Returning Back
RETURNING BACK
By Jeannette Haley
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before,I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13, 14
Back in the days of my childhood, long ago and far away, every Saturday morning I eagerly tuned a small radio in my bedroom to “Back to the Bible Broadcast.” It came from Moody Bible Institute, and had great stories for children and youth along with a teaching by “Uncle Bob” (I believe that was his title) about different creatures that God made, and how evolution could never have taken place. I am forever thankful for the Christian influence those radio programs, books, and Bible studies had on my life! And, when things become overwhelming and out-of-control, I still tell myself to “go back to the Bible.”
When it comes to “going back,” sometimes you hear such things as, “I want to return to the 50’s” or “I want to go back to the good old days” or “I want to return to a ‘normal’ way of life,” or occasionally, “I wish I could go back to the days of my childhood.” Sometimes one cry stands out above all the rest and that is, “I want the Lord Jesus to return . . . right now!” Such strong sentiments are usually an indication of present distress, and loss of hope for the future. Many feel that even if their past wasn’t all that wonderful, it was somehow better than the present.
Undoubtedly many things were better, or healthier, or safer in the past; but then, just how much do we Americans really know about what’s been happening for decades, even centuries, behind the scenes, hidden out of sight within the secret Cabal of the “mighty men of the earth,” in secret societies, in the “shadow government,” and within the dark corridors and hidden places of what the Bible calls, “the mystery of iniquity”? After all, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 4 tells us, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
There’s no doubt about it, we live in perilous times, times that were foretold in Scripture, but many have concluded that the trials and tribulations we presently find ourselves in are not what the Bible describes as the latter days, and such things are for “somebody else” in the future and not for us. After all, if it’s not for us, we can blithely assume it’s just a “bump in the road” and keep floating merrily down the stream while ignoring it. However, the truth is, here we are in the boat of life, being helplessly carried along by the strong current of time, while the unmistakable roar of a gigantic waterfall from somewhere downstream rings in our ears.
Different people have different ways of trying to cope with the fear that accompanies loss of control, untamable emotional swings, and endless waves of both true and false information, all of which produces a vulnerability to propaganda, false prophets, false teachings, and false conclusions. This results in an environment that is ripe for self-delusion, especially for those who have had no discipleship and preparation by their religious leaders. Multitudes who classify themselves as “Christians” lack basic understanding of salvation, the entire Word of God and of God Himself. They know not His ways, are ignorant of biblical principles, and prophecy. Since nobody really enjoys being “up in the air” for long periods of time while waiting for some sort of resolution to upsetting matters, self-delusion can become a handy form of escape from reality. And, as a chosen mechanism to help one cope, it offers the novice at least temporary relief from the torment of mental and spiritual confusion because he or she can be in control by simply “moving the pieces of the puzzle” around until an acceptable “picture” emerges that offers emotional comfortability. It’s just another way of using your imagination to make an idol that you can give a name and identity to in order to worship it. That way, a person can have their very own “golden calf” of sorts. Of course, this sort of escapism is never going to solve anything, or bring a person to the truth, or into right standing with the one true God.
What causes a person, or group of people, to return back to the self-delusion of idolatry as the children of Israel did while waiting for Moses to return from Mount Sinai? Perhaps a closer look at this incident in Exodus 32 can offer some parallels for us to consider today. First, the children of Israel had been enslaved by the ruling powers of Egypt. For hundreds of years, they were under the heavy hand of the “government” that used them to help build their dynasties and serve the cruel edicts of godless, baby-killing rulers. Imagine the horror of seeing your newborn son being tossed into the Nile river to either drown or be eaten by a 20-foot-long Nile crocodile. Can you even begin to imagine how you would deal with that? Would you love and trust God through it all, or would you allow your heart to question if He is who He says He is, and perhaps conclude that He doesn’t hear, or see or care?
Of course, the LORD knew, and of course He cared. In Exodus 3:7-9 we read what the LORD said to Moses, “And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.”
Thus, God raised up two leaders, Moses and Aaron, to deliver them from their evil taskmasters, and “Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people, And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped” Exodus 4:29-31. So far, so good, right? Now everything should go smoothly and fall into place so the entire nation of Israel could be set free in a day. But, wait! Not so fast! Satan never lets go without a battle. Therefore, after Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh that God said to let His people go, things got far worse for the Israelites so naturally they complained to Moses and Aaron, and in turn “Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.” Exodus 5:22, 23.
