A Small Taste of the Very Near Future!
Challenging the Anger of God! Challenging the Elements!
Note: We noticed that we put that upon the passing of the National Sunday Law in the United States, God's people ALL OVER THE GLOBE must flee every highly populated area immediately. It was meant to be only for the United States, and wherever this law is passed in any other country, the same condition applies.
LabelsProbing the concept of understanding that, as the end draws near, people are not what they supposed to be recognized by what they claim to be, but by the positions they hold within their hearts.Labels2.htmProbing how to tell what a man is by what he believes and what positions he holds, part 2.How the Worldwide Church of God was Destroyed!WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD: A LESSON-BOOK FOR EVERY CHURCH OR ORGANIZATION UNDERGOING CHANGE! Examining shocking and disruptive changes that took place against the Worldwide Church of God after the founder of that organization died and how it relates to similar changes in other churches and especially the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Jesuits Infiltrated the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Now Dominate itJesuits infiltrated the Seventh-day Adventist Church and now horribly dominate it.Strange Religion and Worship Literally Concocted Within the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Celebration Movement and concept of "worship styles" examined.More truth about the "Progressive" Adventists"!A "Progressive" Adventist speaks and proves that he sticks around Seventh-day Adventists in order to cause trouble and demand they change and retract their beliefs!
TAKE THE FOLLOWING VERY SERIOUSLY AND JUST IMAGINE!...
His name was Harry Truman (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/mountsthelens/hary11.shtml). Although amply warned, this man refused to leave his home below Mt. St. Helens when it erupted in 1980.
He was a wealthy man who owned a home and a lodge near Spirit Lake in the area. He generated much media attention as authorities were urging him to leave since an eruption was imminent.
Folks said that he was genuinely afraid of earthquakes and other such disasters. Others said that he didn't want to leave his property, wealth and his 16 cats that were his pets.
Eventually the eruption took his life along with all his possessions. It was rumored that he had a fortune of cash on hand. All that, along with himself, got buried beyond all search.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, you're at work one day in New York City and everything is normal. All of a sudden an important announcement appears on the news on TV saying that the United States government has passed a National Sunday Law: that is, a national day of worship on Sunday for the whole United States. You find out that the news broadcast is credible. What do you do? What are you supposed to do?
Seventh-day Adventists have been given instructions to, upon such a situation, drop everything, and then leave, flee, RUN away from any highly populated place IMMEDIATELY. The instructions regarding this predicted future calamity is clear.
Knowing that, it will still be quite a shock for any Adventist if such a situation should happen even tomorrow. We are all not expecting that any such a law will be passed on the spur of the moment. We expect that the motion will suddenly arise and that there will then be much debate for at least a few weeks, giving everyone time. But if such a law was literally passed by the government of the United States tomorrow, would we obey that instruction, drop everything and leave? Such a situation could be quite a test for the people these messages have been given to. Without any reservation, the divine warning says TO DROP EVERYTHING AND FLEE!
First setting the stage for conditions that will exist in the Last Days:
And at that time [The Last Days] shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. -- Daniel 12:1
We are on the very verge of the time of trouble, and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before us.--Testimonies for the Church Vol. 9, 43 (1909). {LDE 12.4}
We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another--fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.--Prophets and Kings, 278 (c. 1914). {LDE 12.5}
Jesus left a message for His people that had a two-fold application both to His day and also to the very end:
Matt. 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Jesus was here talking about a future calamity. He made special reference to the Temple at Jerusalem right before them telling them it would be destroyed. The whole chapter of Matthew 24 describes tragedies that will come upon the world in the last days, but reference to the temple Jesus was showing them at the beginning of the chapter shows that it has a dual application to an upcoming event in Christ's time. Jesus then shows God's people what to do when the signs of those tragedies appear.
In the first fulfillment of the words of Jesus in Matt. 24, specifically talking about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Christians remembered carefully the instructions of the Lord on how to escape. History shows not one Christian dying in the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem. More than a million of the Jews at that time died horribly!
