John Thanks again for Five Doves - we are turning into autumn (fall) in Australia today and the pulse of His imminent coming is drawing ever closer. For some time (40 years actually!) the closeness of the Day of the Lord has been echoing in my heart, and I hope that this letter is helpful for some doves. I have been on holidays and then struggling with sciatica and the brief hospitalisation of my mother (a wonderful servant of the Lord) - but still lurking! Others doves are also having battles, so we can keep praying for each other - Donna Danna's daily updates are great - please pass on my love in Christ! Denis
THE DAY OF THE LORD IS VERY NEAR (Denis Hart)
As destruction from the Almighty will it come - every man’s heart will melt - Babylon’s time has nearly come - near upon all the nations - The end has come - the time (of doom) for the nations - destructive tempest - all the inhabitants of the land - it is close at hand - near and hastening fast - against all who are proud and haughty - Fierce, with wrath - whole earth a desolation and to destroy out of it its sinners (details below).
While I systematically read the Word of God, there are times when the Holy Spirit leads me to particular verses. Isaiah 13: 6 and 7 is the latest target. “Wail for the day of the Lord is at hand: as destruction from the Almighty and Sufficient One (Shaddai) will it come”. Verse 7, I believe is what the Holy Spirit wanted to emphasise - in the very near future events (the time of darkness) will so envelop the world that: “all hands will be feeble and every man’s heart will melt”. Isaiah adds in verse 8 that “they of Babylon shall be dismayed and terrified, pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them…in pain as a woman in childbirth.”
This coming Day of the Lord should be seen as a quantum shift from man (seeming to be) in control to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - over His church, over Israel and the world! Man has already recognised his lack of control over the weather (not that he ever had it!) and he is rapidly losing control of the world’s financial system. I am an Economist by occupation and have for some time been watching the dark economic clouds blackening (it’s not as lonely as it was on the recession (depression?) bandwagon! I also have had a lifetime fascination with the weather. We do not really need more signs that His Coming is imminent - but they are about to accelerate!
I anted to focus this letter on references to the nearness of the Day of the Lord, rather than how and in what sequence events will unfold quickly. Exceptionally close is no longer adequate! Isaiah 13:22 is important: “And Babylon’s time has nearly come; and her days will not be prolonged. Obadiah 15: “For the Day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your dealings will return upon your own head.” The US gets an extraordinary emphasis in prophetic commentary and warnings, but I believe God is wanting to broaden the prophetic net and our prayers (even for a land downunda!). The Day of the Lord will impact all nations, and even penetrate deeply within nations.
Ezekiel 7: 5, 7 10 and 12: “The end has come! The end - after sleeping – so long awakes against you. Your turn (doom) has come..the day is near..behold the day! Behold it has come! The day draws near. Let not the buyer rejoice or the seller mourn - for wrath is upon all their multitude.” The coming economic down turn will waken many, including many Christians to the vulnerability of wealth. Also Ezekiel 30:3 Day is near, even the Day of the Lord…a cloudy day; it shall be the time (of doom) for the nations. Joel 1:15: “Alas for the day! For the day of (the judgment of) the Lord is near - and as a destructive tempest from the Almighty will it come. Joel 2:1 “Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble (as in Isaiah - every man’s heart will melt) – for the Day of the Lord I coming; it is close at hand! Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision - for the Day of the Lord is near!
Zephaniah 1:7, 14: [Hush!] the day of the vengeance of the Lord is near…The great day of the Lord is near - near and hastening fast. Hark! The voice of the Day of the Lord! Isaiah 2:12 For there shall come a day of the Lord of Hosts against all who are PROUD and HAUGHTY and against all who are lifted up. Sadly Sydney hots one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian mardi gras - it’s taking place tonight, even as I am writing this letter. We can but pray for repentance and mercy, but is this one march too many? There is more to the coming Day of the Lord judgment than just homosexuality, but how long can He forbear? Proverbs 16:18 could be written as: (Gay) pride goes before destruction and a haughty (lesbian) spirit before a fall. I would like to go back to Isaiah 13 (verse 9) which highlights the purpose of the Day of the Lord: “day of the Lord is coming! Fierce, with wrath and raging anger- to make the land and the whole earth a desolation and to destroy out of it its sinners.
In the midst of, and lead up to, the Day of the Lord judgment will be intertwined with revival - until we are caught up Jesus will be seeking to apprehend sinners - including some of those marching for the wrong reason in Sydney tonight! Maranatha