Saturday, May 14, 2011

Scoffers in the Modern World: A Parallel in Japan

The apostle Peter characterized it best:

"...you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men,"

(2 Peter 3:3-6)

In other words, these scoffers intentionally ignore biblical prophecy, under the false premise that "we've heard all of this before and nothing happened, so we know it won't happen in the future"...

My, what faulty logic.

Recently I was engaged in an exchange relating to biblical prophecy, on a sports related board of all places (hey, I'll put this word of biblical prophecy anywhere, if the situation presents itself). After listing a page full of "signs" of this generation, I received the following comments:

"complete BS"

"I find it comical"

"Asinine conclusions"

"Its criminal that people will use psychology under religious pretext to scam people"

"inherently flawed"

"Jesus was possibly mistaken"

"you believe you have God's word on your side"

"This has been going on for thousands of years"

"working backwards to make your evidence fit"

And the above comments are fairly typical for scoffers. The sad part is, such comments are born out of ignorance, and not from careful Bible study, but, rather, based upon tidbits of (incorrect) information gathered here and there from friends, relatives, etc.

It also reminds me of what Jeremiah went through as he pleaded with the Israeli leaders to listen to God's prophecy that the Babylonians would come destroy the last remnants of Israel in Jerusalem, if Israel didn't repent from their wicked ways. This was an unpopular message and the scoffers came out in droves to protest Jeremiah - to the point where he was imprisoned and thrown into a cistern.

And of course, we know that Jeremiah was correct.

That leads to this interesting article and the parallels are obvious:

How one Japanese village defied the tsunami

In the rubble of Japan's northeast coast, one small village stands as tall as ever after the tsunami. No homes were swept away. In fact, they barely got wet.

Fudai is the village that survived — thanks to a huge wall once deemed a mayor's expensive folly and now vindicated as the community's salvation.

The 3,000 residents living between mountains behind a cove owe their lives to a late leader who saw the devastation of an earlier tsunami and made it the priority of his four-decade tenure to defend his people from the next on

His 51-foot floodgate between mountainsides took a dozen years to build and meant spending more than $30 million in today's dollars.


Reminds one of the story of Noah doesn't it?

"It cost a lot of money. But without it, Fudai would have disappeared," said seaweed fisherman Satoshi Kaneko, 55, whose business has been ruined but who is happy to have his family and home intact.

The gate project was criticized as wasteful in the 1970s. But the gate and an equally high seawall behind the community's adjacent fishing port protected Fudai from the waves that obliterated so many other towns. Two months after the disaster, more than 25,000 are missing or dead.


In Fudai, the waves rose as high as 66 feet, as water marks show on the floodgate's towers. So some ocean water did flow over but caused minimal damage. The gate broke the tsunami's main thrust. The two mountainsides flanking the gate also offered a natural barrier.

The man credited with saving Fudai is the late Kotaku Wamura, a ten-term mayor whose political reign began in the ashes of World War II and ended in 1987.

But Wamura never forgot how quickly the sea could turn. Massive earthquake-triggered tsunamis flattened the northeast coast in 1933 and 1896. In Fudai, the two disasters destroyed hundreds of homes and killed 439 people.

He vowed it would never happen again.

He insisted the structure be as tall as the seawall.
The village council initially balked.

"They weren't necessarily against the idea of floodgates, just the size," said Yuzo Mifune, head of Fudai's resident services and an unofficial floodgate historian. "But Wamura somehow persuaded them that this was the only way to protect lives."

Construction began in 1972 despite lingering concerns about its size as well as bitterness among landowners forced to sell land to the government.


Once again, the scoffers were wrong. While the rest of Japan became involved in their economic growth, personal finances, and just daily life - they choose to ignore the previous warnings that a tsunami could happen again - such warnings were ignored - except for the lone voice of this mayor, the late Kotaku Wamura.

And it was his single vision - based on the knowledge that this could happen again - a huge, destructive tsunami - led to this entire town being saved from destruction.

Kind of like biblical prophecy isn't it?

The scoffers have it easy now, just as the scoffers in Japan had it easy as this wall was erected. Just as the scoffers ridiculed Noah as he built his ark. Just as the scoffers had it easy as they ridiculed the prophet Jeremiah and his warnings.

Its the nature of prophecy. People become complacent in their daily lives and see the world as never changing. They don't want to be reminded of what could happen - things that could upset their daily existence. Its the nature of mankind.

