The Pride of the Nations Will Fall
Like a Stately Tree Fell at the White House

6/27/06

Yesterday morning I caught a glimpse of the news on TV in the morning while I was trying to wake my brain up in order to have my quiet time with God. Evidently a very large, stately tree near the White House toppled over during a storm. The tree had evidently been planted during Teddy Roosevelt’s term of office (100 years ago). Fox news reported that they did not understand what caused the tree to just topple over. I sensed God telling me that this was a sign of what was going to happen to our nation; our government. I also saw on the news during that short period of time yesterday morning how vast the wildfires are out west, killing over 100,000 acres of greenery. Then, I turned the news off, prayed and read the word (I read where I had last left off in my reading):

Zechariah 11:1-3:
“Open your doors, O Lebanon,
so that fire may devour your cedars!
Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen;
the stately trees are ruined!
Wail, oaks of Bashan;
the dense forest has been cut down!
Listen to the wail of the shepherds;
their rich pastures are destroyed!
Listen to the roar of the lions;
the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!”

I wanted to understand the meaning of these verses, so I researched it in two different commentaries:

1) “The pride of these two, the cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan, is to be destroyed… The two means of destruction of trees, fire and axe, are irresistible as God prepares the way for the return of his people… Even the lush thicket of the Jordan does not escape the terrifying arrival of the Lord in delivering judgment.”

2) “Some interpret this brief poem as a taunt song anticipating the lament that will be sung over the destruction of the nations’ power and arrogance, represented by the cedar, the pine and the oak. Their kings are represented by the shepherds and the lions… Now the scene is one of desolation for the land, followed by the threat of judgment and disaster for both land and people.”

It appeared to me as though what the Lord was showing me, represented by the huge tree that was toppled at the White House and the fires destroying thousands of acres of land out west, is the destruction of the pride and arrogance of our nation, soon to come.

Later on I read a news article on-line about Teddy Roosevelt. It was called:
Roosevelt’s legacy shapes U.S. of today
26th president’s activism changed role of government
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/25/roosevelt.tm/

“He was the first president to urge wholeheartedly that the U.S. accept its role as a global power. The “imperial presidencies” that followed his, from Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush, all owe something to his example.”

The tree that fell was planted during Teddy’s presidency, so I wondered if perhaps God was saying that this “global power” is what is going to topple and this “imperial presidency.” I also found an article that included a blip about the tree on Fox News on-line today:

“The tree that fell near President Bush’s front door was also historic — White House officials said it was at least 100 years old. Bureau of Printing and Engraving could not immediately confirm reports that it was one of the trees depicted on the back of the $20 bill.”

Hmmmmmm – that would be interesting, indeed! That would also indicate a falling of our economy, I think.

The second part of this prophecy, the first being against the nations, is against the shepherds (the rulers; the kings):

Zechariah 11:17:
“Woe to the worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm and his right eye!
May his arm be completely withered,
his right eye totally blinded!”

Then, we have this, which sounds like it moves quickly from the crucifixion of Jesus to the judgments of God during the seven years of tribulation, as though 2000 years passes between verse 7 and verses 8-9:

Zechariah 13:7-9:
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is close to me!”
declares the LORD Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

In the whole land,” declares the LORD,
“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.

This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

I believe God was showing me that our nation, our government, our economy, and our leaders are about to fall, just like that tree, and that our people and land will be destroyed just like those fires – “the threat of judgment and disaster for both land and people.” And, all this is going to happen because of the pride and the power and arrogance of our nation and its leaders. This is not the only reason for the judgment of God, but it is what the Lord is showing me right now.