Group think chapter 5a
5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
Isn't that something, what the poor people don't have to go through the tribulation? There is a great illustration of this point in our current events. The deplorables represent rural America, farmers, mechanics, truck drivers, etc. The elites, the talking heads all have prestigious degrees, teach at elite universities, and think they are the wisest in the land. They live on the East and West coasts. They are doctors, lawyers, marketing executives, hedge fund managers, etc. Once our cities are attacked, burned, and our electricity goes out no one will need a lawyer, or hedge fund manager, nor will they be watching TV. The NY media, Hollywood, all these elites will weep and wail. But farmers, mechanics and even truck drivers will probably continue pretty much as they are.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Suppose you have some guy who is worth $50 million. Today that is really considered nothing. Many, many people have that much. He has stocks, bonds, a couple of houses, nice cars, etc. Then the stock market crashes, his bonds, his stocks, and his bank account is worthless. He may still have debts which he can't pay. He will be totally bankrupt, but worse, that wealth that he did have will testify against him. Which houses will the roving Mad Max gangs loot first? They'll see his cars, his house, his possessions and his gated community. Do you think they will have any mercy on this guy?
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
You need to wake up, everyone will have to appear before the Lord and make account for everything they have done. The rich are proud and arrogant that they are wiser and smarter than the rest, yet if they are honest they are responsible for an economy that is collapsing right around them. Also if they are honest they have hoarded wealth and failed to pay wages, When people did blow the whistle on them they condemned. When we do open their books we learn they killed innocent ones that had done nothing against these corporate oligarchs.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
We are a crop growing, when we are ripe we will be harvested. The crop is of "sons of God", "men of faith", those who like the Lord "take up their cross and follow Him" and they "love not their life unto death". The harvest is the wheat harvest. The gematria of wheat is 22, add up the numbers in this year on the Jewish calendar and it is also 22. The gematria of harvest is 400. The last letter of the alphabet is 400, it is also the 22nd letter. The last book of the Bible has 22 chapters. Add 400 +22 to get Wheat Harvest and 422 = your salvation (gematria). The fourth month is the "door". It is also the beginning of summer. The judge is standing at the door means that when that door is opened some will be welcomed into eternal habitations and others will be judged.
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Look at the example, this is how we should stand. We will be attacked, and in the face of suffering we need to speak in the name of the Lord. We bless others who persevere in the face of these attacks, they are the example for us. Job shows us that being righteous does not prevent us from being the focus of Satan's jealous attack. We need to go on from there to learn about exercising God's dominion over the earth, over the demons, over the fallen man.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
This whole book is about group think, about cults, and the worst thing cults do is demand the pledge of allegiance to their leader. James is telling us above all not to do that. The equivalent with the Antichrist is the mark of the beast. With the Nazis you joined the Nazi party and they gave you a pin to wear. In other countries you join the communist party. One way or another cult leaders demand that you swear an oath to them. Don't do it. Stand firm, speak in the Lord's name and remember we consider those that persevere tribulation to be blessed.
My experience
I have had some miraculous experiences of being delivered by the Lord's grace. Angels making sure I didn't dash my foot against a stone. I can think of four very miraculous events. Two I should have been killed, one I might have survived but should have been in very bad shape in intensive care, and one I should have broken a few bones. In all four cases I walked away without a scratch, without any injury at all despite others looking on in disbelief.
My point is, have a backbone, be a man, speak for the Lord in the Lord's name. They can threaten to hurt me but nothing would be worse than the threats of violence and death the Lord has already brought me through.