“And it shall come to pass that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the King of Babylon, that nation will I punish, sayeth the LORD with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand” (Jeremiah 27:13).

In the Books of the Prophets, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel; and in the Books of Job, Ezra, Chronicles, and in the Book of Revelation, there are three main judgments of the LORD: the sword, famine and pestilence. Each judgment is a direct result of disobedience to the word of the LORD.

Disobedience takes many forms: open rebellion, idolatry, immorality, corruption in the market place, corruption in government, in the priesthood, and in justice at law. When these things become part of the culture and become systemic in the nation; then the LORD intervenes with judgment, unless the people, the leadership, or those in authority take heed to the word of the LORD and call the people to repentance.

God does not just speak to us as individuals, God speaks to nations and kingdoms, tribes, peoples, cities, communities and families. God judged Israel and used Babylon as His instrument of chastisement. After he fulfilled His purpose, He judged Babylon and crushed them under the Medo-Persian empire. God has done this repeatedly throughout history.

The time is way past due to seek the LORD; it is time for us as a people to repent and take heed to the word of the LORD. If we refuse to listen, if we refuse to repent, surely war will follow as night follows day. If we continue in idolatry, immorality and corruption, famine will come inexorably, inevitably, and absolutely. Pestilence is already here. It is a judgment of our past failures as nations, kingdoms and peoples in the earth. Someone must lead the way. Someone must be the voice that makes the clarion call for repentance. Indeed, repentance it must be, or war and famine are not far away, but imminent.

The voice of the Prophets is speaking to us today. The voice of the Apostles must be heard. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play’. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Corinthians 10:6-11).

Friends, it is the last times. The Day of the LORD is at hand. We are of the Day. We are of the Light. We are of the Truth. We are the people of God. Prepare ye the way of the LORD.

Maranatha. Even so, come LORD Jesus.