At that time God's people thought those were the last days. It is a given among Christians even back then that just before the Lord comes there will be a period of terrible trouble and persecution. Here now is what Jesus tells them to do in preparation for calamity:
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! -- Matt. 24:15-19
What this is saying is that when God's people shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel standing in the holy place, then they are to obey the instructions that follow. Here is represented issues in both church and state. There are principles and policies in both church and state history screams about that no intelligent person or nation is supposed to accept. In our case, history is repeating. Both church and state are presently undergoing revolution, and in that revolution, as a rule of thumb, those pushing it are telling both church and state that they're moving forward when they are actually both adopting disastrous principles that caused much tragedy in history. They are adopting abominations that the divinely established American Constitution was a protest against, actually going backwards. The same thing is happening to all the Protestant Churches. They are viewing abominations creeping into their policies and foundations that ought not be there. The command is that when God's people shall see these things, then they must make flight.
At the time Jesus was referring to in dealing with the Temple and city of Jerusalem, the Roman armies, under the Roman General Cestius, later approached and put Jerusalem under siege. At that time and in our day a literal specific sign is given showing when it is time to drop everything a flee.
Here is what Jesus says about that part of the actual fulfillment.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. -- Luke 21:20-22
A SMALL FORETASTE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MAJOR CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD!
The Siege upon Jerusalem, canceled by Cestius was resumed by Titus! The results were much, much different then! PLEASE CONCENTRATE ON THE WORDS SPOKEN AND VISUALIZE THE TRAGEDIES DESCRIBED AS HAPPENING TO MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DEPICTIONS HERE PRESENTED ARE NOT EXAGGERATIONS OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE MAJOR CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD: THEY ARE UNDERSTATEMENTS! (Portions taken from the Jewish Encyclopedia)...
Terrible were the calamities that fell upon Jerusalem when the siege was resumed by Titus. The city was invested at the time of the Passover, when millions of Jews were assembled within its walls. Their stores of provision, which if carefully preserved would have supplied the inhabitants for years, had previously been destroyed through the jealousy and revenge of the contending factions, and now all the horrors of starvation were experienced. A measure of wheat was sold for a talent. So fierce were the pangs of hunger that men would gnaw the leather of their belts and sandals and the covering of their shields. Great numbers of the people would steal out at night to gather wild plants growing outside the city walls, though many were seized and put to death with cruel torture, and often those who returned in safety were robbed of what they had gleaned at so great peril. The most inhuman tortures were inflicted by those in power, to force from the want-stricken people the last scanty supplies which they might have concealed. And these cruelties were not infrequently practiced by men who were themselves well fed, and who were merely desirous of laying up a store of provision for the future. -- Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pgs. 30-31
Thousands perished from famine and pestilence. Natural affection seemed to have been destroyed. Husbands robbed their wives, and wives their husbands. Children would be seen snatching the food from the mouths of their aged parents. The question of the prophet, "Can a woman forget her sucking child?" [ISA. 49:15.] received the answer within the walls of that doomed city, "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children; they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." [LAM. 4:10.] Again was fulfilled the warning prophecy given fourteen centuries before: "The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter; . . . and toward her children which she shall bear; for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates." [DEUT. 28:56, 57.] -- Ibid. pgs. 31, 32.
The Roman leaders endeavored to strike terror to the Jews, and thus cause them to surrender. Those prisoners who resisted when taken, were scourged, tortured, and crucified before the wall of the city. Hundreds were daily put to death in this manner, and the dreadful work continued until, along the valley of Jehoshaphat and at Calvary, crosses were erected in so great numbers that there was scarcely room to move among them. So terribly was visited that awful imprecation uttered before the judgment-seat of Pilate: "His blood be on us, and on our children." [MATT. 27:25.] {GC88 32.2}
Titus would willingly have put an end to the fearful scene, and thus have spared Jerusalem the full measure of her doom. He was filled with horror as he saw the bodies of the dead lying in heaps in the valleys. Like one entranced, he looked from the crest of Olivet upon the magnificent temple, and gave command that not one stone of it be touched. Before attempting to gain possession of this stronghold, he made an earnest appeal to the Jewish leaders not to force him to defile the sacred place with blood. If they would come forth and fight in any other place, no Roman should violate the sanctity of the temple. Josephus himself, in a most eloquent appeal, entreated them to surrender, to save themselves, their city, and their place of worship. But his words were answered with bitter curses. Darts were hurled at him, their last human mediator, as he stood pleading with them. The Jews had rejected the entreaties of the Son of God, and now expostulation and entreaty only made them more determined to resist to the last. In vain were the efforts of Titus to save the temple; One greater than he had declared that not one stone was to be left upon another.
