Wherever we look, it seems that people are asleep. We witness the decay of our political freedoms and say everything is all right. As a nation, we cannot discern the coming collapse of the longest running Republic in the history of the world. Why this blindness?
America was founded upon Biblical principles, yet we look around and find it hard to distinguish anything Christian about it anymore! The Bible was once adhered to as the textbook in schools. Now it is banned.
Notice what the prophet Isaiah reported: “And He [Lord of hosts – v. 6] will destroy in this mountain the face of covering cast over ALL people, and the vail that is spread over all nations” (Isaiah 25: 7). There is a covering, a vail of spiritual blindness that blankets the people of the earth. Is it any wonder they go to sleep reading the Bible or say the political is okay?
That same blindness was evident with the collapse of the Roman Empire. They continued to let “barbarians” come into their land that did not become Romans. They did not learn the culture; therefore, they had no loyalty to Rome. America is in the same condition today! Illegal aliens are pouring into our country without assimilating into our culture. They even claim parts of the Southwest for themselves. Blindness!!!
The Apostle Paul lamented over Israel’s blindness, yet he understood that God was working out a great purpose for all mankind. “What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were BLINDED” (Romans 11: 7). Paul even quoted scripture to prove the blindness was a part of God’s plan. “(According as it is written, GOD HAS GIVEN THEM THE SPIRIT OF SLUMBER, EYES THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEE, AND EARS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HEAR;) UNTO THIS DAY. And David said, LET THEIR TABLE BE MADE A SNARE, AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLINGBLOCK, AND A RECOMPENCE UNTO THEM: LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED, THAT THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND BOW DOWN THEIR BACK ALWAYS” (Romans 11: 8-10).
This scripture says God is responsible for the blinding of the people. But how has He allowed such blinding to occur? “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world has 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” (2 Corinthians 4: 3-4). God has allowed the “god of this world” to deceive. He didn’t have to let him roam freely to deceive. Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18 that He had all power in heaven and in earth. That means “the god of this world” has no power unless Jesus allows him to have it. Read the First and Second chapters of Job to understand permission given by God to the “god of this world.”
“The god of this world” was identified as being in the original Garden of God. He was called the “serpent” in Genesis 3. The identity of “the god of this world” is clarified in the Book of Revelation. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old SERPENT, called the Devil, and Satan, WHICH DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD: …” (Revelation 12: 9).
It is this ungodly deceiver that we are contending with today. The world has been blinded by Satan’s activities, but God has opened our eyes to his deceptions. God has promised that He would provide a way out if pressure became too much for us to bear (1 Corinthians 10: 13). We are not to be ignorant or unknowledgeable of Satan’s tactics. We are not to let Satan blind us again once we have come out from under his sway. God’s Spirit in us should give us spiritual understanding as to who is our enemy! We are not to let him get an advantage over us.
Will someone throw a stumbling block in your way? Just because someone performs an ungodly act while claiming to be a Christian, does that give you the right to throw away your salvation and become blinded again?
Because all of Israel has been blinded except the “elect” today, what was Paul’s conclusion? “I say then, Have they [physical Israel] stumbled that they should fall? GOD FORBID:…” (Romans 11: 11). Blindness is to be removed in God’s due time. He has a plan!!! “For I would not … that you should be ignorant of this mystery [secret plan], … that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles [nations] be come in. AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, THERE SHALL COME OUT OF SION THE DELIVERER, AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGOD-LINESS FROM JACOB: FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT UNTO THEM, WHEN I SHALL TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS” (Romans 11: 25-27).
Spiritual blindness has covered the earth to allow mankind to learn that they cannot rule their lives separate and apart from God’s perfect spiritual Laws. God allowed Satan to blind the world UNTIL His plan is complete. The very last phase was to remove the source of blindness – Satan (Revelation 20: 1-3). Satan and his angels will be locked up in a spiritual prison during the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Salvation will be extended to ALL the world – not just Israel.
With the source of deception eliminated, the world will, as a whole, accept Jesus as its Savior. He will resurrect from the dead those who have been blinded during all ages. He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon them; and for the first time, they will KNOW the Lord (Ezekiel 37: 1-14; Romans 11: 15).
Blindness is destined to disappear. Minds will be opened to the REAL truth! Salvation will come. Oh the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.
