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I have experienced a troubling convergence/coincidence of readings in recent days. I would appreciate the forum’s help in sorting this out (if possible). Quote:FH Chap 11 The Gap (severely edited for space, sorry Ken)
“Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, which sends ambassadors by sea, even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, ‘Go, swift messengers...’” (Isaiah 18:1) “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide....” “All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: when he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it...” “And when he [Yahweh] blows a trumpet, you [America] hear it....” ….hang on to your hat. Here comes the bad news. “For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey and for the beasts of the earth; the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.” (Isaiah 18:2-6) That’s right. America is going to get “pruned” If Isaiah 18 is talking about America, (and I firmly believe it is: SF1) then we should be prepared to see our nation get pruned back—severely. What, precisely, do I mean by “pruning?” September 11, 2001 showed us all what can happen when Yahweh removes his protection from us for one brief moment. We lost 3,000 of our best and brightest, along with a symbol of our financial preeminence and national pride. The experience reminded some Americans that there is a God, though God Himself had nothing to do with the attack except refusing to miraculously prevent it. Hurricane Katrina is another example of what it might mean to get pruned. It’s painful surgery on a national scale that has the potential to make us stronger in the end by waking us up to the reality of our situation. The question is: how many branches will America have to lose before we’re healthy again?
The prophet Isaiah finishes chapter 18 by reprising the description of the subject nation, but with a twist: all is not lost—we will not be utterly uprooted. Ryrie points out that both of the “froms” in this verse should be omitted—they’re not in the Hebrew text: “In that time a present will be brought to Yahweh of hosts: (From) a nation spread out and independent, and (from) a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide—to the place of the name of Yahweh of hosts, to Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 18:7) This nation, this judiciously pruned grapevine, will not send a gift; they will be a gift, presented to Yahweh. Note that the “present” (Hebrew shay: a gift presented in homage), this nation we’ve identified as America, will not only be given to Yahweh, it will be “brought to” Him.
But notice something else. When is Yahweh going to get out His pruning hook? “Before the harvest.” It’s possible—even probable, considering the remarks made in verses 3 and 4 about trumpets and harvests—that this means America is going to get clipped back before the rapture Why? Because “He is not willing that any should perish.” God wants to have the biggest harvest possible—a bumper crop. The divine Vinedresser cares enough about America to snip and prune and cut away at the unhealthy growth until the nation that once “heeded His banner” regains her vitality.
At the same time I was reading Chapter 11, I ran across these articles: Quote: Famed pastor predicts imminent catastropheBest-selling author, Teen Challenge founder, sees 'earth-shattering calamity about to happen' Posted: March 08, 2009 3:15 am Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry to teens predicts an imminent "earth-shattering calamity" centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world – part of what he sees as a judgment from God."An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us." Wilkerson's vision is of fires raging through New York City. "It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago," he explains. "There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" "I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off," Wilkerson concluded in his message. "I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose." When I first found the above article, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it. I was pleased to know more of the origin of Teen Challenge, but didn’t put much stock in the prediction. Then I read the article below…. Quote:Heed Wilkerson's warningPosted: March 10, 2009 3:02 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily Janet Porter In the fall of 2001, Pastor David Wilkerson, of Times Square Church in New York City, was warned by God that a calamity was coming. For six weeks they felt an intense burden and enormous heaviness. A critical need for intercession was so profound that Pastor Wilkerson canceled everything on the church calendar – mission's conferences, youth events and every guest speaker. For six weeks, there wasn't a sermon. Instead, there was intercession for our nation with weeping and repentance. They knew something was coming and that something was bad. And that something was soon. So they prayed. And prayed … and prayed. Then Wilkerson felt God telling him something that seemed rather bizarre. He felt God telling him to make sandwiches – lots of sandwiches. What were they for? Who would eat them? That part wasn't clear, but his church did what they believed God was telling them anyway. And on the 10th of September they stayed up all night making hundreds and hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. By morning they had about 2,000 sandwiches. At 8:46 a.m. the first plane hit the World Trade Center and Times Square Church was ready to feed and minister to rescue workers and victims of our nation's worst attack. He now says he feels the same thing he felt leading up to the attack by radical Islam. In an "URGENT MESSAGE" dated March 7, 2009, Wilkerson said: AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE – EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US. So, when the guy who made the 2,000 sandwiches on Sept. 10 warns us: "AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN," I think we would do well to heed it. And follow the words Wilkerson quotes from the prophet Jeremiah and "turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds." So, Wilkerson seems to have some credibility. Looking for more clarity on what this all means I turned to see what Yada has written on Isa 18: Quote:YY Book VII Chapter 2 Left behind (end of Chap)