The blind obstinacy of the Jewish leaders, and the detestable crimes perpetrated within the besieged city, excited the horror and indignation of the Romans, and Titus at last decided to take the temple by storm. He determined, however, that if possible it should be saved from destruction. But his commands were disregarded. After he had retired to his tent at night, the Jews, sallying from the temple, attacked the soldiers without. In the struggle, a firebrand was flung by a soldier through an opening in the porch, and immediately the cedar-lined chambers about the holy house were in a blaze. Titus rushed to the place, followed by his generals and legionaries, and commanded the soldiers to quench the flames. His words were unheeded. In their fury the soldiers hurled blazing brands into the chambers adjoining the temple, and then with their swords they slaughtered in great numbers those who had found shelter there. Blood flowed down the temple steps like water. Thousands upon thousands of Jews perished. Above the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting, "Ichabod!"-- the glory is departed.
"Titus found it impossible to check the rage of the soldiery; he entered with his officers, and surveyed the interior of the sacred edifice. The splendor filled them with wonder; and as the flames had not yet penetrated to the holy place, he made a last effort to save it, and springing forth, again exhorted the soldiers to stay the progress of the conflagration. The centurion Liberalis endeavored to enforce obedience with his staff of office; but even respect for the emperor gave way to the furious animosity against the Jews, to the fierce excitement of battle, and to the insatiable hope of plunder. The soldiers saw everything around them radiant with gold, which shone dazzlingly in the wild light of the flames; they supposed that incalculable treasures were laid up in the sanctuary. A soldier, unperceived, thrust a lighted torch between the hinges of the door; the whole building was in flames in an instant. The blinding smoke and fire forced the officers to retreat, and the noble edifice was left to its fate.
"It was an appalling spectacle to the Roman; what was it to the Jew? The whole summit of the hill which commanded the city blazed like a volcano. One after another the buildings fell in, with a tremendous crash, and were swallowed up in the fiery abyss. The roofs of cedar were like sheets of flame; the gilded pinnacles shone like spikes of red light; the gate towers sent up tall columns of flame and smoke. The neighboring hills were lighted up; and dark groups of people were seen watching in horrible anxiety the progress of the destruction; the walls and heights of the upper city were crowded with faces, some pale with the agony of despair, others scowling unavailing vengeance. The shouts of the Roman soldiery as they ran to the fro, and the howlings of the insurgents who were perishing in the flames, mingled with the roaring of the conflagration and the thundering sound of falling timbers. The echoes of the mountains replied or brought back the shrieks of the people on the heights; all along the walls resounded screams and wailings; men who were expiring with famine rallied their remaining strength to utter a cry of anguish and desolation.
"The slaughter within was even more dreadful than the spectacle from without. Men and women, old and young, insurgents and priests, those who fought and those who entreated mercy, were hewn down in indiscriminate carnage. The number of the slain exceeded that of the slayers. The legionaries had to clamber over heaps of dead to carry on the work of extermination." {GC88 35.1}
...In the siege and the slaughter that followed, more than a million of the people perished; the survivors were carried away as captives, sold as slaves, dragged to Rome to grace the conqueror's triumph, thrown to wild beasts in the amphitheaters, or scattered as homeless wanderers throughout the earth. -- Ibid. pgs. 32-36.
If a city is besieged and surrounded (compassed) by armies, how can the people inside flee or escape? Who was able to obey that instruction back in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem actually was besieged? Well, God worked everything out according to his providence. The following is taken from the book, The Great Controversy, by Ellen G. White. Parts of this chapter of this book was taken from the Jewish Encyclopedia detailing the events of that time:
Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign. "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies," said Jesus, "then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out." [LUKE 21:20, 21.] After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. The besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces, without the least apparent reason. But God's merciful providence was directing events for the good of his own people. The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was afforded for all who would to obey the Saviour's warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army, and while both forces were thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city. At this time the country also had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavored to intercept them. At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested. Without delay they fled to a place of safety,--the city of Pella, in the land of Perea, beyond Jordan. -- Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pgs. 30-31, 1911.
I have to get my sources together that I had read previously in order to update this page. I had a historical source that said Cestius received some bad news about a tragedy in the family, and that this caused him to retreat for no apparent reason. Jesus, detailing the outcome of the tragedy, said:
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. -- Luke 21:20-24
More details expounding upon Matthew 24:15-19 and the command to drop everything and leave immediately comes from this portion of The Great Controversy:
Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall upon apostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance that would come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah. Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax. The dreaded hour would come suddenly and swiftly. And the Saviour warned his followers: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." [MATT. 24:15, 16; LUKE 21:20.] When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay. Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed. He who chanced to be upon the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save his most valued treasures. Those who were working in the fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction. -- Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pgs. 25, 26.
