"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated
Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world,
the world would love its own. Yet because you are
not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you. "Remember the
word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will
also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will
keep yours also. (John 15:18-20 NKJV)

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which
are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual
immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are
whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also
approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32 NKJV)

Though no one can predict the future
of our nation, we can say with
confidence that God is in control, His
cause will triumph, and He judges
nations.
 'The wicked shall be turned into hell, and
all the nations that forget God" (Psalm
9:17).
 'Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
Gibbon's famous work,
The Decline and Fall of
the Roman Empire, lists
five reasons for the fall
of Rome.
 There are several
parallels between
ancient Israel and Rome,
and even more
disturbing, between
Rome and America.

Edward Gibbon
(1737–1794)

The rapid increase of divorce; the
undermining of the dignity and sanctity of
the home, which is the basis of human
society.
 American families are under attack by humanists,
homosexuals, and Hollywood. Some don't even
know what a family is any more (Matthew 19:4-9).
 Hebrews 13:4
 Romans 1:25-27
Higher and higher taxes: the spending of
public monies for free bread and circuses
for the populace .


America is on the greatest spending binge in
history. Many have forgotten how to work; they
expect the government to support them.
▪
▪
2 Thessalonians 3:10
I Timothy 5:8
The mad craze for pleasure: sports
becoming every year more exciting and
more brutal .


Many Americans are so obsessed with sports
that they have no time for worship or Bible
studies.
▪
▪
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2 Timothy 3:4
RSV)
Hebrews 11:25
The building of gigantic armaments when
the real enemy was within - the decadence
of the people.


Babylon's wall, water, and wealth could not
prevent the Persian invasion (Daniel 5). No
armament can protect a nation that has rotted
from within – not even America's.
▪
▪
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it
labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the
watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalms 127:1 RSV)
Proverbs 14:34
The decay of religion: faith fading into mere
form; losing touch with life and becoming
powerless to warn and guide the people.




Most churches have become social clubs, pursuing
entertainment to attract bigger crowds.
Many audiences no longer expect to hear book,
chapter, and verse (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
They have replaced the house of prayer with food,
fun, and frolic (Matthew 21:12-14).

Those who don't know history are doomed to
repeat it.
 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to
any people. (Proverbs 14:34 NKJV)
 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the
Father but is of the world. And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)

Expect Persecution
 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12,13

Love The Lost
 John 3:16; Romans 12:17 – 21

Live in the world, but don’t be of the
world!
 Matthew 5:13-15; Romans 12:2; 1
Corinthians 15:33


Outline by Steve Higginbotham
Article by Rick Duggin