At this point everything looked hopeless to the children of Israel, and to Moses and Aaron, so what did God do? Did He rebuke Moses, and wipe Egypt off the map in one swoop in order to set the Israelites free? No. But, what He did do (and this is so beautifully recorded in chapter 6) is repeat His promise to Moses that Pharaoh would, “with a strong hand…drive them out of his land.” Then the LORD reminded Moses of who He is, His appearances to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and of His covenant that He had established with them, “to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers” Exodus 6:4b. God told Moses He had heard them, He knew their bondage, He would deliver them, He is faithful to honor His covenant with them, He would take them to Himself for a people, and He would take care of them.
One would hope that with all these renewed reminders of how great the LORD is that the people would believe what Moses told them. But, because of their “anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage” (vs. 9b) they did not listen to him. It just all sounded too good to be true to a people whose spirits had been so cruelly crushed by bondage that all hope for a return to freedom in a land of their own was gone. There seemed to be no way that they could return back to the Promised Land of their forefathers, and in their minds, this “new” leader, Moses, was causing more trouble than it was worth.
As I write this, I can’t help but compare the Patriots of America who have been told by our courageous leader that he is going to “make America great again” by delivering us from the slavery of the corporation by returning back and restoring the Republic. (USA, Inc. See the Act of 1871, http://www.federaljack.com/slavery-by-consent-the-united-states-corporation/ ). In order for this to take place, we will have to fight the enemies in the land, just as Israel did. The “giants” (wealthy, powerful globalists), the “Baal worshippers” (sex trafficking and Satanism), and the propaganda (the “covering” over the whole earth, (Isaiah 25:7; 30:1). The best documentary that connects the dots of the mystery of iniquity from Noah to the present day can be found on the Internet: The Fall of the Cabal – https://www.bitchute.com/video/kNS1mw1jmjpt/
Of course, we all know from our side of biblical history what great signs and wonders God did in Egypt and how His Word was fulfilled, and how He brought His people through the midst of the Red Sea on dry land. But we also know the up’s and down’s the people had when things didn’t turn out the way they thought they should. The people were impatient, impulsive and impudent. Instead of being thankful for God’s deliverance out of a wicked and cruel nation, they wanted to return back because of fleshly lusts. Even though their lives in Egypt had been hard and miserable, it was “normal” to them. They just wanted to return back to “normal” and that included worshipping Egyptian gods so they could “fit in” quite nicely with the pagan Egyptians.
In spite of the great leader that God had raised up for them, and in spite of all the miracles they had witnessed, and in spite of God’s provisions for them, and in spite of God’s covenant with them, they grew weary of waiting for Moses to come down from Mt. Sinai and so they rebelled. Rather than believe, and rise up to grasp, receive, hold and cherish the great promises of JEHOVAH GOD, they chose to return back to worshipping a golden calf. After all, it was so much easier to return back to deluding self and believe that this inanimate, man-made “god” would somehow be enough for them so they could just “get by” without having to learn God’s commandments, which their leader was about to present to them, and obey them. They had no vision concerning becoming a great nation, distinct from all other nations on the face of the earth, nor did it generate a heart response in them that they were to be a light to the nations. After all, being distinct because of trusting in God Almighty, and obeying Him by observing His moral laws, statutes, commandments, principles, and testimonies was a high calling that required total separation from the systems of the world. On top of that, being separated unto God made them a target for Satan and all those who choose to call good evil, and evil good. To choose to only worship and serve the one true God meant that there would be no “returning back” to their former way of life.
Maybe, in their minds, being set free from the bondage of the Egyptians was “good enough.” Maybe that much was fine. Maybe it was okay, but only as long as nothing else was required of them. Maybe they couldn’t return back to Egypt, but they could return back to idolatry. “And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play” Exodus 32:6. Did you ever wonder what “play” for all these former slaves involved? You can be sure it wasn’t a friendly game of tennis, baseball, football or basketball. There was no “ball” involved in it at all, not even “ball”-room dancing. It was sheer idolatry, lust and perversion. An orgy. And God was set to destroy them all.
