15 'Signs of the Times' Indicating Judgment

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/heres-the-deal/45851-15-signs-of-the-times-indicating-judgment
15 'Signs of the Times' Indicating Judgment
10:30AM EDT 10/22/2014 .charismanews.com/component/search/?searchword=Larry Tomczak&ordering=newest&searchphrase=exact&areas[0]=authors]Larry Tomczak[/url]
(There are plenty of warning signs that rampant sin in America could force God's hand in judgment.)
 The Bible warns us about saying "everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation" (1 Pet. 3:4) when judgment is at hand. We know that God is "patient not wanting anyone to perish" (v.9), but there comes a time when the gavel falls!
After Hurricane Katrina, I spoke with a former resident of Louisiana. He told me he grew up hearing warnings of levies breaking but folks simply tuned it out when nothing happened. This describes America today.
If you fell asleep like a Rip Van Winkle for 30 years and awoke today, imagine how shocked you would be at what happened to America.
1. Divorce: Increased from 4% to 51% in one generation.
2. Cohabitation: 65% of "altar-bound" singles live together, a euphemism for lifestyle fornication.
3. Abortion: 57 million unborn babies aborted, some with taxpayer funding and now part of socialized medicine.
4. Marijuana: Being legalized in several states.
5. Euthanasia and Infanticide: Being legalized under camouflage names.
6. Pornography: Rampant, graphic, just a "click away" on hand-held devices.
7. Homosexuality, lesbian and transgender lifestyles: Promoted even by our president along with gay marriage and homosexual ordinations.
8. Movies and music: Standards almost nonexistent with graphic nudity, profanity and blasphemy commonplace.
9. Out-of-wedlock births: 1st time in U.S history – more than 50%.
10. Sexually transmitted diseases: Over 110 million in our population infected.
11. Economic insanity: $18 trillion national debt; millions unemployed deriving benefits; $60 billion in annual Medicare fraud and waste.
12. Illegal immigration: Over 11 million and politicians pushing open borders and amnesty.
13. Political leaders: Corruption, incompetence and deception at all levels.
14. Radical Islam and terrorism: Exploding in regions of the world with an increasingly vulnerable America dismantling militarily and docile politicians calling it a "peaceful religion."
15. Should we add illiteracy... crime... catastrophic fatherlessness... human trafficking... adultery... profane comedians...an ignorant and low information populace? How about the ongoing erosion of our religious freedoms and secularism taking over society? And last but not least, how about a Laodicean, apostate church compromising and lacking the courage to address the defining issues of our day with clarity and conviction while defining success in terms of happy sermons, attendance, offerings, number of staff, programs and square footage?
Do we see the "handwriting on the wall" that we are at an unprecedented tipping point? Are we aware that America is rapidly spiraling into a lawless culture similar to Germany of a generation ago?
My wife and her parents are German and they will tell you an educated and civilized nation moved from democracy to dictatorship and then demise in less than six years! A once-thriving nation can have its heritage and faith so decimated that history records it as a tragic collapse.
Our Only  Hope for Turnaround is a Heaven-sent Awakening That May Require A Calamity to Jumpstart
As long as things continue to run somewhat smoothly on the surface, we have an amazing ability to cope and carry-on, all the while making flimsy excuses for compromise and a comfortable "Christianity."
• "I don't like what's happening in America on so many issues, but it's not      really affecting me or my family."
• "I prefer they not schedule soccer games on Sunday morning but I guess we can live with it. As a family we try to make it to church at least twice a month unless we need to catch up on our rest."
• "I wish our pastor would address these critical issues but his role model is Joel Osteen so he avoids controversy."
• "I grew up with Sunday school, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services but times have changed and I guess we can get by with a brief Sunday service."
• "Our worship leader is gay, I think, and the primary singer is living with her boyfriend but it's probably best not to stir up problems."
• "I wish our church gave out voter guides so we knew where candidates stand but since we're in a building program, leadership said they don't want to jeopardize fundraising."

• "Our pastors tell us they don't put out any lawn signs for candidates or  speak about anything political because of separation of church and state."
  
•          "We got the evite for the citywide gathering to pray for transformation in our city but it's the same night of Dancing With the Stars finale and we just can't miss it."
  

