The inflamed mob filled the area surrounding the despised statue. After flinging dozens of ropes over it, the crowd heaved and down came that hated symbol of repression. The happy horde celebrated. I was unable to be there to witness this historic first toppling of an American statue because it happened on July 9th, 1776. The leaden statue was of King George III and it was melted down to make cannonballs and bullets. That was 244 years ago. An important number? I think so.
My problem is that I don’t believe in coincidences. Since there is no Hebrew word for it, I consider the concept to be false. Therefore a coincidence can be nothing but God’s way of camouflaging His design. Thus, to me, it is significant that so many of history’s empires and epochs of national dominance lasted about 250 years.
Long ago, the ancient empire of Babylon was formed under Hammurabi (of the famous ‘Code’) around 1780 BC and it was finally sacked by the Hittites in about 1530 BC. The exact dates are of course hard to pin down but what is clear is that it lasted about 250 years. Again, it is hard to pin the start of an epoch to a single year but there are good reasons to regard 1492 when Spain evicted the last Moslem from the Iberian peninsula as the start of the Spanish empire. Its natural ending can easily be seen to be about 1742 after the War of Spanish Succession which followed the death of Charles II. Thus for the Spanish Empire also, 250 years is a reasonable estimate for its duration.
There were several discrete periods in what we call the Roman Empire but the most stable of these, the Pax Romana, began with the rule of Augustus in 27 BC and pretty much ended when all illegal immigrants to Rome were granted citizenship in about 213 AD, about 240 years.
The further back one goes the more the exact dates are shrouded in doubt but a good guesstimate for the Assyrian empire is 860 BC to 612 BC for a total of 246 years.
More recently, the Mamelukes and the Ottomans enjoyed dominance for 267 and 250 years respectively. The pre-Communist Russian empire lasted from 1682 until 1916 giving them 234 years. The British Empire? 1700 to 1950. Two hundred and fifty years.
One can of course quibble with some of the exact dates but what is certainly unarguable is that throughout history, when large numbers of people have united to build a society, that society nearly always seems to last about an average of 250 years.
Why 250 years? Whether in the fields of social science, biology, or history, almost everyone agrees that a generation is about 25 years. This is because of unchangeable biological realities about average lifespan and average age of reproductive maturity. The word generation derives from the Latin generare meaning beget. It follows that most empires last about ten generations.
Apparently, the many strong and positive human qualities including steadfastness, initiative, vision, determination, resilience and courage so necessary to pioneer a society are the very qualities eroded by the affluence they create. They are eventually extinguished by the resulting decadence that comes from the success those qualities brought in the first place.
Each generation has a little less character strength than its preceding generation. Each generation’s parents want their children to “have it better than we did.” Invariably they mean materially not spiritually. Additionally, each generation views the previous generation’s luxuries as its necessities. Eventually, this seems to lead inevitably to a generation incapable of sustaining its own virility. The sad process typically takes about ten generations.
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the phrase “ten generations” here’s what I think of:
Genesis chapter 5, verses 1-29 detailing the ten generations from Adam to Noah. Genesis chapter 11, verses 10-26 detailing the ten generations from Noah to Abraham.
Why does Scripture take over a dozen verses just to inform us that there were ten generations in each sequence? I could have done it in one sentence. In fact, I just did!
Why it takes so many verses is because the Torah takes the trouble to list both the birth and the death of one specific person as the representative of each successive generation. For instance, we see in chapter 5; Kenan (v.9), Mahalaleel (v.12), Jared (v.15) and in chapter 11; Ever (v.14), Peleg (v.16), Reu (v.18).
The names are provided because each Hebrew name has a meaning which identifies that generation’s characteristics in the cosmic pattern of ten-generation-decline. For instance, someone who doesn’t know English well might read Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night and not realize that the character, Malvolio possesses a name that sounds a bit malevolent which provides a clue to his character.
Similarly, familiarity with English helps the reader of Sheridan’s School for Scandal recognize the implications of the names of characters like Sir Benjamin Backbite or Lady Sneerwell. None of them are merely names; they are meanings and clues.
In this fashion, the Hebrew names associated with each generation of chapters 5 and 11 in Genesis hint at the fundamental characteristics of that generation in the 250-year journey up to greatness and then down to oblivion.
