The matter of whether 2 Chronicles 7:14 was given by the Lord exclusively for Israel was the topic I addressed back before the 2020 election. It is time to address this important question again, as there is still contention over the controversy while we approach the 2024 election that looms like boiling storm clouds above the landscape of these end times.
My mind hasn’t changed in the slightest. The following is what I wrote back in November of the year approaching the 2020 presidential election:
Recently I heard a prophecy teacher–actually one of my favorite prophecy guys—say something like the following: “I hate to burst your bubble about what you probably believe about God’s promises to the church and his promises to Israel. But 2 Chronicles 7:14 isn’t for the church. It is for Israel.”
He then went on to say that the context of that promise makes it obvious for whom it was given. It doesn’t apply to we of the Church Age was his conclusion.
I must take exception to that statement by this man, one whom I respect greatly and consider one of the very top teachers and writers of Bible prophecy today. Let’s have a look at the promise that God, indeed, made to the nation Israel.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The speaker was talking about whether the United States is in Bible prophecy. He was speaking to the many worries people have as to what will happen to America concerning prophecy yet future. Particularly, as I recall, he was talking about the upcoming 2020 presidential election. People were, he said, wondering about what we should do as believers to seek God’s divine intervention in this election. There are great fears that the opposition party to that of this president has turned totally toward the dark side and is more and more anti-God in their platform goals.
The speaker was intimating that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the Scripture most invoked, but that it isn’t in effect for the Church. It was given exclusively to the Jews the nation Israel.
The basis for my taking exception to my friend’s pronouncement in part is truth encased within the following scriptural areas.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with who is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
God’s Word is the very Person of Jesus the Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead. God the Father sent Jesus into the world as Himself in the flesh. Jesus taught and preached ultimate truth. Jesus and the Father are one–see John chapter 17. Jesus created all that is, see Genesis chapter 1. He did so by the spoken Word. Jesus is the Word. This is made plain in John chapter 1.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1–3)
Jesus and the Father, the Lord verifies through His prayer in John chapter 17, are one. Jesus also says that we who believe in Him are one with Him, as He is one with the Father. Therefore His Father’s children are Jesus’ “people,” just as they are God the Father’s “people”.
We are all “one” with God. We are His “people.”
This includes all people of God’s created order who “believe” for salvation as prescribed by God. Those who believe are His people.
Therefore, it is my Bible-based contention that in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the “my people” is referring to God’s “people,” no matter of what era.
God changes not. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God’s promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14, in my view, apply to believers of all ages.
It is true that Israel’s “land” was healed on several occasions, after the people had drifted into backsliding and gross idolatry. America, it is equally true, for example, has not experienced what might be considered a complete healing in the sense of Israel in its ancient past.
However, America, again for example, has experienced degrees of “healing.” The great revival movements that came out of the Great Depression was God at work in answering prayers of His “people.”
I believe the 2016 election for president was an answer to the prayers of God’s “people.” It was, to anyone possessing spiritual acuity, a miracle from the Almighty. Certainly, even the secularists –the mainstream media and Mr. Trump’s opponents—were stunned into a form of madness!
Another friend defines the declaration that 2 Chronicles 7: 14 is not for the Church as a part of the Seminary Syndrome.
By this, he means that the products of often self-exalted seminaries sometimes can’t see the simplicity of God’s truth for feeling they have to make it complex to somehow justify their existence as the last word on interpretation of scriptural truth.
And, I mean no disrespect to the men and women who have the prestigious seminary degrees of various flavors. Many, many of these are dear friends.
But, for the Seminary Syndrome to induce them to say such things as mentioned above with regard to God’s dealings with His “people” just smacks of being wrong to my spiritual senses.
I have expressed before that I have the same problem with the Seminary Syndrome declarations that Matthew chapter 24 (the Olivet Discourse) is for the nation Israel only—that the Rapture of the Church isn’t to be found in that great teaching by our Lord.
So please continue to pray in light of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in regard to the 2020 presidential election Our nation still needs healing, as we all know. Admittedly, as this generation seems to be at the very end of the Age of Grace, and at least half of the nation is deliberately moving away from, not nearer to God, it is unlikely that there is time to see a complete healing of America.
However, the prayers of God’s people have and can yet produce miracles within this land upon which God has so richly bestowed His blessings.
That was my admonition for the 2020 election—which, as we all know, turned out differently than many wanted or expected. My admonition is the same for this election.