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Rev. 3:15-17).
           8 Potential Disasters to Awaken Us?
Will it take another stock market crash, severe financial recession or, God forbid, global economic collapse to get our attention?
Might it take a series of beheadings and coordinated Islamic terrorist attacks in malls and cities by ISIS supporters slipping through unprotected borders to wake us up?
Would a massive power outage shutting down computers and canceling NFL games nationwide strike fear into the hearts of citizens and sober us to the urgency of the hour?
How about an airborne Ebola virus outbreak and the "pestilences and diseases" (Matt. 24:7) Jesus predicted at the end of the age? Maybe a mass migration of infected Central Americans streaming through our porous Southern border?
Perhaps the beginning of war in the Middle East as Jerusalem is surrounded by enemies (Luke 21:20) and Iran launches the "bomb" on Israel causing catastrophic disruption in the Straits of Hormuz (where 20% of the total world's gas supply passes)? Recall the long gas lines of 1973?
Friends and family "handed over to be persecuted and put to death...hated by all nations because of Me" (Matt. 24:9)? Imagine us saying what a Chinese pastor, Huang Yizi, said this week upon being arrested in a government crackdown: "I am grateful to God for the opportunity to go to jail."
Perhaps the very real, dreaded, catastrophic EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) attack causing unimaginable devastation by paralyzing America as all power lines burn out and all goes dark instantly? USA Today stated: "Cities darken, food spoils and homes fall silent. Civilization collapses." Cause: One terrorist A-bomb or a severe solar storm.
Massive earthquake(s) as Jesus foretold (Matt. 24:7). Scientist Dr. Lucy Jones issued a dire warning on Oct. 15 to the L.A. City Council of the effects: "Infrastructure crippled; power grid and communications knocked out; water supply disrupted; 1,800 fatalities, 53,000 injured and ½ the buildings unusable." [Note: This is not the inevitable "Big One" set for San Francisco.]
                                 Awakening From Spiritual Coma
After the disaster of 9/11, people flocked to church buildings, prayer meetings mushroomed and streets were lined with marquees calling for God's blessing on America. We got our wake up call and people were motivated to seek the living God as atheists and the ACLU were silenced.
Unfortunately, we hit the snooze button and fell back asleep. African pastors gathering in D.C. stated it this way just a week ago: "America is in a spiritual coma!"
Providentially, the same week over 100 churches gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in our Nation's Capital to cry out to God for one thing - spiritual awakening in the United States of America.
In the time of Esther, things looked bleak and God's people were very discouraged at the prospect of a national disaster. But through prayer, fasting, seeking God and Spirit-led action, God intervened to save the day. "Who knows if you've come into the Kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) was spoken over one believer. As the clock is ticking, can you hear God issuing you and me the same challenge?
This is the second installment of a two-part series. Part one was posted yesterday.
Unless otherwise specified, the opinions expressed are solely the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charisma Media.

I can agree with everything on that list....EXCEPT the marijuana one. Marijuana was LEGAL prior to world war 2. Marijuana was CREATED by Jesus. It is good both as an industrial product, AND as medicine. In fact, being that I am 100% pro-life, I would argue outright...that a person CANNOT be 100% pro-life without also being in favor of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has saved the lives of over 200 CHILDREN, and countless amounts of adults. The risks of marijuana use are no more harmful than that of alcohol...and LESS harmful than smoking tobacco. The united states government has done several studies that were CLASSIFIED because they showed BENEFITS from marijuana use. In the ONLY controlled study ever conducted on children who were born to parents that used marijuana regularly during their pregnancy....it showed an INCREASE in IQ over a period of time in their younger lives. Moderate use of marijuana by adults over 21 has been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's. The Israeli government has done more studies on marijuana than anyone else, and has shown a multitude of benefits from its use.

It is also important to note...that EVERY SINGLE STUDY that has shown a negative side effect other than general laziness...has been scientifically discredited due to the lack of controls involved, or further studies contradicting original findings. The percentage of regular users of marijuana that become addicted is only 9% compared to 15% for alcohol. Marijuana is the least addictive drug available.

Am I in favor of legalization? No. I am mad about the general hypocrisy when marijuana is deemed "evil" and alcohol is said to be "okay if you're not drunk". People are locked up for years because of a personal behavior, and many of those people only because they are treating an illness with a God given plant. I would like to see the decriminalization rather than outright legalization. I think marijuana use should be discouraged but not an offense that someone should go to jail for. What I am more mad about than anything, is that many people who otherwise would be considered conservative....have not done their due diligence on this subject and researched this matter to the fullest extent. The "republican" answer is to say no to legalization of any kind (medical or otherwise) because it is a slippery slope...and will lead to "bad things". These same people claim to be pro-life, but deny treatment to CHILDREN, many of whom have NO OTHER medicine that can treat their TERMINAL illness. If not for medical marijuana, there would be more than 200 additional dead children. If not for medical marijuana....there would be more dead veterans who are suffering from PTSD. There are a multitude of medical benefits....and even the marijuana treatments that ARE NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING A PERSON HIGH.....are illegal because of the "slippery slope" argument.

