Warning: Tribulation Straight Ahead!
By Mike Taylor
“I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD” (Zephaniah 1:3).
Have you seen what is in the news? Everyone who reads the newspaper, listens to their TV, scans the Internet or reads even the Drudge Report sees all the strange reports of worldwide calamities in nature that no one can explain.
We see signs in the heavens. We see asteroids coming very close to our world and the scientists can’t explain them or predict them all. Russia had a meteor fall to the earth the size of a quarter of a football field, exploding in the atmosphere causing injury and damage to thousands of people and property. There was a reported sighting over Cuba and without warning that it was coming. The same event happened over in California. From news reports, these events continue to happen and with no apparent explanation. What is coming upon the earth?
Now we find out, even though it is being under reported, that deaths of different species of animals continue unabated. It gives a person pause to try and understand what is happening, as this is not normal in any sense of the word. Lame stream media has tried to spin this as caused by electrical storms, fireworks going off, or environmental changes due to “climate change.”
Then others dismiss it as a normal occurrence that has happened before and that this has been seen the past? Oh, really media hounds? Have we?
We see the latest report of thousand of seal pups washing up on California’s coastline and we have not a clue why this is happening. If it’s a natural occurrence in regard to these animals dying, then why is it just one species that is affected in several cases? Remember the black birds by the thousands falling out of the sky in Arkansas, or drum fish by the hundreds of thousands washing up on the banks of an Arkansas river not even a hundred miles away?
Why does it not affect the other fish, if it’s natural?
Why not other birds in the area, if its a natural occurrence or environmental? How about the recent past news of 200 head of cattle suddenly dying in Wisconsin?
The whole herd was found dead. Can’t explain it in the natural? Neither can I, and it is making some people very apprehensive about what could be the cause.
This phenomenon keeps happening all over the globe, as suddenly, aquatic life is washed up onto our shores or beasts are found dead in fields or birds fall from the sky. If you think this is news from the past, read the latest online at this web address:
http://beforeitsnews.com/mass-animal-death/.
These events just seem to keep happening, even in recent news and most likely will continue without explanation.
Signs in the heavens are rampant in our skies. Unexplained phenomenon have men searching the heavens for a doomsday life extinction strike upon the earth, from a distant traveling asteroid coming into our solar system. Not to mention the coming signs that we have already gone over about blood red moons, and solar eclipses that are predicted in the near future from NASA. Are all these just business as usual?
Now I don’t know exactly the cause, nor am I a scientist and I’m not into conspiracy theories. But when things start becoming strange and unexplainable, I turn to my Bible for any possible explanation that might give comfort or give an answer to these types of events─especially when I believe that we are in the very last days before the start of the Tribulation. If the news is supernatural, will it only increase in intensity?
Time will tell, if these events continue. Then stress on men’s minds and hearts will increase, too. To me, it sounds like warning signs of a coming judgment on this earth. I believe that the Tribulation is straight ahead of us. From what I have read in our Bible, if you think these events are mysterious and foreboding, you haven’t seen anything yet. Wait ‘till God gets really busy bringing upon this earth signs that we know must be interpreted as only divine, as men will know in their hearts that the signs they see, spell doom to this world they cling to.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).
Are these events causing distress amongst the nations?
It is coming and if this is what men fear, it will only get worse as the verses above lay out. So what could be the explanation of these strange events?
You can find many of these end time events in Revelation, but I turn to the book of Zephaniah and look at this prophet’s prophecy concerning judgment on the city of Jerusalem and Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel.
I believe the prophet speaks of a people who have turned their back on God. Zephaniah speaks to them, and I believe he speaks to us in these last days of our history on this earth. I don't want you to just read these excerpts from God’s Word, but take that Bible in your lap and read of our future in Zephaniah, that many have yet to read or have long forgotten. It will surely come to pass in your lifetime.
Zephaniah 1.1-7:
“The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; and them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.” Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.”
In verse 5, who is Malcham? It is another word for Molech and God saw how they passed their children through the “fires of Molech.” Child sacrifice was going on by the idolatry and worship of Molech, not to mention all the abominations of the worship of the other false gods of that time.
This prophecy was Zephaniah’s warning to the people about their idolatry and about coming judgment for their sinful ways. Have we not passed our children through the fire? Can you say, “elected abortion” of a whole generation of American citizens who never got a chance at life?
Zephaniah was a prophet of judgment.
He prophesied of the imminent devastation of the land of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem because of Judah’s injustice, hypocrisy and idolatry in chapter 1 (sound familiar?). This prophecy was fulfilled in 586 BC. This is why the faithful remnant is called to seek Jehovah when the nations near and far will feel Jehovah’s vengeance (chapter 2).
The actual corrupted state of things stands in contrast to the future blessings of the people as described in chapter 3.16-17:
“In that day it is said to Jerusalem, `Fear not, O Zion, let not thy hands be feeble.
Jehovah thy God `is' in thy midst, A mighty one doth save, He rejoiceth over thee with joy, He doth work in His love, He joyeth over thee with singing.’
The blessing of God being with us, will remove all the wrath and judgment, as God has laid waste all who rebel against Him, and He will appear in the clouds of heaven and return with His Saints to rule and reign for a thousand years.
Leading to His judgment on these people in Zephaniah God gave them ample warning and likewise, so does He give us the same today. He warned them and He warns us to seek His face and to repent.
Zephaniah 2:1-3:
“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’s anger come upon you.Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.”
Again, God speaks to us from His word, especially for this time in which we live:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
In recent times past, I would have believed that America had a chance to turn back to God and He would forgive and heal this nation. I don’t believe that anymore; the nation as a whole has turned reprobate.
