Through nearly 40 years in the conservative evangelical world, I’ve heard many sermons about America. Often, the point is to compare America with ancient Israel.

The problem is the Bible explicitly tells us that there is no other nation that is comparable to God’s chosen people and nation of Israel (see 2 Sam. 7:23; Ps. 147:19-20; Amos 3:2). In that regard, she is entirely unique—a direct creation of God, fashioned through Abraham out of the chaos and godlessness at Babel (see Isa. 43:1-15).

If one were to make a comparison between America and any nation in the Biblical world, I believe there are two clear possibilities in terms of history and prophecy: Babylon and Rome. We in the United States are part of a pagan, Gentile, demonically energized nation, such as those that have been oppressing Jerusalem since the days of Nebuchadnezzar (see Dan. 2:31-43; 10:13, 20; Luke 21:24). We live in that shadowy time between the legs and feet of the two-phased Roman kingdom, which is prophesied to prevail until God’s kingdom suddenly destroys that last human empire, composed of “iron mixed with ceramic clay” (Dan. 2:43).

As I write such plain words, I must emphasize that I truly love my country. Given the choice, I would not have desired to live anywhere else. I treasure America’s history, as well as the freedoms we all cherish so dearly. I honor those who have defended those freedoms and thank them for their sacrifice and service. God has poured out goodness upon this nation, as the multitudes desiring to come here silently testify.

Still, we must think Biblically about our place in God’s plan. America is not His chosen nation, nor has this land been ordained for His eternal purposes. We are not, and never will be, the kingdom of God. Our laws are not God’s laws and never could be. We do not find ourselves hidden in the covenant promises of God to Abraham and his descendants (see Rom. 9:4-5; Eph. 2:11-12)—except as we avail ourselves of the opportunity to bless the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Gen. 12:3).

For some, these are “hard [sayings]” (John 6:60). Perhaps they have become easier to accept since the COVID-19 pandemic and all that has unfolded in our culture in the days that have followed, pushing our nation toward moral debauchery. In the current climate, I take great solace in Christ’s church, which serves as the only curb against further waves of decadence (see 2 Thess. 2:6-8). Yet, America itself is in desperate condition—barring a sweeping movement of God’s Spirit to bring reformation and revival through our land. He surely can do that, but He has left no certain promise of it. Our hope is found in Christ’s return, and a major part of our energies should be consumed with watching how the Lord is preparing the world for His coming.

Yet, assuredly, God is not unaware of our condition. He continues working in, through, and for His people. He “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). He directs “all things [to] work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28). Providentially, He superintends above all the details of life, and all the moving parts coordinate flawlessly with the precision of “a wheel in the middle of a wheel” (Ezek. 1:16).

All of us understand that this coming Tuesday offers, perhaps, the most hotly contested election in our nation’s history. The outcome will have an enormous impact on the direction she will go in the future—perhaps until her earthly end. The results could vary wildly. What will actually happen, only the Lord knows.

And that is where we find our security. Whatever the conclusion will be, we know:

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2).

As Christians, we must exercise our right to vote, as that is part of the stewardship for which we will give an account to Christ. But always remember the limitations of that vote. In the future, Jesus will preside over this world from His temple in Jerusalem (see Zech. 6:12-13). But no amount of voting can bring that theocratic kingdom to pass before He returns—nor can anything prevent His coming to establish it.

I was reminded this week of the words of an old gospel song that reveals the folly of worrying about this election. God already knows the results, what they will portend, and how they fit into His prophetic plan. These old words ignite new confidence in Him:

What tho’ the way be lonely,
And dark the shadows fall;
I know where’er it leadeth,
My Father planned it all.[i]

***

Paul J. Scharf (M.A., M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary) is a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in Columbus, WI, and serving in the Midwest. For more information on his ministry, visit sermonaudio.com/pscharf or foi.org/scharf, or email pscharf@foi.org.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

[i]Harriett H. Pierson; “My Father Planned It All.” Lyrics are public domain. Taken from “My Father Planned It All;” Hymnary.org; n.d.; https://hymnary.org/text/what_though_the_way_be_lonely; Internet; accessed 30 October 2024.

