 |
STORM CLOUDS OF JUDGMENT ON THE HORIZON II
In Ezekiel chapter 33: 2-7 the Lord tells us He has set Watchman upon the wall. The job of the watchman is when they see the enemy coming they are to sound an alarm. If this watchman does not sound the alarm the blood of the ones who are destroyed by the enemy will be on his hands. If the one who hears this alarm does not prepare for what is coming and is destroyed then his blood will be on his own head. But the one who heard the alarm and prepared for battle shall save his soul. I did not ask for this, but He showed it to me and now I am responsible for sounding the alarm and this I will do.
I know that the word I am about to give is not going to set well with most who hear it. The prophets of peace, safety and prosperity will rise up against this message but God’s Word will not be altered. What he has said he would do, he will do.
1 Peter 4:17-18 says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God”. In Revelation 18:4 God is calling for His people to come out of the great harlot religious Babylon. It is imperative that we hear and answer this call because God is about to judge this harlot and he does not want us to be judged with her. In Numbers 16:20-21 God told Moses and Aaron to separate yourselves from among the congregation that I may consume them in a moment. Today that same call for separation is being made. God’s judgment is coming and we have to separate ourselves from the world and all religion if we don’t we will suffer the same judgment as they do. We have to go outside the camp to meet the Lord (Heb. 13:13-14). It is not going to be easy but we have to go. When we choose to go outside the camp we will be hated of all men just as our Master was. We will be persecuted and suffer the same things He did and be made to drink of the same cup as did Paul, Peter, James, John and all others who have chosen to follow Jesus. When this judgment starts it will not be a bad thing. Persecution and judgment have a positive side such as: (1) It causes us to pray and seek a closer relationship with God. (2) It causes us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together. (3) It causes us to turn from our self-centered ways and forces us to pray and help each other. (4) It destroys idleness and complacency. (5) It causes us to get our eyes off men, the world, religion, and onto Jesus.
The Lord said in Luke 17:28 “As it was in the days of Lot so it would be in the days of the Son of man”. What happened in Sodom is an excellent illustration of this present day situation. Lot was living in Sodom it was a beautiful and fertile place (Gen. 13:10) but unfortunately the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked before the Lord (Gen 13:13). Although Lot was grieved by the sin of that city (2 Peter 2:7-8) he stayed in Sodom and raised to a position of leadership much to the annoyance of some (Gen. 19:9). But God would not judge Sodom until Lot and his family were safely out of the way, so angels were sent to bring them out of the city (Gen. 19:1). After hearing the message delivered by the angels about the coming judgment of God, Lot tried to warn his friends and family, but they mock him. This is the period we are living in today. When the warning is being sounded there will be but a short period of time. God says, “HURRY!” Arise take thy wife and two daughters which are here lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city (Gen. 19:15). What was Lot’s response? He lingered, he hung around thinking about it. Can you think of anything more stupid? What was he thinking about? His nice comfortable home, his leadership position, his garden he had just planted or maybe his grandchildren. While he lingered the angels took hold of Lots hand, the hand of his wife and two daughters, the Lord being merciful dragged them out of the city, that is how urgent it was. God is so merciful. First he lets the storm clouds rise, then the sky gets dark, the first raindrops begin to fall, all this is a warning that judgment is about to come.
It is time to flee the city as fast as you can but remember just because you get out of the city that does not mean you are safe “REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.” She made it out of the city but her heart was still there, so she looked back and was lost.
