1 00:00:04,820 --> 00:00:11,140 Greetings. This is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a 2 00:00:11,140 --> 00:00:17,480 moment of truth, where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith. 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:25,219 And today, I want to challenge all of you out there to be men of Issachar. Don't say 4 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:33,200 Gesundheit. I didn't sneeze. I just quoted for you one of the tribes of Israel, men of Issachar. 5 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:40,439 And there's a very important verse that's kind of tucked away in 1 Chronicles 12, verse 32, 6 00:00:41,179 --> 00:00:47,920 that says some very important things about the men of Issachar. And 1 Chronicles 12, verse 32, 7 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:57,340 says that of Issachar, there were men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel 8 00:00:57,340 --> 00:01:06,980 ought to do. And this was in the days when David was first ruling as king of Israel. In the early 9 00:01:06,980 --> 00:01:15,159 days, during the collapse of the kingdom of Saul, indeed, David was coming into his own. And he 10 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:21,620 needed men who had understanding of the times and could know what Israel ought to do. And America 11 00:01:21,620 --> 00:01:30,079 needs men of Issachar today, men who understand the times and know what the United States of America 12 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:40,180 ought to do as well. As goes the church, so goes the nation. So the church today needs men of Issachar. 13 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:48,439 So I want to reflect on that with you over the next few weeks as we look very carefully at precisely what 14 00:01:48,439 --> 00:01:54,239 the United States of America needs right now. We just don't need a president who understands the 15 00:01:54,239 --> 00:02:02,659 times and knows what to do. We need a whole host of men, men of Issachar, who understand the times 16 00:02:02,659 --> 00:02:08,900 and know what the United States of America ought to do. So let's reflect on that, okay, for just a minute. 17 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:20,039 For example, in May of 1548, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, gave his ultimatum to the German princes 18 00:02:20,039 --> 00:02:27,719 of the Reformation, who had embraced the Protestant cause. And his ultimatum was called the interim. 19 00:02:28,020 --> 00:02:35,740 That is, Protestants return to mother church or have it reimposed upon you by military force. 20 00:02:35,740 --> 00:02:43,740 Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. And those German princes had confederated together in what was 21 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:51,180 called the Schmalkaldic League, which was a military alliance to provide for their common defense 22 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:59,099 against precisely this kind of threat from the Holy Roman Emperor. Now, it was clear from the tenor of 23 00:02:59,099 --> 00:03:07,240 the times. They were men of Issachar. That the demand for reform had grown so great that the Pope and 24 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:14,219 the Emperor would react to it, and they would react soon, and not in a conciliatory manner either. 25 00:03:14,580 --> 00:03:20,139 All the interests of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire were threatened by the 26 00:03:20,139 --> 00:03:27,780 Reformation. Economic and political and religious interests were all threatened by the Reformation. 27 00:03:28,139 --> 00:03:34,819 The whole house of tarot cards threatened to come down. Anyone with eyes to see knew that Rome would 28 00:03:34,819 --> 00:03:42,699 strike back with full force. Well, it is acknowledged that the men of the city of Magdeburg, Germany, 29 00:03:42,699 --> 00:03:49,900 were in the vanguard of forming and organizing this defense of the Protestant cause. They had eyes to 30 00:03:49,900 --> 00:03:56,919 see. And led by the pastors of that city, very important to understand, led by the pastors of 31 00:03:56,919 --> 00:04:04,060 that city, nine of them importantly, they crafted a rationale for their taking political and military 32 00:04:04,060 --> 00:04:10,919 action against the interim of Charles V. And that rationale has come down to us as the Magdeburg 33 00:04:10,919 --> 00:04:19,879 Confession of 1550. And the Magdeburg Confession of 1550 is an eloquent, tightly and biblically 34 00:04:19,879 --> 00:04:26,800 reasoned case for resisting the magistrate. The first argument of it goes, for example, and I quote, 35 00:04:27,199 --> 00:04:34,800 the magistrate is an ordinance of God for honor to good works and a terror to evil works. And this is, 36 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:41,759 of course, from Romans chapter 13. It goes on to say, therefore, when he begins, that is the 37 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:48,459 magistrate, begins to be a terror to good works and honor to evil, there is no longer in him the 