In the early morning of January 13, 2018 cellphones in Hawaii got this warning message from the Emergency Alert System: "Ballistic Missile Threat Inbound To Hawaii. Seek Immediate Shelter. This Is Not A Drill." (See Works Cited: Dorell). Thousands of people abandoned their cars (Dorell), rushed to find some kind of shelter, or hunkered down in their homes. Terror seized them because none of them had any way of knowing that the warning wasn't for an immediate threat.
(Nuclear missile threat warning. Click for source.) |
What made the warning all the more terrifying is the recent escalation in the tension between the United States and North Korea. Experts believe that North Korea is very close to perfecting a nuclear weapon that can reach the continental U.S. (Ward).
Many people do not seem to be taking North Korea's nuclear threat seriously. People think that it is just a poor country with a weak military, but I believe that North Korea's threats and missile tests are harbingers for the U.S. Remember Jonathan Cahn's book The Harbinger? If you have not read it, you should. Cahn detailed the strange appearances of events during and after 9/11 (including strange statements by powerful politicians) which matched perfectly with ancient prophecies from the book of Isaiah. We will look at this later in this article. First, let's go back to the events surrounding the accidental nuclear missile alert in Hawaii.
For about 38 minutes people had no way of knowing that a nuclear missile was not inbound to Hawaii (Wang). It took 38 minutes or so for a "subsequent wireless alert" to contradict the first alert and reduce people's fears (Wang).
According to the Washington Post, Richard Rapoza, a HEMA (Hawaii Emergency Management Agency) spokesman, said that his agency had to work with FEMA to craft and get a false alarm alert approved (Wang). That was the reason for the 38 minute delay between the nuclear missile alert and a subsequent false alarm alert, which were both sent to cellphones in Hawaii.
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The Real Threat from North Korea
The accidental nuclear missile warning, which shook Hawaii, came following North Korea's verbal threats to turn the U.S. into "ashes and darkness" and at a time when North Korea's nuclear weapons are becoming more and more threatening to the U.S.
(North Korea's Ballistic Missiles. Click for source.) |
In September 2017, the North Korean government issued a statement which included this threat: “Let’s reduce the US mainland into ashes and darkness. Let’s vent our spite with mobilisation of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now." (McCurry).
To back up their horrific words, North Korea is increasing the range of its nuclear missiles and is preparing nuclear warheads for them. Earlier last year (2017), North Korea conducted tests which were not completely successful. But shortly after that, North Korean rocket scientists came out with missiles which could reach the continental United States.
On November 29, 2017, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-15 (Ward). It was North Korea's longest range missile. It flew 10 times higher than the International Space Station (Ward). According to experts, it could likely hit any location within the United States (Ward), including Alaska and Hawaii.
(North Korean missiles being launched. Click for source.) |
There has been a war of words between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. And, many are starting to get concerned about the U.S. actually going to war with North Korea.
According to U.S. officials who spoke to National Public Radio (NPR), the U.S. is preparing for potential war with North Korea (Bowman). There will be more Army divisions to train in tunnel warfare this year than are normally trained, according to these officials (Bowman). Two of those divisions include the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division (Bowman). The reason for this is the fact that North Korea is filled with deep underground tunnels which may contain chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; artillery pieces; and troops (Bowman).
Regarding the tunnel warfare training and purchasing of weapons by the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis said: "Now what does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say. So there's one thing the U.S. Army can do, and that is you have got to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can employ if needed." (Bowman).
Vox (a news company) interviewed Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who was a recipient of the Purple Heart and was a veteran from the Iraq War. She told Vox that the U.S. is "...far closer to actual conflict over North Korea than the American people realize." (Ward).
We are very close to war with China, Russia, and North Korea. The U.S. has been stationing troops not far from Russia's borders and provoking China. Russia has been conducting large-scale military drills and increasing their submarine and nuclear bomber activity. Russia and China have been drawing closer to each other as the U.S. threatens their shared interests. And, they seem to hold to the axiom that two heads are better than one.
The Harbinger Ties in with North Korean Threats
(The Harbinger Decoded. Click for source.) |
With all that said, Jonathan Cahn's book The Harbinger brings to light some amazing circumstances, which strangely align with Bible prophecy from the ancient book of Isaiah. The 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center towers matches with the words of Isaiah chapter 9, verses 9 through 11.
Isaiah 9:9-11
"[9] And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
[10] The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
[11] Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;"
(Tree of Hope. Click for source.) |
Cahn showed how our nation's leaders followed in the footsteps of ancient Israel's leaders. Just like the leaders of ancient Israel (in the capital city of Samaria) had boasted about their stubborn will to rebuild after a limited attack had come from Assyria, our nation's leaders have boasted from the U.S. capital (Washington, D.C.) how they would continue to rebuild this country in a spirit of defiance.
Cahn showed how a tree from the same family as the Middle Eastern sycamore was destroyed by rubble falling from the twin towers on 9/11, and that it was cut down and subsequently replaced by an Erez tree: a tree that is a member of the Pinaceae (pine) family. This is the same family as the Lebanese cedar comes from.
