Independence Day

Wild fires in the west, a freak storm causing power outages in the east, and hail in the middle of the United States; yet all with minimal deaths. The dollar has lost 1/3 of its value since 9/11/2001 (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_113473.html). God, in His mercy, is removing American comforts and idols (money and possessions) to bring Americans to repentance before His return and greater judgment. Unlike the city of Nineveh, our rulers are not calling for Americans to repent in sackcloth in hopes to avert God's judgment.  

Revelation 9: 20-21 “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries [pharmakeia], nor of their fornication [porneia], nor of their thefts.”

We don't connect the sins of our pornography and fornication and murders (50 million abortions since 1973) and our drug/theft rings with the righteous judgment we deserve. Like Sodom, the few believers in the city were unsuccessful in communicating their faith to bring about a godly repentance which would have saved their city. So believers need to prepare themselves now for when the LORD sends His angels to harvest the righteous remaining on the earth (Matthew 13:24-30), and to harvest the wicked for destruction (Rev. 14:12-20).
Some may say that this can't be the Great Tribulation because not enough bad stuff has happened, and people continue business as usual.  

Luke 17:28-33 “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

When you hear the trumpet and the LORD's shout for you to join Him in the air, be prepared to drop everything and say “Yes, King Jesus”. The American colonists understood that Britain's power to tax would lead to the power to usurp their religious freedoms, and they boldly declared “No king but King Jesus” and resolved to sever the unholy alliance on July 2, 1776 and signed their names to that resolution called the Declaration of Independence two days later.
We now find ourselves in a similar situation with our government demanding institutions of faith to support abortion and other sins. It's time to firmly align ourselves with the kingdom of God and to stand against this ungodly government however King Jesus directs. Our Revolutionary War began with preachers teaching on Romans 13 with a new interpretation, that governments which punished the righteous and rewarded the wicked ceased being God's authorities; and that Christians should do all they could to stop such tyranny. Preacher Jonathan Mayhew said in 1750, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God,” which was often written on banners during the war. [http://www.gotquestions.org/American-Revolution-Romans-13.html]

 This Independence Day consider declaring your dependence upon the LORD Jesus Christ and your independence from any government 'dictates' or 'laws' which are opposed to the the laws of God in His Word. Doing so might mean prison, but our LORD has done many miracles for His servants in prison.  

Acts 5:18-32 “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. . . . Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. . . . And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name? and, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood on us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him.”