Dear friends,
The last few weeks have been rocky but potentially fruitful.
I have finally come to a place of peace about the words bought concerning the shaking in Christchurch and this has solidified my position on natural disasters and the prophetic.
The Lord spoke to me in a vision about natural disasters a few months ago I got the clear impression that He was saying they were NOT associated with judgement.
As I waited on Him regarding various words that were circulated, I received no peaceful confirmation or Rhema.
When I look at this issue in scripture, we are warned of these kinds of events in Matt 24 Mark 13, Luke 21.
In no instance are these last days events linked with judgement in these scriptures.
Because of this I relate these events more to the matters recorded on Romans 8 as follows…
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
To me this passage holds the key to understand the reason for the natural disasters in this late hour.
Patience is a key foundation of our salvation, patience with our fellow believers, patience with God who is never late.
I would then have to say that 1 Cor 4:5 applies - in other words I consider these "Words" a matter of passing judgement before the time.
It has taken me some time to be clear on this, but I have peace about this conclusion finally, it has from this viewpoint been a very fruitful shakeup !!
This viewpoint raises the issue of the supposed co-relation between the natural disasters in the US and the US policy positions relating to Israel...
This may very well be a special case because scripture clearly links the failure to bless Israel with serious consequences.
I need to point out that I do not believe as some do that God is no longer moving in judgement since the cross.
I see this as unsound scripturally given the judgement met on Ananias and his wife Sapphira and the clear words of judgement on the churches in the seven letters of Revelation.
Paul also exercised the apostolic right to remove Godly protection from a brother continuing in moral sin.
Do I believe that He will raise up prophets of judgement in this late hour – most certainly yes.
Do I expect then to bring His word to Kings – Yes.
Do I expect Him to bring His word to the lost? Yes in fact this is first priority.
Do I long for Him to bring effective words of correction to the church?
Frankly I see the current church system becoming less and less empowered I strongly suspect that he will raise up a vibrant alternative in which His life is unmistakeably present, at which time the remaining true saints will realise they have been sold short and leave. (This is not a prophetic word, just a hunch)
I think we have heaps to learn about how to weigh words, how to deliver them and who the rightful recipients are.
Blessings,
Carl Emerson.
