I am issuing a stronger prophetic warning than I ever have. I wrote in Visions of the Coming Days in 2011 that the U.S. was not yet under wrath. I differentiated judgment from wrath by saying that judgment is the pressure brought to bear by a loving and patient God to separate right from wrong and good from evil. When judgment fails to produce that result—when repentance does not come—wrath falls as God’s last resort to remedy the greater destruction wickedness brings. I said in 2011 that we were perhaps 3/4 of the way through the season of judgment. I am now saying that the cup of the Lord’s wrath is nearly full.
I prophesied in 2015 that we would see a level and depth of corruption exposed in the U.S. government that would rock the nation. We’re seeing it now on both sides of the political aisle, and there is more to come. Many of those surrounding President Trump have come under indictment, although the Mueller report has absolved him of collusion with the Russians and finds insufficient evidence for obstruction of justice. Crimes are surfacing from the last presidential administration that have yet to be prosecuted. Sexual immorality has accelerated in both quantity and perversity culture-wide—and even in the church—until it permeates nearly every television show and movie production in reflection of the condition of the culture these are meant to entertain. It is, of course, presented as normal, natural and good.
Our president, for all the good he has done, continues to speak foolishly, hurling insults at his enemies, feeding division and hatred in spite of scriptural admonitions to the contrary. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18, NASB). Another would be Proverbs 15:2, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly” or Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
I find myself deeply troubled when Christians defend this set of obvious flaws and attack those who call for prayer for change in the president’s character. Ungodly actions can never produce godly results and ought never to be justified or defended. The nation is being torn apart, and the president’s rhetoric tends to feed it.
Too many have made an idolatry of patriotism. Love of country must never be elevated to the level of becoming an element of our faith. To do so is a form of idolatry, and yet, great numbers of evangelical and charismatic Christians like me have unwittingly engaged in this form of idol worship. Although founded on Christian principles, America is neither divine nor the salvation of the world. Government is neither our hope nor our king. Jesus alone carries those things for us.
As if 60 million aborted babies since 1973 weren’t enough, states are now legalizing third- trimester abortions as well as withholding medical treatment for babies who survive abortion procedures. Children can be murdered even during labor and delivery. God destroyed Israel and took the people into the Babylonian exile for the sacrifice of their children to Baal/Molech. He’ll do it again for an unrepentant culture that has been repeatedly warned concerning sacrificing its children on the altar of our self-focus. Trust me when I say that as we have devalued life in the womb, forced euthanasia of the aged will eventually follow. I’ve not said much about abortion for a number of years, but recently, the burden of the Lord’s wrath has built up in my heart until it has become an urgent matter. Wrath is coming.
That doesn’t even begin to address the issue of resurgent racism and racial violence we have seen. Idolatry will always produce hatred because it is authored by the author of hate. There is no excuse for it under any circumstances. In the gospel there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, but only sons and daughters of the living God.
I can’t say that I see a turning any time soon. The culture—our society—has made a firm decision as to what it will be. Wrath is now imminent. We yet have time for repentance, awakening and preparation as God’s people, and we can pray for an extension to give more time to wake up and prepare, but it won’t be a long one.
The season of the fulfillment of Isaiah 60 is nearly upon us and we must make ourselves ready:
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (vv. 1-3).
A great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming. In the midst of judgment and the gathering darkness, our destiny is to shine. It’s the hour of our greatest blessing, a time of victory for us who believe. Governments will seek us out for solutions, just as Pharaoh sought out Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar sought out Daniel. The verses that follow Isaiah 60:1-3 promise that people will stream to the light they see in God’s people as His favor is poured out.
Sin never works. It makes promises it can’t keep and only destroys. Damaged and hurting people need to see lighthouses shining in the darkness, exhibiting the Father’s love, Jesus’ compassion and the power of the Holy Spirit for healing and restoration. A great harvest of souls will be gathered in. It’s time to get our house in order. The hour is both late and urgent. {eoa}
R. Loren Sandford is an author, musician and the founder and senior pastor of New Song Church and Ministries in Denver, Colorado. He has a bachelor’s degree in music and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. In addition to pastoring, Sandford has an international teaching and worship ministry. Married since 1972, he and his wife, Beth, have two daughters and one son. They live in Denver, Colorado.
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