This writer believes something is coming at us in space and it has a visible footprint on this world in the form of earthquakes. What does the Word of God say? Earthquakes in diverse places right? To set the stage for what we may have ahead of us consider this: This year of 2011 started on new years day 2011 with a 7.0 quake in Argentina. Nice present for the new year huh?
That new years day quake was followed by 6.0+ quakes in Jan-Feb in the sea near Japan, the Phillipines, off the coast of chile and Christchurch NZ, then all hell broke loose in March 11 in Japan with a 9.0.
When you look at the data there is an obvious uptick in more powerful quakes all around the world before the 3/11 Japan quake. In fact, the rash of 6.0+ quakes we have seen this very month looks eerily similar to the pattern before the 9.0 Japan monster quake.
Who knows, maybe the months of January-April will be quiet months in 2012, but they haven't been these past couple years. We have seen major earthquake activity in these months over the past couple years that forms what has so far been a reliable pattern.
"So what" you ask? So it is possible that a destroyer is inbound to the earth. As it was in the days of Noah, most people are oblivious, they could care less. Most are too concerned with the mundane things of this earth, but what did our Lord tell us? We were told to be watching and ready for His return. He told us clearly in Mark 13, Luke 17, and Matt 24 that His coming will be exactly like it was in the days of Noah and Lot.
In the days of Noah and Lot the world was about its business and they were completely surprised by the destruction that overwhelmed them on the day it arrived. The Lord had other plans for his servants Noah and Lot. They were both spared from the destruction of their day. In 2 Peter 2 we are told clearly that the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of their destruction. Over and over again the Lord has delivered His people. We have the examples of Noah and Lot given to us by the Lord Himself as something we should look forward to.
Unfortunately today we live in an age of scoffers. We should expect scoffing and disbelief from the heathen but from those who call themselves Christians? What will be the end of those people who have been given precious promises and yet they scoff at them? As we believe so we receive, I didn't say that, Jesus did (Mt 8:13).
Unfortunately the scoffers and others who teach what is contrary to the plain reading of the Word will probably pay a terrible price for their actions. I pray that the Lord will have mercy on them and not count against them their false teachings. The punishments coming to this earth are frightful and I would not wish them on anybody. As an act of my will, I would not have a single man go through the horrors of the tribulation. I do not desire the day of destruction. But I am a man, weak and short lived, of what account am I? The Lord has days in mind that do not take into account what I or other men would do for mankind. There are days of wrath and judgement ahead that stagger the mind.
Today though is a day of mercy. These are the days of mercy and grace. Today we can mend our ways, we can turn away from our sins. Why repent and be found at peace with the Lord today? Because the Lord clearly promised an escape from all to some who will be found worthy of it (Luke 21:36). Noah escaped all of the flood. Lot escaped all the fire and brimstone. Some of us will escape all that is about to happen as well.
Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing. What we have faith for is what ends up in our life. It is because of this that so many people professing to be Christians dispute about so many things. We do not all have the same level of faith. We do not all have the same history with the Lord. for those of us who have seen miracle after miracle and provision after provision, we have a certain testimony and certain expectations of the Lord. We see His Word in light of what He said, and what He has already done for us personally. This testimony does not make me special, far from it. What it does is prove that the Lord's Word is true and it can be trusted to the uttermost.
This writer is certain, both because His Word promises it, and because his life testimony confirms it, that the Lord knows how to deliver His people.
If a destroyer is inbound, what does that mean? It means our redemption draws nigh. What were we told to do when all these things begin to happen? Look up? For what? Our redemption. The Lord our God, our Master and Savior is coming back to settle accounts with His servants. When? I have no idea, it may be years away which calls for patience. Then again, it may be today which calls for watchfulness and readiness.
Even if the escape is years away, there is no guarantee that we as individuals will live to see tomorrow. A large quake under one of our cities could mean we are face to face with the Lord instantly. I pray this will not happen to any of us. I pray that if I am called home before the escape it is not a violent way out like an earthquake.
Forget about Mayans and December 2012 and take a close look at the days ahead of you. 2011 started out with a bang-7.0 earthquake in Argentina. We will find out soon how 2012 is going to shape up.
A closing note on the quakes-if there is a destroyer inbound to the earth and it is causing these things, we can expect the quakes to get more violent as time advances. If we saw a 9.0 in March of last year, it is possible that this year we may have a quake that the 10.0 scale is unfit to handle...a true monster. Time will tell. I am not predicting anything, just observing. A pattern has been established. If events continue to follow this pattern then this world is in for a bumpy ride.
Conclusion
There is no need to fear if you are a believer in Christ Jesus. If the destruction promised by the prophets and the book of Revelation is on its way, we should place our hope fully in the promises our Lord gave us. You need to ask yourself if you really trust the Lord. What is your personal testimony with Him? Has He delivered you or not? Has He provided for you or not?
There is an escape from all and we were told to pray for it (Luke 21:36). If your doctrine or theology or "pastor" tells you there is no escape from all then you and they have a problem with the Lord's Word that may cause you much grief in the days ahead. There is a day coming when we will find out (I believe) that the Lord meant what He said, and said what He meant. All the fancy 200 page thesis papers telling us that Lord did not really mean to say what He said in plain simple to understand language will be flushed down the toilet, likely with their authors. If the Lord said it, He meant it. We have a blessed hope ahead of us.
My heart and spirit continue to point at the last words of Matt 24 and all of Matt 25. The parable of the virgins and the talents/faithful servants weighs on my heart as words that have come directly from the Lord today. I pray that we will be ready -through the gospel of peace (Eph 6), and we will be watching when the Lord arrives for us. I pray that we will not be ashamed in the Lord's presence and we will be given a warm welcome into the kingdom prepared for us from the creation of the world.
Keep the faith, be watching and ready. Grace and peace