We ask ourselves; how could this possibly be? How could they so soon forget all the mighty miracles that they had witnessed by the hand of God? We wouldn’t forget God’s mighty works and return back to our old way of life—or would we? The problem with the children of Israel was, even though they had physically departed from Egypt, Egypt had not departed out of their hearts. It’s like the old saying, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.”
So, here we are America. We’ve been enslaved by the systems of the world, Satan’s systems. We’ve been under the evil oppression of the Three City States—the Vatican, the Bank of London, and the Federal Reserve. (If you don’t yet understand this “mystery of iniquity” you can read about it here: http://www.esotericonline.net/profiles/blogs/what-are-the-three-city-states-and-do-they-rule-the-world and here: http://stopthecrime.net/wp/2018/01/15/3-city-states-that-control-the-whole-world-and-their-rolls/ and here:
https://nicklasarthur.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/the-empire-of-the-city/ . I would suggest you do your own digging, and ask the LORD to show you what He wants you to understand, and please prayerfully read the Book of Revelation along with it.
The question is, IF we Americans could “return back” to what we think were the “good old days” what would we do differently? Have you ever asked yourself that question? I suppose since we think those were better times, we probably wouldn’t change a thing. But, how does the LORD look at it?
We know that the Old Testament contains “examples” for us to learn from, and that’s why we can see so many parallels between where we are as a people and the children of Israel. They couldn’t return back, but they weren’t willing to pay the price to patiently wait for the LORD’s instructions through Moses. They weren’t enthused in going forward either. In our own personal lives, once the LORD has delivered us from our lost and sinful state by the blood of Jesus Christ, and once we have become born again of His Spirit, then what? We know we can’t return back to a life of godlessness and self-indulgence, but following Jesus into a new life can be costly. For example, family and friends may shun us, ridicule us, and separate from us altogether. Persecution will come our way as we take a stand for truth, and refuse to compromise. The list goes on, and in many cases our blood will be shed because we belong to Christ. As we draw closer to the day of His return and as the evil forces in this world determine to exterminate every blood-bought believer, the list of martyrs will grow.
As I write this, Americans are in a waiting period under military law (even though many of them have not realized this as of yet.) We wonder if our God-given leader (and proven winner of the election) will soon return, as He promised, and if and when he does, we will not suddenly end up in a paradise on earth, but instead we will be facing some formidable “mountains to climb and conquer” because unbelievers, communists and anarchists are still among us. But no matter what happens, we must keep our focus on heaven, and on our Commander and King, Jesus Christ, because He promised to return and set up His millennium kingdom. We can confidently hold on to that no matter what happens on this earth in the meantime.
I have to admit, I do wonder how many of the children of Israel, when told of God’s promises to bring them into a land flowing with “milk and honey,” ignored the part where He also told them that there were seven people groups that had to be destroyed. They were the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, Girgashites and Jebusites. We are all good at hearing only what we want to hear. We love to take Scriptures out of context about God’s goodness, mercy, long-suffering, faithfulness, and love. We happily claim and cling to all of God’s wonderful promises while ignoring all of the conditions that accompany them. We may shake our heads at the impatience and impulsiveness of the children of Israel who grew tired of waiting for Moses to come down off the mount with the Law of God which was necessary if they were to survive as a people separated unto Him in order to become a great nation, but don’t some of God’s people today act the same way?
As a nation we have grown soft and spoiled because of the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us. Most of the mainstream Christian churches have failed to stand separate and distinct from the world by preaching the gospel, resisting Satan, exposing false prophets, and heresy; and like the ancient Israelites, they have returned back to partake of what the world has to offer in order to build large congregations that monetarily prop up their self-exalting kingdoms. Therefore, are we any different than the ancient Israelites who looked forward to possessing the Promised Land without a fight? Now that most of us are awake as to the depth of evil that we are up against—an evil that is determined to destroy our freedoms, reduce the population as quickly as possible through DNA-altering “vaccines,” and enslave any who manage to survive, maybe it’s time to search our own hearts concerning just what we want to “return back” to and honestly evaluate what is of eternal value and what isn’t. We cannot go “forward into battle” if we’re constantly looking back and longing for that which what once was.
