Help us to honor Thee. And help us, Lord, at all times to hold to Thy truth without compromise, without fear of man. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T17:51:15Z

How God Destroys Nations - Part 1

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver begins a series on how God destroys nations, using Isaiah 19 as the primary text. He argues that God's judgments are not always cataclysmic but often slow and imperceptible, yet equally destructive. The first way God destroys a nation is religiously—by removing truth and sending delusion. Egypt is judged because it is God's enemy and a false refuge for His people. When a nation rejects God's Word, He destroys its counsel, leaving only error. America is shown to have abandoned its Christian foundations, embracing pluralism and political correctness, which Weaver identifies as evidence of religious judgment.

Opening

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 19:1-17

"The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." "And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up." "The reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish." "Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt." "Every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction."

I went ahead and read verse 18, but verse 17 is where we were to end.

Introduction: Cataclysmic vs. Slow Judgment

Weaver explains that while God sometimes judges cataclysmically (e.g., the Flood, Sodom), most judgments are slow and imperceptible, yet still destructive.

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:4-6

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."

So we're talking about judgment. Now watch verse 5.

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:4-6

"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly."

Biblical Examples of Slow Judgment

Adam's death over 930 years, Saul's 20-year reign after judgment, and Ahab's delayed death illustrate slow divine judgment.

The Principle of Slow Judgment in Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42:22-25 describes Israel being robbed and burned slowly, yet not perceiving it, like a frog boiled gradually.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 42:22-25

"But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes."

Why Egypt Must Be Destroyed

Egypt is God's historical enemy and a false reliance for Judah, so God removes false refuges to bring repentance.

God Destroys a Nation Religiously First

Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God attacking Egypt's idols and counsel, destroying its religious foundation as the first step of judgment.

The Consequence of Rejecting Truth

When God removes truth, people turn to lies (idols, charmers, wizards). Romans 1 and 2 Thessalonians 2 show God sends delusion to those who reject His Word.

Now listen to what he said.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 11:14

"Where no counsel is, the people fall."

America's Religious Destruction

America has abandoned its Christian foundation for political correctness and pluralism, fulfilling the pattern of religious judgment seen in Israel.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12

Psalm 11, verse 3 asks a simple question: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" And may I tell you folks, the foundations have been destroyed in our country. And they're continuing to be destroyed. When God would judge Israel, He allowed her to degenerate into religions. Well, all you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 12. What did Jeroboam the son of Nebat do? He made him two golden calves, put one in Dan, one in Bethel, and he said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." "You don't have to go down to Jerusalem. You just worship right here in Dan and Bethel." He started a new religion. And Judah fell into the same trap. All you have to do is read 1 Kings chapter 11, where Solomon introduced idolatry into the land and built altars to all these false gods. We have degenerated in this country to a land of religions instead of a land of Christianity. The breakdown and destruction of Christianity in America can be viewed as nothing less than the judgment of God upon America. When God destroys a nation, He first destroys that which unifies, that which supports the nation, and that's her religion. And that which initially unified and supported these states that joined together in that compact was biblical Christianity. And the reason He destroys the religion first is because it is pagan, idolatrous, and an affront to His majesty.

Two Tests of Religious Judgment

A nation is judged religiously when its basis for truth is not God's Word and when people do not care about having truth (Jeremiah 7:28; 5:31).

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 5:31

"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"

God says, you will like it right now, but wait till judgment falls. Then you'll wish you had the truth and you listened to the truth.

Conclusion: A Call to Hold to Truth

Weaver urges the church to remain committed to God's Word and truth, rejecting the nation's pluralistic drift, and closes in prayer.

How God Destroys Nations - Part 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	5405981
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation: Witness, Judgment, and the Throne
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-05-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 051: How God Destroys Nations — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: Cataclysmic vs. Slow Judgment: Weaver explains that while God sometimes judges cataclysmically (e.g., the Flood, Sodom), most judgments are slow and imperceptible, yet still destructive.
Biblical Examples of Slow Judgment: Adam's death over 930 years, Saul's 20-year reign after judgment, and Ahab's delayed death illustrate slow divine judgment.
The Principle of Slow Judgment in Isaiah 42: Isaiah 42:22-25 describes Israel being robbed and burned slowly, yet not perceiving it, like a frog boiled gradually.
Why Egypt Must Be Destroyed: Egypt is God's historical enemy and a false reliance for Judah, so God removes false refuges to bring repentance.
God Destroys a Nation Religiously First: Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God attacking Egypt's idols and counsel, destroying its religious foundation as the first step of judgment.
The Consequence of Rejecting Truth: When God removes truth, people turn to lies (idols, charmers, wizards). Romans 1 and 2 Thessalonians 2 show God sends delusion to those who reject His Word.
America's Religious Destruction: America has abandoned its Christian foundation for political correctness and pluralism, fulfilling the pattern of religious judgment seen in Israel.
Two Tests of Religious Judgment: A nation is judged religiously when its basis for truth is not God's Word and when people do not care about having truth (Jeremiah 7:28; 5:31).
Conclusion: A Call to Hold to Truth: Weaver urges the church to remain committed to God's Word and truth, rejecting the nation's pluralistic drift, and closes in prayer.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Judgment is not always cataclysmic

Most of God's judgments are slow and natural-looking, but they are still divine judgment leading to destruction.

