What have been the 2 biggest trials for Mankind in the 21st century thus far? Most people would answer: Islamic Jihadist Terrorism & Global Disease Pandemics like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Experts tell us that there has been a 9-Fold increase in Terrorist incidences in the opening 2 decades of the 21st century! Fortunately, such attacks have actually declined here in America over the last 5 years - but unfortunately they have increased in African nations during the same period.
On the weekend after 911 - all the Churches in America were filled - why? Because people had been terrified all week with the replay of the images of Commercial Airliners slamming into the Twin towers & those towers finally collapsing - and they were looking for answers to questions like ‘How could this happen? And why would GOD allow this to happen to a Christian nation like the United States of America?
Pastors in America lost a golden opportunity that weekend to show people right from the pages of their own Bibles: what Scripture says about Terrorism & Disease Pandemics; Why they happen? And which nations and peoples would be perpetratiing such terror in the years leading up to the return of Christ.
At the time of the launcing of the New Testament Church, an Egyptian Jew stirred up thousands of followers to try to overthrow Roman control of Jerusalem. But the Romans overpowered them & their mysterious leader got away. So when the Apostle Paul was arrested after inciting a Jewish crowd by preaching about Jesus - he was asked if he was this terrorist leader incognito: “Aren’t you (Paul) the Egyptian who started a revolt & led 4000 terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago? But Paul said, ‘I am a Jew from Tarsus…” (ACTS 21:38)
If you’ve watched any of ‘THE CHOSEN’ T.V. series, you’re aware of Simon the Zealot who was chosen to become one of the 12 Disciples. Zealots & Sacarii were militant Jewish groups that Josephus described as bringing a ‘Reign of Terror’ against the Roman Occupation of Jerusalem in the years leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem & the expelling of the Jews from that city. Zealots & Sacarii carried daggers under their cloaks and would infiltrate crowds and stab a Roman soldier or a Roman sympathizer and then disappear into the crowd. Such terrorist acts have happened throughout history & have been part of every civilization, because when people are oppressed by another people - and they’re out-numbered and out-gunned, they resort to gorilla warfare & terrorism as their only means of fighting back.
In the book of Leviticus GOD says to Israel that if they will heed HIS words and do all HIS commandments, then HE will bless them in the city, in the country, in the womb and in the weather. But, “If you reject MY decrees & abhor MY laws and fail to carry out all MY commands - and so violate MY covenant - then I will do this to you: I will bring on you SUDDEN TERROR, WASTING DISEASES & FEVER.” (LEVITICUS 26:15,16)
What are the odds that the 2 greatest trials of the 21st century thus far have been precisely these 2 curses?
GOD says in the book of Proverbs: “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out MY hand and no-one regarded; because you disdain all MY counsel and would have none of MY rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I’ll mock when your TERROR comes like a storm - and destruction comes like a whirlwind…” (PROVERBS 1:24-27)
One of the most incredible prophecies in all the Bible is found in EZEKIEL 32 - where GOD prophesied exactly which peoples & nations would be perpetrating TERROR in our day! If you take the time to read EZEKIEL 32,38,39 - you’ll find that chapter 32 refers to Middle Eastern nations (Home of Islamic Jihadists) that are causing TERROR in the end times. Chapters 38 & 39 describe the demise of these same peoples in the battle of Armageddon and says that Israelites will be burying their corpses in graves for 7 months! Chapter 32 mentions the ‘Heavenly Signs’ of the sun, moon & stars being darkened - and Jesus says these are signs that occur right before His return. Then the text says: “Assyria (Modern day Iraq & Syria) is there (Megiddo) and all her company with their graves all around her… who caused TERROR in the land of the living… There is Elam (Modern day Iran)… Who caused their TERROR in the land of the living… There are Meshek & Tubal (Modern day Turkey according to Josephus)… though they caused their TERROR in the land of the living… There is Edom (Modern day Jordan)… and all the Sidonians (Modern day Lebannon) who have gone down with the slain in shame at the TERROR which they caused by their might.”
If these words were written in a cave somewhere or in any other book than the Bible - they would have been front page headlines in newspapers around the world - after 911! But because they come from the pages of the Bible, they’re ignored or scoffed at.
Did you know that the GOD of the Bible prophesied the rise of ISIS? Take the time to read HABAKKUK 1 where GOD says that HE is going to raise up the Chaldeans to ‘possess dwelling places that are not theirs’ and scoff at modern day leaders. At it’s height, ISIS controlled about 40% of Iraq & 33% of Syria. If you google a map of this ISIS state & juxtaposition it with a map of the ancient Chaldean Empire - you’ll find that they occupied much of the same territory!
How do we insure that individually & collectively we escape the throes of TERROR? By obeying our Creator! The book of Proverbs gives us this assurance: “Do not be afraid of SUDDEN TERROR, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; THE LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” (PROVERBS 3:25)
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that chronic disease is the leading cause of death in the world! Yet the GOD of the Bible says, '“If you diligently heed the voice of THE LORD your GOD, and do what is right in HIS sight, give ear to HIS commandments & keep all HIS statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you… For I am THE LORD who heals you.” (EXODUS 15:26) And GOD is so merciful, that even if we disobey and contract a disease, HE shows us how to keep it from spreading: “Then the priest shall ISOLATE the one who has the (Leprous) sore 7 days… Now the Leper on whom the sore is… shall dwell alone.” (LEV.13) This is the oldest written reference to the practice of Qurantine - yet no one in the press ever credits the GOD of the Bible with for this life saving instruction that the whole world instituted during the Covid Pandemic.
GOD gave the prophet Zechariah 8 visions. The first one found in the first chapter of ZECHARIAH tells us that the prophet saw a horseman - and then other horsemen who gathered around him - who were sent to walk to and fro on the earth. These horsemen report back to GOD that “ALL THE EARTH IS RESTING QUIETLY.” I’ve wondered about this prophecy for decades: ‘What could possibly happen around the world at the same time to cause all the nations to rest quietly? Then when the whole world began ‘sheltering in place’ from March 15th-May 15th in 2020 and we saw all the images of empty streets, empty office buildings, empty churches, stadiums and factories - I thought to myself ‘This prophecy is being fulfilled right before our ears! The decibel generation of Mankind probably dropped 80% during those 2 months - an unprecedented event in History!
I call it the calm before the prophetic storm of events outlined in the next 7 visions given to Zechariah and the rest of the Bible! You need to know what is coming after the COVID-19 EFFECT of quieting the whole earth into a restful state. PIck up a copy of my book THE COVID-19 EFFECT at Amazon! Forewarned is forearmed!