Clearly Accelerating to the End

Since the beginning of 2021, events have been accelerating at a pace that we could never have imagined. Is this an indication of something more signficant?

The events of 2021 have been accelerating so rapidly, that from moment to moment, we cannot seem to even catch our breath and fully assess the impact of each one, until the next event arrives and completely resets our perspective and provides further evidence that this is not like anything we have seen.

There must be a voice of discernment and truthful perspective that can help to orient yourself within this confusion. I would submit that there is Biblical scripture that is quite appropriate to review and you may be surprised that it is not the expected references:

• Ephesians 6 for spiritual battles

• Daniel and Ezekiel for future wars

• Revelation for signs before judgements

No indeed, there is a different passage of scripture that I believe fits these moments with precision and its parallels to the rapidly changing terrible events unfolding, can give us much needed perspective.

[13] Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, [14] and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, [15] and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." [16] While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you." [17] While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." [18] While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, [19] and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you." [20] Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. [21] And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." [22] In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. –Job 1:13-22 ESV

What we notice in this passage is the rapid pacing of tragedy after tragedy - each one worse than the previous and the arrival of each tragic truth to Job by the messengers is not that dissimilar from the daily arrival of worse and worse news and events indicating that everything is falling apart all around us.

But is it falling apart, or is it falling into place? Is the world being prepared for the soon return of Jesus in the Rapture of the Church and the seven-year great tribulation that will fall upon the world?

Notice in the preceding verses who is at the center of the calamity that comes upon Job and ultimately the One who is in control of all things and who’s purpose and will is always good.

[6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. [7] The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." [8] And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" [9] Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? [10] Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. [11] But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." [12] And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. –Job 1:6-12 ESV

We see how the LORD God places timing and boundaries upon the many calamities that befall Job. His complete loss of family, home, possessions, wealth, and presumably his career. This happened very quickly - in a single day. And as we can see from the bounded permission set by God for the enemy of our soul, that the most evil progression possible was chosen to hurt the ones made in the image of God.

In Afghanistan over this past week, we have seen seen accelerating misery horror and calamities which are similar in loss to what Job experienced. Loss of family, home, and future with no warning and with much sorrow.

At the end of the Book of Job, after all of the interactions of Job’s “friends” and their critique of his life and their assessment of “why” he was experiencing such misfortune in his life, we come to a passage that follows God’s direct dialog with Job “Where were you when I payed the foundations of the world…” and so on. Following that conversation, Job speaks with discernment:

[1] Then Job answered the LORD and said: [2] "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. [3] 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. [4] 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' [5] I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; [6] therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." –Job 42:1-6 ESV

Job confesses that his perspective is not God’s perspective and that his wisdom and understanding is not God’s and therefore it is incorrect. This is how we need to approach all that we are seeing take place now. God always works in powerful and unsettling ways. We cannot presume to predict or forecast the individual or collective plans and purposes and certainly not the specific details of our Father in Heaven.

And shortly following the preceding passage is a section of the book of Job that we can ponder in the context of what many are still striving for as a “return of America” to its former prosperity and freedoms and peaceful way of life. We may make a comparison to this passage in Job:

[10] And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. [11] Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. [12] And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. [13] He had also seven sons and three daughters. [14] And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. [15] And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. [16] And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. [17] And Job died, an old man, and full of days. –Job 42:10-17 ESV

There are many Biblical scholars that conclude that this final passage related to a “restoration” of Job’s fortunes, family, and personal prosperity is exactly what we need to pray for in relationship to restoration of America.

That does not seem to be likely given the trajectory and the increasing evil and apostasy that is washing across this nation today. While we should not hope for this nation’s destruction, and we should pray for God’s favor and his mercy and grace, we must also pray for His will and not our own.

We don’t know with any precision, what God’s detailed plans for the nation of America are as the world seems to be falling apart with American leading in all bad decisions and destructive actions. We do know that as followers of Jesus, we must overcome this world, and look forward to the blessed hope of our Lord and Savior Jesus as our only rescue from sin and its wages, eternal death.

Maranatha!

❤️