For by
the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according
to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many
members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many,
are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts
that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy,
in proportion to our faith…
Do not
quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast
what is good.
Romans
12:3-6 & 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
Prophecies and predictions of worldwide economic
collapse and catastrophe are not new. And five years into the financial upheavals
that began in 2008, it is easier than ever to believe that the worst is still
to come. I have three reasons why I believe it is: modern prophecy, divine compassion
and Biblical prophecy. In the next few weekends, I plan to explain why.
The earliest of the more famous warnings was given
by David Wilkerson. He is most famous for his book, The Cross And The Switchblade, an account his ministry to New York
gangs in the 1960s and the basis for the film of the same name released in 1970.
In the Spring of 1973, and subsequently published as The Vision in 1974 and again in The
Vision and Beyond in 2003, he warned of various financial, health, moral
and environmental catastrophes. The following quote is from page 14 of the 2003
book.
‘There is great economic confusion coming and lean years lie ahead. There will be a few short, fat, and flourishing years to prepare for the lean years. Work and pray to clear off all debts and get ready for drastic cuts in budget. They money will not be flowing as it was in the past and if you are free of debt, you’ll be able to maintain your programs even in difficult years. Don’t panic – don’t be afraid – just prepare for it and expect it’
Jim Bakker was a leading proponent of the
‘Prosperity Gospel’ until he was imprisoned for fraud in 1989. While in prison,
Dr R T Kendall’s book about the life of Joseph, called God Meant it for Good, changed him. Like Joseph, Jim went to prison
although innocent of the crime of which he was charged; like Joseph, he found a
new relationship with God while in prison; like Joseph, he emerged from prison
with a warning of financial catastrophe. ‘God had shown me that the economic systems
of our world were about to take a tumble’ (quoted from, Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse, page 10, published in 1998).
I will resume this tomorrow.
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Scripture
quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright
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