"Woe to the land of whirling and buzzing armed wings which is the region beyond the rivers of Cuwsh (18:1)
They stretch out and send by sea with envoys in floating vessels on the surface of the waters, sending out swift, ignorant, and immoral messengers and representatives. They are a Gentile nation comprised of tall leaders who extend themselves and drag others along. They are clean-shaven and smooth-skinned, a people feared and revered from here to there and beyond in a future time. They are a Gentile nation who tries to set the rules, speaking a strange foreign language, talking a lot, saying meaningless things as they march off to war, a powerful nation which treads down and subjugates, imposing its will on others while causing their downfall. Their land is divided by rivers." (18:2)
"All of those who remain in the world, those who dwell in and inhabit the earth, when the sign of Yahweh (the symbol of the upright pole) is lifted up and raised on the mountain, look and behold, and when the trumpet is sounded and the horn is blown, listen to and accept the news. (18:3)
Indeed because now, at this point in time says Yahuweh, I will move toward My goal and quietly say 'I am here. Be at peace, I will grant relief.' I will look down upon and care for you from My dwelling place like a warm and passionate beautiful, dazzling, and clear light, providing illumination and warmth, enveloping you like a cloud, like a warm and loving dew at harvest time." (18:4)
"Before the harvest, as the buds and blossoms have formed and become perfect and are dealt with and redeemed, the hard and sour fruit not prepared for harvest shall be cut off with a pruning knife, the spreading branches which don't bear fruit, being lopped off in an act of separation for worshiping false gods, removing and rejecting them." (18:5)
"Abandoned and forsaken all together and all at once to birds of prey, to the powers, to the beasts of the earth, and they will pass the summer among and over them, startling and tormenting them. All of the birds of prey and the beasts of the earth will be among, upon, and against them during the autumn and winter insulting and taunting them." (18:6)
"At that time a people comprised of tall leaders who extend themselves, who are clean-shaven and smooth-skinned, a people feared and revered far and wide, a Gentile nation who try to set the rules, speaking a strange foreign language, talking a lot while saying meaningless things as they march off to war, a powerful nation which imposed its will on others and caused their downfall, a land divided by rivers, they by way of relationship will bring gifts to Yahweh of hosts, to the place of Yahuweh's name, Mount Zion." (Isaiah/Yahsayahu 18:7)
America's fate has been revealed, and so has that of the church. While the story ends on a positive note, the few who make it this far will have already suffered through hell on earth.
Yahweh has revealed our future to us for three reasons. First, by accurately predicting mankind's fate, He proved that He is God and that His Word can be trusted. Second, Yahweh wanted us to be informed. Forewarned is forearmed. He doesn't want His family to experience any of this. And the better we understand Him and His plan, the more we will trust Him and rely upon Him - and thus avoid this fate. And third, Yahweh wants those who will be left behind to recognize why and change before it is too late.
OK. Is this pruning pre or post rapture? Ken and Yada seem to differ in opinion. Either way what does it mean to me? Wilkerson has some ideas on that as well: Quote:Pastor now tells how to prep for imminent catastropheWilkerson says be ready, 'See the salvation of the Lord' Posted: March 09, 2009 8:35 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily A nationally known pastor and author who predicts an imminent catastrophe of God's judgment on America is now telling concerned Christians it is time for peace and preparation, not panic. "This is what I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart concerning my own spiritual response to impending calamity," writes David Wilkerson, "It is simply this: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." "….the Holy Spirit is speaking to my own heart and what I am to do," writes Wilkerson. "I shared that I was led in a practical way to lay aside a month’s supply of food — because I have witnessed the panic in the wake of terrorism." But Wilkerson also sees a spiritual application of his message, calling Christians to exhibit peace and hope in God's salvation in the midst of fearful times. "We may all tremble for a season, but those who truly know God’s Word will be quickly comforted by the Holy Spirit. We will be baptized with a great peace – a supernatural quietness – which will be a tremendous witness to the fearful multitudes." Again I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Am I reading too much into this or do you think something is imminent? If something is imminent should we be taking action to be in the strongest position to help grow the harvest? |
“Because he clings to Me, is joined to Me, loves and delights in Me, desires Me, therefore I will deliver him, carry him safely away, cause him to escape from harm making him inaccessible and strong, and delivering him safely to heaven, because he has known, observed, cared for, recognized, instructed and advised others to use, designated, acknowledged, discerned, answered in, My name, authority, character, report, mark, and nature." Psalm 91:14 |