Weaver states, 'most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments' and gives examples like Adam and Saul.

Religious judgment precedes national collapse

God first destroys a nation's religion—its idols, counsel, and truth—before other forms of judgment.

Isaiah 19:1-3 shows God moving idols and destroying counsel; 'the heart of Egypt shall melt.'

Rejecting truth leads to believing a lie

When people refuse God's Word, He sends strong delusion so they believe falsehood and are damned.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says God sends delusion to those who did not love the truth.

America has been destroyed religiously

The nation has shifted from biblical Christianity to pluralism, evidencing God's judgment on its religious foundation.

Weaver cites founding fathers' statements and contrasts them with modern ecumenism and political correctness.

Two tests reveal religious judgment

A nation is under religious judgment if its basis for truth is not God's Word and if people do not care about having truth.

Jeremiah 7:28 says truth has perished; Jeremiah 5:31 says people love false prophets.

Scripture References

Isaiah 19:1-17: Primary text for the sermon; describes God's burden against Egypt, including religious and economic judgment.
2 Peter 2:4-6: Used to show cataclysmic judgments (angels, Flood, Sodom) as examples but not the only pattern.
Isaiah 42:22-25: Illustrates slow judgment: Israel robbed, burned, yet not perceiving it.
Revelation 11:8: Jerusalem spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, showing Egypt's symbolic wickedness.
2 Kings 18:21: Egypt is a bruised reed; trusting it brings harm, showing it as a false reliance.
Psalm 9:17: The wicked and nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, including temporal judgments.
Proverbs 11:14: Where no counsel is, the people fall; used to explain destruction of counsel.
Proverbs 24:6: By wise counsel you make war; safety in multitude of counselors.
Romans 1:21-28: People knew God but rejected Him; God gave them over to a reprobate mind and vile affections.
Mark 4:23-25: Take heed what you hear; to him who has, more will be given; from him who has not, even what he has will be taken.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16: God sent prophets, but people mocked them until wrath came with no remedy.
Isaiah 66:1-4: God will choose their delusions because they did not answer when He called.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: God sends strong delusion to those who did not love the truth, that they might be damned.
Psalm 11:3: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
1 Kings 12: Jeroboam set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, starting a false religion.
Isaiah 42:8: God will not give His glory to another or praise to graven images.
Jeremiah 7:28: Truth has perished and is cut off from their mouth because they did not obey God.
Jeremiah 5:31: Prophets prophesy falsely, priests rule by their means, and people love to have it so.
2 Kings 17:26-34: Samaritans feared the Lord but served their own gods, a picture of syncretism and false religion.
John 8:32: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Historical References

Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD: Mentioned as an example of a cataclysmic judgment.
Samuel Adams and the Declaration of Independence (1776): Adams declared the restoration of Christ as Sovereign; used to show America's Christian founding.
President John Adams (1798): Adams stated the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious (Christian) people.
Jaffree v. Board of School Commissioners (1983): Judge Brevard Hand quoted Justice Story on the First Amendment's intent to prevent rivalry among Christian denominations.
Founding Fathers' view of religion: Weaver argues that 'religion' in early America meant Christianity, not all religions.

Important Quotes

most of God's judgments are indeed slow judgments.

Central thesis that divine judgment is often gradual, not always cataclysmic.

When God takes away counsel, He takes away truth. And when He takes away truth, the only thing left is error and falsehood.

Explains the mechanism of religious judgment: removing truth leads to deception.

God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Key verse (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) showing God actively sends delusion as judgment.

We have been destroyed religiously.

Direct application to America, asserting the nation is under religious judgment.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalm 11:3 quoted to emphasize the severity of America's moral and religious collapse.

They feared the Lord, and served their own gods.

2 Kings 17:33 used to illustrate syncretism and false profession of faith, likened to modern America.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the concept of slow judgment challenge our typical expectations of divine punishment?

[Context]

Weaver argues that most judgments are gradual, like Adam's 930-year life or the frog in boiling water.

[Question]

In what ways might God be destroying a nation religiously today, and how can we discern it?

[Context]

The sermon describes religious destruction as removing truth and sending delusion; the two tests are basis for truth and concern for truth.

[Question]

Why does God target a nation's religion first when bringing judgment?

[Context]

Weaver explains that religion is the unifying foundation; destroying it removes false refuges and idols.

[Question]

How should Christians respond when they see their nation embracing pluralism and rejecting biblical truth?

[Context]

The sermon ends with a call to hold to truth without compromise, but does not prescribe political action.

[Question]

What is the relationship between rejecting God's Word and believing a lie, according to 2 Thessalonians 2?

[Context]

God sends strong delusion to those who did not love the truth, resulting in damnation.

Applications

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