12/03/F – The Earth will Shake

Proverbs: “One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly — beyond recovery.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:1‬ ‭CSB)

This proverb could be used as the theme of the next section of the book of Revelation. You can choose to fall on the Rock and be broken, or eventually the Rock will fall on you and crush you to powder. It is good to have a strong spine – but being stiff-necked and unwilling to receive and submit to correction is to your detriment and eventual destruction.

NT: “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, mixed with blood, were hurled to the earth. So a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. So a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day was without light and also a third of the night. I looked and heard an eagle flying high overhead, crying out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound!”” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8:6-13‬ ‭CSB)

When Moses first returned to Egypt after receiving the call from God to set His people free, he came before Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God if Israel says: Let My people go that they may worship Me…” Pharaoh’s response to Moses was, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” God responded to Pharaoh’s stiff-necked response by sending a series of 10 plagues that stripped the land of its resources and proved to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt that the God if Israel was the true and living God over all creation. With each plague, Pharaoh’s neck grew stiffer and his heart grew harder unto Pharaoh’s humiliation and destruction.

The same will be true of the last days on earth. As the days grow darker and the anti-christ spirit grows in influence across the earth, many will grow stiff-necked against any acknowledgement of God and the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ. Like Pharaoh, they will say, “Who is the Lord that we should serve Him?” The trumpet judgements will be God’s response as He brings devastation to the earth’s resources to prove to all that He is the true and living God of all gods and God over all creation. The first trumpet will sound and the earth and it’s produce will be devastated. The second trumpet will sound and the oceans of the world and all life within the seas will be stricken. The third trumpet will sound and one third of all fresh water on the earth will be rendered undrinkable. Finally the fourth trumpet will sound and the life-giving light of the sun, moon and stars will be reduced in strength by 30%. At the end of the blasts of the first four trumpets, a heavenly messenger gave a warning to those who, like Pharaoh, did not humble themselves but continued to stiffen their necks and harden their hearts: “Woe! Woe! Woe! To those who live on the earth (or whose way of living is earthly), because of the remaining trumpet blasts that are about to sound!” As Proverbs 29:1 said, one who becomes and remains stiff-necked after many reprimands will be shattered.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that when I am in the wrong, You are merciful to bring reprimands to correct my way that I may walk in righteousness. If I am quick to heed Your word, humble myself and repent, Your word of correction is all I need. But woe to me, if I reject Your word in stiff-necked hard-heartedness. I desire to be one who is humbly broken before You instead of having to be crushed because of my obstinance. Create in me a clean heart as I walk before You in loving and faith-filled obedience. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.