GOD RULES NATIONS WHILE WE CAN PRAY
Influenced by the Bible, World Evangelist Franklin Graham believes, “the God factor” is the “crucial” reason for Donald Trump becoming president in the United States. Evangelist Graham has preached around the globe and across his native country, praying for God to make positive spiritual and political changes. The Bible provides examples of God demonstrating his world authority, and of his responding to prayers of his people. Nevertheless, people of various nations might wonder how prayers of God’s people might affect the future of their own nation?
THE BIBLE HAS SHOWN THAT PRAYERS AFFECT GOD’S RULE
In the Bible, God showed national emblems of four beasts in a vision to a praying man named Daniel for him to write: ”Know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will” (Daniel 4:17). Daniel had this vision after God had actually demonstrated his power.
>>> ACTUAL SHOW OF GOD”S RULE. God actually warned and then caused his people Israel to go into Babylonian captivity, because of their sin and disobedience. Daniel, a man of God, was among Israelite captivities. He regularly communed with God, and prayed for repentance and deliverance of his people. God revealed to Daniel when God would free Israel. The people repented and God set them free, as he said he would.
>>> PROPHECY ABOUT GOD’S RULE. Because of Daniel’s high favor with God as a praying man, the Lord also revealed to him through visions that God would establish a kingdom of righteousness on earth through his “Anointed One”, after he had raised up four successive great world powers. The four kingdoms were made known to Daniel in visions, wherein beasts were seen which symbolized the four kingdoms—Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome. (Daniel 2; Dan. 7:1-8, 15-18; Dan. 8:19-22). The promised “Anointed One” would come during the time of the Roman empire; and he would “atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:20-27).
>>> FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY. “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son Jesus Christ [the Anointed One] into the world” to establish God’s kingdom of everlasting righteousness (Galatians 4:4). Jesus came to sacrifice himself as an atonement for our sins and redeem us to God (Romans 6:23; Philippians 2:6-8). For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And because of believing in the atonement of Jesus Christ, believers can come confidently before the throne of God when they need help (Hebrews 4:16).
MIGHT PRAYER HAVE AFFECTED GOD INVOLVEMENT IN THE U.S. 2016 ELECTION?
In rallying for positive spiritual and political changes in the U.S., Evangelist Franklin Graham has used the following scripture extensively: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). The Evangelist evidently believes prayer moved God to be the “factor” in Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. (The Scripture shows that when Israel prayed and repented of their sins, God used King Cyrus of Persia, who did not acknowledge Israel’s God, to free Israel from captivity–Isaiah 45:1-5, 13).
The Bible says, “there is no authority except that which God has established ” (Romans 13:1). Did God actually factor into Donald Trump’s win because of prayer?
- Did God allow damaging information by Russia and the FBI to surface about Hilary Clinton and give Donald Trump momentum in the stretch of the presidential race?
- Might God have caused or allowed an election-swaying number of people having different reasons to vote for Mr. Trump?
- Did Mr. Trump “listen” to the voice of God, as Mr. Graham believed he would, by supporting the Bible, and appointing judges who might be inclined to favor Bible positions on some controversial religious and moral issues, even when President Trump’s stay in office is over? (Proverbs 21:1 says, “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.“)
- Could the above be God’s determinations to bring about some significant positive moral and political changes as a result of prayer?
YOUR PRAYER MAY IMPACT GOD’S RULE IN THE WORLD
How might your prayer affect God’s decision in future selection of leaders in the world? The Bible says, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Keep in mind, “there is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1). And no matter what your political persuasion, remember the biblical Word of God says, pray for those whom God gives authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:2).
