Return to ICOG Newsletter PageA Biblical Worldview:
L.A. Burning - Warning From God?
"America has been fascinated and horrified by pictures of entire areas of Los Angeles burning to the ground.
This has been touted as the worst fire disaster in California history, and it is literally heartbreaking to see something like this, that no one could have imagined was possible in this day and age. Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by these events, and it is inspiring to see the outpouring of care that people have for each other in these times of crisis.
But there is something else, something more you should consider about this tragedy, as you look at these pictures. Could it be a warning from God?
These pictures look like a war zone. This area has been completely devastated.
There are plenty of questions on how this could happen—talk of fire hydrants being empty and near hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds fueling the fire in a kind of perfect storm of mishaps that led to this, as if it was orchestrated for destruction.
In this major city of the world, some 40,000 acres have been completely laid to waste.
But this isn’t the only unusual event of devastation that has occurred in the United States this year.
In September 2024 Hurricane Helene unleashed its power in areas that historically are not devastated by hurricanes. But Asheville and western North Carolina were destroyed in ways no one thought possible. And many people in those areas are still reeling from the results.
What is going on with the weather?
Some say these events are due to climate change. Let me tell you it’s not climate change.
Perhaps it is yet another sign of the end times that are coming upon us, because complete devastation, like nothing we have seen before, is prophesied for America and those who turn away from God.
There are several places in the Bible—in both the Old and New Testaments—where prophecy speaks of cities of a disobedient nation being "laid to waste."
Now, let me preface this by saying that we are not correlating any loss of property or life to the sin or morality of any individual. From here on, we speak of the national consequences when a nation, like America, has turned from God.
So today, we see a large area of LA being laid to waste by fire. Is it a warning from God?
He called Isaiah as a prophet and commissioned him to "cry aloud, spare not" and tell His people their sin and warn them to turn back to God. Isaiah asked for how long would these prophecies be heard?
God answered him Isaiah 6:11, “Then I said, ‘Lord, how long?’ And He answered, ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, houses are without a man people and the land is utterly desolate’”
That has not happened in America yet, and God goes on in that prophecy to say when the
people do not heed warnings and continue in their sinful ways, the vast majority will die by
sword, famine or disease.
God talks about cities being laid waste in the prophecies of Jeremiah, Amos, and Ezekiel.
In Ezekiel, He talks about “disaster coming upon disaster and that He will do to us
according to our ways.” (Ezek 7:25) and in chapter 6 verse 6, He says “in all your
dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste . . . and He says it’s because of the idols in
the land. It’s a punishment for turning away from God.
Idols, you ask? Oh, we do have idols among us today. Maybe they’re not Baal, Zeus or
Artemis, but we have idols of gold, silver, military, our government, the stock market
and those things we rely on and trust in more than God.
I could give you more prophecies about cities being laid waste, but in the Bible these things
come as a warning and sign from God that we need to wake up and turn back to Him or
suffer the devastating pain, suffering, loss of life and terror that will come as a result.
In a minute, we will look at what the apostle Peter says about cities being laid waste, but before we go there, let me urge you to study the Bible, because it really does let us know what is going on in our world today. It is the most relevant book your can read, if you want to know what is happening and why. It really is a book for our time.
At the end of this video, go to the link you see here. You’ll find resources that you will want to read or watch. There’s a lot a lot about the Bible and God’s Word that you probably haven’t heard before. It’s worth taking a look at that link.
You want to know more about what Ezekiel said, and how it applies to our time? you’ll find a video at that link that will go through each verse of Ezekiel and discuss what God is saying and how that applies to today. Want to read instead of listen? We have a Bible commentary that will help you understand what the Bible really says. And you will see where America is actually mentioned in the Bible.
You won’t find this truth at the Catholic church, any mainstream Protestant church, or in Islam or Hinduism, but you will find the truth here. Check it out.
Now, let’s go to Peter’s second epistle and read what he says about the end time, when evil and false teachings fill the earth. He compares them to the times of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah.
Notice II Peter 2: 5-6, “…(God) did not spare the ancient world but only saved Noah and his (family) when he brought the flood upon the world in its wickedness; and…God reduced the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes (when he sentenced them to destruction as a fearful example to those who wanted to live in defiance of his laws)…. (Phillips translation).
God destroyed those civilizations because they lived evil ways.
They were corrupt, vile, immoral, and violent and they were destroyed. One by flood waters, the other by fire. Isn’t it interesting how God brings devastation? That same national punishment God says He will bring on us today if we don’t turn back to Him and live His way.
God says He will be with us through every trial, and can deliver us, just like he did Noah and Lot.
And In 2 Peter 3:9 God reassures us that He “is longsuffering [that is, patient] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Do you see that? God doesn’t want anyone to die. He wants us to live. These devastating and unprecedented events, like the floods in western North Carolina, like the burning of LA are astonishing events we didn’t think could happen.
They may well be warnings from God that our nation is about to perish if we don’t repent and turn back to Him. Listen to what He says! It is time to acknowledge our national sin, repent and turn back to God!
These type of cataclysmic events will continue to come upon America and the
English-speaking nations who God has richly blessed over the centuries, if we continue to
live in sin and depravity…like people who don’t even know God.
Get to know your Bible, begin to live by it. Who knows what God will do? In the prophet
Jonah, we read “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce
anger, so that we may not perish?” Because perish we will if we do not turn back to God.
God commands His Church to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God and to warn His people to turn from their sin. This is what we are doing.
Christ says in Mark 1 verse 15, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Visit this link and review the relevant resources we have for you there. Ask any question you want there, and we will answer.
You owe it to yourself and your family to know the truth. We want you to know the truth and the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.
Our message to you: Heed the warnings. Believe God. It’s time to repent and turn to Him with all your hearts. Turn to Him, and live!
(Editorial Note: Rick Shabi is a minister with the United Church of God. This message was transcribed from a Youtube video.
To watch the video: Pick on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQPQepc5Dt0 )
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