Hurricane Helene: Climate Change or Prophetic Fulfillment?
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| Avignon (Flood of 1856) Artist: Édouard Baldus |
Like most of you, I am reeling in the shocking aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The damage from this storm is incomprehensible. Rumors of corruption from governmental response agencies cause deep distress. Countless stories of sorrow and loss, scene after scene of destruction, heartache, and bereavement—it’s literally more than the human soul can bear. I cannot bear it and neither can you.
Keep helping however you can—prayer, resources, chainsaws and shovels, water and bread, diapers and dollars—but know this:
YOU WERE NOT MEANT TO HANDLE THIS. Don’t let your soul drown in the after-flood. Be in your life where God has you right now. God does not love folks in the Carolinas *any more or any less* than He loves your literal neighbor, your community, your own children, or you. Your prayers for healing, the personal hardship you face, the trials of your loved ones—whatever valley of the shadow you’re walking through right now, it is no less important to God. Right now, if you love Him and are His, He is working ALL things together for good.
To borrow an old biblical term, it would be a good time to gird up the loins of your mind. Pace yourself; we’re only picking up speed. What the world calls climate change is what theologians call prophetic fulfillment.
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring. (Luke 21:25)
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| Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm John via Wikimedia Commons |
Worse sinners? I tell you, no. But unless you repent...
Disasters WILL happen. Hardship will increase. The earth and all of creation groans and labors with birth pangs under the curse of sin as we await to be delivered. (See Rom. 8:21–23, Rev. 12:1–5) As you watch the news, hear rumors and reports, as you weep, pray and send aid as you are able, keep this urgent warning in mind:
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1–5)
Repent. In Greek (“metanoia”) it means “change your mind.” In English, it means think (“pent”) again (“re”). Repent about what? Think again about what you’re trusting in. God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance: to trust the only One who can save, His Son Jesus Christ. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30–31)
He makes it simple and clear: repent or perish. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall not perish. (John 3:16–18, Acts 16:30–31) This isn’t about changing your doings, but about changing your mind. It is about believing God. “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:2–5).
Not believing God makes him a liar (1 John 5:9–11) and we know God is truth; it is impossible for Him to lie. Christ died for your sins, rose again, and is coming back—first, to receive His own, then second, to judge the world. Tell your children. Tell your literal neighbors. Tell your community. Tell the people around you, where God has you in your own life right now. Do not be in unbelief. Jesus warns,
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24)
Your next hour is not guaranteed. Believe that Jesus Christ paid for your sin with His own death and rose from the dead. He is alive! And He is coming soon!
For those looking for a relief organization you can trust, I can personally vouch for Eight Days of Hope. I’ve had several family members who have volunteered with them for years. Learn more here: Hurricane Helene Response.
Thanks, Hillary, for your article and for offering another trustworthy relief organization. For more on how to help, there is a list of RESOURCES and other recommended charities in my article:
ReplyDeleteWHAT’S GOING ON IN NC AND HOW TO HELP SURVIVORS OF HELENE
Gary, thanks for your heartfelt prayers for my family and especially for those who have endured so much suffering and loss here in Western NC. Loss of lives, homes, livelihoods, and entire towns that can no longer welcome visitors to the vibrant autumn scenery and activities (like Blowing Rock, Boone, the Biltmore Village etc.)
Grievously, this catastrophe (along with assaults on food plants, trains etc.) is the BEGINNING OF GREAT LOSS to our nation as TPTB step by step tear America down.
After what I have witnessed in the shaking of North Carolina, I realize it will take a move of God upon His Spirit-filled believers for them to overcome during the Shaking foretold to occur before the Rapture. Many don't believe me when I say the Bride of Christ will be here for a short time to walk in God's great GLORY during a Great Shaking to bring in a final harvest before the Rapture, yet He has moved on me to prophesy this since the 1990's.
To understand more about this, I share my Helene experience and what I believe is God's heart in 5785 Time’s Up—Transitioning to the Rapture
We were truly born and then BORN AGAIN for such a time as this!
For such a time as this! Amen. God bless you, sister.
DeleteWe all need to keep praying... and be praying for those that may be affected by Milton as well (now a Cat. 5).
