18-01-2011
By Mike Taylor, Minister
Have you seen the news? Everyone who reads the newspaper, listens to their TV, scans the internet, or reads even the Drudgereport, sees all the strange reports of worldwide death of animals, birds, fish, and other sea creatures. People are emailing me to ask what could this mean? What is coming upon the earth?
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 tries to spin it that it’s 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 we’ve seen this in the past? Have we? If it’s a natural occurrence, then why is it just one species affected in several cases? Black birds by the thousands falling out of the sky in Arkansas, or drumfish by the hundreds of thousands washing up on the banks of an Arkansas river that is not a hundred miles away? Why didn’t it affect the other fish, if it’s natural? Why not other birds in the area, if it’s a natural occurrence, or environmental? I read where a river in Canada along the USA border in Ottawa, turned a bright, fluorescent green. They showed a picture of it. It was most disconcerting and totally unexplainable. Bright green water that flowed for hours, then suddenly cleared. How about the latest 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 makes some people very apprehensive what could be the cause? Now I don’t know exactly the cause, 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 an answer to these type of events, especially when I believe that we are in the very last days before the start of the Tribulation. Is the news supernatural? Time will tell, as if these events continue, then stress on men’s minds and hearts will increase.
Luke 21: 25, “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;
21:26 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.
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 above verses lay out. So what could be the explanation of these strange events? I turn to the book of Zephaniah and look at this prophets words concerning his prophecy concerning judgment on the city of Jerusalem and Judah, the southern Kingdom of Israel:
1:1 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.
1:2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
1:3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
1:4 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;
1:5 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;
1:6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
1:7 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 what 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 this time.
This prophecy was Zephaniah warning 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 is a prophet of judgment. He prophecies of the imminent devastation of the land of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem because of Judah’s injustice, hypocrisy and idolatry (chap. 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 (chap. 2). The actual corrupted state of things stands in contrast to the future blessings of the people as described in chapter 3.
3:16 In that day it is said to Jerusalem, `Fear not, O Zion, let not thy hands be feeble.
3:17 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 return to set up His kingdom, God gives them ample warning.
He warns them to seek His face and to repent. Zephaniah chapter 2. “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
2:2 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.
2:3 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 that we live in:
II Chronicales 7:14, “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.
The whole book of Zephaniah makes it clear that the prophet looks far ahead of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem on to that dreadful day of Jehovah, the day of His anger and judgment, upon which however will follow the blessing of the millennial reign of peace.
You can see our nation in the words of Zephaniah. We are Judah, we are headed for judgment. God is trying to get our attention, and worldwide. It’s not just happening in America, it’s happening all over the globe. Events described in the above reports are coming from England to the other side of the globe to Australia, not just the USA. Unexplainable events that Zephaniah was warning the land of Judah about are being seen right now.
Zephaniah was speaking of the “Day of the Lord”. It was an imminent time in their history, but it does not stop with this ancient people. There are pecularities in the prophecy when Zephaniah is warning the people about the 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, but also of a future event that will precede the “coming of the Lord”. He is speaking a duality of prophecy of our time, not just theirs. He speaks of the signs of the great day of wrath that is to come upon this earth….our earth, 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 preceeded by a cleansing of the earth in righteous judgment.
What will it take for America to wake up? Will a catastrophic earthquake that destroys large land masses and their population shake them 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 unprecented numbers? How long did that last? After 6 months of being convicted and shaken, we returned to our old ways and our continued sinful way of life. The Church needs to wake up from its sleep or the next wake up call could be the start of our downfall as a nation. 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?
Worldwide calamity may be starting. Time will tell if it is, or not. As it becomes stronger and stronger, and the convulsions of a earth ripe for judgment fills the airwaves and the news outlets are coming fast and furious, you can see what I quoted above coming to pass in all its fury. Quoting Luke chapter 21 again:
Luke 21: 25, “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;
21:26 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.
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.
Psalm 91: 7, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
My brother 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:
I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
This is the time when we must be warning others who are outside of God’s protection. These are 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 who read this message, do you feel it? So what are you to do? Paul warned in 1 Thessalonia chapter 5:
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
5:3 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.
5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
As a warming messenger, I admonish you and give you an open invitation to quiet the fear in your mind and in your heart and God’s Salvation.
Romans 10:8, “ 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;
10:9 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,
10:10 for with the heart doth `one' believe to righteousness, and with the mouth is confession made to salvation;
God is trying to shake us awake. God is calling whoever will believe on His only begotten Son unto salvation. The time is drawing down. The start of the coming 7 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 in John 6:44,
“No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.
6:45 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.
Listen to that voice inside your spirit. Romans 10:13, “whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.' But in the end, don’t take my word for it, 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, This is Pastor Mike Taylor, wishing you well, till we meet at Jesus feet.