Psalm 83:1-6 (text verses)

Link to the message on my YouTube channel: Part 1 Israel vs Her Neighbors

Genesis 21:8-9 (opening verses)

I preached this message in the first part of 2010 at Peoples Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. The title of the message was “Maybe the War of the Summer of 2010.”

When I think back to that time, it seemed on the surface that it was going to happen soon, maybe in the summer of 2010. It took 13 years for it to happen. Of course, all of you know this current war with Israel’s neighbors started on October 7, 2023, with a horrific, devilish attack on innocent Jews.

What’s going on today?

It seems like I see the fingerprints of God happening every day over the situation in the nation of Israel; it is literally being attacked from all sides, including Iran. This enemy of Israel is trying her best to totally wipe out the Jewish nation, but they will not succeed. Thank you, Jesus.

As I was looking over my notes from the message I preached in 2010, I realized that much of what I put in this article can be from those notes.

Looking at the world today, you would think Israel has no chance, but all through the Bible, there are verses that promise God will keep saving Israel; He will not allow her to be destroyed again. The enemies of the nation of Israel have no chance of winning against the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What a wonderful hope we have in our precious Savior Jesus Christ, the number one Jew.

Isaiah 45:17, “But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.”

Genesis 21:8, “And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.”

Genesis 21:9, “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”

In verse nine, Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian and Abraham, was mocking Isaac. When Sarah saw this, she told Abraham to get rid of them. So Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away. All of the descendants of Ishmael have been mocking the Jews ever since. It’s really amazing because some of these enemies are related to the Jews.

The nation of Israel and all Jews around the world do not have many friends today. It seems to me that nearly the whole world is against them; however, there are Christians and allies who love the nation of Israel and all Jews. I am one of them. What bothers me is there are so-called Christians that hate Israel and all Jews. Do they realize Jesus Christ is a Jew? That is my question on this matter. Let’s move on.

Psalms 83:1, “(A Song or Psalm of Asaph.) Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.”

The psalmist Asaph is asking the Lord to please do something. God is not being silent, nor is He holding back his peace, and he is definitely not resting. The wrath of God has poured out upon these evil men, using the IDF and IAF (Israel’s military) to target all of these evil men who are now dead. Many of them were involved in the October 7, 2023 attack, and many of those leaders, commanders, and politicians have been enemies of Israel for decades. God is showing He’s had enough of these evil men. He is not holding his peace.

The Muslim ministers in Iran think Israel is using magic. No magic here; it is God Almighty of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the universe. I said in the message in 2010 that “when the Lord takes action, the world will know.” How true that statement has been over the past year. God has amazed me by his power in dealing with the enemies of Israel. I’m glad I’m one of his sons adopted into his family through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 83:2, “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.”

In the message in 2010, I said Turkey, Iran, and Syria are getting the whole world mad at Israel. Today, we can add just about every nation on the face of the earth to these three nations. Not many nations are saying anything good about Israel, and many of them are cutting off all business ties with Israel. They are also cutting off selling any military equipment to Israel. It is amazing how so many nations are criticizing Israel for killing civilians, but none of them say anything about the civilian Jews that were killed on October 7, 2023, or in this war. Israel is said to be at fault on every side; they can do nothing right, according to the world.

Many leaders in these nations are lifting up the head, making a tumult. Tumult means a confused uproar. Boy, is the enemy of Israel doing that today! And most of the world is believing all the lies, including in America, especially those in Washington DC.

I said in the message in 2010 that “all of these leaders have been meeting with each other.” Today, so many more of the enemy meet together against Israel. Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iran, China, North Korea, Hezbollah, Hamas, the rebels in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria – they have all been meeting and plotting against Israel. This is not counting the enemies in Washington DC, London, Paris, and many other capitals in the world. No wonder the wrath of God will pour out on this world! This world has messed with His people Israel for too long.

Psalms 83:4, “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”

When I preached this message in 2010, I listed quotes from leaders at that time, some of whom are dead now, lost in eternity, as you know. Here are those quotes:

1. Hezbollah says that Israel’s disappearance after the next war is an established fact.
2. The Iranian president said they will disappear in a flash. (Was he referring to a nuclear weapon when he made this statement?)
3. The commander in chief of the Iranian army predicts that millions will soon receive the joyous news of Israel’s destruction.
4. Every leader who is against Israel is making comments like this every day.