The ten generations might be briefly summarized as 1. Bold breakout and conquest, 2. Commercial expansion, 3. Splendid buildings, 4. Widespread affluence, 5. Zenith and the best of days, 6. Extending influence beyond borders with money instead of military, 7. Rising political power of women and of the intellectual and academic elite, 8. Influx of foreigners, 9. Eat, drink and be merry, 10. Internal political and civic fracture.
It is not hard to see how the roughly 250-year histories of many empires correspond to that Biblical schematic. In America, the era of bountiful foreign aid was followed by the growing influence of universities along with those they trained and then uncontrollable illegal immigration. The pattern is particularly clear in historical accounts of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire like that written by Edward Gibbon.
In America, the writing on our wall is no less clear than it was on the wall of Belshazzar’s palace (Daniel 5:5) when it signaled the end of the Babylonian Empire. In our case,we see not only the rampaging rioters and the destruction of statues. It is also Boeing, the troubled aircraft builder recently firing its director, Niel Golightly, a former Navy fighter pilot, only because thirty years ago he wrote these eminently true words: “Introducing women into combat would destroy the exclusively male intangibles of war fighting and the feminine images of what men fight for — peace, home, family.” Back then they were not controversial words. Today they are the reason to destroy his livelihood and harm the company.
More evidence of impending national extinction is the so-called environmental opposition that has just canceled the vital Atlantic Coast Pipeline that would have carried oil and gas to the fast-growing southern states. The Dakota access pipeline which was to have carried energy from northern Canada to the rest of America is also being canceled by the same extreme left lobby.
Meanwhile, with Denmark and Germany’s wholehearted cooperation, Russia is close to completing its Nord Stream 2 pipeline which will make much of Europe dependent on Russian oil and gas. Presidential candidate Joe Biden’s response? Destroying our energy independence and losing hundreds of thousands of blue-collar jobs is a small price to pay to stop global warming. Only six more years for America? Maybe if we’re lucky.
So, does America really have only about another six years? That would be the natural course of history. However, America’s destiny just might be supernatural! Though I cannot describe in detail the exact events that would mark the milestones of this nation’s restoration, I think it could happen. No guarantees, but a distinct possibility.
My reason is that one other nation has successfully escaped the fateful pattern of 250 years —Israel. It is the society in which Jewish children can today comfortably and fluently read and understand the words of the Torah which appeared over 3,000 years ago. No other nation on the planet possesses a culture whose language is materially unchanged for three millennia.
Italian children cannot read the works of Cicero written in the language of Rome only two millennia ago. Greek children cannot read the Iliad or the Odyssey written by Homer in ancient Greek. But to the consternation of secular historians like Arnold Toynbee, Hebrew culture has remained alive. Jews are not fossils of history. The fuel that has granted the Jewish people immunity from the 250-year time limit is the system of Judeo-Christian Biblical values and its accompanying rules and restrictions that prevented their slide into decadence.
This system lay at the root of the culture that accompanied the Pilgrims across the Atlantic and it later informed the founders as they meticulously composed the documents of American exceptionalism. As a result, nobody was surprised that the War of American Independence was propelled from the pulpits of colonial churches. Those momentous days are still thought of as the First Great Religious Reawakening.
Fewer than 100 years later, nobody was surprised when the force behind America’s grand abolition of slavery emanated from its fervent Christians. That period is often considered America’s Second Great Religious Reawakening.
In spite of how far down the 250-year slope America has slid, I remain hopeful because I think the country is about due for its Third Great Religious Reawakening. If and when this happens, all bets are off. If and when fervent Christianity enjoys a healthy revival and perhaps 100 million American Christians unify under the Biblical banner that the Pilgrims carried to Plymouth, everything comes back.
Because of America’s uniqueness and its deliberate similarities to ancient Israel, a comeback scenario is real. Even prominent political scientist and religious agnostic, Charles Murray, insists that the American republic can only survive with a revival of the religious values that the Founders depended on. The indomitable Christian warrior, David Lane, through his @AmericanRenewalProject continues to enlist thousands of courageous pastors and millions of their followers in bringing Biblical wisdom into the public square. There is hope.
There were times in Hebrew history mentioned by the Prophets when Israel slid further down than America today. But the nation repented and returned. America can do the same. I pray that it will.
Curious for more about the ten generations between Adam and Noah
and other messages hidden in the Hebrew verses?
