- Perilous Times Will Come – First Edition
- Solid Preparation for an Uncertain Future-Part One
- Solid Preparations for an Uncertain Future-Part Two
- No Accidents in God’s Plan
- The Elijah Option
- On Becoming Children
- Government Amateur Hour
- How to Adapt to the Unthinkable
- Survival Preparations According to Scripture
- I Like the Depression
- Fasting as a Means to Spiritual Power
- Omnous Warnings
- Does Preparing for Perilous Times Demonstrate a Lack of Faith?
- Who Is That Woman and Why is She Screaming?
- Never Quit!
- Be Advised, and Be Wise!
- The Most Critical Element in Prayer
- Watchman, What of the Night?
- The Hour is Upon Us!
- Delivered from What?
- Open Doors for Overcomers
- What Difference Can One Person Make?
- Are You Ready for Legalized Persecution?
- Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth-Part One
- Thanksgiving in Perilous Times
- Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth-Part Two
- Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth-Part Three
- Christ Reigns in the Midst of His Enemies
- Biblical Standards and Divine Institutions
- Spiritual Warfare in Heavenly Places
- Beware of the Billionaire Preppers
- We Serve a God Who Hears
- Updated: Run with the Horsemen—Part 1
- Run with the Horsemen—Part 2
- Run with the Horsemen—Part 3
- Coronavirus in Perspective
- Coronavirus Update
- Dark Days and Difficult Times
- Post 2020 Election Blues?
- The LORD of Hosts Rides on the Storm
- “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN”
- Out of the Shadow of Death into the Light of Life
- Faith is the Victory
- Tremble Before God/Triumph in Disaster
- The Battle for Middle Earth
- Are You Ready to Go Down?
- Two Little Hobbits
Perilous Times Primer #42
January 25, 2021
Out of the Shadow of Death into the Light of Life
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“But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.” Esther 9:25
Sic Semper Tyrannus
This Latin phrase is translated, “Thus Always to Tyrants.” It is the motto of the State of Virginia. It is based on the biblical principles portrayed in the beautiful little book of Esther. It is a story of the sovereignty of God over the rulers of men, and the providence of God in caring for His people. It tells of a moment in history that looked as bleak and hopeless as possible because of the plot of Haman against the Jews. The law had been passed and the royal decree written that all the Jews in the Kingdom of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) should be put to death. This vast kingdom reached from India to Ethiopia (Esth. 8:9). Furthermore, one of the mandates of Persian law was that once a law was passed, it could not be revoked (Esth. 8:8). The days were dark indeed.
Dark Times Call for Disciplined Souls
Our beloved America is today facing a time as dark and bleak as ever in our history. We now have, due to corrupt politicians and compromised judges, an illegitimate president and vice-president. Perhaps you noticed that when the evil, so-called “vice president” took the oath of office, she refused to touch the Bible. They hate God’s Word, and they hate all those who believe in God’s Word. In fact, it was stated by the former head of our premier intelligence agency (C_A) just yesterday, that now was the time to move swiftly to “root out and destroy” those who oppose the godless collection of misfits who now hold positions of power, including all “religious extremists.” The God who rules from Heaven hears and will not remain silent!
American Alamo
When the days are dark, and great peril is near, true heroes emerge from the crowd. This is no time for whining, weeping, and wailing. Our feelings may be downcast, our confidence and hopes shaken, but the only reasonable course of action for us is to counterattack. We all ought to have the attitude of Lewis “Chesty” Puller at this time. When he was told that the Marines were totally surrounded and cut off behind enemy lines, he responded, “Good! Now we have them where we want them. They won’t get away this time.”
“This occurred when the Marines were cut off behind enemy lines and the Army had written the 1st Marine Division off as being lost because they were surrounded by 22 enemy divisions. The Marines made it out inflicting the highest casualty ratio on an enemy in history and destroying 7 entire divisions in the process. An enemy division is 16,500+ men while a Marine division is 12,500 men.” (Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, USMC, military-quotes.com).
If America is in her Alamo hour, how pathetic if we as believers, the children of God—called to be spiritual warriors of the elite Royal Army of God—sit down and whimper and cry! Is that how you picture Colonel Travis, David Crockett, and Jim Bowie going down? We spit on their heroic sacrifice, and on all who have given their lives for this nation, if we give in to despair and self-pity. If this is America’s Alamo, then let’s rekindle the love of freedom and courage to fight to the finish as those brave souls did. But who can say that glorious victory is not yet possible?
The Offense is the Only Answer
“But we are not of those who draw back [retreat] to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39
This is a time to attack with faith and courage, and to hammer the throne of God as never before. Our President (yes, the rightful office-holder) is fond of saying, “The best is yet to come.” For the Christian, no statement could ever be more certain. We have the Word of God—filled with all His glorious promises. We have His indwelling Spirit. We are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). It is time for a spiritual counter-attack! We can only do this as we put on the full armor of God and dedicate ourselves to effective, powerful, and prevailing prayer (Eph. 6:10–18). I recently wrote to an old Marine friend, introduced to me by Colonel Curcio. Here is his response to me regarding recent events:
“I’m 75 now and never before have I enjoyed the battle more. I feel like I’ve been chosen to enter the battle, get a little muddy, and God has given me a lifetime of training to draw upon. I live in a 12×16 foot cabin in the woods now and have never been more happy. I think of your dad as a runner. When you see the finish line—turn up the heat. Leave it all on the field of battle. What a great time in history to show the world what Christian values are. I’ve rambled enough. SEMPER FI.” D.M.
For Such a Time as This
I would encourage you all to read the Book of Esther. Draw from its history and wisdom all the strength and guidance you will need in the days ahead. Let me say bluntly that I do not believe God is done with America. When hundreds of thousands of believers answer the call to gather in our nation’s capital, and at state capitals around this great land, I am convinced that God hears and will answer our prayers.
We are living in a time of sifting, and you do not want to fall among the chaff. Neither would you want to be remembered as one of the “Summer soldiers” spoken of by Thomas Paine during the darkest hours of the American Revolution:
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
Let us be willing now, in this dark hour, to take our stand with those of all generations past, who refused to give in to despair, and who met the assault of evil with the greater power of the goodness of God (Rom. 12:21). Like Esther, we were born “for such a time as this” (Esth. 4:14b).
This fight is not over. It is just beginning. The victory is ours, if only we will claim it by faith. May God give us His grace, wisdom, and power, to see it through to the finish. I believe with all my heart and soul that …
“The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give [them] into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47
If it pleases God for it to be so, let our courage and boldness of faith be the second time of “the shot heard round the world.” Let the whole world see why God has so favored this blessed land by showing a faith that is worthy of it. Hold the line! Remember that true spiritual greatness celebrates the victory of the LORD before it happens (2 Kings 6:16–23).
Your fellow-soldier on the line,
Gene