View source for From Abundance to Crisis

'''Back to [[1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!]]'''
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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,&nbsp;<em>these</em>&nbsp;nations  have long produced and exported a large percentage of the world&rsquo;s grain  supply.&nbsp;<em>These</em>&nbsp;are the only nations that fit this  description.&nbsp;<em>These</em>&nbsp;are peoples &ldquo;multiplied more than the  nations that are round about&rdquo; them!&nbsp;<em>These</em>&nbsp;are the nations who  have descended from the twelve tribes of Israel.<br>
  
Ungrateful for so many blessings daily  at the hand of God, many will scoff: &ldquo;<em>What?</em>&nbsp;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!&rdquo; Since most&nbsp;<em>lesser</em> nations would hold a similar view regarding any such terrible calamities that  could end their existence, it would be difficult to penetrate Israel&rsquo;s smugness and sense of  permanent security. Such denial in Israel is reflected in Jeremiah: &ldquo;They have belied [denied] the&nbsp;Lord, and said, It is not He; neither  shall&nbsp;<em>evil</em>&nbsp;come upon us;&nbsp;<em>neither shall we see sword  nor famine</em>&rdquo; (Jer 5:12).<br>
  
God&rsquo;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&rsquo;s  warnings, and here is how: &ldquo;Behold, the prophets say unto them, You shall&nbsp;<em>not</em>&nbsp;see  the&nbsp;<em>sword</em>, neither shall you have<em>famine</em>; but I will give you  assured&nbsp;<em>peace</em>&nbsp;in this place&rdquo; (Jer. 14:13). The United Nations will say similar things  to&nbsp;<em>all</em>&nbsp;nations of the world after hundreds of millions have  already died, declaring, &ldquo;the worst is now behind us.&rdquo;<br>
  
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&rsquo;s response to those  who refuse to listen?: &ldquo;Thus says the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;of  hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will&nbsp;<em>cause to cease</em>&nbsp;out of  this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of&nbsp;<em>mirth</em>, and  the voice of&nbsp;<em>gladness</em>, the voice of the&nbsp;<em>bridegroom</em>, and  the voice of the&nbsp;<em>bride</em>&rdquo; (Jer.  16:9).<br>
  
Only after war turns to devastating  famine and widespread pestilence will these nations cry out: &ldquo;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&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;pronounced  all this great evil against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin  that we have committed against the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;our  God?&rdquo; (Jer 16:10). God replies, &ldquo;Because your fathers have forsaken  Me, says the&nbsp;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&nbsp;<em>worse than your fathers</em>; for, behold, you  walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not  hearken unto Me&rdquo; (Jer 16:11-12).<br>
  
Punishment is due to&nbsp;disobedience!<br>
  
And to the pastors and priests who  contradict God&rsquo;s warning, as well as those who deny His words, God declares,  &ldquo;Therefore thus says the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;concerning  the prophets that prophesy in My name, and<em> I sent them not</em>, yet they  say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; by&nbsp;sword&nbsp;and&nbsp;famine&nbsp;shall<em> those prophets be  consumed</em>&rdquo; (Jer 14:15).<br>
  
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&rsquo;s punishment is far from the  end of consequences. The plainness of God&rsquo;s words and purpose with Israel carry  a&nbsp;<em>second</em>&nbsp;purpose because all&nbsp;<em>other</em>&nbsp;nations  have also practiced sin…<br>