While thinking on a new book, a Rapture Ready news item entered the process. The story represents the heart of end times matters that continue to occupy much air and cable time, as well as paper and electronic print in reporting these days.

That is, the basic subject of the story is covered extensively by secular journalists during every news cycle. The prophetic or end times element within the story is covered only by those such as yours truly in forums such as the Rapture Ready web site, some Christian TV and radio stations and networks, and through books.

One of the most recognized names within Christian circles was involved in making an observation that piqued my interest while thinking on the new book. The observation he made resides at the center of that gestating book idea.

Evangelist Franklin Graham suggested the resistance President Donald Trump has faced since taking office could be “demonic” in origin.

Graham made the assertion while appearing as a guest on “The Eric Metaxas Radio Show” in a segment posted online on Thursday.

“It’s a very bizarre situation to be living in a country where some people seem to exist to undermine the president of the United States,” Metaxas said. “It’s just a bizarre time for most Americans.”

“Well, I believe it’s almost a demonic power that is trying–” Graham began to respond when Metaxas interjected, “I would disagree.”…

“It’s not almost demonic. You know and I know that at the heart it’s a spiritual battle,” the talk show host said…

(Source: Franklin Graham sees ‘demonic’ power in ferocity of opposition to Trump By Randy DeSoto, The Western Journal, November 27, 2019)

Graham went on to say that this opposition is hate filled without seeming cause. President Donald J. Trump has done more to help Americans in under 3 years in office than presidents of the recent past have done with 2 full terms each. He cited the administration’s strides in bringing back jobs and improving the economy in general. Both Graham and the host of the program agreed the resistance this president continues to receive is demonic in origin.

Although I didn’t see in the story the Biblical scripture that confirmed for them this conviction, it was easy to deduce that the underlying scriptural text was likely the following.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6: 12)

Certainly, the 2016 presidential election seemed to unleash the hounds of hell against not only the new president, but against all things godly. The very foundation of America, based in large part on Judeo-Christian precepts by the founding fathers, continues to come under attack.

It was a long process since well before that election that lay the groundwork for what we see happening with all this madness today.

The public educational system in the United States has been under assault since the 1950s and even before. Even the private institutions of higher learning fell victim to the demonic influences. Harvard, for example, founded as a Christian school and given its name in honor of a Christian educator, John Harvard, succumbed to the humanist lies from the pit.

I, myself, can remember sitting in a sophomore political science class at university and hearing a smooth, suave, Marxist professor laud communist regimes and lie about America’s founding as being evil.

Today’s youth are largely uneducated as to truth in most every discipline. They have been corrupted and co-opted by the hounds of hell who continue to drive the nation –and the world, for that matter—toward being receptive to Antichrist when he vaults upon his globalist platform.

The devil is at work on many fronts, whether it be geopolitics, society and culture, economics, religion, or whatsoever.

I believe that the true explosion from the minions –both human and supernatural, came the night Trump won the election. The outburst by his opponents was astonishing to behold.

We remember the woman sitting on the curb the moment she learned that Trump had won. She shrieked and broke into hysterical screaming and gyrating. The cell phone camera caught the insane reaction for all to see.

I, of course, being blind, couldn’t see it physically, but the sounds were such that it was easy to visualize the actual video accompanying the absolutely lunatic-sounding shrieks. It was if the poor woman was possessed.

To the rational mind, it should be apparent; it seems to me, that the thinking ability of nearly half of the people in this nation of adult age has been turned inside-out and upside-down. I have written often –and my mind has not been changed—that because much of American citizenry has moved increasingly farther away from acceptance of godly government, the country has reached the point described by the Apostle Paul in Romans.

“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. (Rom. 1: 28)

As for believers, those who have accepted God’s grace gift of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the ability to discern these things as part of end times spiritual warfare. We don’t have to have the credentials of world-wide name recognition like that of a Franklin Graham to appropriate this discernment ability. We are expected –commanded—to not only recognize the supernatural wrestling match –or end times battle—we are in. We are to prepare ourselves to face this very time in which we find ourselves just before our Lord Calls us home in the Rapture.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6: 11-18)

Recently I heard a prophecy teacher –actually one of my favorite prophecy guys— say something like the following: “I hate to burst your bubble about what you probably believe about God’s promises to the church and his promises to Israel. But 2 Chronicles 7: 14 isn’t for the church. It is for Israel.”