SALE
The Gathering Storm: Decoding the Secrets of Noah
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As a history major who has studied civilizations going back to ancient Sumer, as a lover especially of United States history and our Judeo Christian background, and as a born again Christian / pastor who prays incessantly for this sin sick country, I found your article very encouraging and feel compelled to post it on my blogsite. Well said sir. I pray for revival in America, for Jesus Christ is our only hope….. Steve Thompson
Interesting article. I think, however, you may owe a debt to Sir John Glubb and his article “The Fate of Empires” published in 1976 or so.
Dear Charles,
Thank you for writing. Yes, you’re right; my “Only Six More Years?” was based on a big lecture I delivered in Los Angeles during the 1990s and it was during that period that I studied Will and Ariel Durant’s Story of Civilization, Gibbon’s Decline and Fall, Oswald Spengler’s Decline and Fall of the West, General John Glubb’s essay, Jean Francois Revel’s How Democracies Perish, James Burnham’s The Suicide of the West and a few others. While it was interesting seeing the range of ideas on cycles of history, my material is directly from ancient Jewish wisdom. But until you wrote, I forgot that that remarkable Englishman had homed in on the same number 250 years that I had seen and the same Biblical idea of ten generations so I certainly could have mentioned him along with some of the others. Everyone recognizes the puzzling and repetitive cycling of history but of course the periodicity varies by historian and the reasons do likewise. It’s all pretty amazing. As Robert Louis Stevenson wrote: “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”
Cordially
RDL
Teacher, do you have a bibliography for this essay “Only Six More years? I really enjoyed it but would like to read more for myself.
Thank You!
Dear KC–
I am not sure what you mean by a bibliography and I am also unsure of what you want to read more about but in this day and age, whatever you seek is available online. Not everything online is true of course just like not everything printed on paper is true but I am sure you’ll be able to find whatever you need.
Cordially
RDL
As a pastor I fully appreciate your articulation of the Truth. Arguably we are headed either for revival or the rapture! And since “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”, we can trust that the path to either will not be “coincidence” but it will be providence. Since getting out of college I have prayed that God would allow me to see for myself what a great awakening looks like in America, not for our sake but “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
Regards,
A Pastor In CA
Thank you for your insight into the current upheavals. It gives me hope that we might really be on the verge of a third Great Awakening, when the American people will renew our faith in The Lord. Do you think that the length of the cycles may actually be 240 years rather than 250 years though? That would align well with the 80 year cycles that Roy H. Williams and Michael R. Drew described in their book, “Pendulum: How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future.”
Dear Leigh–
As I emphasized in my teaching, it is never precisely 250 years, you know, exactly 91,250 days. Some epochs last a little less and some a little more but 250 is a good average.That’s because it seems to take ten generations, ten cycles of parents to children becoming parents again and a generation is, again approximately 25 years. Depending on the culture, it might be a bit less or a bit more. The ability to spot trends depends upon the science of inexactitude. Being able to spot patterns in approximations.
Cordially
RDL
I listen to many podcasts. This was the best episode ever and the smartest thing anyone could listen to in the wide podcast universe! So wise and a great perspective! Please release your Bible study soon – I will be first in line.
Shalom,
Charlie
Thank you for your kind words Charlie–
You’ll hear when it’s ready
Cordially
RDL
Thank you for inspiring us to think.
The Toledot of Adam
Adam Adomah Man
Seth Appointed Genesis 4:25
Enosh (from anash, “to be incurable”) Mortal, frail, miserable
Kenan sorrow, dirge, elegy
Mahalal’el the Blessed God -mahalal – blessed + El – the name of God
Jared (from the verb yaradh “shall come down”
Enoch “commencement or teaching”
Methusaleh “his death shall bring” – muth, a root that means “death”;
Shalach – means “bring” or “send forth”
Lamech “despairing” ( same word from which we get “lament” or “lamentation”
Noah Derived from nacham) “comfort” or “rest” Genesis 5:29
“Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the blessed God shall come down teaching [that His] death shall bring [the] despairing rest.
Sorry, this is only the first 10 generations.
Dear Dorothy–
Good job! As you probably know there are layers of meaning but starting with the main meanings, Kenan for instance, means ‘material acquisition’ as in the name Cain (same letters and sound) which meant acquire as Eve said “I have acquired” a man and the word ‘acquired’ is of course the same root KN of Kenan, Cain, and Koneh, the verb. Similarly, my comparing each generational name to other instances in Tanach that this word is used, we end up with better understanding than from a dictionary or translation.
Keep on studying..
Cordially
RDL
“Since there is no Hebrew word for it, I consider the concept to be false.” – I laughed out loud when I read that (I sensed both truth and humour in the statement.) What a great and insightful article! Thank you.
Informative and enlightening. I think you’re very close to the mark regarding the approximate 250 year period of national longevity (as least in the sense of being strong and influential on the world stage) and like many who believe that God had a direct hand in blessing the US over past 200+ years I also believe that if there is not national repentance then its days are surely numbered.
God warned ancient Israel not to forget him when they were to become fat and increased with goods…which they did and which we have done. Destruction and captivity was their end and unless things change, and change soon that will be ours. The Lord is no respecter or persons or of nations. Disobedience and rejection of him always brings consequences…sooner or later.
Thank you Michael–
We clearly agree on the story of history from God’s perspective.
Cordially
RDL
Hello Rabbi and Mrs Lapin
Rabbi said in the last podcast he was going to do a bible study that explains the names of the ten generations. I remember the ancient jewish wisdom both of you did that explained the names from Adam to Noah. I don’t recall a teaching that explained the names from Noah to Avram. When can we expect the bible study?
Thank you from a happy warrior 🙂
May the Good Lord bless you and everything that has to do with you.
Thank you Vanessa–
We appreciate your kind words. I am right now working very hard on that Bible study and it should be available within two months from now.
Cordially
RDL
An interesting interpretation, but confirming untrammeled industrial growth without regard to the limits of earths sustainability. For many years the overwhelming scientific opinion about the earths ability to withstand the continued use and abuse of natural resources has resulted in vague warnings that we had a limited time (recently 12 years) before the earh could no longer sustain our life as we knew it, The scientists did not specify what would happen, but one can theorize that the earth has imposed its natural checks on our overdevelopment at ANY cost, by forcing a slowdown with covid 19.
Outbreaks coincide with high environmental pollution levels and continued development of wireless telecommunications systems that are ever more powerful and intrusive in our lives. At the same time we as a society have rationalized the poisoning of young generations of children needing “special education” because we will not even allow a fair evaluation or even open discussion of the adverse effects of vaccination given to these children. Our leaders have failed to address these issues.
Dear Arnold-
I agree with you that unjustified and naive faith in government (a faith never shared by America’s founders) has caused deep concern about vaccinations and simply citing the many doctors and scientists who assure the population of the 100% safety of vaccinations achieves nothing. But I do not agree with you at all that we should believe those ‘scientists’ who question the earth’s ability to withstand etc etc etc. I have taught physics and mathematics and will argue or debate with anyone on scientific issues but science is only about repeatable and testable phenomena..all else is theory! It is not ‘scientific fact’. Science and mathematics can show that current technology is nowhere near being able to supply America’s energy needs from wind and solar. Those installations are temples to misplaced naivete and anti growth fundamentalism. They are not science. Neither are prophetic predictions about what will one day happen to the earth. If you have any ocean front property to sell me cheap on account of the terrible threat of global warming and rising sea levels, please contact my office. I am buying.
Cordially
RDL
Thank you for this, Rabbi. Question for you: Does the Bible tell us how to prepare for these days if we are unable to turn things around?
Yes, Trudie,
and I will discuss exactly what and how on one of our podcasts in the near future.
Cordially
RDL
Thank youfor asking this great question Trudie.
Yet one more thought provoking piece from the pen of a true thinker. Another biblical number, the number 50, is the number of Jubilee. History is bound to cycles of 50 years and these epochs appear in all sectors. So we are quickly approaching the 100 year anniversary (or the 2nd economic cycle) since the Great Depression in 1929.
The 250 year average for national dominance would be 5 Jubilees.
There are 5 books in the Torah and 5 divisions in the Psalms which seems to indicate completeness, in a literary sense, to a work.
I am interested in your thoughts on a correlation, if any, to the number 5.
Peace!
Dear Rabbi Lapin,
This was an excellent article, very well written and insightful. What a great historical perspective – something badly needed. I sent your article to numerous friends, relatives and patients. Even to my leftist brother (you never know – miracles do occur).
Patriots pulling down King George’s statue was a powerful beginning. Have you ever been to that little park in Lower Manhattan where the even occurred? I was surprised at how small it is – the old illustrations of the event give the impression it was much larger. Well, like the shot heard ’round the world – it was much, much larger.
Your closing – tying in the American experiment to Israel’s continued survival was especially inspiring. You give us a warning and hold out hope. Very well done!
By the way, this article was sent to me by the McFies. I’ve known Tomas for many years. I spoke to his group in Las Vegas. When they invited me the first question I asked was, “Will Rabbi Lapin be there?” Alas, it was not so.
Thank you for everything, and continued success
Tedd Koren, DC
PS How may I subscribe to your posts?
Dear Tedd–
Your kind and exuberant letter really encouraged me greatly and I thank you. The McFies are not only dear friends but also business professionals of the highest caliber so I am excited that we hold them as mutual friends in common.
I would have been happy to have subscribed you but in order to avoid people being plagued by deluges of unwanted email, only the subscriber himself can do it. So just hop over to this page https://rabbidaniellapin.com/category/thought-tools/ and on the right side you’ll see “Yes, I would like to receive free weekly teachings” and you’ll click on ‘sign up now”. Unsubscribing later is equally simple if necessary.
Stay in touch please
Cordially
RDL
Thank you dear Rev Rabbi for this visual encouraging and inspiring explanation of the first part of your 12 July podcast. Like a committed disciple, regular happy warrior listener, after listening to the podcast twice, have noted the 10 epoch names and corresponding duration of each epoch. May I repeat the question put in the comment column of the podcast, ” On 20 Tammuz, or 23 Tammuz 5780 today , what century is the Jewish nation?” May the good Lord bless you and your dear Susan and family and the synagogue you serve.
With respect
John Thomas, Bangalore india
Wow! You have been blessed with great insight into the word our Creator left us. Thank you for your encouragement and frank but uplifting thoughts about our great country. Your closing thoughts are what I have been praying for daily for a long time now. What the believers among us need more than anything is Hope. You have provided a glimmer of that in your words. Blessings!
Dear Wayne–
All I do is my utmost to retransmit faithfully the ancient Hebrew wisdom that was vouchsafed to me.
Overall, it is hopeful. Cautiously hopeful.
Cordially
RDL
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for writing this post Rabbi Lapin. What an insightful take on current events. I so appreciate the paradigm shift from impending doom to hope. Also, I’ve read the whole Bible through many times, but often wondered why all the names listed in the generations. Now I have a greater appreciation for their inclusion in the text. Of course, I didn’t think they were there by accident or coincidence. I just didn’t realize their great value until now.
You’re so welcome Aayimmi–
I am very impressed that you were puzzled by the inclusion of those names. I find many people are just accustomed to reading them and do so without a further thought.
Cordially
RDL
Rabbi Lapin,
Thank you so much for your fascinating article. You offer us a wealth of information and insight into the Bible! I have not heard of a generation being “25” years before and would love it if you would expound a bit more on this. I have often heard a generation being 40 years or 70 years, but am very interested in knowing more of the biblical history/basis for the 25.
I am sure hoping and praying for that third awakening.
Gratefully,
Laurie
Dear Laurie-
As I wrote in the piece, based on realities about reproductive maturity and average lifespan, a generation has always been thought of as about 25 years by almost every discipline. Think about it, if you looked at a family picture of 3 generations, what is likely to be the age difference from grandfather to son, to grandson. Typically grandfather might be 75, and son might be 25, and baby might be 6 months old. But it makes no sense to say 40 years or 70 years. Not saying it couldn’t happen in unusual families but not typical and if you averaged out all Americans, I think you’d find our average generational length would be very close to 25 years.
Cordially
RDL
Dear Rabbi, I share your position, tottering on the edge of the abyss, torn between optimism and pessimism. Optimism because there is hope, pessimism because there are so many factors that we cannot control. But am inclined to reinforce your findings using the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman who toured the new US shortly after its foundation and pronounced: “America will be great as long as Americans are good.’ I pray for you and for your mission to spread the word, and that we will re-embrace our precious Judaeo-Christian tradition…or ELSE…
Dear James–
Thanks for writing. One of the treasured books in my library is De Tocqueville’s two volume Democracy in America. Nowhere in that book is found the quote you cite. Furthermore, it is found nowhere else in De Tocqueville’s writings or utterances. I do believe the statement is true, but what is not true is that De Tocqueville ever wrote it. Nonetheless, we won’t go wrong if we use it as a roadmap to restoration.
Cordially
RDL
Dear Rabbi Lapin… From my apparently faulty memory, with research hindered by 2/3 of one eye, I humbly confess that I have ‘paraphrased’ the exact quote. The actual quote is: “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, ‘Democracy in America’ – Thank you for your kind understanding. I will comment no more, forever.
Dear James,
I ask you please to withdraw immediately your commitment to comment no more!
The funny thing is that the “actual quote” you cite does not appear in Democracy in America. I even used to mistakenly quote it myself until I decided to try and locate it. It simply does not appear in any shape or form in Alexis de Tocqueville’s book! Yet everyone repeats it. Isn’t that strange?
Cordially
RDL
This was an excellent read thank you for investing the time to research and write this. It is scary to see America where she is today. I too pray that she turns from her wicked ways. I wish every American would read this post.
Dear Rabbi Lapin,
Your take on the “generations” of man extending 25 years/into tens of 250 years is new to me; I find it captivating. It signals that our nation is standing at a precipice. Our fate, determined by HaShem, is in the balance. Will we turn our hearts to the Kadosh, Barukh Hu? Or, has our nation so moved from His Torah and His commandments into perversion and violence, that it is now more a question of how much we can ease or soften His wrath? Only HaShem knows whether our efforts can provide victory for our society and the world. Of course, we must keep all hopes alive toward union with G-d and a place for every human soul in His kingdom in the Olam HaBa. I loved your commentary, Rabbi Lapin. May the Holy One, Blessed be He, bless and protect you and your loved ones.
Don Straub
Dear Donald–
I am so happy you told me how useful you found this teaching from ancient Jewish wisdom.
Cordially
RDL
Thank you Rabbi…..such very important information, but also HOPE!
Dear Rabbi, our church leaders are trying very hard to get all of us to hunger for God, and to know Him. Not know about God but to seek the very heart of God. We feel that if all of America’s churches were to follow this path there would be a great revival.
Dear Mark–
That is a very good start but the next step is just as important. Recognizing that politics is nothing more than the practical real-life application of our most deeply held moral and spiritual values and carrying our beliefs into the public square to elect Bible believers to public office.
Many houses of worship and their leaders shy away in fear from political involvement. Widespread Christian political involvement is the darkest nightmare of the secular left.
Cordially
RDL
What a great and timely thought tool. Agreed that a religious reawakening is absolutely required if America is to maintain it’s prominence as a world power.
It is concerning to see the apathy and “submit to all authority” attitude so prevalent in American churches as a general rule. Many Christians today, are Christians in name only – adopting and tolerating incompatible values and not at all distinguished through their lifestyles. Obviously there are encouraging exceptions, yet it is disturbing to see the same strong parallels in our culture as Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes in the churches of pre-Nazi Germany.
The silver lining does indeed lie in the fact that America was founded on strong underlying religious principles. America’s only hope is in returning to God.
Thank you John,
…and sadly, also in America’s synagogues. We understand that it is comforting for people to maintain a child-like faith in the little ‘g’ of government and feel that all of its ruling and regulations are good. But we prefer faith in the big ‘G’ of God and feel it to be a far safer way to live. America’s founders certainly expressed considerable skepticism about the authority of government.
Can we bring about a return? I hope so.
Cordially
RDL
Thank you for this power packed informative essay. I feel enlightened and encouraged. I am agreeing with you in prayer and embracing hope for our nation.
You’re so welcome, Nancy–
Let’s pray; let’s have hope; and let’s act!
Cordially
RDL
Greetings Rabbi,
I enjoy reading your writings. This one hit the nail in the head. I’ve recently been reading Rush Limbaugh’s children’s books about the founding of America and yes it appears we’re getting close to ??
I agree wholeheartedly another religious awakening is coming and I’d say very soon! I appreciate the information on David Lane. All of us will soon be heard very loudly! Thank you for your work and your confidence.
Thank you for writing Julie–
Yes, I’ve been friendly with David Lane for decades and he’s never wavered in his determination to bring about a restoration. If we act, we will be heard. If we sit on the sidelines, nobody will be heard.
Cordially
RDL
What a great perspective! I had never thought of the genealogy in the Old Testament as a summary of the character of each generation. But it makes so much sense that each generation, having it better as easier than their predecessors would lose some of those characteristics that are needed to keep it strong. The end left me with such hope. For that is my prayer, that Christians and Jews in America would bring about the 3rd reawakening.
Thank you Laura–
I am solemnly dedicated to making the wonders of ancient Jewish wisdom accessible to everyone. The incandescent truth of the genealogies is not evident in English translation.
We must have hope and there is good reason to do so.
Cordially
RDL
That was incredible! I shall continue to pray as well.
Thank you for this Thought Tool. Perhaps there is indeed a light at the end of this very troubling tunnel.
You’re welcome Karla,
thank you for writing. But please see my response to LaFon nearby. Prayer alone is insufficient. This is a big mistake made by many. Prayer must accompany action not replace it.
Cordially
RDL
Thank you for this much needed encouragement, Rabbi. Turning away from deviancy and corruptibility in thought, word and deed; firmly turning instead to Revival of true, solid Christian faith, values, discipline and character needed for us to survive as a free people. It is supra-cultural, supernatural. Is it too much to ask of ourselves and our young people? I think not. I join you in prayer for a peaceable and powerful spirit-filled revival to overtake us in the USofA. 🙏 May it be so, amen.
You’re welcome LaFon,
But I must emphasize that while prayer is an absolutely necessary precondition, it alone will not suffice. Prayer must accompany action not replace it. That is why, on the shores of the Red Sea, God heard the prayers of Israel but wouldn’t respond by splitting the sea until they marched forward into the water.
It is time for all of us to march forward into the waves.
Cordially
RDL
Dear Rabbi Lapin:
Awesome revelation! Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ruth
You’re so welcome, Ruth,
Onwards and upwards.
Cordially
RDL
New every moment, Deb:
God bless you, Rabbi; may your tribe increase! But you are overlooking one very important ingredient: science and religion meet on the lap of philosophy. My late husband, the Philosopher, created Process New Thought Alan was a Stoic. New Thought began in the mid-nineteenth century with the work of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby. Many New Thought “Experts” overlook this. New Thought should have become the heart and soul of New Age. Process New Thought is the only constructive postmodern philosophy, incorporating the work of Alfred North Whitehead from process philosophy. You might find congenial Richard E. Rubenstein”s “When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity During the Last Days of Rome”. His speciality is religious conflict, and he was assisted in writing this book by the Roman Catholic Church.
Thank you New Every Moment Deb–
That all sounds rather too complicated for the likes of me. But then I don’t get very excited about any philosophy newer than 3,333 years old!
Cordially
RDL
Your words bring me hope. I, too, pray America falls on her knees and prays for forgiveness and returns to our biblical beginnings. Please keep up the good work.
I am pleased you derived some hope from this piece, Ed,
It really could happen. With all our help. Nobody should sit on the sidelines. The other team isn’t.
Cordially
RDL
“Only six more years”
Very interesting well written article.
I read “Business Secrets From The Bible” two years ago
Appreciate your messages
Dear Al–
Thank you for your encouraging words. Of course this article really does dovetail with our best-selling book, Business Secrets from the Bible. What many do not yet fully appreciate is how much national prosperity depends upon moral and cultural health.
Cordially
RDL
My dear Rabbi, thank you for this enlightenment. The “six-year” phenomenon remaining eluded me. BTW – we pray at our Kittitas County Republican Headquarters every noon to one, for our Nation, our Leaders, and our Party. May God allow us to prevail.
Dear Sandy–
Amen!
Cordially
RDL
What an informative, uplifting and ultimately inspirational message! Our family continues to pray for you and your family that Our Heavenly Father may continue to anoint your ministries
Thank you David,
Your kind words are much appreciated as are your generous prayers.
Cordially
RDL
Thank Rabbi Lapin for your words. Your expressed thoughts are not only informative, and I would also add, fascinating, but most inspiring. What at times just seems, to my eyes, as the standard, grinding, and at time hopeless, repeat of history and man’s mistakes is revealed as part of the Grand Scheme or plan of God. It tears away the veil and reveals to us how God is in charge of all at all times and makes all doings of mankind work to the determined goal of salvation that the LORD has willed. Blessing to you and your family and may the LORD continue to bless your ministry.
Wonderful article! Praying as well for our great nation.
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!!!
Carrie