Some hail this move as a wake-up call to reform the prison system. Others are deeply concerned about letting thousands of convicts back onto the streets. This week (May 7, 2011) the state must submit a plan for following the Court’s order. There are currently about 140,000 inmates in California’s prison system.

Just a peek at a graph showing incarcerated Americans between 1920 and the present will stretch your neck muscles. Wiki says, “The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world.” That’s 743 per 100,000 people in the U.S. At the end of 2009 that clocked up 7.2 million people. “At year end 2009 1 out of every 135 U.S. residents was incarcerated in prison or jail.” [1] The three states with the lowest ratio of imprisoned people are Maine, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. The three states with the highest ratio are Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. About 93% of inmates are male. “After a sharp increase in the 1980s and 1990s, the incarceration rate has recently grown at a slower pace and slightly declined between 2008 and 2009.” [2]

Clearly, crime rates have skyrocketed in the last century. While there appear to be small and occasional decreases, the pattern of violent attacks, terrorism, rape, gangs, robbery, and homicide has been a steep upward move. Could there be a connection between the increase in crimes and prison populations in the world and the lack of respect for God’s law?

The Bible tells us that as we approach the end of time, “…lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12 NKJV). Paul also warned us, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV). When you compare this list with the crime list of incarcerated people, there are strong parallels.

As we see our overcrowded prisons and the increase in violence all around us, we should remember that “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4 NIV). Setting aside God’s law is a sign of Jesus’ soon return. We ought to reflect soberly on this description of people who will be ready for Christ’s second coming. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NKJV). If you would like to learn more about the importance of God’s law in Scripture, attend one of our upcoming prophecy seminars.

The golden key to freedom does not come from overcrowded prisons and courts that are forced to flip open doors to guilty inmates. Neither does it come from turning away from God’s law. “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:25 NIV).

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States
[2] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/incrt.cfm