From Abundance to Crisis
Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
Return to the shelves of modern supermarkets in America, Britain, Australia and other Western nations. These are lands of abundance and plenty. In fact, most citizens of these countries cannot imagine life any other way. Additionally, these nations have long produced and exported a large percentage of the world’s grain supply. These are the only nations that fit this description. These are peoples “multiplied more than the nations that are round about” them! These are the nations who have descended from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Ungrateful for so many blessings daily at the hand of God, many will scoff: “What? America and Britain descended from ancient Israel? Two-thirds of these prominent, powerful Western nations killed by war, famine and disease—and the rest go into enslavement? Impossible!” Since most lesser nations would hold a similar view regarding any such terrible calamities that could end their existence, it would be difficult to penetrate Israel’s smugness and sense of permanent security. Such denial in Israel is reflected in Jeremiah: “They have belied [denied] the Lord, and said, It is not He; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine” (Jer 5:12).
God’s warning in these passages will also be rejected outright by religious leaders, theologians and pastors. Instead, they will declare that there will be peace. They will counter God’s warnings, and here is how: “Behold, the prophets say unto them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you havefamine; but I will give you assured peace in this place” (Jer. 14:13). The United Nations will say similar things to all nations of the world after hundreds of millions have already died, declaring, “the worst is now behind us.”
Most will ignore the warning here from a loving God. The great majority will not heed until it is too late. The peoples descended from ancient Israel will today continue their lives in blissful ignorance. God’s response to those who refuse to listen?: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride” (Jer. 16:9).
Only after war turns to devastating famine and widespread pestilence will these nations cry out: “And it shall come to pass, when you shall show this people all these words, and they shall say unto you, Wherefore [why] has the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?” (Jer 16:10). God replies, “Because your fathers have forsaken Me, says the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken Me [Chapter Thirty-two brings this home], and have not kept My law; and you have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, you walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto Me” (Jer 16:11-12).
Punishment is due to disobedience!
And to the pastors and priests who contradict God’s warning, as well as those who deny His words, God declares, “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in My name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; by sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed” (Jer 14:15).
Deceit and gross dereliction of duty by the self-appointed spiritual leaders of our nations will bring consequences no one can imagine—or is worrying about. But Israel’s punishment is far from the end of consequences. The plainness of God’s words and purpose with Israel carry a second purpose because all other nations have also practiced sin…