If God would withhold His hand from this nation in judgment, He would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for its destruction, as we have become them. The homosexual agenda continues unabated, and to turn a blind eye to this abomination will only bring God’s judgment even quicker.
The whole book of Zephaniah makes it clear that the prophet looks far ahead of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem to that dreadful day of Jehovah, the day of His anger and judgment, which, however, will follow the blessing of the millennial reign of peace.
You can see our nation, this land we call the USA -- in the words spoken by Zephaniah.
We are like the ancients, headed for judgment. God is trying to get our attention worldwide. It’s not just happening in America, it’s happening all over the globe, but America is where I live.
Events described in the reports discussed above are coming from England to the other side of the globe to Australia. Unexplainable events that Zephaniah was warning the people of southern Israel about are being seen right now.
Zephaniah was speaking of the “Day of the Lord.” It was an imminent time in history, but it does not stop with these ancient people. There are peculiarities in the prophecy when Zephaniah is warning the people about the future coming day of the Lord.
The day of Jehovah is mentioned as follows in the book of Zephaniah:
Chapter 1.7: The day of Jehovah.
Chapter 1.8: The day of Jehovah’s sacrifice.
Chapter 1.9: The same day.
Chapter 1.10: That day.
Chapter 1.14: The great day of Jehovah.
Chapter 1.15-16: A day of wrath, of trouble and distress.
Chapter 1.18: The day of Jehovah’s wrath.
Chapter 2.2: The day of Jehovah’s anger.
Chapter 2.3: The day of Jehovah’s anger.
Chapter 3.8: The day that I rise up to the prey, says Jehovah.
Chapter 3.11: That day.
Chapter 3.16: That day.
He is speaking of the imminent day of wrath and is speaking of that day in their time, but also of a future event that will precede the final “coming of the Lord
.”He is speaking a duality of prophecy of our time, not just the past. He speaks of the signs of the great day of wrath that is to come upon this earth...our earth, in our time. He is speaking of the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His 1000-year reign upon this earth, which is preceded by a cleansing of the earth in righteous judgment.
What will it take for America to wake-up, or will she wake up?
I believe she has been lulled to sleep, bathed in her wickedness. Will a catastrophic earthquake destroying large landmasses and its population shake her awake?
How about a new terrorist attack that makes 9/11 pale in comparison?
Remember how we came together after the attack of the twin towers, the pentagon, and the fields of Pennsylvania that shook our nation? And we returned to our churches in unprecedented numbers?
How long did that last?
After six months of being convicted and shaken, we returned to our old ways and continued our sinful way of life.
It seems so long ago, doesn’t it? How quickly we forget how we felt and our need for God. The church needs to wake-up from its sleep, as we must warn others to get on the Ark of Jesus Christ while there is still time to do so.
I just read a commentary of what our downfall will look like:
A third world nation that has no power, no authority to do anything to solve a worldwide calamity, as this nation has ceased to exist in its superpower status.
Is that time closer than we even think?
I’ve written of different scenarios, as no one knows how this will shake out. America will be either decimated, or become the facilitator or the home of the beast power and all its tyranny. Either way, judgment is coming.
Worldwide calamity has started. Time will tell how fast it will move to our shores. As it becomes stronger and stronger and the convulsions of an earth ripe for judgment fill the airwaves -- news outlet reports are fast and furious; you can see what I stated above coming to pass in all its fury.
Quoting, Luke chapter 21 again:
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).
Some, who read this commentary, will come away with fear and a dread playing on their hearts and minds. But we have a promise even as we see these events start to unfold:
“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked” (Psalm 91:7-8).
This would make the average man on the street fearful and many will experience health issues because of one thing and that is: fear and anxiety. My brother and sister in Christ, do not fear, do not let your heart be troubled, as God is in control even as times of tribulation get closer and closer:
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
This is the time when we must be warning others who are outside of God’s protection, those who see what is coming on the face of the earth and are starting to feel anxiety.
They know something is coming. They know that “evil is coming this way.” They don’t buy the stories coming out of the media. They feel a dread and a sense of foreboding. You see survivalists who think they can weather the storm, but for how long?
No, my friend, when this happens, all will be dealt a most horrific future. Nothing will save those who go through what is coming. It is a time of untold death and carnage, not so much at the hands of men who will take many lives, but at the hand of Almighty God in fierce judgment and wrath aimed at rebellious and sinful mankind.
You who read this message, do you feel the dread in your mind and soul? So what are you to do? Paul warned in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.2-4:
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
As a warning messenger on the wall, I admonish you and give you an open invitation to quiet the fear in your mind and in your heart with God’s salvation supplied by His only begotten Son.
“But what doth it say? `Nigh thee is the saying -- in thy mouth, and in thy heart:' that is, the saying of the faith, that we preach; that if thou mayest confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and mayest believe in thy heart that God did raise him out of the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart doth one believe to righteousness, and with the mouth is confession made to salvation” (Romans 10:8-10).
God is trying to shake everyone awake as to what is coming. God is calling whoever will believe in His only begotten Son unto salvation. The time is drawing down. The start of the coming seven-years of Tribulation of Daniel’s 70th week could be in the imminent future.
So what do you do with this warning, this call unto repentance?
You could discard it as the ravings of a madman, or look around you and see that things are becoming very fearful and mind troubling.
You may feel a tug at your mind and your heart.
[Jesus said,] “No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45
Listen to that voice inside your spirit:
“Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved’” (Romans 10:13)
But in the end, don’t take my word for it and all that I have written; search God’s Word for yourself. Take the news all around you and the warning in your Bible and in your heart, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit calling you. Make that decision for Jesus Christ today, right now.
If there is anything that I can pray with you about, counsel you with, or give you biblical support, then email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org.
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying for your eternal salvation.
‘TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET, MARANATHA!
No comments:
Post a Comment