38 00:04:48,459 --> 00:04:56,439 ordinance of God, but the ordinance of the devil. And he who resists such works does not resist the 39 00:04:56,439 --> 00:05:05,660 ordinance of God, but the ordinance of the devil, unquote. So, importantly, the Magdeburg Confession 40 00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:12,339 honors the long-held doctrine of the lesser magistrate. Yes, does this sound familiar to you? 41 00:05:12,779 --> 00:05:19,939 The doctrine of the lesser magistrate. That is, when a greater magistrate, like a king or an emperor, 42 00:05:19,939 --> 00:05:26,899 emperor, or contemporaneously, the president. When that greater magistrate has forfeited his right to 43 00:05:26,899 --> 00:05:33,500 govern through his evil behavior, then it is the right, yea, the duty of the lesser magistrate. For 44 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:41,100 example, a prince, or in our day, a state governor. It is their duty to resist him, even to the point of 45 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:49,000 armed resistance. And over the centuries, the Magdeburg Confession of 1550 has stood the test of time 46 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:55,899 in eloquently making the case for the doctrine of the lesser magistrate. Now, I have a three-part 47 00:05:55,899 --> 00:06:05,980 series on this on our website, americastruths.org, on the doctrine of the lesser magistrate, a three-part 48 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:12,040 series. And if you go to our website, americastruths.org, you'll see a button under 49 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:18,980 series. And there you will find our three-part series on the doctrine of the lesser magistrate. 50 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:26,600 Well, in October of 1550, the bishop's forces laid siege to the city of Magdeburg and invested it 51 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:33,699 until November of 1551. But the men of Magdeburg, led by her pastors again, had prepared their 52 00:06:33,699 --> 00:06:41,500 defense as well, including the hearts and spirits of the people. Rome's efforts to reimpose Roman 53 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:48,579 Catholicism in Magdeburg failed, though not without great sacrifice to the people of that city. 54 00:06:48,579 --> 00:06:56,279 So, Magdeburg led the defense league because her pastors saw the temper of the times and they acted 55 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:03,100 accordingly. They did not cower in fear or pretend that all they had to do was preach the gospel and 56 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:11,199 leave the rest to others. No, they were men in the long tradition of the men of Issachar. As 1 Chronicles 57 00:07:11,199 --> 00:07:19,759 tells us, of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. 58 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:26,120 Dear brother and sister, we need this in our own day. Men of Issachar, if you will, who have 59 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:32,120 understanding of the times and know what the United States of America ought to do. So, there's a couple 60 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:37,699 of points that I want to make with you from this text today. And the first one is, tuned in. 61 00:07:37,699 --> 00:07:45,420 The men of Issachar were tuned in. Number one, covering verse 32a. That is, as the men of Issachar 62 00:07:45,420 --> 00:07:53,199 in Israel, so the church needs men today who understand the times in which they live. The church 63 00:07:53,199 --> 00:08:00,899 needs men today who understand the times in which they live. Yes. Well, the context for our verse 64 00:08:00,899 --> 00:08:06,040 of Issachar, men of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. 65 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:12,339 Well, the context for our verse is the assemblage of the faithful few from the tribes of Israel at 66 00:08:12,339 --> 00:08:18,899 Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to David, according to the word of the Lord, as the text says. 67 00:08:19,459 --> 00:08:26,000 Now, events had unfolded such that Israel had reached a crossroads in her history. Yea, 68 00:08:26,079 --> 00:08:32,960 the whole of redemptive history, if we might add. Since a conclusion had been reached in the hot 69 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:39,559 pursuit of David by his king, Saul the Benjamite, right? A resolution, finally. As providence would 70 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:46,879 have it, it would be the Philistines and not David who would slay Saul and his sons, Jonathan and 71 00:08:46,879 --> 00:08:54,659 Abinadab and Malkishual. And they were slain on Mount Gilboa by the Philistines. And David would go on 72 00:08:54,659 --> 00:09:01,840 to take Jerusalem and be anointed king at Hebron. But here we are treated to a glimpse of loyalty and 73 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:10,039 faithfulness. When in the dark days of uncertainty, a few rallied to David's side. Now, a significant 74 00:09:10,039 --> 00:09:19,039 cohort in that number were men of Issachar. Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son born 75 00:09:19,039 --> 00:09:27,659 by Leah. Issachar means literally man of hire. But in its context, we might better translate 76 00:09:27,659 --> 00:09:35,659 Issachar as there is recompense. It can also be translated as there is indeed recompense. And of 77 00:09:35,659 --> 00:09:42,240 course, there was recompense here for Leah, for she had given her mandrakes to her sister Rachel 78 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:50,299 in order that Rachel might bear children. But God smiled upon Leah and gave her yet a fifth son, 79 00:09:50,519 --> 00:09:59,179 Issachar. So she named him. Oh, indeed, there is recompense. And then Jacob's blessing of Issachar 80 00:09:59,179 --> 00:10:06,360 too. In Genesis chapter 49, Jacob's blessing of Issachar reflects his name too. And that blessing 81 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:13,980 went like this, quote, Issachar is a strong donkey crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a 82 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:20,779 resting place was good and that the land was pleasant. So he bowed his shoulder to bear and 83 00:10:20,779 --> 00:10:28,600 became a servant at forced labor. Now, that idea of forced labor can also be translated, and I think 84 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:35,600 better translated, as difficult or strenuous labor. So Issachar put his shoulder to bear and became a 85 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:43,059 servant at difficult and strenuous labor. Oh, the recompense for difficult and strenuous labor was 86 00:10:43,059 --> 00:10:51,019 indeed a land that was good and pleasant, and that was in the midst of Israel. Issachar as a tribe also 87 00:10:51,019 --> 00:10:59,720 developed a reputation for serious work and loyalty and faithfulness. And we need men of Issachar in 88 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:07,440 America today who are dedicated to serious work and with loyalty and faithfulness to our constitution. 89 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:14,360 Well, Issachar as a tribe developed a reputation for serious work. For example, Issachar was one of 90 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:22,580 the few tribes that came out with Deborah to fight the Canaanites in Judges. Yes, Judges chapter 5, 91 00:11:22,580 --> 00:11:29,000 the song that Deborah sang. The song that Deborah sang was in part dedicated to Issachar. For she said in 92 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:37,320 her song, the princes of Issachar came with Deborah and Issachar faithful to Barak into the valley they 93 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:44,480 rushed at his heels. Unquote. Yes, Issachar was faithful and developed a reputation for faithfulness. 94 00:11:44,639 --> 00:11:51,000 Also, one of the judges who delivered Israel in the days of the judges was a man of Issachar. 95 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:57,419 And Judges chapter 10 goes like this. After Abimelech, there arose to save Israel Tola, 96 00:11:57,779 --> 00:12:04,980 the son of Pua, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar. And he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 97 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:15,840 And he judged Israel 23 years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. Yes, that was the judge Tola, 98 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:24,580 a man of Issachar, faithful indeed to the end. So, it is no surprise that 200 chiefs of clans 99 00:12:24,580 --> 00:12:31,279 in the tribe of Issachar reported for duty at Ziklog to serve David. Oh, yes, David, there is 100 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:36,360 recompense, is there not? In fact, Chronicles documents that the tribe of Issachar fielded 101 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:46,340 87,000, quote, mighty warriors enrolled by genealogy, unquote. This 87,000 man contingent 102 00:12:46,340 --> 00:12:52,340 was more than any other single tribe in Israel contributed to the armies of David. And they 103 00:12:52,340 --> 00:12:59,100 were distinguished by a very valuable attribute, men who had understanding of the times, 104 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:07,799 as Chronicles tells us. Now, the Hebrew word yadach for understanding is ubiquitous in the Old Testament 105 00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:15,519 for having a thorough knowledge of a thing. Yes, men who had knowledge of the times, yadach of the 106 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:24,019 times. Job 28, 23, for example, says, God understands the way to wisdom. Understand here, meaning, 107 00:13:24,019 --> 00:13:30,960 or the Hebrew word for understanding, yadach, God understands the way to wisdom and he knows 108 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:39,740 its place. Or Psalm 119, 152, David says, long have I known from your testimonies, that word being 109 