There are certain truths pertaining to our well-being and to our very existence that must of necessity be brought to the attention of all inhabitants of the earth before the period of our probation closes. We are indeed living in the closing scenes of earth’s history, as is evidenced by the fulfillment of the many prophecies, signs, and developments that are predicted in the Bible to come to pass in our day. Some issues that were previously held in doubt will be made clear, and some of the answers we have long searched for will finally be answered with such clarity, that each person will have a knowledge of the truth, so that informed decisions can be made.
The fact that a tremendous amount of light and darkness will converge during the last days of earth’s history is one of the prophecies written in the scriptures, and in the last book of the Bible, The Lord specifically states that the mystery of God will be finished, in other words, those questions that pertain to our eternal destiny, which have been hanging in doubt for too long, will finally be disclosed to the view of all. Let’s read:
Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
21:12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire” …..
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for [it is] nigh at hand;
2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
The Bible states explicitly that the events which transpire upon the earth are under the direct and constant jurisdiction of God, so that nothing takes place without His foreknowledge, permission, or authorization, and when the Bible says nothing, it means nothing. This truth must be fully understood and cemented in our minds so that we can be stabilized to receive other truths that are incident to this central statement of fact. This truth is also clearly demonstrated in several passages of the Bible, so that even a little child can understand. Let’s read:
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Daniel 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the
thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
4:10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.
4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the
height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight
thereof to the end of all the earth:
4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him: and let seven times pass over him.
4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Psalms 75:4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak [not with] a stiff neck.
75:6 For promotion [cometh] neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
75:7 But God [is] the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Psalms 50:10 For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.
50:11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field [are] mine.
50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.
50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
50:17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou
consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with
adulterers.
50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
50:21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.
50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver.
2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.
2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2:9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Although many people do not know it, The restraining Spirit of God is gradually being withdrawn from the earth, and because of the deliberate choices made by earth’s inhabitants, the scepter of rulership is being handed over to the cruelest of tyrants, and with God’s departure will also go His blessings, His protection, His mercy and His restraining power, so that major trouble and disaster such as this world has never known will begin to occur with such frequency and intensity, that all who are not shielded by the blood of Christ in that day, will wish they had responded to God’s
gracious overtures of mercy whilst it lasted. Let’s read:
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
This very important truth about God’s sovereignty
in the earth is well documented in the many interpositions and special interferences He has made throughout the history of our world, and it was the selfsame truth which the centurion in the days of Christ thoroughly understood, thereby drawing a rare commendation from Christ. And although it may be difficult for some of us to grasp, and others might be reluctant to accept it, or be reconciled to it, yet like the centurion, it is now necessary that we understand this sacred truth, for it carries with it very great implications and serious consequences for every individual living on the planet. Let’s read:
Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].
8:10 When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
As it pertains to tragedies and disasters that are
scheduled to multiply exponentially across the globe, three basic points must be taken into consideration.
Point # (1) Calamities can be brought about by a disregard of God’s laws, and it is the sole right and prerogative of God to issue judgments and corrections as He sees fit, in response to a callous disregard of divine authority. Even though He does not take delight in this activity, yet it remains His sole right. Let’s read:
Isaiah 26:9 ….. “When thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 28:21 For the LORD shall rise up as [in] mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as [in] the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Points: # [2] The devil and his evil angels must first be granted permission before wreaking havoc on the human family. This point must be clearly understood, for many people have erroneously thought that all disasters happen in a vacuum, with no supernatural interference whatsoever. And as a result, global warming and El Nino have often been blamed for activities that were actually triggered by satan. But because he is hidden from the view of mortal eyes, or is held in some circles as just being a mere caricature, natural and scientific causes are as a rule credited for most tragedies or calamities. But the Bible discloses to our view the real agencies in what we term often term as “Natural disasters”. Let’s read:
Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins:
2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
1:15 And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
1:16 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
1:17 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
1:18 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Point # (3) Disasters can also be caused by illicit human activity and human error. As was stated in a previous Bible study, God generally allows the laws of cause and effect to run their natural course, and because of this, our own activities will have an impact on events that will transpire in the near future. The Lord cannot be expected to reverse every evil we have set in motion, for then natural and spiritual laws will soon become obsolete, with no meaning, relevance or benefit to the inhabitants of earth. Let’s read:
Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
The deadly Mad Cow disease, which is known to affect the brain and nervous system in cows and humans, is largely brought about by the practice of feeding cattle with the remains of their own meat, instead of allowing them to exist and grow as herbivores, the way that God originally intended. And DDT is known to be a carcinogen, remaining toxic for many years after use. The Chernobyl disaster was the result of flawed nuclear technology and grave mistakes made by human agents who were ill equipped to operate the plant. God cannot be expected to reverse all of the evil side effects of human activity.