In Matthew 10:34 Jesus said “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.” Many think that in the last days there will be a great revival. But I would ask where are the scriptures that backup such a claim. The bible teaches that in the last days there would come a great falling away (2 Thess. 2:3), that the love of the majority would wax cold (Matt.24: 12), and if possible they shall deceive the very elect (Matt. 24:24). These are but a few scriptures that show us that the bible does not teach a last days “GREAT REVIVAL” but a time of GREAT APOSTASY. In
II Thessalonians 2:11 it says, That God would send them strong delusion that they would believe a lie. This delusion is going to be very subtle. More powerful than anything we have ever seen. It will try the heart of every man and put him to the test. No matter what denomination, creed, or ministry you are in you will be forced to make a decision for or against the Lord. The delusion I am talking about will take the form of REVIVAL not a genuine revival where people hear the gospel preached and are convicted of sin and repent. Nobody could object to that. This will be an awakening on a national or even a global scale calling for radical social change. The difference at first will not be obvious, many will applaud moves to create a new moral climate and it would be difficult to oppose a drop in the crime rate or any attempt to make this world better. But is outward change or even a Christian lifestyle enough. Can any attempt to keep God’s laws last long given the inherent sinfulness and rebellion of man? Ask yourselves, “Does God ultimately intend to change this world”? I don’t think so. Those who see the church’s role as a lawmaker and peace-bringer to the nations will be in danger of supporting this new move, likewise, those who have no theological difficulties with the idea of a massive end time revival. Anyone who has their eyes more on this earth than on Jesus and His coming kingdom are in danger of receiving the new awakening as a good thing. You see Satan’s aim is to set up an earthly kingdom that mimics the kingdom of God. He wants to bring in a false millennial kingdom of peace. So anyone whose hope lies in restoring this present earthly system will be easy prey for the enemy. Some believe advancement for the Church and godliness can come about through supernatural power, signs and wonders, others see this happening in a more traditional way, but both are deceived. Any major social change could not be accomplished without buying into the New Age interfaith humanistic agenda; this would be death to any true Christian. Not only that but it is unbiblical. Again the Bible speaks only of apostasy in the churches and increasing wickedness in the world, not a return to righteousness. Look around you, are things getting better or worse. You be the judge! Any who are looking for things to improve in this world at this stage in time has the seed of deception in them waiting to take root. What a trial of faith we are about to face! How difficult it will be to argue against good-hearted Christians who want to save the world. How can we come against revival and restoration without appearing to be terminally cynical and be written off as a gloom and doom preacher? Despite the temptation to give in to our emotions we must stand firm on the Word of God. If society is suddenly moved by impulse to change; if love, grace and peace are held up as the only way forward for every nation, religion and government, we must not be taken in. However sweet the words or powerful the message we must remember that love and grace without judgment is unbiblical. Where there is no conviction of sin there is no change of heart and where there is no born-again experience the spirit of man is still blind to God.
There is no crossless crown. I don’t care how many Prophets stand and prophesy peace and safety, the truth is, tribulation is coming upon the earth and you had better be getting yourselves ready, the time for playing church is over, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.” The teaching of the universal pre-tribulation rapture has lulled much of Christianity into a deep sleep by assuring them that those in Christ will not go through tribulation. Even though this teaching is contrary to the entire testimony of Scripture, most hold this doctrine to be so important that they consider anyone who preaches anything contrary to be a false teacher or prophet. Corrie ten Boon a missionary to China once stated: “ I have been in countries where saints are already suffering persecution. In China the Christians were told, ‘ Don’t worry, before tribulation comes, you will be translated-raptured’. Then came terrible persecution, millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say sadly, ‘We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution rather than telling them Jesus would come first.’ Turning to me he said, ‘You will have time. Tell the people to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand and not faint.” Does this sound like anything you have heard? Are not the prophets of peace and safety today saying “Don’t worry when the trumpet blows we’re out of here we are not going to go through the tribulation”. This is exactly what they are saying they are not ready to face what is coming upon this nation and the earth and they are not preparing themselves or others. If we don’t wake up we are going to find ourselves in the same fix that the Christians in China found themselves, facing tribulation and not being prepared. Brothers and sisters there is no crossless crown, if we suffer with him we shall rein with him. Jesus Himself exhorts us over and over in the scripture to be ready, be watching and praying at all times. I can relate to Jeremiah when he said to Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:6-7) that he hoped his prophecy would come true. I do truly hope that we could all escape the things to come. Nevertheless hear the word of the Lord. Tribulation is coming to America and the world. I submit to you that it would be better to be prepared to go through the tribulation and not have to, than to go into tribulation and not be prepared. Yours in Christ Pastor Harry
|  |
Email This Page Send Me Feedback
Total Page Views: 25761 Become a Member 