00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:47,500 yadach, long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever, unquote. So, yadach, 110 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:56,620 a thorough acquaintance with a subject is indicated here as well. And it is also a thorough understanding 111 00:13:56,620 --> 00:14:05,039 of the times, the Hebrew word there being yad. The Hebrew word yad is equivalent to how we use times 112 00:14:05,039 --> 00:14:11,320 in this context, too. That is, a defined period of time characterized by specified events. Yad, 113 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:18,960 a defined period of time characterized by specified events. For example, Jeremiah chapter 51, 33 says, 114 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:25,460 for thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, the daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at 115 00:14:25,460 --> 00:14:32,840 the time when it is trodden. Yad, at the time when it is trodden. It goes on to say, yet a little while 116 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:40,600 and the time of her harvest will come. That is, the yad of her harvest will come. Once again, 117 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:47,960 yad being a defined period of time characterized by specified events. Or Numbers 23, 23 says, 118 00:14:48,539 --> 00:14:54,899 for there, when it's a beautiful song of the coming Messiah, and it goes like this, for there is no 119 00:14:54,899 --> 00:15:01,779 enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel at this time, at this time, at this yad, 120 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:08,980 at this time, it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, what has God wrought? Yeah. So, the word for 121 00:15:08,980 --> 00:15:16,259 understanding of the times is this word yet, which is ubiquitous throughout the Old Testament, again, 122 00:15:16,340 --> 00:15:23,539 as a defined period of time characterized by specified events. Well, the sense then is that 123 00:15:23,539 --> 00:15:29,200 one knows the circumstances, the players, the background, the significance of what is transpiring 124 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:37,039 before their eyes. Those who see thus can weigh the various factors and forces at play and understand 125 00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:43,679 exactly what is going on. Redemptive history is unfolding before the men of Issachar, and they're 126 00:15:43,679 --> 00:15:50,820 on it. Oh, they don't have half-baked opinions on what's going on based upon inaccurate or partial 127 00:15:50,820 --> 00:15:57,240 information. No, the men of Issachar are not lazy or indifferent to the times, content to live in a 128 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:04,799 comfortable cocoon, placidly letting the world go by, reciting platitudes like, oh, the Lord's in 129 00:16:04,799 --> 00:16:11,659 control. Oh, this is an evangelical nostrum, isn't it? I hear so many people say this, but it's an 130 00:16:11,659 --> 00:16:19,259 excuse for inaction, for not doing anything, because, oh, the Lord's in control. Oh, the men of Issachar's 131 00:16:19,259 --> 00:16:26,779 view is not distorted by their prejudices and their biases and their hatreds, so that their understanding 132 00:16:26,779 --> 00:16:34,460 of the times is clouded. No, they are meant of objectivity. They understand with brutal reality 133 00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:41,440 the facts on the ground. Our Lord even rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing how to interpret their 134 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:47,159 times, and he does it in exactly this fashion. He tells them in Luke chapter 12, you hypocrites, 135 00:16:47,679 --> 00:16:53,399 you know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret 136 00:16:53,399 --> 00:17:01,379 the present time? Oh, yes, the men of Issachar were not Pharisees. The men of Issachar were not 137 00:17:01,379 --> 00:17:09,240 progressives with distorted worldviews that twisted their objective understanding of the times. No, 138 00:17:09,619 --> 00:17:15,960 the men of Issachar were not naive evangelicals either, indifferent to the times, all because the 139 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:21,839 rapture is coming soon anyway, or because this world is not our home, and we shouldn't trouble 140 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:31,079 ourselves, right? No, they were not naive evangelicals. The men of Issachar had a clear eye and a sober mind. 141 00:17:31,220 --> 00:17:37,859 They could see that David was the true shepherd of Israel. They could see that God had rejected Saul 142 00:17:37,859 --> 00:17:45,119 for his unfaithfulness. They could see that God was supernaturally blessing and keeping David despite 143 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:52,059 all of Saul's efforts to kill him. Issachar, in distinction from the rest of Israel, the men of 144 00:17:52,059 --> 00:17:59,380 Issachar had an understanding of the times. Well, dear listener, have things