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(Cont.
from Page 31/8/88).
WHY JEHOVAH IS BRINGING
CALAMITY UPON THE NATIONS.
"When he saw
the hordes
advancing to attack, he did not so much as lift a finger against them. He
had no spear in his hand, no weapon at all; only, as I watched, he poured what
seemed like a stream of fire out of his mouth, a breath of flame from his lips,
and a storm of sparks from his tongue. All of them combined into
one mass
the stream
of fire, the breath of flame, and the great storm. It fell on the host
advancing to join battle, and burnt up every man of them."
(2 Esdras 13:9-11 NEB).
The following pages amply describe the ways in which these hordes are gathering
to attack our Lord:
(8/7/88) (11/7/88)
(12/7/88)
(31/8/88)
"THE GREAT STORM" IS PART OF
THE COMBINED "ONE MASS".
Sudan and Bangladesh are
examples of countries that have been flooded by storms, with the lives of
millions at risk from their effects. In many countries people are dying of
hunger through famine brought on by drought, while in others people are dying by
the sword of war. In Britain, many have been killed by fires. The reason for
these and other calamities has been declared by our Lord in 2 Esdras
15:20,21: "I WILL DO TO THEM AS THEY ARE DOING TO MY CHOSEN PEOPLE EVEN
TO THIS DAY; I WILL PAY THEM BACK IN THEIR OWN COIN." By fire, storm,
deluge, sword, plague and famine Almighty God Jehovah brings calamity upon
Godless ones sinning against His chosen people. (2 Esdras 15:1-63 & 16:1-78 NEB).
His chosen people are described in the following scriptures:
(Daniel 12:1&3. 1 John 2:27. Revelation 5:9,10 & 7:9-17. John 10:16).
Almighty God has warned:
"What will men do then, in the face of calamity? Famine and plague, suffering
and hardship, are scourges sent to teach men better ways. But even so they will
not abandon their crimes, nor keep in mind their scourging." (16:19,20
NEB).
This writer has yet to witness a scourged people turning to better ways.
These are the words of the Lord God:
"I will show sinners no pity; the sword will not spare those murderers
who stain the ground with innocent blood. The Lord's anger has overflowed in
fire to scorch the earth to its foundations and consume sinners like burning
straw. Alas for sinners who flout My commands! says the Lord".
(15:22 24 NEB).
Only when there is no more room for further deeds of violence on earth will this
"crop of evil" be reaped and burnt. (15:5,6
& 4:26-32
NEB).
For the "sons of the wicked one" ("weeds"), and the
sons of the Kingdom of God ("wheat") are about to be reaped. (Matt
13:36-42). Only fools will try to invoke the mercy
of God when His condemnatory Judgement is laid against them.
In relation to the increasing
number of calamities occurring throughout the world, it is important for the
chosen people of God to consider the extent of His mercy. In particular, they
should consider His reply to Abraham's intercession
that Jehovah would not bring a place to ruin if there were a sufficient number
of righteous ones living there. But it is also important to note that angelic
servants of our Lord God removed Lot and his family before God destroyed the
wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 18:20-33 & 19:24-26). Unlike mere humans, the extent of the mercy of God does not change. He would not,
therefore, bring a place to ruin where any of His chosen people were residing.
So it is indicative of the Godless spirit aspect of a nation when Almighty God Jehovah brings about a calamity in their land.
6/9/88.
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