The world seems to be falling apart. Almost daily now, we see reports of killings, and unrest that is instilling real fear in many around the world. Ukraine, Iraq, the middle east, and many other countries are experiencing daily bombings and shootings and it’s getting out of control. To many, it seems the world is going to “Hell in a hand basket”.
What is happening? Even the head of the United Nations is at a loss for words. The USA Today said this week, “The world faces the greatest humanitarian crises in the United Nations history, and nations aren’t coming together to solve the problems, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon warned Tuesday.”
In looking down to our time, the end of mankind’s history , our Lord said, “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 21:26)
When we watch on our nightly news of the horrible crimes such as be-headings of innocent people, our fears certainly rise to the surface. But what really is happening?
As we know from Scripture, this world belongs to the dark adversary. “..the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4:8-9)
The Lord did not contest Satan’s claim on the ownership of the world’s “kingdoms”. Satan has been at work, in his deceitful, lying, murderous ways since Adam and Eve. So this violence we see today is his handiwork and it will only intensify. We have made the observation that Satan is really like the mad insane killer who wants to take as many with him as he can, he’s going to die and his misery must be shared with all he can take down with him.
Recently the world beheld the first of four “Blood moons” to occur over a span of a year and a half. This is known as “Blood Moon Tetrad”. Here are the specific dates.
(Click on moons to enlarge)
Without going into the detailed rarity of these concurrent blood moons, we know that even one blood moon is rare. Now when we multiply that by four and then add the fact that they occur on Biblical holy days, well, let’s just say it’s extremely rare.
Scripture prophetically tells us that a “blood moon” is to be a direct sign from the Lord. Specifically right before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
“And I will show wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” (Joel 2:30 -31)
“The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious Day of the Lord.” (Acts 2:20)
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;” (Rev. 6:12)
So what is all this telling us? We cannot be for certain as we are not prophets, but one thing is sure. Satan knows Scripture in and out and it may very well be that he knows that the final Blood Moon Tetrad is his cue that his final time clock has begun.
Therefore his wrath begins upon mankind and develops in intensity. Additionally we know from Scripture the world is to be turned upside down. God is about to “go to work” just as Satan is. The titanic battle is very shortly to begin, the “Great Controversy” indeed!
But the proud and mighty are to be debased. The penitent and humble ones are to “takeover”. Ellen White confirms this.
“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us….Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David—willing to do and dare. The deeper the night for God’s people, the more brilliant the stars.(Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.81)
“Clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. “Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.”(Prophets and Kings, p.725)
Revelation 7 says that the “four winds” are to be held until the servants of God are sealed in their forehead. As of yet these winds are still being held, so Satan does not have the go ahead to start the “time of trouble as never was”. What we now see is just a prelim of the death , turmoil and upheaval that will encompass the world.
God in His long suffering mercy is holding this trouble back. He is patiently waiting for His “tribes of Isreal” (Rev.7:4-8) to come forward and embrace His final message of Truth. But as we have reported many times, His remnant church is fast asleep and I dare say–in a coma! Those of us who are active in spreading His Elijah message to the church, see the weekly shunning and dishonoring of God’s proper honor, especially in His house. Many preachers from the pulpit speak false things and ignore His last message. “Peace and safety” is the message.
“Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan….”(LDE, p.179)
Sadly, the vast majority of the “Israel of today” will not be around much longer. He is soon the “take the rein into His own hands” (Test. to Min. p.300). So while the time of trouble will be let loose, and test many souls around the world (those in Babylon), the current SDA church members will first experience —
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
But make no mistake, while God deals with His own first He will by no means acquit the evil doers in the world. Those mask men who we often see in the news holding their sword or knife to kill and maim, think they are hiding behind their masks but they are marked. There punishment will be dire indeed! The God of “recompense” will appear to their horror shortly.
While they take pride in committing killings in the “name” of “God”, the real great “I AM” will soon protect both those who “escape” His church judgment (Isaiah 66:15-19) and those who escape Babylon.
God, through His people, will finally “fight back”. Through His word He foretells a time when none of the unrighteous will escape and will be brought down.
“Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;”(Jer.51:20)
“In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” Zech. 12:8.
God has put up with Satan’s stomping His truth into the ground through his false teachers and prophets for a LONG TIME. But soon, the tables are to turn, and strong will be the servants of God. The adversary has finally met more than his match.
“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” (Issiah 35:3-4)
So in closing, while it looks as if the world is going to “Hell in a hand basket”, the great God of Israel holds all the cards. His perfect plan of church and world redemption is at work despite what appears now. It can be very fearful when we look at the world’s current troubles, but there is hope in His word.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”(Isaiah 41:10)
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
August 24, 2014 at 6:57 am |
very true!