changed? Is anything more 145 00:17:59,380 --> 00:18:07,140 required of us than to sit and wait for the rapture or ignore time in favor of eternity because this is 146 00:18:07,140 --> 00:18:14,099 not our home after all, right? Oh, I would submit to you that today, as it always has been, that the 147 00:18:14,099 --> 00:18:21,660 church and the country need men of Issachar who understand the times as much as David needed men 148 00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:27,640 like those of Issachar. It has been like this throughout the history of the church, and many in 149 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:34,779 America need to get over their reluctance at getting their hands dirty and applying the gospel to the 150 00:18:34,779 --> 00:18:41,779 times in which we live. One of my favorite examples from history is the great deacon and scholar of the 151 00:18:41,779 --> 00:18:48,460 medieval church, a man named Alcuin, who became an advisor and confidant to the Holy Roman Emperor 152 00:18:48,460 --> 00:18:57,200 Charlemagne in the late 8th and early 9th century. Oh, I love Charlemagne. The Englishman Alcuin had earned 153 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:04,200 a reputation as a scholar and developer of the Great Library at York in England, and Emperor 154 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:10,920 Charlemagne eagerly sought advice from all over his empire as to how to most effectively rule as a 155 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:17,279 Christian prince. That's one of the reasons I love Charlemagne, is because he was dedicated to being a 156 00:19:17,279 --> 00:19:26,000 biblical Christian prince. And Alcuin, a close student of the times, was more than eager and ready to oblige 157 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:35,420 Charlemagne. I quote the medieval scholar, Bianca Marska-Kunz, and she says about Charlemagne, and I quote, 158 00:19:35,799 --> 00:19:44,160 Charlemagne saw a trusted advisor in Alcuin, and besides his teachings, he also had a vast influence on political 159 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:52,099 issues. Even though he grew up at the monastic school at York, he was not a monk, and he was always concerned with 160 00:19:52,099 --> 00:19:59,319 worldly matters just as much as with the religious ones. He combined both and played a huge role in 161 00:19:59,319 --> 00:20:06,180 forming and bringing forward the ideal of rulership, on the one hand as a ruler with certain attributes, 162 00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:11,539 and on the other as a preacher who spreads Christianity, the ruler that is Charlemagne. 163 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:18,900 Well, he goes on, she goes on to say, in Alcuin's eyes, a king should guide and rule his realm, 164 00:20:18,900 --> 00:20:26,579 ensure justice, renew the church, and unify the people under his rule. Being the person who decides 165 00:20:26,579 --> 00:20:33,079 in a just way, defends against oppression, make laws, takes care of strangers and pilgrims, 166 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:40,759 and spreads the word of Christ everywhere, unquote. Oh, Alcuin advised Charlemagne, he should be that 167 00:20:40,759 --> 00:20:47,559 kind of emperor. Well, in our own day, we require those who understand the times in which we live, 168 00:20:47,559 --> 00:20:55,240 like Alcuin, are we ready to abandon all of God's good creation and all of this life under the sun 169 00:20:55,240 --> 00:21:02,539 to the world and the devil? Because we're only pilgrims here when we have no lasting home. Oh, our world, 170 00:21:02,839 --> 00:21:08,420 and the United States of America in particular, stands at a crossroads in history, dear listener. 171 00:21:08,420 --> 00:21:18,019 We have opportunity to staunch the flow of blood in America from the evils of abortion and war. We have 172 00:21:18,019 --> 00:21:25,619 the opportunity to end modern slavery from human trafficking of women and children across the border 173 00:21:25,619 --> 00:21:33,460 and rather bring liberty to the people. We have the opportunity to end the worldwide tyranny that sucks 174 00:21:33,460 --> 00:21:39,500 the wealth from the average working man and funnels it to the wealthy lords of the earth. We have the 175 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:47,039 opportunity to spread the gospel across the world and in our own country by standing tall in the public 176 00:21:47,039 --> 00:21:55,059 square for our First Amendment rights. Yes, dear listener, but it requires men who know the times. 177 00:21:55,059 --> 00:22:02,980 It requires men who know the times. Because, dear listener, as goes the church, so goes the nation. 