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Sr. Pastor Robert Kennedy and
his wife Mrs. Kennedy.
Pastor Kennedy's Biography
862-224-1097
drobertken@yahoo.com
Assistant Pastor Joseph Thelusca
Pastor Thelusca's Biography
973-493-5526
Thelus98@aol.com
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From the Pastor's Heart
The Executive Judgment
The tornado that touched down and caused the worst of devastation in Moore, Oklahoma, has been one of the most powerful tornados ever; an EF 5 in some places. That means it was packing winds of 200 or more miles per hour. The wreckage it caused is more than 1B dollars. 24 persons have been found died, thus far. This figure includes 9 children, 7 at the Tower Plaza Elementary School, and two in other places.
In listening to the news, I heard a variety of comments suggesting that this tornado seems to be part of the mysterious catalogue of “terrifying,” “tragic,” “heart-rending,” “horrifying,” “awful,” “frightening,” “distressing,” “disastrous,” “sad,” “catastrophic,” events that we are experiencing in “the last days.” My grandmother used to say it, when there was a big catastrophic event that she could not explain, she would say, “It is judgment.” I do not know that I need be skeptical of her, because now whether forecasters are only able to approximate how severe some of the occurrences are. They cannot tell with precision what will be. They know some of the conditions that are causing the events, but they are admitting that there are things that they just cannot explain. Some are saying it is global warming. Some are denying that. Some other persons are asking, “Are there demonic spirits being released upon nature?” “Are the events harbingers of the final judgment of God?”
I find the comments and questions of interest, especially the one on judgment and its correspondence to what one of the writers that I read quite often has said, more than a hundred years ago.
We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another, —fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. We are not to be surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the angel of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent. —Prophets and Kings, 278. – {ChS 51.1}
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place . . .. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied, and entranced until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy forever shut. —The Southern Watchman, October 3, 1905. – {ChS 51.2}
Shall we take the question of judgment with any sense of seriousness?
Shall we take judgment warning from the current disasters?
Shall we treat them as if they are just simple cyclical phenomena of nature?
Shall we treat the events as if there is no superhuman hand in them?
While I cannot vouch that each disaster is a personal judgment, I see each as a harbinger of the Executive Judgment. The understanding is that there is coming a day when God will come for his saints and unleash his wrath upon the world that has been devastated by sin and iniquity. Out of the ruins God will make a home for his people. This is a specific teaching of the Bible (cf. Revelation 20-22), accepted by a great part of humanity. Even though many are not really making efforts to prepare for that day.
Last Modified: Wednesday May 22, 2013
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