Harvest of Asher Congregation - Akko, Israel
One night, recently, I was awakened and I sensed two words – Rage and Eruption. These words were in English even though I am not a native English speaker.
I found this interesting since I was planning to teach on Revelation 16. There we read of God's wrath upon mankind and on the earth, including the waters, the sun, the atmosphere, and the very air we breathe. The eruption and deluge of destruction are the judgment of God poured out against His own creation – man and earth.
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.’” (Revelation 16:1)
We see in Revelation 16 that many will not come to their senses even as cataclysmic judgment is falling. Many still will not humble themselves, repent and receive Him. Many still refuse to listen. If we look at the period of the plagues in Egypt, we can see a very similar situation. Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, even as plague after plague was visited upon him and his people. The difference is that mankind becomes our own pharaoh. Mankind is not willing to release themselves from the spirit of stubbornness which resists God. We see this power of evil mentioned in Revelation 16 and how it controls mankind already today.
“They cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him.” (Revelation 16:9)
It never ceases to amaze me how, no matter what, there are those whose hearts remain stubborn and refuse to turn to God.
It is as if nothing He does is ever enough to win over some hardened hearts. When God brings punishment, as even a good earthly father sometimes does; men ask where His love is or claim that there is no God. In the eyes of the world, we, as believers in Yeshua, are strange. We, having given Him a place in our hearts, are called to be different, to be a light and to separate from the things of this world.
Let us heed the warning of Hebrews 12:25, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, how much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.”
The End of the “Plague” or just the Beginning?
The reason for this teaching is that I see 2022 not to be the end of plagues, but just the beginning.
Why? I believe we have yet to learn the lessons of this period of testing. Through this plague called COVID, there was the opportunity for men’s hearts to be turned to Yeshua and for believers to join in unity in prayer and intercession, asking God for breakthroughs in this and other areas. However, for the most part, men’s hearts have been distanced from God and sadly, some congregations have divided and dispersed.
In the days to come, may we witness a real change in heart. May we stand together as believers in Yeshua, claiming God’s promises from Psalm 91 for His protection over our households.
May no fear, pestilence, plague, or disaster come near your tents.
