Vol. 4: Woe to You, America! — [Proclamation #125]

In parts one to three of this chronicle, we discussed the judgment that will fall upon the United States of America. In this part, YHWH speaks about the nature and crimes of an accursed person or nation; this is the USA’s nature and some of the reasons why ‘America’s judgment is sure, and nothing can stop it, says YHWH. No prayer can turn it away. No one can change My mind about this. We are way past the time for her destruction because I kept prolonging it and pushing it back.’

The second chapter of the Book of Prophet Habakkuk is YHWH’s response to Habakkuk after he had received a vision from YHWH about the destruction of the wicked of the land, but the vision of their judgment seemed to take forever to come to pass. In Chapter 1, the prophet complained to YHWH about it; he couldn’t comprehend the expansion of evil and the ease with which the wicked seem to prosper in the land, wondering if there would ever be retribution for their deeds.

The USA’s judgment is irrevocable

[Habakkuk 2:1-3]

‘ I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me and what he will answer concerning my complaint.

Then YHWH answered me and said: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’

The woes of an accursed people

[Habakkuk 2:4-20]

‘See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?”

Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey. Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice! Has not YHWH of Hosts determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHWH as the waters cover the sea.

Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies! You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed! The cup from YHWH’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

The violence you have done to the people will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, “Come to life!” Or to lifeless stone, “Wake up!” Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.

YHWH is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.’