THE
"BIRTH PANGS" INTENSIFY
By Jan Markell, Olive Tree
Ministries, Inc.
http://www.olivetreeviews.org/
THE “BIRTH PANGS” INTENSIFY
By Jan
Markell
Many who are good with words are without words describing the
scenario that unfolded on December 26, 2004. As a result of one of the worst
tsunamis in history, the planet “vibrated,” said the head of Italy’s National
Geophysics Institute. The earth wobbled on its axis and the regional map of
south Asia was permanently altered. The island of Sumatra moved 100 feet. Time
stood still for three microseconds. The impact of the 500 mile-per-hour waves
was equal to one million atom bombs. And it will take ten years to put the
broken pieces together.
Secular commentators who know nothing about
“end-time” events said this was “apocalyptic” in nature and of “biblical
proportion.” Compared to the great flood in Genesis, this was hardly comparable,
but it still has biblical significance. Once again we see the “intensification
of the birth pangs” mentioned in Luke 21:25. There we read that men’s hearts
will fail them due to the roaring of the sea and the waves. There would be
strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The powers of the Heavens would be
shaken. And Jesus says, “These things must happen.” Apocalyptically-speaking,
the Great Tribulation will resemble south Asia all over the world. Fox News and
CNN will be very busy at that time capturing it all on video.
Some blame
the “godlessness” of the region suggesting that because 98% are Hindus,
Buddhists, and Muslims, God struck out at them because they worship thousands of
gods. Yet is that any more of an offence than the debauchery of much of the
Western world? The victims of the tragedy occupy the “10-40 Window”—in a sense,
a “window of missionary opportunity” due to the extensive unbelief. Of the
“unreached groups” in the world, 78% are in this region.
Who is to say
that Indonesian babies are guiltier than American babies, or that the South
Asian corruption industry is worse than that of the Western world? All the
world—not just South Asia—is being called to account by God to take notice.
At exactly the same time on December 26, 2003, an earthquake struck Iran
killing 25,000 people. At that time, Iran turned down Israel’s aid, in a sense,
preferring death to life as Israel could have saved some victims. On December
26, 2004, India and Sri Lanka also turned down Israel’s aid. Yet they did accept
the aid of donated rupees from India’s prostitution industry. We are in an
upside-down world.
While the world is asking, “Why, God?” and throwing
abuses at Him, one has to accept the fact that God owes no man an explanation of
anything. Incredible survival stories have surfaced that show His Hand was
involved in sparing many, particularly many believers.
The disaster is a
wake-up call, and they are usually God-sent, to get people to turn back to God.
They will bring “perplexity” (Luke 21:25) to all who see them. The earth is
“polluted” and thus “the foundations of the earth shake. The earth reels to and
fro” (Isa. 24:1-21).
We have entered the biblical “time of sorrows”
referenced in Luke 21. The event is such an obvious wake-up call as to the
lateness of the hour that one almost expects Gabriel’s horn to blast
momentarily—and it might. Those with skewed eschatology that is neither
biblically or intellectually honest should be doing a double-take. How much
clearer does it need to be that the hour is late? People are perishing for a
lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). The lost are perishing under unimaginable
circumstances. Will this shake up the comfortable or change some of the “feel
good” messages heard in our pulpits? Time will tell.
One has to read on
in Luke 21 to find the hope: “When you see these things begin to happen, look up
and know your redemption draws nigh” (Luke 21:28).
(Be sure to visit our
Web site, http://www.olivetreeviews.org/
and go to the category of “Signs in Nature.” There you will read about the
sudden escalation of similar events.)
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
________________________________________________
From: Stevez0629
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 05:39
To: Undissclosed Recipient*s
Subject: [End_Times_News] THE "BIRTH PANGS" INTENSIFY
THE "BIRTH PANGS" INTENSIFY
By Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
Semi-Weekly Review of the News - December 29, 2004
Many who are good with words are without words describing the scenario in
Asia. "The planet vibrated," said the head of Italy's National Geophysics
Institute. The earth wobbled on its axis and permanently altered the
regional map. The Island of Sumatra moved 70 feet and many islands
disappeared. Time stood still for three microseconds. The impact was equal
to one million atom bombs.
The tsunami of December 26, 2004, may go down as one of the world's worst
disasters. One woman on camera screamed, "God, how could you let this
happen"? He did allow it to happen. Bad things happen even though we have a
good God. As a matter of fact, it was likely a message from God although He
takes no delight in obliterating villages and all life.
Commentators state this event was of "biblical proportion" and "apocalyptic"
in nature. Do they have any idea what that means? An event like the great
flood covered the earth and destroyed all life but a remnant on an ark. This
is not of biblical proportion but it has biblical significance! These are
the intensification of the "birth pangs" as a sign of the end of the age.
And apocalyptically-speaking, the coming Tribulation will resemble Asia all
over the world. Fox News and CNN will be kept quite busy covering that. Few
tossing out the term "apocalyptic" have a clue what that all means unless
you and I tell them.
Some are quick to blame the godlessness of the region for the tragedy as
almost all are Hindus, Buddhists, or Muslims. They are a part of the
missionary "10-40 Window" as 98% are unevangelized. Of all the unreached
groups, 78% are in that region, and the poverty is overwhelming. In a second
these folks went from life to an eternity without God unless their lives had
been touched by the missionaries in the region. Yes, they were godless, but
is their godlessness worse than the debauchery of the civilized Western
world? Why would God, in a sense, pick on the least evangelized region of
the world for such a disaster? Most haven't heard the gospel. Admittedly,
some things have no logical answer.
At exactly the same time on December 26, 2003, an earthquake struck Iran
killing 25,000. And Sri Lanka, like Iran, refuses any aid from Israel though
they are experts in disasters. The stench of the Israeli hand reaching out
to them is greater than the stench of the corpses to be buried in mass
graves. The nations would rather loathe Israel than receive her aid and
possibly save lives.
The gutless wonders at the United Nations along with France and most of the
European Union wasted no time chastising America for our paltry contribution
to the disaster, although it is more than any other single nation. France
will send only $100,000 which will translate into about $1 per victim. Where
have these outfits been in ANY disaster? The United Nations is micromanaging
their scandals and the E.U. is absorbed with the creation of a Palestinian
state.
Back to the "birth pangs." In Luke 21 it says certain signs will be as birth
pangs and they will intensify and become more frequent. One will quickly
follow another. The passage says men's hearts will fail them for fear at the
roaring of the sea and the waves. There would be strange signs in the sun,
moon, and stars. The power of the Heavens would be shaken. And Jesus says,
"These things must happen."
If people refuse to see this event as a message from God then they are
following their own stubborn hearts. Those with skewed eschatology that
isn't even intellectually honest not to mention biblically honest should be
doing a double-take. How much clearer does God have to make things? The time
is short.
What happened on December 26, 2004, should be a monumental wake up call for
those with ears to hear. Not everyone does. The lost are perishing under
unimaginable circumstances. Will this shake up the comfortable? Will it
change the "feel good" messages from our pulpits? Let's hope and pray it
does.
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
Steve
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Reserved.