Do you know that the Scripture testifies that in these last days that the spirit of judgment will be visited upon the earth, on both the saved, and on the unsaved? For the Holy Spirit's purging work is constantly at work among those that are His to bring them to maturity. He allows many and difficult tribulations in the life of a Believer to aide in this purging process, where faith is built and the works of the flesh are put aside. The Apostle Peter described this process in these words, "....for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." (1Peter 4:1b KJV) It is the Lord's purpose that His people share His holiness in every manner of their lives. In straight forward speech this means that the souls of men who will follow Him and undergo His discipline will be brought to a place of maturity, but the souls of men who reject His dealing seeking their own ways will under go judgment, not unto maturity, but unto destruction. This article is meant to reveal forecasts from ancient events and Scriptures of judgment that will surely visit the people of the earth at the end time. This will be to the surprise of many, but to those who have sharpened their senses by reason of use (eyes to see what the Holy Spirit is doing, and ears to hear what the Holy Spirit says) there will be no surprise or fear, for they will recognize the working of God's Spirit. However, for the inattentive and in cooperative, there is plenty of reason for fear.

The Apostle Peter in his day spoke of this spirit of judgment when he said, " For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And, if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear ?" (1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV) In a nutshell Peter was explaining how that the Holy Spirit allows much tribulation in the lives of believers to the help them turn from sin (self) and follow the way of faith. But for those who reject the gospel (which is the working of God's grace in their lives which leads a soul to Christ) this same spirit of judgment will be carried to it's full extent and they will be destroyed.

We see this same picture in the story of the Hebrew people who were some 4,000 years ago held as slaves in Egypt, as well as in the story of the lives of their Egyptian captors. The Hebrew people in their generation carried on the faith of Abraham their father, which faith recognized and followed only the one true God, the creator of heaven and earth, but the Egyptians did not hold the faith of Yahweh, but worshiped such things as animals, and the earth it's self, and the sun, moon and stars, and even held the Pharaoh himself (the king of Egypt) as God. However, in the process of time, and as the people of God cried out to Yahweh He began to unfold His plan to deliver His people from their bondage. But not to just deliver them from their bondage, but to draw them to Him self, a people dedicated to Him , and to His glory and purposes. A people whom He could dwell among. Where He could walk with them, and live among them, and they with Him. So, in order to accomplish the task of His people's deliverance from the unbelieving Egyptians, and to purge out the sin and unbelief that existed in the hearts and lives of His own people so that He, a holy God, could dwell among them, it was necessary to execute judgment on both crowds. On the Hebrews to sanctify them. On the Egyptians to bring them to place of repentance and acknowledgment of His will if they were willing, or to destroy them if necessary and effect the deliverance of His people. This same pattern will come to fullness in this last day as this age comes to an end before the introduction of the next age. That age where Christ Himself shall in bodily form reign on the earth. A spirit of judgment is at work right now in the Church and will intensify as the end grows nearer, in order to cleanse and bring the Church to a place of completion and beauty, but among those that hate God there will be visited judgments more terrible and destructive then have ever been seen among men since the dawn of time.

In Exodus chapters 5 through 13 the story is told of 10 different plagues that were by the voice and hands of Moses and Aaron visited upon the nation of Egypt. However, the first three were also experienced by the people of faith (the Hebrews). The judgments of: 1)-the water in the rivers, streams, wells, ponds, pools being turned to blood leaving it undrinkable and killing the fish. 2)- of a myriad of frogs coming up out of the Nile River into the homes of the people, 3)- the dust of the land being turned by the commandment of Moses into lice, which then irritated man and beast. Again, please note that these judgments were common to all the people of Egypt, the people of faith and the unbelieving Egyptians, but the 7 plagues that were to follow were visited only upon those who refused to acknowledged the God of heaven. The judgments that followed were the plagues of: flies, a pestilence upon the cattle to kill them, boils that came forth on man and beast, hail stones mixed with fire, locust, darkness for three days time, and the last judgment before the exodus of the Hebrews was the death of the first born male in every house that did not show the lamb's blood upon it's door posts and header. Again, the Bible testifies that a distinction was made between the people of faith and the Egyptians (who refused to believe and obey) in regards to the last seven plagues. This distinction is note in: Ex. 8:22-23, Ex. 9:4-7, Ex. 9:8-10, Ex. 9:18, Ex. 10:4-6, Ex. 10:21-22, Ex. 12:29-30.

What expressed meaning does this ancient story hold for the people of the earth in these last days? It signifies that judgment will be visited upon all people in the last days. That God will use judgments to purify the faith of His people, but not destroy them, but those unwilling to turn to God acknowledging their sin and unbelief will be destroyed.

Are There Other Scripture Passages Or Events That Signal This?

It should be noted that Jesus cleansed the temple two different times, one at the beginning of His ministry, (John 2:14-16) and the other toward the very end of His ministry. (Matthew 21: 12-13) This signifies the work of cleansing that has and will yet happen by the Holy Spirit in the Church (which is the temple of God in the world today) both in the beginning of the Church age and at the end of the age, before the introduction of Christ's physical reign on the earth. There will most certainly be a cleansing of His house. (the Church)

A spirit of judgment was so present among the early Believers that when a certain man and woman named Ananias and Sapphira attempted to lie to the Church and to the Lord they were struck dead by the Holy One. After that event it was said, " And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hand of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. (Acts 5:11-13, KJV) This cleansing of the Church was signified earlier when Jesus in the early part of His ministry took a whip and drove out the money changers from the temple area instructing them not to use the Temple as a place of merchandising, for it was meant of God for a much higher purpose. The cleansing of the temple in the latter part of His ministry signifies that at the end of the Church age there will be another cleansing. Along with this it should be noted that yes, there was a cleansing (a spirit of judgment) at work in the early Church, but among those that heard the word and did not believe and repent there was total (nor near total) destruction. For the Romans later ram sacked Jerusalem, killing the great majority of it's people and reducing the city to rubble in approximately 70 AD.

What Remains?

The last day visitation of judgment upon the Church and upon all those that will not repent and believe the gospel is now upon us. Open your heart and believe my friend, for there will be no escaping God's judgment. Either it will work in you to bring you to repentance from self and dead works, and the acknowledging of the gospel, or it will bring you to destruction. Jesus spoke of this when He said, " And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder " (Mathew 21:44) For a soul of man to have life and victory in the Lord it is necessary for that soul to be broken, (which involves the pain and loss self government) but for the soul of man who refuses to be broken before the Lord, the end will be to be ground to powder. (which involves total pain and loss) Which do you choose?

Yes it is true that tribulation " is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer; Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. " (2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 KJV) Yes, the kingdom of God is open to us who believe through tribulation, but God's wrath abides on all who will not humble themselves to acknowledge their need for Him. " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth no the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. " (John 3:36 KJV) The apostle John by the revelation of the Holy Spirit speaks in the book of Revelation about the very last time and how the judgments of the Lord will be unleashed upon the people of the earth who refuse to turn from their sins (transgressions of God's laws) and acknowledge the God of heaven. (Revelations chapters 6 though 18) After which the judgment concerning the eternal souls of men is spoken of in Revelations chapters 19-22. Jesus described this time as so terrible that except it be shorten no flesh would remain alive. " For there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And accept those days be shorten, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22, KJV)

In light of these things I press you, and urge you Dear One to consider your ways and turn with all your heart from the ways of sinful man (how be it, they may be very "religious" in nature) to the Living God to perform His works (the fleshing out of His laws and promises) in your life , thus giving Him the glory due Him. Echoing the words of the Holy Scriptures, " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. " (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV)

A Watchman,
Gregory A. DeHart