Someone asked me a few weeks ago why I continue with my writing and teaching at 80. I replied that as long the Lord left me here and led me to go on, I would continue to tell others of not only Gods wonderful love and patience to a lost and ruined world, but also of the judgement God will eventually bestow on those who reject Him and turn aside to walk in their own way and do their own thing.
A while ago giving an address at a little church near here, I likened the coming judgement of God to the time the people of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Pharaoh would not let the people go as requested, and beset the people of Egypt with a series of plagues [Exodus:chs7-11] The Egyptian rulers soon got over the inconvenience, and frightened at the thought of loosing their slaves, disregarded what was obviously the judgement of God and stopped the Jews leaving. So God sent a plague that would strike at nearly everyone in the land. The Angel of Death would pass over the land in the night killing the firstborn of every family in the land, from the house of Pharaoh to the lowest peasant in Egypt [Exodus: chs11&12]. To keep themselves from the judgement the Jews were told to sacrifice a lamb and paint the doorposts and the lintel with the blood of the lamb. In any house painted thus, those within would be safe. [Exodus12:1-17].
We have a time of terrible trouble and tribulation coming upon this world in the future. God will protect those who are His, who are sheltering in the blood and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who are born again in Jesus, and redeemed by His blood and sacrifice, the blood of the Lamb. Soon we believe, the Lord will call all those who love Him home to heaven, in what is referred to as the Rapture, and they will be safe in Heaven when the judgement comes. [1 Thess 4:13-18]. There will also be those who have been left behind who never believed, but have been to church and know, but believe too late. They will have to go through the judgment and many will become martyrs when they realise the truth and accept Jesus. They will be called into Gods presence later. [Rev 7:9-17].
It is interesting to note that the Judgements of the Tribulation period listed in Revelation are very similar to those imposed upon Egypt all those years ago [Rev ch 16]. The terrible plagues and natural disasters released onto mankind in the latter half of the Tribulation period will not be confined to a few but upon the whole world. One of the final judgements unlike those upon Egypt in Moses day will be a world wide earthquake. We can only imagine what it will be like in places where earthquake faults run through cities such as Naples, Los Angeles, Wellington and all those living on earthquake faults. It will be world wide and will also affect places where earthquakes are least expected. Bare in mind that cities like Lisbon [Portugal], Liverpool [UK], Newcastle [Australia] and Christchurch [New Zealand] are places where earthquakes were barely heard of but they had them just the same. Some major geographical changes will occur. Islands slipping under the sea, coastal lands sinking and flooding Plus the tidal waves, landslides and falling rocks and collapsing city buildings, which will bring injury, death and chaos. Revelation chapter 18 contains the description of the destruction of Babylon, whether it refers to Rome or a great rebuilt city of Babylon, remains to be seen. However what it does mean is the total destruction of the commercial system of the world. The death knoll of the Antichrist’s empire “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea, became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’ “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” (Revelation 18:19-20 NKJV).
The complete break down of commerce and the world’s financial system will cause much death, sickness and distress. Jerusalem will receive the centre of Antichrists hate as his armies gather at Armageddon for the final battle of opposing forces. As the Eastern Armies of China and its allies attack from the East. Christ returns with His army as a third force, wiping out the evil forces of Antichrist and of the world. We will then see the world as it was originally intended to be. The Jews will have their promised land at last. We are told their old enemies Egypt and Syria will have the language and religion of the Jews. The rest of the world and those who have survived will be citizens of a world governed by the Lord Jesus who will take His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we will help rule with Him.
Jesus died on the Cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God, taking away the sin of you and me. Those who are caught in the judgement that is coming upon this world that is entirely their fault as God has offered a way of forgiveness and salvation. It is not religion, going to church or living a good life which will rescue you from judgement, only the living, redemption of our risen and loving Saviour will save us from the wrath to come. We need the doorposts of our life painted in the blood of Jesus to keep us from the terror to come. Are you saved? Are you born again? Read John ch 3 again. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”. (John 3:17 KJV)
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the P.W.M.I in New Zealand, Australia & the South Pacific.