Daniel 12:4 says, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Allow me to reminisce for a moment ... I remember some of the conversations I used to have with my mother. She was born in 1914 ... a time when cars and airplanes were in their infancy. In the 82 years God gave her on this planet, man went from horse & buggy to flying to the moon ... from antiquated telegraph communication to high-speed internet ... when looking at it from her perspective, what had transpired in her brief lifetime was simply amazing!
In the past 100 years, life in our part of the world has gotten a whole lot easier. We've built impressive systems to mass produce and distribute food, water, electricity and anything else that would improve our way of life. But unconsciously, we have become extraordinarily dependent on "the system." Every aspect of our modern lives hinge on the smooth-flowing, uninterrupted operation of a number or very complex and interrelated systems. ... Sadly, this intricate complexity makes our high-tech civilization extremely vulnerable to disruption.
Think of this ... What would you eat if the grocery stores and restaurants were empty? Today, less than 2% of the 'first world' population is feeding the other 98%. In addition, most of us get our food from hundreds of miles away, and have about a week's worth of groceries in the pantry. ...... What would you do if your town lost power? In the vast majority of places, drinking water would very quickly dry up ... plumbing would stop ... sanitation would quickly deteriorate, particularly within cities ... communications would fail ... phone systems would shut down within a few days ...
Now let's consider for a moment the number of possible events that could create such conditions. ... The unleashing of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons ... weather disasters ... earthquakes ... volcanoes ... terrorist strikes ... any other natural phenomena that could destroy the infrastructure or wipe out food production. ... Deepening economic depression ... a collapse in the value of money, through deflation, hyperinflation, or monetary manipulation. .... Sadly, most of us don't seriously consider such scenarios. We mostly enjoy these types of things in the movie theaters ... and continue to depend on "the system" as if it will keep clicking in well-oiled perfection forever. ... But is this realistic? ... Not even a little!
Each week we post headline after headline that shows the deteriorating global condition through the prophetic lens. I believe what we are seeing is the Bible's detailed description of the coming signs of the "great tribulation" that is soon to fall upon this clueless world. Jesus said very clearly that these things will take place just prior to His second coming. He said in Luke 21:31, "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." ...... The disasters for which some few are bracing themselves aren't just likely scenarios based on current trends ... they are specifically prophesied in Scripture. They will come and will claim the lives of an enormous number of people in the developed world and beyond. ... We need to condition our minds for catastrophes, because they are now happening, and will increase in number and intensity as we move ever closer to His triumphant return.
It is because of the human tendency to ignore such realities that Jesus Christ warned, "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21:34-35).... Heeding this warning will ensure that day won't come on us unexpectedly. Christ definitely wanted His own to be prepared.
Now, does this mean we should stock up a survivalist bunker in the wilds, in hopes of riding out an "end of the world" scenario? Is that why Jesus gave us this prophecy? Is that why He warned in advance of the terrifying events that are beginning to unfold in this modern age? ..... So we could invest our time, money, energy and hearts into stockpiling food and ammunition within physical fortresses?
Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20) But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ...... In this and several other passages, the preparedness Christ urged was "spiritual." God's challenge with each of us is to teach us to put our complete trust and confidence in Him rather than in ourselves or any other human being. (Psalm 118:8 - Jeremiah 17:5-7). Remember also that He supernaturally fed the Israelites for 40 years while they were in the wilderness to teach them faith ... that man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Jesus supported this principle. He taught that we should pray each day for "our daily bread," and warned against faithless anxiety and fretting over tomorrow's problems. (Matthew 6:11, 25, 31-34). ..,. He was never an advocate of hoarding food, or anything else. ... What the Lord actually wants is for us to recognize and overcome our tendencies to trust ourselves. He is measuring the coming destruction of America and other nations because of our sin ... our faithlessness ... our assumed self-reliance ... our ignorance of Him and our belittling of His power. ... And if you understand the Bible's prophecies about the severity of that destruction, you will realize that no private bunker will be safe for very long. ....... Those who plan to weather the coming storms through their own foresight and ingenuity are underestimating the savageness of the time ahead ... and most importantly, they are misplacing their faith.
"There shall be famines," Christ said, "and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." We can stake our lives on the fulfillment of these prophecies. .... But remember, these were given to us as signs ... as precursors of the very imminent return of Jesus Christ to this Earth to establish His Kingdom! ... And once He returns as King of Kings, the world He will establish is prophesied to be one of wonderful, universal abundance and prosperity for all who accept Him as their Savior. .... Soon, famine and hardship will be a distant memory ... for ALL people on Earth.
Above all else, God seeks repentance ... and to those who turn to Him with willing hearts, He offers individual protection ... escape ... from the worst of the coming storms. Luke 21:36 says, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Until next time,
Red