Plucking the Eagle's Wings

2001 to 2008 and the Fullness of the Gentiles

ministered to the Gentiles in the first church.

Again, there is a remarkable correlation here. In the first century. two apostles were used to unite the church and, in the last days, two prophets will be used to unite Israel. Spiritual unbelief caused Israel to be severed from the natural olive tree, and faith in Christ brought the Gentiles into the covenant. During the first forty-two months of the tribulation, severe judgments will strike Gentile nations throughout the world as the wrath of God visits those who will not repent of their wickedness (Revelation 9:20; 16:9; 16:11). As a minister, I have seen a preview of this tragedy in America as it becomes more difficult to reach people with the Gospel. In our nation, hearts are being hardened like stone and people scoff at the idea of sin. This is a sign that the fullness of the Gentiles is nearing. When Israel rejected Christ as Messiah, great trouble followed; likewise, as America rejects Christ the Messiah, trouble will surely follow. America is Forgetting the Bible Recent surveys show that about 92 percent of all Americans own at least one Bible. Yet, according to a Gallop Poll, Americans are Biblically ignorant. Only half of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Genesis), and only one third know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (many named Billy Graham instead of Jesus). Most did not know that the Christian reason for observing Easter was to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. In the 1980s, about 73 percent of Americans occasionally read the Bible. Today less than 59 percent read the Bible at all. George Gallop said, "We believe in the Bible, but we don't read it." May I add that many Americans believe in God and prayer, but they seldom repent. The world's leading Christian nation is entering a post Christian era. America's greatest opportunities to reach the end-time harvest are before us, but the doors will not remain open forever. The Vine and the Olive Tree America was ordained by the Lord to be a spiritual vineyard. Its purpose was to be a lighthouse to the world, shining the light of the Kingdom of God into every dark corner. America is the only Gentile nation in history that can trace its origins and prophetic patterns to Israel. Just as Jesus predicted that the vineyard would be taken away, the Hebrew prophets also predicted that God would return to His vineyard

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