Tomorrow, March 22nd ends the Hebrew month of Adar which corresponds to our months of February-March. We studied about the role of the “lots” or “pur” in the account of Esther as lots were used by Haman to determine the day that he would have Mordecai killed. Of course, we know that God performed a Divine reversal so that Haman would be hanged on that day. In the Bible, the casting of lots is used for the Yom Kippur sacrificial goats in Leviticus 16—a goat for God—a goat for Azazel—the scapegoat. We are familiar with the account of the soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ robe as foretold in Psalms 22: 17. In the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947, we learn the Doctrine of the Two Spirits as it describes mankind as being divided between “Sons of Light” and “Sons of Darkness” where the “lot” is defined as a group of people or followers. God has followers and Belial (Satan) has followers. Before the final battle at the end of days the first attack by the “Sons of Light” will be against the “Sons of Darkness.” We will revisit this revelation later in this study.
With this in mind, God carried me back to words He spoke to me on the morning after the election held November 4, 2008: “The die has been cast.” I was familiar with the phrase but did not know its source. Upon searching the scriptures, I determined that it was not a Biblical passage. An Internet search revealed that it was a phrase used by Julius Caesar when he marched on Rome. I also learned that “die” is the singular of dice. “The die is cast” means “let the game be played” and implying that the action has been taken, so events will proceed in an irreversible manner—the point of no return has been passed—the future is determined—there are no more options. A few days later, I received an email from a prophecy news website that I subscribe to which said: “For all of you who received the word from God ‘the die has been cast’ we are assured that God is in control and His end-time plan has been set in motion—this is the point of no return!” God has partnered with me over the years to reveal truth relating to this statement and its impact upon where we are today. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “What has been will be again, and what has been will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Last week “the die has been cast” phrase was repeated in the news relating to the “Ides of March,” March 15th marking the day of the Roman general and statesmen Julius Caesar’s assassination by conspiring members of the Roman senate, on March 15, 44 BCE. Caesar became a dictator after causing a civil war. His rule, and murder, effectively ended the Roman republic—and changed the course of history. Caesar’s assassination would eventually lead to the founding of the Roman Empire by Caesar’s nephew Octavian, better known as Emperor Augustus. It was not merely a name that gave Augustus divine status but also as his adoptive father Julius had been divinized after his death which meant that Augustus would now have grounds for claiming the title of “son of god.” The long and triumphant reign of its first emperor, Augustus, began a golden age of peace and prosperity; by contrast, the Roman Empire’s decline and fall after 450 years as a republic was one of the most dramatic implosions in the history of human civilization.
God rules and overrules in the Divine Plan of the ages and His truth stands in complete contrast to the deceptions of Satan that have blinded society from the beginning—a deception that permeates everything. Indeed, it is the seed of Satan that seeks to destroy the seed of the woman! (Genesis 3:15) It was in the shadow of the rule of Augustus, the so-called “son of god,” that God sat the stage for the birth of the true Son of God—Jesus Christ—the Messiah! Galatians 4:4 says: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” God always uses what Satan means for evil for good for His people! God handled every detail preparing the way for the first coming of Christ into this world. (1) It was Caesar Augustus that commanded all the world to be taxed so that Mary and Joseph would have to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus’ birth was to fulfill prophecy. (Luke 2: 1-7) (2) Roman peace was in place. (3) Roman powers used crucifixion as the mode of execution. (John 19: 6-7) (4) Roads were built enabling travel. (5) The Greek language had been established as the uniform language. (6) The Jews were looking for their Messiah. (7) The persecuted Jews were ready for the Gospel. Jesus’ coming fulfilled over 365 promises spoken of in the Old Testament! Jesus Christ brought victory over sin and death!
America has often been compared to the Roman Empire. With this in mind, I would like for you to consider these facts that led to its fall: (1) Invasions by hostile immigration (2) Constant wars and overspending which resulted in oppressive taxation and inflation and a widening gap between rich and poor (3) Civil infrastructure fell into disrepair (4) Government corruption and political instability (5) Weakening of the military and its makeup began to change (6) Staggering cost of elections with questionable funding sources (7) Fall from its superpower status in the world (8) Politics became the road to personal wealth (9) Outside influence by foreign powers and interests (10) Loss of the spirit of compromise where internal divisions and strife prevailed. Jesus said in Matthew 12: 26: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
America has been known as “the home of the brave and free” with its motto “In God We Trust.” It was the Pilgrims that envisioned a great nation of freedom of religion and freedom from tyranny. The Mayflower Compact outlined such aspirations and expressed belief in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This nation has been blessed by God as a client nation for the spread of the Gospel. I have witnessed this prosperity and blessing in my lifetime as I saw electricity and running water made available in homes, the transportation explosion, an abundance of food, clothing and other necessities, but most of all the freedom to worship and grow in the knowledge of God and His Son and to make Him known through technology to whosoever will hear. Yes, I have seen the best of years and now it appears that I am seeing the worse of years as this nation is on the decline as we saw in the Roman Empire. God’s words to Daniel in 12: 4 can now be understood: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” An aerial view of this world verifies people moving to and fro in the busy pace of life and I recently heard that knowledge in the world is doubling every 12 minutes.
God is setting up the game board—the stage—the players for Jesus’ Second Coming as He did for His first coming—“the die has been cast” as God revealed in 2008 as we have witnessed the rapid changes that are occurring in our nation. Events are falling into place according to prophecies as He readies His Church for the Rapture and is setting up every detail for the fulfillment of the Tribulation. While God is preparing this world for the reign of Christ, Satan and his minions are furiously preparing to set up his kingdom! We are witnessing this great spiritual battle at such a time as this!
There is yet another paradigm between the Roman Empire and America today. Rome had been immersed in worship to the pagan gods and goddesses and even naming our months after them! However, after the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers, the Romans were being converted to the Christian faith and their God rather than the gods they had worshipped for years. Today God is pouring out His Spirit upon His sons and daughters at such a time as this to empower us to be strong and of good courage, to let go of fear and to take a stand against the darkness and for the Light. Believers are children of light and not of darkness—let us watch and be sober, putting on faith and love. (1 Thess. 5:1-11) Jesus is coming again!