It's time for these cowards to stand up, and realize a simple truth. If you had a child that was dying and the doctors had tried every available legal medicine, and you had seen evidence that showed that the only thing left that might work was marijuana....would you try it for your child? Would you try to save your child's life? Of course you would. So why are lawmakers scoring political points by being opposed to saving the lives of children?

If you were the only thing standing in the way of a child's life being saved...and all you had to do was say "medical marijuana should be legal"...would you do it? Forget about the scare tactics about potential future side effects being "unknown"(so far every study has showed no long term negative side effects). These children won't make it passed their 10th birthdays without this treatment. Long term is a pipe dream to be discussed only in the scenario that you allow this treatment. What is it to you? Why would you deny these children help?

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."-Matthew 18:6

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/

Cocaine and heroin were legal 'back when' too. Alcohol was employed as anesthesia.  And still is.  (hee).
Coca leaves, poppy seeds, juniper berries, elderberry leaves, etc.
A balm to one, a poison to another. 
A simple search yields no end of poisonous substances growing in nature.  Marijuana is not sacrosanct and therefore 'good' as God given,  just because it grows naturally.

Your Bible quote is sorely misused.  How many innocents have died in accidents caused by drivers impaired by marijuana?  Driver impairment is well documented.
The debate is not so simple.
Do as you please with marijuana; just not with the Bible.  Jesus was saying do not
hinder them from coming to Him, not from coming to marijuana.

And I'm aware God said in the OT that the plants, herbs are for healing.
And then came the Word about the Saviour from Isaiah.  Now we come to Him
to heal all our diseases.  He took our sicknesses and bore our diseases.
You know, He never picked up any herb.  So I don't think He made any case regarding marijuana use, other than what the Spirit said through Paul, to be sober, and clear minded.

" How many innocents have died in accidents caused by drivers impaired by marijuana?"

Your quote might ask a question, but the answer is....a lot less than alcohol has killed. In fact, other than accidents caused by users of marijuana, marijuana has never been proven to kill ANYONE. Alcohol on the other hand has killed millions. Is marijuana perfect? No. It is hypocritical to have alcohol legalized, that has killed many people...and marijuana illegal when it has killed zero people from its actual use.

I agree OnlyOne except for "and marijuana (illegal when it) has killed zero people from its actual use."

We can't actually say that no one has lost their attention off driving to the point of causing an accident while smoking or after smoking pot.  Take a good look at a smoked up teen and tell me if you want to put yourself in that car, never mind a child.  Yet it happens all the time.

And from what I've seen in life, it is aptly named a 'gateway drug'.
I think we open a door when we look for and find 'comfort', 'inner peace', even a 'change in perspective' from any substance, whether it's sleeping pills or legal pain pills, alcohol, pot or the biggie drugs. There's a hook there for some people.  Not for everyone.  Alcohol addiction statistics used to be one out of every eight people.

Brutal, absurd sentences have been handed down for possession.  Yet, they broke the law to get high.  God doesn't advocate breaking the law, even if they are unjust.

I mostly agree with you that marijuana does not warrant governmental laws, or that medical marijuana may have value.  My point is that we can't justify it's use in a fallen world by scripture.  As Paul said, by God's government all things are lawful to him, but that doesn't make it prudent or wise or something we should do as we strive to walk in Righteousness and serve as an example, lest we cause offense to another or worse-give permission by our words or actions that takes someone down a path that God would not have them walk.

After Adam and Eve sinned God said there would be thistles and weeds growing, that does not mean they were/are all good, due to sin, the fall,, obviously some were/are not!

Onlyone, you are not alone in your opinion.

sixminks,

That is good to know. I read an article awhile back about the Christian argument for legalization of marijuana. It mostly dealt with life ending care and medical use. However, it also made a great argument over sinful personal behavior not being a state matter.

I also support prescription medical marijuana. I know people who have benefited from it.

But regarding the article:
"it also made a great argument over sinful personal behavior not being a state matter."

This Utopic view might sound good.  And the current govt. seems to agree.  So we can witness first hand whether government loosing it's hand over abortion, gay marriage, gambling, LGBT, legalized marijuana, etc. makes for a healthy society.  One Congressman made some statement toward legalizing bestiality, another about pedophilia, before they were silenced.

As they've already leaped over God's line, now where does anyone draw a line?

In a world currently ruled by satan, where all are born into sin, and Jesus said, 'few' find The Way,who then can govern themselves?  Much less submit their will to God's Will, as 'self' government (do as thou will)  is original sin.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: