Response to 2023 State of the Union ⋆ The Firmament Record

What words would you use to describe the message given during Biden’s State of the Union speech? He would like it to have been a message of optimism and strength, jobs and democracy. But to many watching the ‘show’, the message of chaos, confusion, division and crisis is much more appropriate. Not just from the words, but from the interactions.

A World in Crisis

Biden sauntered into his speech by declaring America is the ‘only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger’, and that ‘that‘s what we’re doing again’ referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this isn’t the only crisis he acknowledged on Tuesday. From here Biden covered the debt crisis, the climate crisis even calling it an existential threat, the mental health crisis, the opioid and fentanyl crisis, violence in America and abroad, food insecurity on a worldwide scale and unbearable healthcare costs.

More Debt, More Billionaires

Sprinkled into his list of past and expected future achievements he claims the US has the “strongest economy in the world”, while ignoring we also have the largest debt in the world by two-fold. At the same time he claims a win for reducing the yearly deficit by $1.7 Trillion, ‘the largest deficit reduction in American history’, while ignoring the bi-partisan approved spending in the previous two years that led to the two largest deficits ever. A simple graph makes this “win” not so rosy. The current deficit is the fourth largest on record, ever.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
Proverbs 22:7

Biden sees inflation as a global problem blaming the pandemic and the war in Ukraine and asserts his “economic plan is about investing in places and people that have been forgotten… amid the economic upheaval of the past four decades.” Meanwhile, he later acknowledges “You know there’s a thousand billionaires in America – it’s up from about 600 at the beginning of my term.” Similarly, while discussing drug costs for insulin he strays from the script and ad-libs, “Big Pharma is still doing very well, I promise you all. I promise you they’re going to do very well.” He should know, he is pushing an expanded profit stream for Big Pharma through proposed annual Covid vaccine shots.

“…for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by their sorceries (pharmacy) are all nations deceived.”
Revelation 18:23

“For the love of money is the root of all evil…”
1 Timothy 6:10

Just Getting Started

Biden brought up topics directly impacting the health, safety and livelihood of many Americans. From giving every public school teacher a raise and cutting cancer rates in half to reducing violent crimes and keeping guns away from young people. He raised these issues as something that should be done, not as things he had already done. He announced that “The tax system is not fair” and while talking about infrastructure projects stated “we’re just getting started.” Who’s just getting started? The President that has been in Washington for four-decades? Or maybe he meant the 40% of representatives from the House and Senate that have all been there for 10+ years. Now they’re just getting started?!

Biden touted the $300 billion investments in American manufacturing planned over the next few years, but neglected to mention the billions of dollars invested in Ukraine. By the end of 2022 the US Congress approved spending $113 billion for Ukraine. With the recent plea for fighter jets by Zelensky, the war with Russia is also “Just getting started” along with the US’s military and disaster relief spending on just that one county.

Your taxes are paying for this instead of addressing issues closer to home. In 2017 the extreme poverty in America triggered a UN investigation and in 2023 almost 18% of the US population is still living in extreme poverty. The US Healthcare System is the most expensive yet the least effective when compared to six other industrialized nations. As an example, the US has the highest infant, maternal mortality rates among high-income countries. There are more problems than just the price of insulin that need to be addressed.

Taxing the Daily Wages for War

Biden brought up the unfair tax system, so let’s take a closer look. Not only is it unfair, but the money gathered is spent on funding wars in direct opposition to God’s commands. It is the epitome and manifestation of what God warned about thousands of years ago.

In the time of Samuel, the people wanted a king, a leader to be over them just like the other nations around them. They were rejecting the judges God had chosen, but, as God said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:7 “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me (God), that I should not reign over them.” The people were warned:

“And he said, This will be the manner of the king (ruler) that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots (armored for war), and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots (infantry). And he will appoint him captains (commanders) over thousands, and captains (commanders) over fifties; and will set them to ear (work) his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments (weapons) of war, and instruments (armaments) of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectioneries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers (put everyone to work). And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants (attendants). And he will take the tenth of your seed (grain – all that you produce), and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth from your sheep (flock – as in people): and you shall be his servants. And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.“
1 Samuel 8:11-18

Currently, much more than a tenth is taken in the form of taxes. Daniel also warned of these rulers who would take from the people for war and weapons.

“And arms (weapons) shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice (wages), and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.”
Daniel 11:31

Might Makes Right

Biden points to Putin’s invasion as “a test for the ages… Would we stand for the right of people to live free of tyranny? …For such defense matters to us because it keeps peace…” He continues “Our nation is working for more freedom, more dignity, and more peace, not just in Europe, but everywhere.”

But this is through the proliferation of weapons such as missiles and tanks, putting more profits into the large military contractors that make the equipment, not too mention, putting more people in the line of fire, no matter which “side” they are on. Only a warmonger sees “Modernizing our military to safeguard stability and deter aggression” as a means to “peace.” All of this paid for with dollars claiming “in God we Trust.” If they trusted God they wouldn’t need to spend any money on weapons.

“And the king (ruler) shall do according to his will… in his place shall he honor the god of forces (weapons): and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.”
Daniel 11:36-38

God destroyed the earth the first time with the flood because of violence and idolatry. The US’s non-stop rotation from one war to another is not inline with God and it must stop!

“And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; because the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
Genesis 6:13

God’s Blessings

Biden, closed his speech with “God bless you all”, the closing proclamation for most presidents. But here’s a question for you. Can Biden or anyone for that matter tell God who or what to bless? No! Since when does the creation (man) tell the Creator (God) what to do?! There are very specific stipulations already laid out by God for who He will and will not bless.

“See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command you this day to love the LORD you God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Commandments and His Statutes and His Judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you got to possess it. But if your heart turns away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce to you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land, where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that you may cleave to Him: for He is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30:15-20

God has laid before you a choice. Walk in His Ways or walk in the ways of the World. Are you to follow men or God?

Did this change in the New Testament? No. Jesus said:

“… blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.
Luke 11:28

The last chapter of the last book of the Bible ends with this in regards to who is blessed.

“…Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:7

In order to keep the Commandments and the Law you have to understand them. To receive God’s blessing you must hear the Words of God, grasp them, walk in them and keep them. Is America doing any of those things? Absolutely not.

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”
Isaiah 9:16

God’s Curses

With all of the above in mind, from the wars, violence, healthcare costs to the drug crisis and the existential threats to the planet, is God Blessing you all? No. The leaders and the people have all turned away from God. In return, God has done the same and turned away from them. Just as He said he would, already quoted above in 1 Samuel.

“When the Righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.”
Proverbs 29:2

Why is America and the world in these tribulations of violence and oppression. They have turned away from God. Their leaders have led them astray in all manners of living and worship.

What Are you to do?

What should you do when you see the nation and it’s leaders in chaos and crisis? When you see the union more divided than ever? Some conclude they should organize, protest, and get involved so they can make a change. No. God wants you to come out of the ways of the world, not jump deeper into them.

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
Luke 21:34-36

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the want of the fleshly mindset, and the lust/desire of the eyes, and the pride/arrogance of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust/wants thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17

Others may say, “I’ll go to a church” to find some spiritual guidance. Again, No. You are to come out of the teachings of the false prophets, not dive deeper into them.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
2 Peter 2:1

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (the whore – the false prophet), my people, that you are not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
Revelation 18:4-5

Turn to God

So, what are you to do? Put aside all of your preconceived understandings of God, open up His book and read it for yourself. What has God already said? What does God want? Don’t seek ‘religion’, but seek God. Turn to Him and ask, What is HIS Will? What is the Will that is to be done “on earth as we see it in heaven?” Matthew 6:10.

“And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where the LORD your God has driven you, And shall return unto the LORD your God, and shall obey His Voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; That then the LORD your God will turn back your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, where the LORD your God has scattered you.”
Deuteronomy 30:1-3

“And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2

You don’t need to go anywhere or buy anything. Just stop, take some time to sit and read. Contemplate what God’s Words are saying. Learn from the characters in the Bible. Who did God actually bless and why? Who does God hate and why? He’s already told you, you just have to look and listen!

“My son, if you will receive My words, and hide (protect) My Commandments within you; So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yea, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then shall you understand the reverence the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the Righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of His Elect. Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul; Discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you: To deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness.”
Proverbs 2:1-13

Wisdom and understanding of God’s Will is what keeps and protects you. Not weapons of war and accumulation of wealth, worthless things of this world.

The Test of Our Time

Biden sees Americas as a “nation that embraces light over dark, hope over fear, unity over division, stability over chaos.” Saying we are “a nation that stands as a beacon to the world” a similitude to the phrase from the Bible for ‘A city on a hill,’ recently covered in this linked article.

He proclaims, “Our strength is not just in the example of our power, but the power of our example. Let’s remember the world is watching.” Biden and all of the politicians “leading” the country should remember that God is watching. Biden correctly stated that we are “facing the test of our time” but he doesn’t realize just how serious and significant that test is, nor who is doing the testing.

Solomon was the last leader over the twelve tribes of the House of Israel before God scattered them throughout the world. He is famous for his great wisdom. He wrote:

“Listen therefore, kings (rulers), and understand: learn this, judges of the end of the earth; Pay attention, rulers of the people, who boast of multitudes of nations; For your dominion was given you from the LORD, and your sovereignty from the Most High; He will examine your works and inquire into your plans; For though you are servants of His Kingdom, you have not judged rightly, or kept the Law, or followed the will of God. He will come upon you terribly and swiftly, for a stern judgment overtakes those in high places. For the humblest man may be forgiven through mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested, For the LORD of all will show no partiality, and will not respect greatness, for it was He who made small and great, and He takes thought for all alike, But a rigorous inquiry is in store for the powerful.”
The Wisdom of Solomon 6:1-8

State of Tribulation

With God in mind, do you still think the State of the Nation is strong? Or is it a state of violence, war, tribulation, darkness, division and chaos. All things that God hates and will not stand for. These are also all things that Jesus said would come upon the earth in Matthew 24. Read it for yourself and consider the state of the world around you.

The leaders of the world that have led the people of God astray have been ‘weighed in the balances and found wanting’ in the eyes of God. You should step far away from their ways so as not to receive the wrath of God destined to land directly on those leaders. Now is the time to return to God!