Now, the nation has exhibited ever-darkening movement away from God, and the reprobate mind of Romans 1:28 seems to have infected much of the population. However, God’s promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 has not changed, even though it looks even to me that the Lord’s time for correction might be near ending and the time for judgment and wrath could be just ahead.
Truth is, the God of Heaven knows the limits of His mercy–and we do not. The promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is still there in God’s Word.
Let us who are called by that Holy Name humble ourselves and pray, and turn from all wicked ways. God has promised to hear that prayer, forgive our sins, and heal our land.
This should be at the center of our unified desire regarding our nation. The matter will then be in His mighty hands. We could be in none better.
Terry James Prophecy Line 
I agree 100% with this entire message Terry. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Maranatha!
We know that God never changes so it is safe to assume that the principles he applied in the past don’t either. Paul revealed that in one “mystery” that, because of Jesus, we Gentiles, too, upon our belief in him, have been “grafted in” to his family. We see that God is no respecter of persons, and it follows this goes for individuals as well as nations. Otherwise, we would have a double standard which would be contrary to God’s perfect nature.
So, Terry, I’m with you and if America chooses to continue on the anti-God course we’ve been on the past four years, then we can be assured that our fate is sealed. This is our last chance to buy a little more time for this country, even though we know it will one day be absorbed into the global one-world government that will ultimately be ruled by the Antichrist.
It has always boiled down to each person asking himself or herself whom they will serve – God, or the prince of this world.
November will tell us much and the reaction to how the vote count goes might tell us even more. I am under no illusion that if it goes in favor of Donald Trump that his enemies will do everything that can to stop him from taking office. I only hope that God will continue to protect him because the forces of darkness have already been working against him. The facts coming about about the assassination attempt are becoming increasingly more disturbing.
Nevertheless, God is in control and this is where our ultimate rescue and victory lies.
I agree that our Triune God is consistent in all He says and does. And I agree that Jesus is Truth, not the truth, but TRUTH itself. Our Lord is Truth personified.
God applies all of His rewards and consequences equally, as we know he rewards faithful worship of Him and obedience to His laws, while punishing idolatry and rebellion. It doesn’t matter if these behaviors, whether they be right behaviors or wrong behaviors, are made by individuals, nations, or leaders. He is faithful and consistent.
False gods, ie Satan and every pseudo religion he has authored, result in confusion and capricious belief systems, which demonstrate God has no part in them. ALL works based religions are carrot-and-stick lies, made up of inconsistent and jumbled theologies, with no assurance of salvation (Islam immediately comes to mind) and they all contain these man/Satan-made teachings.
All that being said, it is important to make the distinction that Israel is seperate from the Church. God has set forth a very clear plan in His word for Israel, to bring her to repentance and reconciliation with Him. (Undeniably, there are millions of Messianic Jews over the millennia who are part of the Church.) But the nation of Israel and the people of Israel who are estranged from Jesus Christ, as a result of her God-ordained ‘partial’ hardening as a result of rejecting her Messiah, has a unique, prophesied path to awakening. And the Jews in the Millennial Kingdom have unique roles to fulfill, which complete God’s promises to Israel alone. He specifically articulated these in His original plans for them. One of those promises is the Land Covenant in Deuteronomy 30:1-10. The entire Bible is a study in God’s plans and promises to Israel and to His Church. It is very important Believers understand these things and learn them for themselves.
We can’t misapply Israel’s unique future, which is right in front of us now, and claim she is not different. She is. Scripture makes clear that Daniel’s 70th Week is intended to bring Israel back to the Lord in full. Denying this is the root of anti-semitism, something that is particularly egregious to Jesus when it comes from His Church. A complete study of God’s plans allows us to see that at the end of the Millennial Kingdom there will be no more distinctions…we will be fully reconciled as ONE people in God.
Yesterday I was reading Isaiah 1-3 in my daily studies. It was written to Israel, more specifically to the southern kingdom of that time which was made of Judah and Benjamin. If you didn’t know biblical history, you’d think that great prophet was speaking to the USA! The same is true of Psalm 2 (and most of the Bible for that matter.) My opinion is that God was and is speaking to the USA, and to every single nation and people group He created. He is loudly warning us of His judgment for the consequences for our sins.