Special ceremonies were held for the laying of a cornerstone (for the "Freedom Tower") and for the planting of the "Tree of Hope", a type of spruce tree. At each ceremony, officials spoke of their defiance and of America's rebuilding itself stronger than before, following the 9/11 attacks.
(The cornerstone for "The Freedom Tower." New York city. Click for source.) |
Our nation's leaders even quoted from the Isaiah 9:10 prophecy of defiance against God. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle spoke to a joint session of congress and used the text of Isaiah 9:10 as something to inspire this country to "rebuild" and "recover". Daschle spoke of how this country is "defiant" and how this country "must" respond to the 9/11 attacks with a "defiant embrace" of its "way of living" ("September 11, 2001..."). He actually quoted from Isaiah 9:10, verbatim.
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Extra Material
(John Edwards, a vice-president candidate, also quoted from Isaiah 9:10 in a Sept. 11, 2004 speech to the Congressional Black Caucus. He spoke about the Isaiah 9:10 prophecy as if it were a good thing that America should follow and that America was following, but he did not mention Isaiah 9:11, or 9:9, or 9:8, the surrounding verses.
Isaiah 9:8-11
"[8] The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
[9] And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
[10] The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
[11] Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;"
These people of ancient Israel spoke from a proud and arrogant heart or spirit and boasted that if the enemy destroys their brick walls, they would build with hewn stones, which were stronger. They would take the commonplace sycamore trees and replace them with sturdy cedar trees. They arrogantly boasted about their resolve to build their nation into a stronger kingdom than ever, and sadly, America has followed suit, to its own detriment.)
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Cahn said that this statement of defiance, given by America's leaders, fell in line with the leaders of ancient Israel (and most of the ancient Israelites) when they defied God and defied the Assyrians, who God had used as a warning to Israel to call them back to God. But, the people of ancient Israel didn't listen, and judgment fell on them in the form of an Assyrian invasion.
The Assyrian Invasion and the Invasion of America
In 2 Kings 17, we read how Assyria invaded Israel; conquered the capital city of Samaria, after besieging it; and brought the Israelites out of the northern kingdom of Israel into Assyria. Judah was still able to continue in the region of southern Israel, which was the kingdom of Judah (which consisted mainly of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin).
The Assyrians were harsh masters to the northern Israelites, whom they captured. They were considered to be exceptionally brutal or harsh toward those they captured. These were the new masters of the citizens of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Since America has been perfectly fitting into the harbingers which Isaiah 9:10 speaks of, and which other prophecies in the Bible speak of, it is on course for the same types of destruction that ancient Israel experienced. Israel experienced slavery and oppression from foreign powers, and America shall share the same judgment, but it will be worse.
(The Great American Eclipse. Click for source.) |
The Great American Eclipse and the Destruction that Followed (and Continues to Follow)
(Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Click for source.) |
Shortly after those events, California had the most deadly wildfire season in many decades followed by more fires in December. The Thomas fire consumed more land than both Miami and Dallas sit on (Levenson). The fire burnt down 1,063 structures and damaged 280 additional structures (Levenson). After the fires came lots of rain and devastating mudslides.
[A devastated shopping center in Puerto Rico (in the wake of Hurricane Maria). Click for source.] |
Geologists and forecasters had warned that the fires would make the scorched hills prone to mudslides (Karimi). Now, they are concerned that more mudslides could happen if lots of precipitation falls suddenly, like it just did this month.
(The aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Florida. Click for source.) |
(The California flu outbreak is causing hospitals to overflow with people. 16 Jan. 2018. Image source.) |
[Also, There are currently two big problems for California right now. One is the flu outbreak, which is causing hospitals to be overcrowded and overwhelmed with patients. The other is the rising homelessness in L.A. and in other parts of California. In one year (from 2016 to 2017), the homeless population of Los Angeles County increased by 23 percent (Holland). There is also much homelessness elsewhere in the U.S.
Also, winter storms, bringing much snow and extremely cold temperatures (in the negative degrees and single digits), have affected and are affecting many U.S. states. Unusual amounts of snow have been piling up to great heights in many areas.]
(Santa Rosa, California after the fires swept through. Click for source.) |
Wrapping It Up
Soon, the economy will get much worse, just like it did for every empire that collapsed. Ancient Rome's economy fell to pieces before invading hordes sacked Rome.
(A house buried by the January 2018 mudslides in California. Click for source.) |
We need to turn back to God and follow His Holy Word, the Bible. We need to forsake sin, and follow Jesus. God desires to have with each one of us a deep, personal fellowship. He is our Creator, who wants to be our Abba Father and best Friend. But, following sin separates us from peace, from fellowship with God, and from the blessings that God wants to bestow on us. It also brings us toward the fires of Hell, which God does not want us to face.
(Winter storms and extreme cold affect the mid-western and eastern U.S. in the winter of 2017-'18. Unusual amounts of snow have been piling up in many places. Click for source.) |
In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable about a wicked servant who did not care about the talent God had given him. This man did not trust in the gift God freely provided to him (salvation through Jesus) and did not care about God's Kingdom, so he was cast into Hell. Also, this man was unwilling to change his position.
