Treason of the Blackest Dye

TRAITOR. TREASON. CONSPIRACY. INSURRECTION.

These four words permeate the fabric of our nation right now. They ooze from the cracks of the sidewalk. They rise from the ashes of a nation that’s been torn apart by “treason of the blackest dye”. George Washington used this quote to refer to Benedict Arnold after his treasonous plans were uncovered.

The name Benedict Arnold came to my attention years ago, and it happened in a strange way. I was rummaging through a drawer, trying to find a particular shirt, when I saw a book. It was hidden under the shirt I was searching for. It was a children’s book about Benedict Arnold. I thought it was strange that the book was in my clothes drawer. Then again, I’m a teacher with a large collection of children’s books, so maybe I accidentally put it there. Nonetheless, I decided to read it because it was in my hand and it looked interesting. As I was reading the book, I had the overwhelming feeling that our nation would see the rise of many traitors. It gave me the chills, so I put the book away.

Later that day I searched the internet to find more information about Benedict Arnold. I noticed he died on June 14. As I stared at the date it reminded me of something. What was it? I thought about it for a while and then it came to me. Donald Trump’s birthday! His birthday is June 14.

This was one of my thoughts on that day: Donald Trump and our nation will be surrounded by traitors. Some of these traitors will be very close to President Trump.

It’s interesting because not too long after this my family and I went to visit Saratoga Battlefield in New York. This is where one of the most important battles of the American Revolution was fought. This battle was called the turning point of the war. We just happened to be there on the anniversary of when British General Burgoyne surrendered to the American forces. While we were there, we happened upon an unusual monument dedicated to none other than Benedict Arnold. Why would there be a monument to a traitor? Actually, he was one of the greatest heroes who fought in this battle and some say we wouldn’t have won it without him. The monument features a boot, which is a remembrance of when Arnold permanently wounded his leg in the Battle of Saratoga. The monument, however, does not bear Arnold’s name.

This is written on the monument: “In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army who was desperately wounded on this spot, the sally port of Burgoyne’s great [western] redoubt 7th October 1777 winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution and for himself the rank of Major General.”

So traitors can start off as “good” and then turn very bad- kind of like milk that goes sour. Actually, it’s more like milk that turns into poison!

Here we are in 2021 and I feel like we are swimming in a sea of “Benedict Arnolds”. People we thought were “good” are actually “bad”. It’s also a time where good things are called bad, and bad things are called good.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,” Isaiah 5:20

BAD BENEDICT ARNOLD

Benedict Arnold was caught trying to surrender West Point to the British. He gave up his own country’s military stronghold for money. Arnold’s accomplice was caught and the plans were discovered. The details of the plans had been signed by Benedict Arnold’s own hand. Once Arnold’s plan was discovered in September of 1780 , there was no denying his involvement. For more info on Benedict Arnold, read my earlier blog called Courage, Dear Heart.

An Assassination Plot

We all seem to know the name Benedict Arnold. But he wasn’t America’s first traitor. There was someone else who was caught long before Arnold- and his plot was even more sinister. It was an assassination plot. The goal: to kill General George Washington.

The June 28 Connection

Likely you have never heard of this guy, but he’s real and so is the plot. His name was Thomas Hickey and he paid the price for his crime. Unlike Benedict Arnold, who fled the country, Thomas Hickey was caught and then hanged. On June 28, 1776 more than 20,000 people gathered in a field and watched Hickey pay the ultimate price for the charges of sedition, mutiny and treason. What was shocking is the fact that Hickey had been a member of Washington’s Life Guard. This meant Hickey was supposed to be a body guard for Washington. Instead, he plotted to kill him!

Traitors are often your closest allies….

Like Hickey, Benedict Arnold was close to Washington as well. Washington considered Arnold a friend and spoke highly of him. He considered him an honorable leader. Little did Washington know that he misjudged the hearts of these two crafty, greedy people. To be stabbed in the back by those who are supposed to lead, protect and serve you, is surely the toughest pill to swallow. It’s like swallowing poison. Sounds a lot like what’s happening in America right now doesn’t it? Many of the lawmakers we thought we could trust have shown their true colors. The spirit of Thomas Hickey and Benedict Arnold is alive and well in Washington, D.C.