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is praying, it is likely people living in the Bible belt where Helene dealt them a cruel blow. Broward & Palm Beach Counties in FL are the most liberal democrat counties in the state & perversely are to be spared Milton while Milton will destroy Republican Tampa in storm conditions not seen since 1848. Storms hit Fl forming off Africa & move west; they do not begin in the Pacific, cross Mexico & move east as Milton. Perhaps the "church" has lost its salt rendering prayers ineffective. Perhaps the "church" is so lacking in self awareness that it has completely forgotten the messages of rebuke Christ wrote in His letters beginning His book of Revelation warning Babylon Sodom USA of what is coming while the "church" was consumed with voting Republican instead of LIVING HIS WORD!
Delete“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
DeleteEvery time we fail Israel with our leaders we seem to get something.
ReplyDeletePraying for Israel and her people today also, especially since it is a year since Hamas attacked and kidnapped and killed so many.
Keep the word, and don't deny His name. Endure patiently.
🚫 🍇
🦊 Jack Foxman on the Wall Blog
By the way great to see you out here Hillary!
ReplyDeleteHow's the little one doing? Not so little by now I guess. :)
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Prayers for Israel and her people.
Keep the word, and don't deny His name. Endure patiently.
🚫 🍇
🦊 Jack Foxman on the Wall Blog
Definitely not so little. :) He is four now and wearing 6T pants so is on track to be 6'2" according to growth charts. Great to hear from you! I hope you are flourishing as we await our Lord!
DeleteGat you a bean stalk do you? :D
DeleteI have all I need in Him. The trials I endure, bring me closer, and He prevails in my weakness.
I definitely qualify that as flourishing. ;)
"We" fail? Really? So says Bill Koenig. Well that is fine IF the hurricanes go to Washington DC or to Biden's house BUT the storms bring havoc & misery to millions of people whose lives are ruined & wish Israel no harm. I know first hand having been in Andrew.
ReplyDeleteYep. We. As in Americas leaders, and sadly a lot of "we the people" these days too as a Corporate Nation.
ReplyDeleteEvery time we push for 2-state solution which is against God's wishes in Zech 12, every time we vote against Israels action to defend herself in the UN, etc.
I can't answer for God for why He chooses how and who He does, but the timing is eerie.
Who's Bill Koenig?
Agreed! Time and again the United States suffers consequences whenever its leadership pressures Israel to divide the land according to research done by White House Correspondent William R. Koenig, author of Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel and president of Koenig—World Watch Daily (www.watch.org).
DeleteKoenig is spot on. Too bad the latest "consequences" hit the Bible Belt rather than inside the Godless Beltway where no storm ever ravaged one branch on a tree.
DeleteBy the way: Palm Beach is a barrier island not far from where I live and the average elevation of the town is 7 ft which would be a disaster regarding a direct hit by hurricane storm surge like we had so often in my state So that said AFTER TRUMP authored the Abraham Accords which divides Israel and Jerusalem I had expect (per Bill Koenig) an East Coast Florida disaster especially taking aim at the author of the Accords dividing the land of Israel which might very well impact the land of Mar a Lago. But alas, the storms just went elsewhere & ravaged the Bible belt instead. Go figure.
DeleteThank you, Lyn Melvin. I did not recognize the name but know the book and web site. :)
DeleteSigh, chock it up to my failing aging memory.
Gary is right though, we are not promised peace or prosperity in our mortal lives, but we are promised consequences of our actions, both as individuals and as a corporate nation. And it's the Nation that is the problem right now.
If it were up to me, I'd dump that 2 feet of rain in 24 hrs, right in the middle of Washington DC.
Jesus spoke a bit to this idea of "Why these, and not those?" He clearly allows things for reasons we will not understand until resurrection and rapture. He even calls out the existence of fate.
His focus, faith and not the natural things, which are passing away. The goal is not eternal life in the flesh, nor it's security and pleasantness.
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(Luke 13:1-5)
At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
FIRE & FLOOD
ReplyDeleteWhile the east coast was flooding the west coast was on fire, If FIRE & FLOOD is indeed the description of the DAYS OF LOT & NOAH!
A massive wildfire continues to ravage Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest, growing to over 75,000 acres as of Wednesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Initially sparked by lightning, the Elk Fire is threatening nearby communities, infrastructure and critical resources.