It seems to me the leaders keep repeating themselves because, over the last few years, I’ve heard the same comments, including their “from the river to the sea” comment, meaning that the Palestinians will take over the land of Israel. How many times has a leader talked about Israel, saying they’re going to cut them off from being a nation? The following verse is coming true.

Psalms 83:5, “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.”

They are coming together as one. As we see, the nation of Israel is practically destroying the enemies that surround her today. Iran is in league with Russia and Turkey; they and other confederates will come together to attack Israel from the north, according to Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 in what we call the Gog and Magog war.

Psalms 83:6, “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes…”

The information I will list here regarding the descendants and where they’re located came from one of my textbooks from Texas Baptist Bible College, where I graduated. It was prepared by Dr. Lloyd Wilson, who is in heaven now. Some will agree, and some will disagree. It’s OK.

1. Tabernacle of Edom (descendants of Esau): Palestinian refugees and southern Jordanians.
2. Ishmaelites: Saudi Arabians descended from Abraham.
3. Moab (Descendant of Lot): Palestinian refugees in central Jordanians.
4. Hagarenes: Hagar, Mother of Ishmael. She was from Egypt.

I will have to finish this message in part two. I will give the rest of the list for verses seven and eight next week.

We are living in amazing times. Many of us who know the Bible and Bible prophecy believe that Jesus can come to take up his bride any moment of any day; it is so near. Time is running out for us to pray, preach, and give of our time and money for the cause of Christ. Time is running out to hand out tracks. Time is running out to become a true prayer warrior interceding on behalf of lost souls all over the world. Our time on this earth is so short that we feel the urgency to really get busy and go all out for Jesus Christ, witnessing to all these lost souls around us in hopes that they would receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, adding to His kingdom.

On a personal note, I have two prayer requests. Number one, I ask you to pray for my son Jeremiah and me. He is lost and going through so much right now, and I’m dealing with so much with him. He’s causing many problems, and he’s hurting emotionally and spiritually. His mother died two years ago, and he’s angry with God for taking her away from him. He is the one who found my wife Jenni, his mother, dead. She was lying next to him when she went to heaven to be with Jesus, and he has a lot of pain in his heart. He is turning his heart away from God, the Bible, and Jesus, and it is breaking Daddy’s heart.

My second prayer request is that the Lord has laid upon my heart to write a book about how I became an online missionary to the world. On April 28, 2020, the Lord allowed me to start this ministry. The name of it is 4HIM Online Ministries. He has spread this ministry all over the world through WhatsApp, Facebook pages, and my YouTube channel. I’ve been in the ministry for over 30 years, and it is so amazing to see all the ministry opportunities for churches, preachers, and Christians in becoming online missionaries to the world. I ask you to pray for me and my prayer partner. She’s helping me write this book. Thank you.

I actually have a third prayer request. This is the heartbeat of the Online Missionary ministry that the Lord has allowed me to start. It is the worldwide prayer movement. We have prayed, fasted, and repented for 24 hours for each nation on the face of the earth at least once, for every nation on the continent of Africa a second time, and we have started on the continent of Asia. I ask you to please join with us in posting this to all media, and join us on November 5. Thank you.

Urgent Prayer Request

Matthew 18:19, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

I ask all prayer warriors from around the world to join us for a day of prayer, fasting, and repentance for these seven nations on November 5, 2024.

1. Philippines and on behalf of over 116,152,915 precious souls.
2. Vietnam and on behalf of over 100,987,686 precious souls.
3. Turkey and on behalf of over 87,473,805 precious souls.
4. Iran and on behalf of over 91,846,282 precious souls.
5. Thailand and on behalf of over 71,668,011 precious souls.
6. USA and on behalf of over 346,033,400 precious souls. (ELECTION 11-05-24).
7. Israel and all Jews around the world and on behalf of over 16.7 million precious Jews. (SAFETY)

I ask all Pastors, church members, and all Christians to please join us in interceding on behalf of all lost souls in these seven nations. Please post this on all media.

Email: bkwatts64@yahoo.com

Ministry Facebook page: Prayer Warriors 4HIM Online Ministries

Keith Watts

Associate pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Online missionary to the world