20 April 2010 (Shleshi/Bikkurim) Day #36, 5934 AM
Red Dust Cloud
A Sign of Things to Come
All the talk in Europe and North America these last few days has centred around the spectacular explosion of the Icelandic volcano and glacier Eyjafjallajökul which has covered most of Europe with an icy blanket of red dust. It is darker and much colder than usual. So many aircraft have been grounded that the commercial aviation industry is bound to suffer. We have had some spectacular scenes in the sky including hail and snow. Here's one such view from my own home:
When this volcano last erupted in 1821-23 it caused widespread damage. Iceland's worst volcano in recent times, Laki, which erupted in 1783, killed a quarter of the Icelandic population, created a poisonous plume over Prague (then in Austria), made New Jersey's snowfall its highest ever, and had an impact on one of Egypt's worst drouts. Of perhaps more interest to us today is the fact that this volcano played a major rôle in provoking the French Revolution leading to a a poor harvest and public unrest.
There is no doubt that Yahweh has used, and likely promoted, natural disasters for prophetic purposes. At the time of writing we seem to be hearing of one natural disaster after another, leading one messianic ministry to predict that Yah'shua will return in the next ten years. The enemy also likes to stage drives on the world scene about this time of year. A lot of bad things all seem to be happening simultaneously this month. For believers these are challenging, for unbelievers frightening, and for all it is a time for reflection. Tragedy struck with a death in our family yesterday. And I don't believe in coincidences.
In the United Kingdom friends have been telling us about the landfall of red dust that they are experiencing. And I must admit red dust does make me think of the Planet Mars. A week or two ago I not so much had a 'vision' but unusually I heard music in the spirit, which I recognised immediately as being the Planet Mars from Gustav Holst's Planets Suite. This was before Eyjafjallajökul erupted which is even more interesting for Mars is the pagan god of war. The sabre rattling against Iran (ancient Persia) is continuing, as you know.
The economic squeeze predicted for 2010 is on and getting tougher. Everyone is feeling it now. Budgets are getting squeezed and everyone is being forced to make cut-backs in expenses. Today I closed down an internet line and took other money-saving decisions. But these and the other things going on in the world are all small things compared with what will happen in probably the not too distant future:
"Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, 'It is done!' And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before Elohim, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed Elohim because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great" (Rev.6:17-21, NKJV).
I must admit reading this prophecy does make me think about the recently released disaster movie, 2012, which some of you may have seen too. The end-time scenario will not, however, be like that for Yahweh has promised not to send another worldwide flood, quite apart from the fact that Yahweh has His own selection mechanism - no one will be buying a ticket on the end-time arks of safety. This time round the judgment will be settled with fire, not water.
We watch with interest the Icelandic volcano and how it is paralysing air traffic and spoiling our spring. How should we be responding to it? To take God seriously and to believe that He is a God of Justice and will not tolerate wickedness indefinitely. I am praying that it will make many people think and reflect deeply on the purpose of life which can feel so safe and secure one minute and then highly tenuous the next. May this therefore be a time of serious prayer in preparation for much worse to come.
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