Unfortunately, history hasn't been kind to such scoffers - those who are tied to the life that they desire and those who refuse to believe the warnings issued in biblical prophecy.

After all, it might just make someone reassess their life and where their priorities are. It might just make someone review their sinful ways. It might force someone to look at the Gospels and see what God's expectations are - and to realize that the only way to escape the sin of this earth is through the gift offered by Jesus.

There will even come a future time in which their scoffing will appear to have been correct, and one can imagine their initial glee that planet earth has given them their utopia without those pesky Christians around and their "doom and gloom" message.

Following the Rapture of the Church (and whatever deceptive message explains that - as propagated by the antichrist) - and following the initial rise of the antichrist - which will seemingly reinforce the opinions of the "scoffers" - we see this prophetic scenario:

"While people are saying 'Peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

Closely followed by this passage:

"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God will sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Being a prophecy watcher isn't easy - especially in a complacent world. A world that refuses to accept the premise that life as they know it could change - and change rapidly and dramatically.

The signs are abundant if one chooses to look with an open mind and an open heart.

When these last events come, including the carnage of the Tribulation, no one will be able to claim that they weren't previously warned. Just as God gave mankind the prophets throughout history - prophets who warned against various destructions - the prophets are speaking to this generation - and warning of what is to come.

Yet, today, just as we have seen historically the prophets and their warnings are being ignored - and unfortunately, its at the peril of those ignoring such warnings.

Today's world is no different.

To close, I am reminded of the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, which seem fitting:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written:

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'

Where is the wise man?
Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of this age?

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"


Amen.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

George Mitchell quits position as US. Middle East peace convoy

Anonymous said...

Romans 12:2 (New International Version)

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Anonymous said...

Hi Scott~

Based on the timing of your post. If it's ok, I would like to share a link that was given to me in 2009. It was the Revelations of Hell by 7-Columbian Youths. If it's OK..I will post it here. If it's something you think is not appropriate, please feel free to remove.

http://www.freeevangelism.com/testimony/revelation_of_hell_by_7_youths.htm


It struck my soul on so many levels and made me re-think just how 'saved' I thought I was. I took the time to re-confirm my committment to Jesus and praise God for loving me so much that he sent his son for me.

God Bless!

GG

Scott said...

GG
Many thanks - I'm on the run right now, but when I get back this afternoon, I'll dig in. Sounds interesting.

Anonymous said...

Not sure if that came through. Here is the full link again - you will have to put it together :)

www.freeevangelism.com/testimony/revelation_of_hell_

by_7_youths.htm

Anonymous said...

Romans 12:2 (New International Version)

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Dylan said...

Scott, it reminds me of the watchman parable in Ezekiel. It's our duty to warn of destruction, but if they don't listen it's on their hands. If we don't warn, it's on the watchman's hands.

Mike said...

Regarding the link above from Anonymous....Although compelling to read, and as convicting personally as it can be to make us want to live better, the so called 'testimonies' do not line up with the teaching of Christ. According to these 'testimonies', many of the souls they "saw" in Hell were those of people who HAD accepted Christ, but still sinned, yet were condemned.

Well, the fact is, EVERYONE who accepts Christ continues to sin. Some knowingly, and habitually...That doesnt take away from a persons salvation, unless they never TRULY were saved. What this 'testimony' is implying is that we are required to 'do' or 'not do' certain things to not be condemned...and that what Christ did for us wasnt enough...and also suggests that we can lose our salvation. Now I know that is a topic in and of itself, and I wont open that can of worms (pardon the obvious reference ;) )but to suggest that a saved person sinning still is condemned, well, that takes all credibility out of the 'testimony' for me.

Just sayin'....

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike~

When I received this, that part stood out very strong for me as well. I do appreciate the confirmation on that.

Though I couldn't figure out that part, it made me look further inside myself and understand that while the price of redemption has been paid by Christ and my soul has been redeemed, my body and sinful nature is still with me daily. Almost as a self-judgement and awareness of where I am in my walk with Christ.

I believe God will chasten us like a Father does to a child. On the other hand if we are to be operating in the new spirit of the Holy Spirit which is the new self and die to old self when we accepted Christ, it made me realize that I should keep trying to walk in the new life daily while repenting and always seeking change from the old ways. That is what I took out of it for me. I am sure it will be different for each of us.

I learned that God is not a Genie in a lamp to rub when we need him and then continue to sin because we can keep saying we are sorry but to truly commit to positive changes and to help further his kingdom for his glory, not mine.