God graciously provided us His Word, in both human and written form, so that we could understand His nature, His attributes, His plans and His promises. I believe we should all study what He has provided to us so we can authentically worship and obey Him as He intends, now and into eternity.
The sons of Adam are all the same: sinful, rebellious, and ungrateful. And the remedy is the same; repentance, worship, faith and gratitude for the salvation that can only be found in our Savior, the self-proclaimed Son of Man, our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
It is way too late. I can remember my husband and I visiting our member of Parliament at the time – Sir Hugh Fraser who sadly ended up killing himself I believe. But we went to see him to beg him as a QC to encourage the government and the royal family to call for a nationwide day of prayer rather like that which happened in the second world war. Sadly all he said was: It’s too late, now.” That was in 1977 or 1978. If it was too late for the UK then, it is certainly too late for the US now.
It is frightening that so many today believe that God has a separate and unique plan for Israel distinct from the Church! The Word of God makes it clear that under the New Covenant, there is no more Jew or Gentile. Salvation is for all nations, tribes, and tongues. Flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom of God, only those Born of the Spirit. There is one faith, one seed, and one baptism! An everlasting covenant requires an everlasting people!
Well, Rodney, I know you have your own ideas about many things and you may disagree with me about this, but consider the following:
God does have a separate plan for Israel and the church. We can see this in what will soon happen.
All believers, which comprise the church, includes Gentiles and Messianic Jews, will soon be Raptured while that remaining majority of Israel which does not accept Jesus will be left behind. So, even now, for believers, ethnic differences, even gender, don’t apply. We are all equally saved by Jesus.
According to Zechariah, 2/3 of them will perish but the remnant, in an act of desperation, will call out to God to save them from the Antichrist forces at the end of the Seven Years. At this point, Jesus returns with all the saints, and they will finally recognize and accept him for who he really is.
I expect that, during the Millennium, we’ll be there as glorified, resurrected believers consisting of all kinds of ethnic groups and there indeed won’t be any distinction as to Gentile or Jew. As far as the mortals who survive the Tribulation, I think ethnic distinctions will still exist, but all will be living harmoniously under Jesus’ righteous government – at least until the end of that period when rebels show up and are drawn into Satan’s camp when he is released one last time.
Just some thoughts of mine.
Dear brother Ed,
I see no evidence of the Age of Grace ending until the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ!
This occurs after the sealing of the 144,000:
Revelation 7:9-16.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
By the way, there is no scripture found in the Bible that documents a suspension of the Age of Grace during the 70th week. This erroneous belief is derived from assumptions and speculation regarding the identification of the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7.
There is only one plan of God for all and this is the clear message of the Holy Scriptures!
Maybe it is just a matter of semantics. I equate the Age of Grace to the Church Age, the latter of which will end with the Rapture.
You do have a good point in that even after we are gone, people can still come to salvation by accepting Jesus during the Tribulation. You correctly point this out in the passage you presented. Your broader definition does have merit because you are right in that God’s grace to save people continues, post-Rapture. Otherwise there would be no need for the 144,000, the angel that preaches the Gospel, and the witness of the Two Witnesses. Those multitudes in heaven are no doubt the result of the actions of them.
You’ve definitely given me something to think about.
This nation has been in a steady decline since the 60’s! It would seem that the Genesis 12:3 blessing that so many invoke was indeed short lived. The very next decade we were compelling Israel to divide their Land to their enemies. This process has led to the consequences we see in Israel today! America has instead heaped many curses upon this nation as a result of these Land for Peace initiatives that stands at emnity with God!
We promise Israel security if they would but spit upon the covenant established between them and God. America rivals that of the Prophets of Ba’al turning Israel away from God. America has seduced Israel in their promises of peace and security yet has only brought destruction and perpetual war. There will be no healing for this Land.
No need to seek to evangelize Israel, God has a plan, this seems to be the suggestion of some in the evangelical community! God’s plan for all nations was revealed in His Son Yeshua! This partial blindness is due to the rejection of Yeshua yet clearly their sight is restored by faith.
God will not bless our country as long as the government wants to give away Israel’s land. And also, Trump will not save us, as I just read a couple days ago that he changed his stance to Pro choice. He is for terminating up to 24 weeks….what is that? A 6 month old baby! That is cold blooded murder. God will not bless us on that alone. Our nation’s only hope is to focus our thoughts and hearts upon God and Jesus Christ….He is our blessed and only hope. Period. We are at the end.