Introduction
In the last session, we learnt that in the last days, human behavior and social standards break down. Individuals are responsible, and since they become gatekeepers in key positions (media, government, charities, even the church), they now advocate policies and laws that mirror their depravity, thus leading to the fall of their nation.
Main Verses: Genesis 6:5-13
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man {was} great in the earth, and {that} every imagination of the thoughts of his heart {was} only evil continually. {every...: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires} {continually: Heb. every day} And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. {both...: Heb. from man unto beast} But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These {are} the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man {and} perfect in his generations, {and} Noah walked with God. {perfect: or, upright} And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. {with the earth: or, from the earth} Isaiah 1:7
Your country {is} desolate, your cities {are} burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and {it is} desolate, as overthrown by strangers. {overthrown...: Heb. the overthrow of}
Main Points
Preflood World – The verses we have just read describe a society where the internal thought life of humanity had become entirely corrupted. What was the condition? The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every intention of the thoughts of the heart was only evil continually. What was the downfall? Since the earth was filled with violence and corruption, and the moral fabric was beyond repair, global civilization was wiped out by the flood.
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19) – The destruction of these cities is often cited as the archetype of moral decay leading to sudden judgment. While often associated with sexual immorality, the prophets later added more detail to their decline. For example,
explains that their sin also included pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, while they did not aid the poor and needy, arrogancy and abominations. What was their downfall? When the cry against the city became too great, they were destroyed by fire and sulfur.Ezekiel 16:49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.The Northern Kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17) – After King Solomon, the nation split. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) fell into moral and spiritual decay almost immediately by establishing golden calf worship. What was the condition? They sold themselves to do evil, practiced divination, and sacrificed their children in the fire. What was their downfall? In 722 BC, the Assyrian Empire conquered them and deported the population. The Bible explicitly states this happened because they had sinned against the Lord their God and walked in the customs of the nations.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 36) – Judah lasted longer than the Northern Kingdom but eventually followed the same path of moral decline, specifically under King Manasseh and his successors. What was the condition? The leaders and people transgressed greatly, following all the abominations of the nations. Most notably, they mocked God's messengers and despised His words until there was no remedy. What was their downfall? In 586 BC, the Babylonians burned the temple, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, and took the survivors into exile. Moral decay had reached a "point of no return" where the nation's spiritual identity was lost.
The Canaanite Nations
– Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, nations living there (the Canaanites) had reached a peak of moral depravity. What was their condition? They practiced child sacrifice, incest, and bestiality. What was their downfall? The Bible uses the graphic metaphor that the land vomited out its inhabitants. Their moral decay made them physically and spiritually incompatible with the land they occupied.Leviticus 18:24-28
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit {any} of these abominations; {neither} any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which {were} before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that {were} before you.
Conclusion
No nation can be excluded from a fall if it loses its Judeo-Christian anchor – those biblical principles that have shaped its character for centuries. The rot often starts from within; eventually there is in-fighting amongst various demonic groups, whilst at the same time the nation is blindsided by foreign enemies, who would eventually assume control through the organs of the state – democracy, freedom of speech, equality, etc.