Matthew 25:30 says: "[30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
In Hell, this man was weeping and gnashing his teeth. According to The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the Greek word for gnashing is brugmos. It comes from bruchó, which means to gnash the teeth in pain or rage.
The Story of Lazarus
In Luke chapter 16, Jesus told a true story of a rich man and a poor man, who was named Lazarus. The rich man didn't care for Lazarus, who was covered with sores and who sat before his gate (verse 20). Eventually, Lazarus died and went to a place of paradise (i.e. Abraham's Bosom) where Old Testament believers lived and waited to be brought up to Heaven. Then, the rich man died and went to Hell. There was a great chasm between the paradise and Hell, but the people on either side could look across the chasm and see each other.
(The Rich Man and Lazarus. Click for source.) |
[Note: Jesus went to preach to the spirits of godly people in Abraham's Bosom, which is called prison (i.e. it confined them to limited location) in 1 Peter 3:19. Jesus came to Abraham's Bosom and brought these believers up to Heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). Thus, He led "captivity captive". Lazarus is now in Heaven because all spirits cannot cease to exist, since we are made in God's image, and God cannot cease to exist.]
The rich man was being tormented by the flames but Lazarus, the poor man who trusted in God, was in a paradise.
Here is a quote from Luke chapter 16, verses 22 through 24:
"[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." (Luke 16:22-24).
The torment of Hell was so bad that he just wanted a droplet of water to cool his tongue.
Hellfire and Brimstone (Burning Sulfur)
In Revelation 14, we read how the torment of Hell is forever and that it involves fire and brimstone (burning sulfur).
Revelation 14:9-11
"[9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Revelation 21:7-8 contrasts the blessings for the obedient follower of Jesus with the curses for those who stubbornly refuse to follow Him and who refuse to make Him their Lord and Savior.
Revelation 21:7-8
"[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. [8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
The Greek word for whoremongers in Revelation 21:8 is πόρνοις (pornos) (Strong's #4205). According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word means "fornicator, whoremonger." Such people will be tormented in the lake of fire and brimstone.
As we have seen from Revelation 14:11, their torment is eternal. The book of Daniel (Daniel 12:2) spoke of how the wicked would have shame and everlasting contempt. John the Baptist, by the Holy Spirit's guidance, told the wicked Pharisees these words (in Matthew 3:12) speaking of Jesus:
[Matthew 3:12]
"[12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 reveals how Jesus will return in a visible form to the earth where He will judge the wicked.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 says this of the wicked: "[9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"
The destruction of the wicked is everlasting. They do not burn up because they have an eternal spirit and soul, and their destruction will go on forever.
God Desires Fellowship with His Creation (Each One of Us)
God does not desire any of His creation to have to go through eternal torment, but that is, sadly, what happens to those who refuse Him and who reject His Word (the Bible). Salvation is for all who believe (1 Timothy 2:3-6 and 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
If you want to make Jesus Christ your personal Savior and Lord, please take time to read this message at this link.
Only Jesus Christ can save us from our sins and wash them away by His precious, sinless blood. Only Jesus Christ gives us the ability to have access to Heaven and fellowship with God (i.e. good, loving fellowship and friendship with Abba Father God today and into the future). God the loving, Holy Father greatly desires close friendship and fellowship with us (1 Corinthians 1:9), but we must trust in Jesus Christ alone to grant us (through His sacrifice) access to the Father on a deep level. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ are we born-again (given a new identity), and brought into Heaven, and cleansed from sin (Hebrews 10:19-24 and Romans 3:24-27).
1 Timothy 2:3-6
"[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
Works Cited
- Bowman, Tom. "As North Korea Tensions Rise, U.S. Army Trains Soldiers To Fight In Tunnels." npr.org. National Public Radio. (9 Jan. 2018).
- Dorell, Oren. "Hawaii changes protocols for alerts after missile false alarm." usatoday.com. USA Today. (14 Jan. 2018).
- Holland, Gale and Doug Smith. "L.A. County homelessness jumps a 'staggering' 23% as need far outpaces housing, new count shows." latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. (31 May 2017).
- Karimi, Faith. "California mudslides: Death toll rises to 20, 4 still missing." cnn.com. Cable News Network. (15 Jan. 2018).
- Levenson, Eric. "Thomas Fire, once largest in California history, is now 100% contained." cnn.com. Cable News Network. (12 Jan. 2018).
- McCurry, Justin. "We will sink Japan and turn US to 'ashes and darkness', says North Korea." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited. (14 Sept. 2017).
- "September 11, 2001 : Attack on America Congressional Record Senate - Terrorist Attacks Against the United States; September 12, 2001." avalon.law.yale.edu. Lillian Goldman Law Library.
- Wang, Amy B. "Hawaii missile alert: How one employee ‘pushed the wrong button’ and caused a wave of panic" washingtonpost.com. Washington Post Company LLC. (4 Jan. 2018).
- Ward, Alex. "North Korea’s Kim Jong Un may have had his best year yet" vox.com. Vox Media. (28 Dec. 2017).
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