A Call to Righteousness: Impending Judgment by Dr. David Franklin (1994)

“A Call to Righteousness: Impending Judgment,” authored by Dr. David Franklin in 1994, serves as a prophetic admonition to nations, drawing parallels between contemporary societal behaviors and the biblical narratives found in the Book of Ezekiel. In this concise 48-page work, Franklin underscores the consequences that befall nations persisting in moral and spiritual decline, emphasizing themes of desolation, destruction, dispersion, despair, and the hope of prophetic restoration. Central to Franklin’s discourse is the analysis of Ezekiel chapters 12 and 14. He posits that when a nation indulges in violence and forgets its foundational spiritual values, it stands accountable before the Sovereign Lord. Franklin delineates a divine sequence: persistent wrongdoing leads to confrontation by God, followed by periods allotted for repentance. Should these opportunities be ignored, divine judgment becomes inevitable upon the unfaithful nation.
Anticipating global shifts, Franklin calls for international righteousness and critiques the prevailing economic complacency of his time. He challenges the “debt-free” myth, forecasting significant economic transformations. Notably, these insights were penned years before discussions on foreclosures and global economic crises became prominent, showcasing Franklin’s foresight into financial vulnerabilities that would later manifest.

A particularly compelling segment of the book delves into Ezekiel’s vision concerning the departure of the Glory of God. Franklin interprets this as a cautionary tale for contemporary society, suggesting that the withdrawal of divine presence is a direct consequence of collective disobedience and moral decay. This interpretation serves as both a warning and a call to action, urging readers to reflect on their spiritual commitments and the presence of divine glory in their communities.
The prophetic nature of Franklin’s work gained renewed attention post the September 11, 2001 attacks. Readers and scholars revisited “A Call to Righteousness,” noting its prescient warnings about impending judgment and the moral state of nations. This resurgence highlighted the book’s enduring relevance and its capacity to speak to unfolding global events.

In essence, “A Call to Righteousness: Impending Judgment” is more than a historical or theological treatise; it is a timeless exhortation. Franklin challenges individuals and nations alike to introspect, repent, and realign with principles of righteousness. His work serves as a reminder that the trajectory of a nation is profoundly influenced by its collective moral and spiritual choices, and that heeding calls to righteousness is paramount to avert impending judgment.

In 1994, as a prophetic warning to the nation some seven years before the 9/11 attacks, Dr. David Franklin wrote “A Call to Righteousness: Impending Judgment.” Drawing conclusions from Ezekiel’s chapter 12 desolation, destruction, dispersion, despair and prophetic hope in chapter 14, he warns that:

(1)   When a nation persists in violence, the Sovereign Lord confronts and holds responsible
(2)   When a nation forgets God, He allows for times of repentance
(3)   If repentance is ignored, God will expose and execute judgment on an unfaithful nation.

The book continues with a call for international righteousness (p. 10) and a critique of the debt-free myth proclaiming a time of economic shift (p. 11-12). Remember, this warning was written two decades before anyone in America had mentioned foreclosure, crises or global economic crises. But my favorite chapter still is the interpretation of Ezekiel’s vision of the departure of the Glory of God (p. 20-21).

I read this book back in 1999 and frankly had forgotten about it until 2011 when, at a young ministers training camp in the mountains of Bulgaria, we experienced what we consider the most genuine appearance of the Glory of God in our whole ministry. We wrote about it then and presented our observation at the 2012 Missions Conference at the Good Shepherd Church of God inPahokee,FL. The four points of our observation carry a tremendous prophetic resemblance to what Dr. David Franklin had proclaimed in his book 18 years ago:

(1) Every time God renews His covenant with His people, He shows His presence.

(2) We know that God is present in the covenant, because He shows His glory. It happened to Moses and his generation. And it also happened to Solomon several hundred years later.

(3) When a generation looses the vision of the Glory of God, God begins renewing His covenant again with a new generation.

(4) God is not satisfied with a people who know the signs and the blessings of the covenant. He rests not until He is revealed as the God of the covenant.