by David Brenneman
I have both heard conversations and have been asked why something like the Holocaust was allowed by God to happen. In no way is it something to be taken lightly...the judgments of God always begin with the house of God.
In Daniel we do read of the future judgments concerning Israel. We can do the math and in reading other parts of the Bible find that 1 week of the 70 hasn't happened yet. That week, which in Biblical terms is 7 years. That week of judgments is found in living color in the book of Revelation. Read it closely for yourself.
Now, go back to the first 5 books of the Bible. Read of the very explicit blessings and the curses that Moses told the children of Israel what would befall them in regards to their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read in Psalms, Song of Solomon, Habakkuk, other books and see the longing of the Lord to call to His chosen people to come back to Him.
Read Habakkuk especially. Read of all the written times of other nations being lead by the Lord Jesus to come and kill much of the nation of Israel in judgment because they turned their hearts from God.
In all cases, my Dear Reader, the Lord kept a remnant that would turn their hearts back to the Lord.
The list of reasons for the judgments begins always with them turning their hearts from God. Serving others gods.
Something like the holocaust has happened many times in Israel's history.
Many many will die in the 7 year Great Tribulation. A remnant will be saved through this as well. The full judgments in this up and coming Great Tribulation are against the whole of the human race. Scripture itself says that if those judgments weren't limited that none would survive.
Denying God gets nobody anywhere. Turning from God to self-made or man-made idols will put up a wall between you and Jesus. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit." was never a "suggestion". We in this western world often casually throw out the phrase of loving this or loving that. Sometimes in my life, I can guarantee you that when I claimed to love something, that the Spirit had something to say about it...if I were listening.
All Christians should love God with their everything. All should have the priorities of God first, spouse second, everyone else third. No physical object should ever be loved by Believers. No ideologies should be loved by Believers that are not bound to the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Himself says in the Old Testament that His name is Jealous. He is jealous for His people. He strongly desires a right relationship with all who claim that He is their Savior. He is jealous when it comes to the nation of Israel.
The curses of God are not like at all the curses of human beings. When God cursed in the events surrounding the fall of mankind in Genesis...nobody escaped it.
When the Lord had Moses tell the nation of Israel what would happen should they turn from God...those curses happened.
The Holocaust was a judgment from God intended to do as all the others in Israel's history were to do...turn the nation back to Jesus. Was it written in the Bible to happen? Possibly. The only person who could shed that light on that question is the Spirit.
The judgment of God is coming soon. Any known specific prophecies needing to happen before the Rapture of the Church, which precedes the Great Tribulation have happened. The Rapture could be at any time. Denying God's judgment will gain nothing to anyone.
What does this mean for you and I? Jesus said the we are blessed if we heed the words of Jesus. That we are found by Him to be doers of the word and not just hearers who delude themselves. What does that have to do with the judgments of God? In Christ we do not stand condemned who have placed our faith and trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation. But relying only on that in name only and not in practice, will bring about the discipline of the Lord. You see, the nation of Israel in their good times and their bad always thought that they could do what they wanted because of their name.
Jesus said they honor them with their lips but their hearts were far from Him.
Would that describe your life? That you too have come to Christ for salvation yet continue to live as you want? Jesus said, and it's not a suggestion, to love not the world nor the things of this world. There's never, ever, going to be a "just kidding" moment in the judgments of God that are coming. No excuses or exceptions will be accepted for how the lives of people lived their lives. If a person did not have their name in the Lamb's book of Life, then the Lake of Fire is their destination. Believers will give an account of their lives before Jesus...their works tested as by fire.
God doesn't judge in order to just stamp "denied" on human life. Judgments are to turn people back to Jesus. Read it for yourself...Jesus wants hearts turned back to Him.
Jesus wants all of our hearts. Jesus in no way WANTS people in Hell. The Bible has all sorts of prophecies that have come about and all that remain will be completed.
Does Jesus have your heart? All of it? Do you love things in this world, honestly, more than you do Jesus?
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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