I guess something good did come out of it for me :)

GG

hartdawg said...

scott... once again I imagineyoull agree with me most of these scoffers come from christians. They are worse than non christians. It's mostly Chrstians who say" it's always been this way" pastors have a contempt for bible prophecy

hartdawg said...

dylan as you accurately pointed out the watchmen have fallen asleep. prophecy is not seeker sensitive instead of prophecy wrath and hell pastors are preaching self improvement,positive attitudes, prosperity an acceptance.

Dylan said...

I got my learners license today. Time to learn how to drive.

hartdawg said...

congratulations are you learning on a stick or automatic I been driving for 10 years till I got a stick.

Dylan said...

Automatic

Scott said...

Hert
You are exactly right as far as Christians often being the worst scoffers - I totally agree..In this case its hard to know where everybody is coming from, but I suspect many are from lukewarm churches.

As far as the link, I still haven't gotten there yet, but I know one thing for sure...When you accept Christ - it gives you salvation and your sins PAST and FURURE are forgotten in the eyes of God - all God sees when He sees you - is Christ - because Christ became your substitute - all God sees is the purity of Christ.

Otherwise NO ONE would gain entrance to Heaven, because we ALL continue to sin - even after salvation. Plus, as stated a few weeks ago - whenever you introduce works etc., you diminish what Christ did on the cross...

Scott said...

Dylan
You are exactly 2 weeks older than my daughter...I was telling her about you today :)


(the following question has nothing to do with the above)

Where in Canada are you?

I used to go to Toronto a lot on business. Montreal too. I REALLY like Canada :)

Dylan said...

Scott, I'm like on the other side of Canada from Ontario. I live in Alberta. And yeah, Canada is pretty cool

Anonymous said...

Lukewarm churches.....that's why I visit this website every 30 minutes.

Anonymous said...

Matthew 24
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Anonymous said...

Scott,

Your daughter is less than a week younger than my daughter!

Rebecca :)

Anonymous said...

Dear Dylan >>>>

Only problem with automatic is this. If you cannot start the car,
then you better have a tow service
since Automatic is VERY HARD to
start by pushing.

You can do it with standard, but NOT automatic.

I know, cause I used to have
a NISSAN in 2002 that had
that problem.

Again i repeat the warning.

Any one with stocks, silver, or
gold, PLEASE SELL NOW. I believe
GOLD is especially dangerous
to be in now >>>>>>>

Stephen in Hawaii >>>>>>

Scott said...

We should form a support group :)

Scott said...

That was directed to you, Rebecca :)
Anybody with a daughter between 12-15 - we'll start a different forum (kidding)

Dylan said...

Christ warned in revelation specifically about being lukewarm. It's a shame lots of us have become worldly.

Anonymous said...

I still post regularly on a scout sports message board Scott in an attempt to witness. I ususally mainly talk about prophecy. The abuse and mocking is relentless but every once in awhile I get sincere seekers. My thinking is at the very least I have planted some seeds once the rapture occurs and many will remember the steadfast and persistent witness. God promises His Word will not return unto Him void. Amen!

WVBORN56

Alice said...

Hey Dylan, congrats on procuring your learner's license!

Everybody, you gotta take a sec and go to google images for Alberta, Canada, and see how BEAUTIFUL God made the country where Dylan lives!!! Wow!

Dylan, where's your favorite spot in Alberta?

I may have told you that we vacation in NW Ontario. It's beautiful there, too, but oh... the mountains in Alberta....amazing!!!

Surrounded by flatness and cornfields here...thinking of relocating before the Rapture... ;)

Anonymous said...

Anon-I'm here every 30 min too. when i couldnt get on the other day i dropped to my knees and prayed immediately. Dylan-happy birthday and happy liscence :-) Scott-oh yeah, teenage daughters, whew i had 2 at the same time. Thought you've prayed hard before...just teasing! We ought to try and figure out how to stay in touch when things start getting a little intense. - ally

Dylan said...

Alice, you make me realize how great a place Alberta is. I live about 2-3 hours from the mountains. My favorite spot in Alberta has to be banff or frank slide. There is one down side to living near the mountains though. We get chinooks (really strong winds from over the mountains) and the climate here is really dry, but other than that, I like Alberta.

Dylan said...

And a very small portion of Alberta is actually mountains, but when we go to the mountains, they are beautiful. Most of Alberta Is farmland etc. Lethbridge Alberta, where I live, is pretty good. It's a few hours from the mountains, we get awesome storms and east of Lethbridge is where the farming communities start. It's so awesome on clear days when you can look out your window and can see the mountains. And from some buildings, when a storm is coming, it's a spectacular expression of Gods might.