A summary of the vices and loathsome practices of the pagan people that Israel had to fight helps us to understand God’s reason for commanding Israel to exterminate them. The Canaanites burned their children in honor to their gods (Leviticus 18:21) and they practiced sodomy, bestiality, and other vices. In Leviticus 18:23, 24 God said, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you”.
A short summary of the sins of these ancient people from www.knowingthebible.net informs us: “The reason Yahweh repeatedly gives for the extermination of the Canaanites is that it is their judgment for their sin and rebellion against Him (Gen. 15:16; 18:20-21; Lev. 18:20-30; Deut. 7:3-4; 9:4-5). The Canaanites, as a whole culture, committed sins of idolatry, holy temple prostitution, adultery, homosexuality, incest, murder, bestiality, gang rape, and child sacrifice Though other cultures also participated in some of these practices, it was the widespread involvement and acceptance of these sins that brought the Canaanites under Yahweh’s judgment. These sins exist in every culture, then and now, but are forbidden by most governments and are socially condemned by the majority of people in the culture. However, in Canaanite culture these sins were pretty much universally practiced and accepted because this is what their gods were like. Not only did they declare these acts as righteous morality, but they also participated in these acts in the worship of their gods as a means of gaining the gods’ approval.”
Jesus, in Luke 17:26-34 described both the days of Noah before the flood, and our “normal” world today: “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.”
In the midst of all this “normalcy” however, we also read in In 2 Timothy 3:1-13 the description the Apostle Paul made of the last days (of which we believe we are in the latter days of the last days.) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” If you read Jesus’ description of the end times in Matthew 24 you will see that it reads like today’s headlines.
Knowing all these things then, why would we long to return back to our old “normal life” which did little, if anything, to prepare us for the days we now find ourselves in? God has allowed our lives to be rocked and shaken to the core, and in some cases almost destroyed for one purpose, and that is to wake us up and hopefully cause us to run not only “to Him” but “into Him.” IF God spares America for a period of time and blesses us with plenty and peace, we definitely cannot afford to return back to our materialistic worldliness, loose morals and flippantly spiritual lifestyles. God may be giving the sleepy church one more opportunity to return back to the Bible and to forsake her love for the world and the things of the world. If she continues to cling to the world instead of God, and grows careless and returns back to the complacency and decadence that has allowed the enemy of our souls to bring her to the brink of the personal and national disaster that we are now facing, we shall not only lose the Republic forever, but possibly our own souls as well. The choice is ours.
How different things might have been for the past year or so if God’s people had been watching and praying, while educating themselves in the Word, church history, American history, and exercising both their knowledge of the Word through obedience and holy living, while exercising their spiritual discernment in order to recognize, identify, expose and stand against the enemies who have brought the entire world, through propaganda, under an evil covering. Make no mistake, we are under attack by Satan whose time is short. Those who serve him in this world are within the secret places of the “mystery of iniquity” (which took root in Babylon many centuries ago) and are now becoming manifested in high places for all to see. This is the most treacherous evil and bloodthirsty quest to rule the earth and its 7 billion, or more, people that has ever cast its grim shadow over all mankind. We are witnessing the antichrist agenda, systems, and spirit in action.
We desperately need God’s perspective, His wisdom, and His help in these perilous times. We know that Jesus’ coming is soon, but in the meantime, while we wait for Him, let us not grow weary, fearful and angry thus opening up the door for the self-delusion of idolatry as did the Israelites. Not that folks are going to make a golden calf, per se, but the longing to return back to worshipping a lifestyle of “eating, drinking, and being merry,” living for the next big sporting event, the next grand vacation, or the next major activity is not why we need to be delivered from the present evil. Our calling in this world is to know, worship and obey our God, and to follow Him wherever He leads us for His glory. If any nation is to survive the ungodliness, and pure evil, debauchery, abominations, idolatry, and wickedness that has gripped America for so long, then it must repent, and return to the LORD. We must never allow our affections, as individuals, and as the Church, to be “set on the earth.” “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-4.
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:12, 13.
In conclusion, and in order to come higher in your Christian life and forsake any longing to “return back,” are you willing to ask the LORD to help you seek His perspective, His priorities, and His purpose to be perfected in your life?