Approaching Judgment
by Dr. Ken Matto
(Isa 4:6 KJV) And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Today may be a day of infamy for many of us here on the east coast. Hurricane Isabel is churning its way toward the east coast and predicted landfall is between North Carolina and Long island, New York. They are predicting storm surges of 20 to 25 feet against the New Jersey coast. This could be the storm of the decade. I am writing this on the Sunday before (9/14/03) so I have no way of knowing the impact this storm is going to make. The last major hurricane that hit New Jersey was Gloria in 1985. It streamed past us quite rapidly so there was minimal damage in our area. Right now Isabel is a category 5 which is the most powerful class of hurricane and they are not predicting the storm to reach us at that deadly level but even a category 1 with sustained winds at 75 mph is still a dangerous and powerful storm.
These major storms carry a great spiritual message in they almost represent the complete carnage which will happen on judgment day. While there is a chance that people will survive the storms like hurricanes and tornadoes because of prior warnings, no one who stands at the Great White Judgment Throne will survive that Judgment. A hurricane can become less intense and be downgraded, but the Judgment of God will be full force. The warnings of this final event of history are being given every day by means of the sending forth of the Gospel. Many laugh at it and many disdain the preaching of the Gospel. Groups who band together like the Anti-Defamation League who was responsible for the removal of the Ten Commandments and the attacks on Judge Moore are all going to stand for judgment and their hatred of Christ will be the catalyst of sending them to Hell for eternity. No religion will stand on Judgment Day. Those who are in Christ will already have been separated and taken into Heaven.
While there is no power on earth which can stop a hurricane, there is also no power on earth which can stop the coming Judgment.
(Heb 10:25 KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. We may be able to see the day approaching for the hurricane and we can take precautions. We are also able to see the final day of judgment approaching as we see world conditions deteriorate deeper and deeper into sin. The armies of Satan are already marching to surround the beloved city, which is the body of believers. (Rev 20:9 KJV) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. This verse is telling us there will come an assault on the camp of the saints and the beloved city, which is the entire body of believers as we approach the last day. (Heb 11:16 KJV) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.Since we are pilgrims and strangers on this earth, we are basically living as one who camps. A camp is a temporary place of refuge until a person reaches their home. In the Revelation 20:9 verse, we also have the assurance that even though there is going to be a continual assault against the body of believers, on the heels of that assault, in God’s timing, there shall come the final Judgment of God which will devour the unbeliever and then the church victorious will be the church at rest. Until that day comes we must continue to send out the warning to the world that the judgment of God will eventually fall on this world.
(Luke 20:17-18 KJV) And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? {18} Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Hurricane and tornado warnings are only effective before the event happens. Once they are upon us, the warnings are invalid. Remember Noah! (9/19/03)