178 00:22:03,460 --> 00:22:09,019 That's a rule that's always been obtainable here in this church age. As goes the church, 179 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:14,940 so goes the nation. That's why we need men of Issachar who know the times and know what to do 180 00:22:14,940 --> 00:22:20,339 as well. And no one, really, when you think about it, think about this. No one should know 181 00:22:20,339 --> 00:22:28,180 the times better than a Christian because we live in our age. We have a great impact upon our age 182 00:22:28,180 --> 00:22:34,279 and culture and politics, all of us. And when I say no one should know the times better than a 183 00:22:34,279 --> 00:22:43,819 Christian, it's not so that he can obsess over red heifers and raptures and the Antichrist. No, 184 00:22:43,819 --> 00:22:51,000 that is 180 degrees opposite of the men of Issachar. If you are obsessed with Bible prophecy, 185 00:22:51,619 --> 00:22:58,700 you're not a man of Issachar. You're a man of cul-de-sac. Yes, you're irrelevant. You are useless 186 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:06,660 to God's kingdom. Indeed, there is information out there to gather from a lot of different reliable 187 00:23:06,660 --> 00:23:14,759 sources so that you can be informed as to what is actually transpiring in our age. I would recommend 188 00:23:14,759 --> 00:23:25,200 sources like the Epoch Times, for example, or online Revolver News. All have reliable information 189 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:34,619 in terms of knowing what is transpiring today. Mike Adams, as well, is another reliable sources of news. 190 00:23:34,619 --> 00:23:41,519 Tucker Carlson, since he was fired from Fox, he has a great broadcast, great website. 191 00:23:42,619 --> 00:23:49,559 These kinds of sources, not mainstream news, not mainstream media, you will never get a good idea 192 00:23:49,559 --> 00:23:58,359 of, indeed, what are the times and consequently knowing the times and then being able to extrapolate 193 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:06,279 what needs to be done. As goes the church, so goes the nation. Dear brother and sister, you are a 194 00:24:06,279 --> 00:24:14,359 Christian and no one should know the times better than a Christian. To compare to the times, we have 195 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:19,940 the Word of God, the Scriptures, and we are better able to apply the Scriptures to our own day and time 196 00:24:19,940 --> 00:24:27,019 so that we might build a better world for our families, for our children. Indeed, covenant 197 00:24:27,019 --> 00:24:34,400 inheritance depends on creating the circumstances for handing to your subsequent generation, to your 198 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:41,980 children, a better world and not just sit around and wait for the rapture and excuse yourselves because 199 00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:47,880 you think. Once again, I have an entire lecture on this, on what is the rapture and precisely when is it 200 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:55,279 supposed to be, et cetera, et cetera. But in short, if you're obsessed with Bible prophecy, you are men 201 00:24:55,279 --> 00:25:02,420 of cul-de-sac, not of Issachar. Be men of Issachar, dear listener, men of Issachar who know the times 202 00:25:02,420 --> 00:25:10,220 and then subsequently and consequently know what to do in order to save the United States of America. 203 00:25:10,220 --> 00:25:17,059 We are poised to be able to do just that. We have leadership in place, in government, 204 00:25:17,059 --> 00:25:23,559 that can go a long ways to doing that. But these men of leadership in government also need men of 205 00:25:23,559 --> 00:25:30,680 leadership in spirituality, too, dear listener. Politics is downstream from culture. That's a 206 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:38,859 well-known truth, isn't it? A well-known truism that indeed politics is downstream from culture, but 207 00:25:38,859 --> 00:25:45,799 culture is also downstream from religion, from a religious faith. And even prior to that, we can say 208 00:25:45,799 --> 00:25:52,619 that religious faith is downstream from the Lord God himself, for he gives us in revelation. He gives 209 00:25:52,619 --> 00:25:58,700 us the true faith, the true religion. So we need men of Issachar who know their scriptures and also know 210 00:25:58,700 --> 00:26:05,019 the times and then consequently know what the United States of America should do. Oh, dear listener, 211 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:11,720 this has been Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church. We are trying to become men of 212 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:17,099 Issachar who know the times and consequently know what the United States should do. Come and visit us. 213 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:22,960 Perhaps you've been thinking of crossing our threshold. We meet on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at 214 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:29,460 101 4th Street. We'll continue this broadcast next week, part two next week. But in the meantime, 215 00:26:29,460 --> 00:26:35,680 please come and visit us. We meet for holy worship at 10 a.m. at 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th and 216 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:49,599 Boulevard. And you can call us for more information or some feedback at area code 208-523-0196. Area code 208-523-0196.