Hickey would become the first Continental soldier to be executed for treason. But, the plot to kill George Washington involved more than just Hickey. The governor, as well as the mayor of New York were involved, as well as other politicians, but they never paid for their crimes. It all fell on the shoulders of Hickey.

Traitors of Today

All of this sounds oddly and grotesquely familiar. I have no doubt there are countless plots to take out our nation’s conservative leaders. Those plots are still churning. This is why I pray for Donald Trump, his family and those who support him. I pray for all the courageous leaders who take on blatant evil at all costs. They take on the media and corrupt lawmakers- knowing it could cost them their career and even their lives.

Thomas Hickey was hanged on June 28, 1776, but do you know what else happened on June 28? Believe it or not, it’s another assassination plot, but this one succeeded.

The World War One Assassination

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Bosnian Serb during their visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. Their deaths sent shock waves throughout the world and soon afterward World War 1 began. Exactly five years after their deaths, the Treaty of Versailles would be signed on June 28, 1919, officially ending the war.

Assassination plots are common, but thankfully, they don’t always succeed, as was the case for Ronald Reagan. In the case of Abraham Lincoln, the plot did succeed, and the nation mourned the death of a great leader.

Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865 and died on April 15. He fought hard to keep the country together during the Civil War. He paid a heavy price for his loyalty- he was assassinated. Interestingly enough, back in 2014 and 2015, there were a series of four blood moons that were visible in the United States. The first of these blood moons happened on April 15, 2014– on the 149th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death. This blood moon happened on Passover on the biblical calendar. It was also the anniversary of Titanic’s sinking, which happened on April 15, 1912.

Even more curious is that there was another blood moon in this series of four total lunar eclipses, which happened on April 4, 2015. This just happened to be the 47th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. This blood moon (total lunar eclipse) fell on Passover as well.

Both of these blood moons fell on biblical holidays and both of them pointed to assassinations tied to great division and strife.

Certainly our nation has seen its share of division. The division is so deep that war seems like it’s a heartbeat away. But some of this division has come at the hands of traitors. These traitors have plotted for years and have even conspired with nations such as China and Iran. I have a feeling you know who some of these traitors are. Hunter Biden and his father Joe seem to relish their cozy relationship with communist nations. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Because of the deep evil that lurks in the shadows, I am always praying for our leaders. Psalm 91 is my favorite psalm to pray for President Trump and the leaders of our nation who have not sold their souls to the almighty dollar, China, Russia or even worse- the devil.

The Gettysburg Address: A Timeless Word for our Nation

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln made perhaps one of the most famous speeches in American history. Lincoln came to dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. In this speech, he spoke of human equality and the importance of preserving the Union. 

     The Battle of Gettysburg was won by the Union on July 4. This gave great inspiration to Lincoln, who highlighted the freedoms contained in the Declaration of Independence in his speech. He felt the dates coinciding was not coincidence. Preserving the Union was necessary to maintain a nation that was founded on these principles. 51,000 lives were lost in this battle. The blood which spilled on that battlefield cried out for a 911 call. The date Lincoln gave this speech bore the shadow of this 911 call because November 19 as a date is written 11-19. Below are the words of the Gettysburg Address. See if you can spot Lincoln’s 911.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brough forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

     Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

     But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate–we cannot consecrate–we cannot hallow–this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task of remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.      

I can see the 911 call at the end of the speech where Lincoln says:

“THAT THIS NATION, UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM–AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.”

America, there are traitors all around. They surround us on every side. But we have a weapon they cannot beat. We have a rock they cannot dodge.

In all this treachery, we have the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, who is always faithful. He knows how all the pieces fit together. He knows the beginning and the end.

We will stand and fight for our nation and for our freedom. But no matter what happens, freedom will not perish in this land- because freedom has a name and it’s Jesus Christ. Freedom doesn’t die because it’s alive in our hearts when we have HIM. He will never betray us.

I don’t know how everything will unfold here in America, but I do know we can trust Jesus. We can make that 911 call to him. We can make it for ourselves, our leaders and our nation. Whatever comes, we can stand.

God always brings the darkness out into the light. Just stand back and wait. He will do it.