Anonymous said...

First ever Palestinian bonds sold:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13354191

Thanks to RR for the link.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dylan-hope you are loving 14! Guess what guys? You know how things are changing so fast? The head of the IMF was ripped off an Air France flight in NYC today when he was trying to hurridly leave the country after sexually assaulted a maid at the Sofitel where he was staying. I wonder who is next in line for that job? In one second, God changes everything! Outstanding! What's your thought everybody?-ally

Ellis said...

"I wonder who is next in line for that job?"

Soros? ;) [said somewhat tongue-in-cheek!]

Anonymous said...

lol! but i bet it is someone he hand picked though! one second, one quick instant a huge thing changed in the world. Scott, docnofog, wvborn ... can't wait to hear what you think. Sue, Cavers (mr and mrs) dylan. Why do i feel in my spirit that this is actually a huge thing?

Anonymous said...

Scott-

I have a 12 year old daughter, and a 14 year old daughter also! My twelve year old was so organized and on top of things until the hormones set in! I'm on the other side - my husband has the patience of Job dealing with all three of us!

I have been encouraged by the women in my Bible study who are choosing to study Revelation over the summer. In fact, "Revelation" has popped up all over - our local Christian theater did a play on it, we studied it briefly at our Bible study retreat, our local Community Bible Study studied it this year. I have seen the women I do Bible study with getting more excited about prophecy. They really want to connect the dots as to what the Bible prophesies and current events. I have a great expository teaching pastor who will soon be doing a series on end times Bible prophecy. In the little circle I run in, I get a fair amount of support for my interest in Bible prophecy. I feel very blessed in this respect.

That said, I have a sister who is an evangelical Christian and has not connected the dots at all with current events and Bible prophecy. She listed a "Christianized version" of the same old ....since the beginning of time things have stayed the same - except she said "since Hal Lindsey wrote the 'Late, Great Planet Earth' things have not changed!". Sigh.

Susan

P.S. "gearedup" - how is the flooding in your area? Anything else to pray for?

DrNofog said...

No word... or should I say wordiness from EI...

I hope I didn't spook EI with my email when I panicked yesterday AM about Scott & Nathan being off-line, and maybe she went triple 0, deep undercover!?!
;)

Anonymous said...

docnofog-i love your witty, tongue in cheek presentations! they really lift my spirits :-)

Anonymous said...

This IMF guy is really in trouble, he may NOT get out of NYC cause
of all this.

Scott, what do you think ??

Could this have something to do with the AC, ie, the one who replaces him ??

please tell me

thanks

Stephen >>>>>>>>

DrNofog said...

Scott,

The unanswered question: How could it go "down for maintenance" without them giving yous guys a heads-up?!?

Was it related to the 30mins "fire works" in the Dallas sub-station that blew up?? [impressive xfrmr explosions and light show!]

Scott said...

DrNo - I must have missed this Dallas story - do you have a link?

Stephen - It will be VERY interesting to see who will head up the IMF now....If anybody catches updates on this before I do, please update us.

Susan - in my opinion, one of the best books on Revelation is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" by Walvoord - I highly recommend it. One of Hal Lindsey's best books is a line by line summary of Revelation and its also excellent. If you are interested I can go dig up the title of that one.

Anonymous said...

Susan, thank you for your prayers and our community is getting back on its feet. People are gutting and rebuilding their homes and businesses are opening again. We no longer have to travel through long detours to get to our destinations. :-)

However, many folks south of us are facing flood waters that are 14 feet above flood stage. So the flooding continues. :-(

Dylan, I love to vacation in Alberta and I don't know if you read it but previously I wrote that I took a humvee tour through the backcountry around Banff national park. The turquoise lakes in the mountains are just breathtaking. We stayed at a B&B and learned so much about the region. Lake Louise--gorgeous! Our favorite vacation destination is Canada. We are not sand and sun people whatsoever because in the south there is so much heat and humidity that I can't justify paying for similar conditions at a beach, lol.

Congratulations on your driver's permit. Maybe you can chauffeur your family to Scott's neck of the woods and have a grand time.

~gearedup2go

Scott said...

My daughter wanted to know if he has a facebook page....Just sayin...:)

Dylan said...

Yes I do have Facebook.

Anonymous said...

Scott-

Thanks for the references for further study on Revelation. I'll look into them.

Susan