July 20, 2007
(Written from the Federal Prison Camp Edgefield, South Carolina)
Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13
GOD: Simon, you don’t seem happy. What’s wrong?
Simon (Simon the Zealot): I don’t understand some things, Lord.
GOD: Well, let’s hear it, Simon.
Simon: I’m a patriotic Israelite, Lord. I love my country and our great heritage. We are slaves to the Romans, Lord, and I don’t like it. My fellow Zealots and I are the only ones offering real resistance to the Romans. We sneak out at night and blow up bridges, loosen chariot-wheel lug nuts, and change road signs to disrupt the enemy. I’ve followed you for several years now, hoping you would restore our great nation by leading a revolt against the Romans. But you don’t show any interest in helping free Israel from oppression.
I’ve put up with the likes of Matthew the Roman tax collector as a soul-winning partner several times. I wondered why you invited him to join our group of disciples. I just thought maybe you did that to have an insider in the Roman camp to feed you information. Over the years I kept watching to see if you would rebuke him for betraying his country and working with the hated Romans, but you never have. It’s as if you don’t even care that he was actually assisting the enemy before he joined us.
I don’t understand, Lord. When do we fight and kick the Romans out of our land (Acts 1:6)?
GOD: I’m the one who founded Israel, son. I’m the original patriot. I love this land and desire the best for Israel more than you can ever know. I also have seen everything the Romans have done and already know everything they will do and even what they think. I don’t need an insider to feed me information.
As for fighting to rid our land of the Romans, I don’t need your help to do that, Simon. Did you see what just one of my angels did in II Kings 19:35 to the Assyrians?
Simon: Yes, Lord. He killed 185,000 of their top soldiers in one night.
GOD: He was just an ordinary angel, so can you imagine what twelve legions of them could do (Matthew 26:53)?
Simon: That is hard to fathom, Lord. I bet they could destroy all of Israel’s enemies in a few seconds!
GOD: Yes, they could, Simon, but the greatest enemy Israel has would still be there.
Simon: Who is that, Lord? I can’t imagine an enemy worse than the Romans.
They are heathens!
GOD: Their heart is wicked, son. The problem is not Rome. The enemy of the Israelites is their own hearts! It is the enemy we’ve been working on for several years now. Yes, many lives have been changed, yet Israel’s worst enemy still lies within.
Simon: Yes, Lord, I have seen thousands of lives changed, but yes, I acknowledge there remains great wickedness in the hearts of the people.
GOD: As long as Israel is wicked, I will be their enemy, Simon (Psalm 7:11).
Getting rid of the Romans wouldn’t fix that problem. You and your fellow Zealots could kill every Roman and the real problem would still remain.
Don’t you remember what I told Jeremiah to preach to Israel?
Simon: Yes, Lord. You told him to tell Israel not to fight against Nebuchadnezzar. You said that you had sent the King of Babylon to punish Israel (Jeremiah 28:14).
GOD: Yes, Simon. I told him that wicked Nebuchadnezzar was my servant (Jeremiah 25:9). I told Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Israel. That was not the time for patriots, Simon. No amount of guerilla warfare would have saved Israel. I had ordered their destruction. They needed a revival, not a revolution.
Simon: Did you send the Romans here, Lord?
GOD: Yes, I did, Simon. I will punish them when I’m done using them just like I did Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:12).
The Romans are wicked and evil and need my judgement, but I expect the heathen to be heathen, son. The thing that really bothers me is when my people act like the heathen (II Chronicles 7:14). I will use the wicked Romans to punish my people Israel, and then I will punish the Romans for doing it. Everyone will be treated fairly, son. I don’t make mistakes.
Don’t misunderstand, son. Sometimes, it is good to defend the land against internal or external enemies. I raised up Moses and Joshua and many judges to free my people from bondage, didn’t I?
Simon: Yes, Lord. I read their stories and want to be like them. I’m willing to die for my country, Lord.
GOD: I know you are, Simon, and I appreciate that spirit in you, but this is not the time for patriots. This is the time for prophets and preachers and prayers. Sometimes, it is my will for Israel to be punished by going into slavery.
I’m always willing to forgive and rescue them. I normally raise up a Gideon for occasions like that; but right now, Israel has not repented, so you Zealots are wasting your time. My people often get involved in fights they shouldn’t be in. What happened when good King Amaziah got into a fight that he should not have been involved in? (II Chronicles 25:17-25; II Kings 14:9-14).
Simon: He was badly beaten, Lord.
GOD: That’s right, Simon. Let me pick the battles.
Simon: But Lord, what about Matthew? Isn’t he a traitor?
GOD: I called him to follow me and he did (Matthew 9:9). Did you hear what my prophet John the Baptist told the publicans to do to show they had repented (Luke 3:12-13)?
Simon: Yes, Lord, he told them not to cheat the people by collecting more than the law allowed.
GOD: He didn’t tell them to quit their job, did he, Simon?
Simon: No God, he didn’t.
GOD: Did he tell the Roman soldiers to quit their job?
Simon: No, Lord. He just told them to do violence to no man and to be content with their wages.
GOD: Like Solomon said, there is a time for everything. There are times to fight for freedom and there are times to refrain from fighting (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Right now is not the time to be a patriot. Israel’s judgement is coming soon. They are like rebellious Ephraim. “Ephraim is joined to idols. Let him alone” (Hosea 4:17).
Simon: But God! I love my country and want to see a revival.
GOD: So do I, Simon. Israel has been through this cycle many times. They never seem to learn. They go from prosperity to complacency to sin to judgement to repentance and back to prosperity. Right now, they need my judgement, son. Trust me, it is best. All countries and people seem to follow the same vicious cycle. One day I will help a group of godly men found a great country called America. They will become very prosperous and then very wicked. I will send them thousands of bureaucrats and princes to eat all their substance and bring them into bondage (I Samuel 8:10-18; Proverbs 28:2). I will call on my prophets to stop trying to save their nation and just win souls before my judgement falls. You will see it all from Heaven, Simon, and it will break your heart as it does mine.
Simon: What should I do, Lord?
GOD: Quit the Zealots. Submit to the Romans. Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you (Matthew 5:44). Preach my gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15).
Simon: Okay, Lord, if that is what you think is best.
GOD: I always know what is best, son.
I don’t think you need to be so uptight. I think maybe you should pray to God… and ask Him what to do. If you feel so stressed about your job… which is probably helping many people turn to Christ and realize the Bible is 100% true.. but you should be doing all of this for God… not yourself… or others. Your heart needs to be in the right place. I can’t say it is or isn’t… only you and God know that.
I don’t want to fight! Come on, Brother! That isn’t what we are to do. That isn’t how we are to be. I hope you will see that. I wish you luck on your missions. Just take a second look at what I’ve said. I hope it hits you.
___________________________________________________________________
To anyone who reads this:
God Bless to those who trust in Jesus Christ… those who don’t… I suggest you study the material related to creationism… as well as http://www.endtime.com I believe two main topics for really seeing how powerful Jesus is… how amazing… are end time prophecy… and also the creation of the world… the earth… EVERYTHING THAT IS! God is so amazing.. so wonderful.
You should open your heart and mind to God. When making a decision on something… I weigh out both sides. I think everyone should. I don’t think one should have an opinion of something… without knowing the other side! Or who is to say! For example.. if I’m going to vote for someone it isn’t about the name of the party… it is about what that party represents… what that party stands for. If I care about my country (myself, my family, my friends) I vote for the good of them. So when you approach the idea of God… and if He is real… and if the Bible is true. At the very least… you should consider what the other side says.. before you make up your mind. Looking at evolution vs. creationism… If you oppose creationism.. think about how you feel if someone who believes in creationism doesn’t have a background into evolution. You probably would tell them they need to really learn about what evolution really is before they say anything. I would turn that around and say the same thing… you should really know about creationism before you say anything.
Also.. the study of of prophecy is another great way to show you how exact the Bible is. Take the challenge… read about these things… study them… think about it… give it a chance before you reject it. Who gave us the limit of our minds? Why is it so unbelievable that God exists? Why is it so far out to think about a Creator? You must obviously believe in gravity… how amazing is that? You must also believe in the galaxy and miles and miles of infinite space… how amazing is that? It is hard to wrap our minds around space and the way our world works so perfectly. I believe God created this perfection. I simply ask you… why is it so far fetched that I think this? Why is it that you oppose it so much? Why is wrong or bad about that? What defined your definition of what has to be… of what should be… or what can be?
I took a week off on an internet-free vacation on a lake with perfect weather. It looks like the blog finally updated during that time. (I bet you were busy Paul…) I see quite a few posts were made.
One of the most endearing traits of Kent Hovind was his ability to inject humor into his seminars and debates. Personally, I enjoy that a lot. Sometimes he even uses sarcasm but not in a mean way. A couple of weeks ago I read a post asking precisely what law in particular it is that requires us to pay taxes, so that we could lay this subject to rest. I found that to be a brilliant question, worth of asking. My sense of humor is such that I responded saying: “I would have to ask that you do not cloud this issue with common sense questions. Sheeesh…;)”
This was sarcasm. Not mean sarcasm at all. I thought the question was brilliant like I have already said. I was in fact complimenting the blogger that posted it. Notice the wink at the end.
However, the response to my compliment was this: “What, would you have it that I dealt in the realm of stupidity and ask foolish questions instead?????? If that is your choice of reasoning then knock yourself out but I won’t be joining you.”
Come on now. Lighten up. I was agreeing with you. I’m sorry my humor was lost in that post, but I meant no malice. The number one radio talk show host in America uses the term “demonstrating absurdity by being absurd”. Again, I was not claiming your post as being absurd at all. I was only calling out the “tax law supporters” for supporting the absurdity of this ever-increasing cancer called “the u.s. tax code”.
- – - – - – - – -
I agree with the moderator:
“I only know of one book containing scientific claims that has never had to be revised: The Holy Bible.”
I have found that many of my early literary works are crude and in need of revision when I examine them later. This is true of all mans’ works. Only the inspired words of our Creator need no revision. If anyone asks me if I believe evolution is true, I ask them: “is butter good for you? Or margarine? Are eggs good for you? Is coffee bad for you? It was, but now ‘recent studies’ show it is good” Give it a few weeks. It will change.
Ahhh, the fickle finger of “modern science”. Modern science will lead you one way then jerk you back on another path. Modern science can’t get out of its own way. Vioxx is good for you, right? Fen-phen is good for you, right? Hogwash. Modern science like modern medicine would use you, abuse you and leave you to die a horrible death. Modern science claims to know the answers with absolute authority, yet they change their minds continually. In fairness, theories are just that: theories. They are not fact. Except for one: Evolution. This is the only theory that is fact. Modern science will change their minds on EVERYTHING they believe except for evolution. Evolution is the sacred cow that must never be slaughtered on the alter of truth and common sense. Why is it that every theory in modern science can be dismissed by them but for one: evolution? Only the enlightened know. The unenlightened will fight to the death to defend it without admitting why. We know why, and often we tell them. But naturally we are dismissed as fools. We come to expect it. ‘Tis a shame, but true. (by the way, I was using sarcasm earlier in this paragraph)
So my answer to the question: “Do you believe in evolution?” should be obvious. If it isn’t obvious, then let me state for the record: “NO”. Every one of evolution’s claims to fact has either been proven nonsense, or will be soon. Every one. The fickle finger of “modern science” always does. Every belief (evolution or creation) starts with assumptions, presuppositions, biases et al. I choose the foundation that still hasn’t been proven wrong: Young Earth Creation. Isn’t it time you did too?
Rock
Dear Desirée,
Hmmm … overnight, but no one else has yet proffered an answer to your query yet. I will give you one perspective, but let us move this conversation to the NEW, current posting, following Aug. 2nd.
(Please go back to the main: http://www.cseblogs.com – and select the “80 Comments” under “A Day in the Prison Life of Kent”.)
Paul
Are we to abandon the Word? Either we are of the world or we are not. You are paying a price for principle. I admire that. However, it appears that, after reading your post, our family has been doing the zealot thing because we “felt” led to do so.
I’m pretty tired of feelings. If God wants any more out of me, I’d appreciate a visit.
That being said, these are the end times, not the beginning times, but maybe you are right, and God does want us to be slaves.
Make the best of Prison, [EDITED] and We’ll be praying for you.
Trustee