The problem I'm currently receiving among Seventh-day Adventists and other Christians is rationalizations with intent to disobey these commands, and even claims that they should remain in danger because they believe in God, He loves them and He would protect them.
I found many who even told me that it's ok. They would rather just "go home" to be with the Lord "through the grave." They actually believe that if they disobey the command to leave, they will die peacefully and then meet the Lord in peace in heaven. It is so hard to convince them after their minds are set, that this is SHEER IGNORANCE!
It makes no difference if you're even an elderly Christian and desire death. The problem is not that the Lord told His people to remain in dangerous places and die there in peace in Christ even as an option. The problem is that the Lord told His people TO LEAVE!
In our day, the special sign given to God's people is when the United States shall pass a national Sunday law. Upon this sign, God's people in the United States who happen to be in highly populated areas at the time are to DROP EVERYTHING AND FLEE. The same is true when such laws are passed in most all the other countries.
At that time it is understood that those who would comply already do not live in such places, therefore answering the question, "Where are we going to flee to??" Adventists were warned not to live in very populous cities. They will be doing missionary and evangelism work in these places, but their homestead and possessions would not be there. Leading up to that time, they have already prepared for the dire event depicted as the Children of Israel eating the Passover with their loins girded, with shoes on their feet and staffs in hands, eating it in haste (Exodus 12:11). It is another exodus God's people were warned about. It is not that they are regularly employed in some 9 to 5 job at that time. The financial crisis now looming over the world is bound to interrupt the regular routine as it has already started. It's not like parents will be out at work on regular jobs while the kids are at home.
Some Adventists have even told me, when I warned them that they are to drop everything and flee even if their kids are in the city they are in somewhere and the warning sign catches them while they're away, that I was exaggerating the issue, and that they were still supposed to go and get their kids in the city somewhere. Hopefully their kids would be at home where they live outside the city.
That reminds me always of the example that took place aboard the RMS Titanic, "the unsinkable ship." I don't have the specific documentation at the time, but there was at least one example of a woman that was on board who was urged to go on board one of the scarce lifeboats. At the time she had left her children to see what was going on. Her children had subsequently been moved by others in the commotion. Knowing that her children were not there, she refused to get on. She could not in heart go aboard the lifeboats to safety without knowing for sure that her children were safe. She looked and looked for them until all opportunity to be saved was lost. She died heartbroken, for she never found her children. They were picked up by others and saved.
To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the demand for a Sunday law....By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. . . . -- Last Day Events, pgs. 132, 133.
When the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church--then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy, and there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin.--Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 976 (1910).
The people of the United States have been a favored people, but when they restrict religious liberty, surrender Protestantism, and give countenance to popery, the measure of their guilt will be full, and "national apostasy" will be registered in the books of heaven.--Review and Herald, May 2, 1893.
Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the state. This national apostasy will speedily be followed by national ruin.--Review and Herald, June 15, 1897.
When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin.--Evangelism 235 (1899).
It is at the time of the national apostasy when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the land will rank themselves on the side of the man of sin. It is then the measure of guilt is full. The national apostasy is the signal for national ruin.--Selected Messages, Vol. 2, 373 (1891).
As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached.--Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5, 451 (1885).
The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part.--Testimonies for the Church Vol. 6, 352 (1900).
Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.--Testimonies for the Church Vol. 6, 395 (1900).
The wickedness of the inhabitants of the world has almost filled up the measure of their iniquity. This earth has almost reached the place where God will permit the destroyer to work his will upon it. --Testimonies for the Church Vol. 7, 141 (1902).
A message to the people of the world who live in highly populated areas:
PLEASE BE MERCIFUL ON THE HEARTS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BRAVE ENTERING INTO CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY CATASTROPHE TO SAVE WHAT REMAINS FROM DISASTER! Some very brave souls having medical and emergency skills will brave entering into highly populated areas after terrible calamities to see if they can help the millions that will be in need. They will know they will have to pass by most of them, for the load will be just too great. Please plan now to avoid heavily populated areas if even just to relieve the future strain on those who will go on a deadly mission of mercy!
There was mention made on the news that America should make a law that when authorities tell residents in the path of a major disastrous hurricane to leave the area, they should be forced to leave. I was normally opposed to such a measure because of the loss of freedom, but then it was brought out that those who decide to stay do not just endanger their own lives: they endanger the lives of emergency personnel who have to scour the disaster areas soon after the worst has hit in order to save desperate survivors. Many have mispredicted the danger and have lost their lives during Hurricane Katrina. They were urged to take heed and remember, but still many remained behind to brave Hurricane Ike and the cost was to themselves, then to emergency personnel and ultimately to the public budget.
I saw an immense ball of fire fall among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard someone say: "We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon." Others, with agonized voices, said: "You knew! Why then did you not tell us? We did not know."--Testimonies for the Church Vol. 9, 28 (1909)
We have to find ways to show the world what is coming. Just living along with them in the 9 to 5 is not going to do it. If we were already prepared with places outside the cities as we were instructed, we would better be able to SHOW the world we mean business and that their lives are threatened.
Recently a volcano became active in a minor Caribbean island called Montserrat (documentary shown in the video box to the right here). In every case of natural disaster or danger the story is the same. There are people who decide to remain in the danger zones. One example in a National Geographic documentary (Not shown here. This is merely an overview of the situation in the video. If I find that example I will replace this.) was a man riding a donkey who lived in the danger zone. He was interviewed and asked why he was remaining in the danger zone. His reply was, "Me believe in God." Some West Indians have said, "Yes. That's Mr. Grenaway." (Can't confirm correct spelling here.)
In natural disasters like a hurricane on a small island, no one seems crazy enough to remain outdoors, but they have no choice but to remain in the area. In the United States however with a land mass big enough to avoid the path of a hurricane, we saw people remaining in the danger zone in Houston, Texas after being warned over and over again to evacuate.
The greatest hurricane disaster was in New Orleans under Hurricane Katrina. Many of the residents didn't listen and refused to evacuate. That decision cost many their lives. Yet still, although many learned their lesson, thousands still yet remained in the Houston area in the path of Hurricane Ike.
Montserrat Copes With an Active Volcano: Soufriere Hills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGQjVV2Hn8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGQjVV2Hn8&feature=player_embedded
The thing is that Adventists and other Christians are rationalizing and actually believing that they would be doing right by merely remaining and even dying where they are. THE VERY WORDS OF THE LORD TELLS THEM TO LEAVE! They are replying back that it's alright, and that they have no particular desire to even want to live anyway. It is somewhat of a Christian macho attitude where some Christians portray to others that, because they believe in the Lord, they're not afraid of anything. There are major consequences to this attitude that they're not thinking of.
The Lord commanded Lot and His family to leave Sodom and Gomorrah. In His commands were no options to stay. In a more lenient example of what we're talking about here, listen to the very words of the Lord and focus on His commands:
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. -- Genesis 19:12-17.
As we know there was one person who did not exactly obey the commands of the Angels that were there. Lot's wife did a much more innocent act than refusing to leave. She agreed to leave and made the motions. She was in the way of safety, but she looked back. She was instantly turned to a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). She had rebelled and will not be in heaven. She wasn't rebellious enough to even just merely state that she was staying. She complied, but then she looked back. This is supposed to be a lesson for us!
Why was she so severely dealt with? The very direct presence of the Angels were there warning them of what to do. And yet there is another way where we can see the possible ramifications of not explicitly obeying the command to leave.
Say for example that it was announced over the news that a national Sunday law was passed. You, a mother, instantly start fleeing for your life knowing that some of your children were left well cared for in the area as you did missionary or evangelism work. Your heart yearns for your children wondering what will become of them in all the uncertainty. But then you meet up with another Adventist woman, a mother, going in the exact opposite direction. You ask her where she's going, and she tells you she's going for her children in another place in the city. You warn her not to do it because of the command of the Lord, and she begins to tell you that you're going to extremes and she leaves you going in the opposite direction. The example of that mother takes a toll on the first one who wants to obey the explicit commands of the Lord. It works out where that mother who went back for her children will bear responsibility if by her example the first one rationalizes and then decides that it's best to run back for her children.
The same is true for Christians who, in the face of people who don't know the Lord, become careless and don't properly take cover when major disasters or natural catastrophes take place. In the face of tornadoes, a Christian who does not properly take cover or make preparation, but basically carelessly acts like nothing will happen, bears a baneful influence on others who sees his example. The Lord does not want anyone to conduct business or walk around like normal as if nothing is happening when a tornado or hurricane is very threateningly in the area. The Lord does not want His people to behave as if nothing is happening when a lightning or thunderstorm is in the area.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. -- Matt. 4:7
A careless attitude may be communicated to many others and even to those who do not know the Lord, and a responsibility for communicating that careless attitude will be shared out at Judgment Day, urging them to do worse than Lot's wife and not obey the explicit commands of the Lord. Here Christian confidence actually becomes presumption.
Here is one major example of true Christianity and Christian faith having confidence in the Lord:
John and Charles Wesley, after being ordained to the ministry, were sent on a mission to America. On board the ship was a company of Moravians. Violent storms were encountered on the passage, and John Wesley, brought face to face with death, felt that he had not the assurance of peace with God. But the Germans, on the contrary, manifested a calmness and trust to which he was a stranger.
"I had long before," he says, "observed the great seriousness of their behavior. Of their humility they had given continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired and would receive no pay, saying, it was good for their proud hearts, and their loving Saviour had done more for them. And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the deck as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterward, 'Were you not afraid?' He answered, 'I thank God, no.' I asked, 'But were not your women and children afraid?' He replied mildly, 'No; our women and children are not afraid to die.'" -- The Great Controversy, pgs. 254, 255.
In the example here was perfect trust in the Lord without any presumption. Although the Moravians were not afraid of the storm and tempest, they were within the deck and didn't venture to be above the deck where the elements were raging. Not only is it not a sin to take cover in natural disasters, it is necessary to do that both for Christians and for those who do not know the Lord. Leave an example that may save lives by making everyone to know that Christianity is not a license to challenge the elements or the bolts of nature unless there is a specific reason to do so under the power of God.
Remaining in dangerous places while natural disasters are dangerously in the area or not obeying the explicit directions of the Lord could make you bear responsibilities you have no real knowledge of. It is best to do exactly as the Lord has commanded!
Last point is that although the Christians were commanded to leave the city as soon as the sign was seen that Jerusalem would be "compassed with armies," although they made flight immediately, the actual resumption of the siege by Titus and the actual destruction they were running from, as I vaguely remembered reading from historical sources, took place ABOUT A YEAR LATER (couldn't find the actual documentation of how long the delay was). Looking back, the natural response for a Christian who fled right away would be, "Hmmmm. I had much more time than I thought!" But no. They still did the right thing by leaving right away. This point will also be a test.
Because of this situation, no one can come to the conclusion and say, "If my dear loved one refuses to come with me, I'm going to even kidnap him or her at gunpoint." The scenario may work out that you do so and yet after doing it, you notice that nothing has happened for a good long while. If that person is then not convinced that you know what you're doing and you then allow that person to go back, he or she would be able to do so freely, but eventually the calamities would hit "suddenly and swiftly." Orders by emergency personnel during these calamities would be to prevent people from leaving once the calamities hit. In actuality the calamities are orchestrated for a deadly purpose.
It's like with the Flood of Noah. Noah and his family were told to enter the Ark. After they entered and the door of the Ark was shut permanently, there was a seven-day delay. It gave the appearance that it was possible even at that time that some outside could have reconsidered and said to themselves that they would beg to enter the Ark say four days after the door was shut. It gave the same appearance for those who entered. It gave that appearance even though the door was shut permanently. Of course, all who were outside never had any temptation to repent and to knock on the door of the Ark to request to be let in during that delay.
The same is true with the disasters to come. When the United States makes a law for the enforcement of Sunday nationally, then they are to flee if they are in any highly populated area RIGHT AWAY even though other places may suffer disaster a good time later. Those who decide not to follow the instructions explicitly, like Lot's wife, will wind up being destroyed. More likely than not, if any of them even wait so much as an hour and then make motions to leave, a spirit of rationalization will fall upon them and they will begin to doubt the specific instructions. They will then go back to their comforts. Remember also, that although the actual destruction took place a good deal after the sign given, circumstances just after the sign was given allowed the Christians to escape without being hindered by the Romans, who were retreating, nor by the Jews who were pursuing the retreating Roman armies. This condition was very temporary. Therefore, although the actual calamity didn't take place right away, many Christians would not have been able to flee so freely had they waited.
Different places will be destroyed at different times. Although the command to leave will signal swift disaster, the disasters will not come at the same time in all places, BUT ALL are commanded to leave when the signal is given. The Last Days will follow as every other time: with a testing delay even of the judgments promised and even after probation is closed.
Source: http://www.theirsecrets.info/AC/AppealChapAdventistIgnorance2.htm
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