He then went on to say that the context of that promise makes it obvious for whom it was given. It doesn’t apply to we of the Church Age was his conclusion.

I must take exception to that statement by this man, one who I respect greatly and consider one of the very top teachers and writers of Bible prophecy today. Let’s have a look at the promise that god, indeed, made to the nation Israel.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7: 14)

The speaker was talking about whether the United States is in Bible prophecy. He was speaking to the many worries people have as to what will happen to America so far as concerns prophecy yet future. Particularly, as I recall, he was talking about the upcoming 2020 presidential election. People were, he said, wondering about what we should do as believers to seek God’s divine intervention in this election. There are great fears that the opposition party to that of this president has turned totally toward the dark side and is more and more anti-God in their platform goals.

The speaker was intimating that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the scripture most invoked, but that it isn’t in effect for the Church. It was given exclusively to the Jews –to the nation Israel.

The basis for my taking exception to my friend’s pronouncement in part is truth encased within the following scriptural areas.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with who is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1: 17)

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13: 8)

God’s Word is the very Person of Jesus the Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead. God the Father sent Jesus into the world as Himself in the flesh. Jesus taught and preached ultimate truth. Jesus and the Father are one –see John chapter 17. Jesus created all that is, see Genesis chapter 1. He did so by the spoken Word. Jesus is the Word. This is made plain in John chapter 1.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1: 1-3)

Jesus and the Father, the Lord verifies through His prayer in John chapter 17, are one. Jesus also says that we who believe in Him are one with Him, as He is one with the Father. Therefore His Father’s children are Jesus’ “people,” just as they are God the Father’s “people”.

We are all “one” with God. We are His “people”.

This includes all people of God’s created order who “believe” for salvation as prescribed by God. Those who believe are His people.

Therefore, it is my Bible-based contention that in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, the “my people” is referring to God’s “people,” no matter of what era.

God changes not. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God’s Promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, in my view, apply to believers of all ages.

It is true that Israel’s “land” was healed on several occasions, after the people had drifted into backsliding and gross idolatry. America, it is equally true, for example, has not experienced what might be considered a complete healing in the sense of Israel in its ancient past.

However, America, again for example, has experienced degrees of “healing.” The great revival movements that came out of the Great Depression, was God at work in answering prayers of His “people.”

I believe the 2016 election for president was an answer to the prayers of God’s “people.” It was, to anyone possessing spiritual acuity, a miracle from the Almighty. Certainly, even the secularists –the mainstream media, and Mr. Trump’s opponents, were stunned into a form of madness!

Another friend defines the declaration that 2 Chronicles 7: 14 is not for the Church as a part of the Seminary Syndrome.

By this, he means that the products of often self-exalted seminaries sometimes can’t see the simplicity of God’s truth for feeling they have to make it complex to somehow justify their existence as the last word on interpretation of scriptural truth.

And, I mean no disrespect to the men and women who have the prestigious, seminary degrees of various flavors. Many, many of these are dear friends.

But, for the Seminary Syndrome to induce them to say such things as the things mentioned above with regard to God’s dealings with His “people,” just smacks of being wrong to my spiritual senses.

I have expressed before in my commentaries that I have the same problem with the Seminary Syndrome declarations that Matthew chapter 24 (the Olivet Discourse) is for the nation Israel only. –That the Rapture of the Church isn’t to be found in that great teaching by our Lord.

So please continue to pray in light of 2 Chronicles 7: 14 in regard to the 2020 presidential election. Our nation still needs healing, as we all know. Admittedly, as this generation seems to be at the very end of the Age of Grace, and at least half of the nation is deliberately moving away from, not nearer to God, it is unlikely that there is time to see a complete healing of America.

However, the prayers of God’s people have and can yet produce miracles within this land upon which God has so richly bestowed His blessings.