So now that it has been firmly established from the scriptures that God is in control of the affairs of the earth, the next logical question on the second point is why and how is permission granted to satan, so that calamities of epic proportions are allowed in various places of the earth? In other words, how is permission sought and legally granted to agencies of evil spirits, so that they are permitted to spread desolation across the globe? The answer to this question takes us back to the garden of Eden, where God told Adam and Eve not to touch or eat, nor almost touch the forbidden fruit, lest they die.
Satan could not follow them around the garden, but could only gain access to them at the forbidden tree. And so the template has been set, that the permission he often seeks to destroy and cause grief, is accessible at the points of disobedience. Although all tragedies are not as a result of his nefarious work, yet it is very often the case that through his temptations which entice us to violate God’s laws, his power is asserted over those who have done his bidding. The wages of sin is death, and therefore, after he has worked diligently to prompt us to a departure from God’s revealed will, he requests payment in return, on legal grounds of disobedience. Let’s read:
Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
8:30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
Question: Why the swine, and not any of the other animals that were most likely in the same vicinity? It is very possible that because it was a farming community, there were probably much sheep and cattle in the same area, so why are the demons now specifying a new place of abode in their request to Christ, should he choose to cast them out? The reason for this is because sheep and cattle were previously cleared by God for human consumption, whereas the swine was strictly forbidden as an article of food, and therefore, satan’s power could now be legally exercised upon the assets or persons of those who were in flagrant violation of the given dietary laws. Let’s read:
Leviticus 11:1 And the LORD spake” … “saying unto them,
11:2 …. “These [are] the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that [are] on the earth.
11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: [as] the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.
11:6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.
11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.
11:8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you.
11:11 They shall be even an abomination unto you;
ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
And so it was, that because of a departure from the instructions and dietary laws given by God, the devils submit a legal request that the flood gates of destruction be opened upon the owners who were rearing the swine for human consumption, and it was only because of the grace of God why they were prevented from driving both the farmers and their illicit livestock over the cliff to meet a brutal and untimely death. However what follows next graphically illustrates what takes place once the devils receive legal permission. Let’s read:
Matthew 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
8:33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
8:34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would depart out of their coasts.
The same pattern was repeated with king David, as he yielded to the temptation of lusting after Bathsheba. God had protected him from many dangers previously, but when he committed a known sin of such gravity, as to kill a man and take his wife, “Somebody” has to get paid, for the Bible states that the workman is worthy of his hire. Let’s read:
2nd Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
11:3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her” …. 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I [am] with child.
11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah.
11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were].
11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell [some] of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
And now, after having yielded to the temptations of satan and satisfying his own lusts, the devil puts in a legal request for payment, which begins in the very next chapter. He goes out to stir up the worst, vile passions that are lodged in the hearts of David’s sons, dark passions that they probably did not know existed previously, but which were held at bay by the power of God working silently in their behalf.
These destructive but latent desires, and their accompanying actions are now going to be fanned into life by satan, to bring unprecedented trouble and national embarrassment to David’s kingdom and office, and were it not for the mercies of God, satan would have dragged every member of David’s family who were not covered by the blood, down to the pit of destruction. Let’s read:
2nd Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man”…..
12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house” ……
2nd Samuel 13:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtle man.
13:4 And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
13:10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
13:11 And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
13:12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13:13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
13:15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her [was] greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
13:29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
13:30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Some of us may be wondering why such a dreadful study on the subject of disasters and their causes, and why at such a time as this when the new year is before us with bright prospects of prosperity. The reason is because of the laws of cause and effect that are allowed to run their natural course, and this applies across the board, both for obedience and for disobedience. The law of God pertaining to the sacred institution of marriage is being dragged in the streets, and is now trampled upon in many different ways, and therefore it has become necessary to remind ourselves that there are consequences that follow a flagrant disregard of what God has established as the foundation of society.
When yielding to the pressures of majority opinion, we make null and void His law pertaining to marriage, or any other sacred institution, then satan will certainly show up for payment in the most brutal form possible, and we will soon see with our very eyes, what the results of a wrong course of action will be. For those who may not be aware, the devil is already in the planning stages, only awaiting the Divine permission to spread desolation and disaster in several places. Let’s read:
Leviticus 18:1 And the LORD spake” …. “saying
18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I [am] the LORD your God.
18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.
18:6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover [their] nakedness: I [am] the LORD.
18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.
18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it [is] confusion.
18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
18:26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit [any] of these abominations; [neither] any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
18:27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which [were] before you, and the land is defiled;)
18:29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit [them] shall be cut off from among their people.
It is therefore the will of God that we take heed to these momentous truths, both on a national and individual level, so that we may be spared in the days of retribution that are soon to be revealed.
God bless!