Saturday, September 11, 2010

Shaking Christchurch (1)

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Christchurch was struck by a severe earthquake. No one was killed, but the damage to buildings is serious. The Christian websites have already been busy and many are linking the earthquake and the name of the city to get a spiritual message about “shaking Christ’s church”.

Prophesying After the Event
Prophecy is not just prediction. Genuine prophets do warn of future events, but that is a small part of their role. Their more important task is to explain the reason for these events and describe the response that God wants. The prophet’s advance explanation of the events of history helped people to understand what God is doing. The prophets also explained what he wanted them to do, or stop doing.

The biblical prophets warned of future events and the fulfilment of their prophecies gave credibility to the rest of their message. The accuracy of their forecasts demonstrated that they had heard from God and confirmed the truth of their explanations. The fulfilment of their prophecies authenticated the ministries of true prophets. They were taken seriously when they explained historical events, because they had “called” them in advance.

Prophesying after the event is easy, but it does not have much credibility. Anyone can say what a traumatic event means and many will have opinions. I am more inclined to listen to someone who has prophesied an event than to those commentating after the fact.

I am not aware of any Christian prophesying an earthquake for Christchurch. Therefore, I am cautious about accepting the event as a message from God.

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).
The prophets did not warn of this event, so we should be careful about saying that it was an act of God.

6 comments:

Gene said...

I didn't see it, but there is a pattern. On the first of January 2010 I released a word of the Lord for 2010. Here's part of it:

Geophysical Change
The shakings and upheavals will continue. Don't be surprised by anything that happens. I am using them to bring people to Me. Pay little attention to the predictions of Man. When it comes to weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, floods and droughts never forget. I am the GOD of all things, even the weather.

I use the weather to humble the arrogant. I created all things and all things hold together in me. Do not call what I created for good, evil. Carbon Dioxide is not poison. It's part of my purpose in life.

I can change a nation in Moment. Sometimes I use events to accomplish my purposes. Five years ago I changed Indonesia. I will do what I will do. It's not anger, it's not always even judgment. It's creating a way for those who have lost sight of who I AM to discover ME. Watch for the fruit of what I am doing.

Seems like this word has fruit. When Haiti happened this word was fulfilled. Pakistan Floods. God is using weather and quakes to shake nations. Not Judgment, The CALL of GOD

David-FireAndGrace said...

I totally agree - here in the states, I call them 9/12 prophets. They were able to accurately recall what happened on 9/11.

Isca the Scribe said...

I have been praying for an understanding into the events of the earthquake in Christchurch and I have been coming to a couple of insights that I feel that could be a part of the event.

In 1977 the Commando Army prophecy was received by Ron and it spoke of 2 clear things (amongst many others):

1- Economic Depression
2- Shaking the Nation
http://crash.ihug.co.nz/~revival/commando.html

At this point in time, could the earthquake in Christchurch and the financial collapse of South Canterbury Finance occurring in close time and proximity of each other, be forerunners and warnings that confirm to NZ the outworking of the Commando Army prophecy?

We have been blessed that there hasn't been a large loss of life in the earthquake such is possible like in Haiti, and it seems that the government is trying to manage the SFC collapse in a way that will not bring immense financial devastation to those financially involved and to the rest of NZ, so these things point to me of how God allows his grace and mercy to be outworked and entwined in warnings.

So maybe if these could be warnings of what is to come and a confirming of the prophecy, shall we consider taking seriously other parts of the prophecy and seek God earnestly for more insight, understanding and outworking of these matters?

God has a plan and a purpose for our nation that he has declared through the prophets and it seems to me that he is moving according to his word and while there is a lot more work to do and a lot more preparation needed, I believe that as a nation NZ is hearing the warning bells, it is time to take heed and prepare for the judgement to come.

Anonymous said...

Hi Isca,

I went to the link to the prophecy from Ron which you left on www.johnthebaptisttv.com and have just read it and subsequently searched for Ron's website...

I was born and brought up (less two years in Adelaide, Australia when I was aged 4-6) in Christchurch, educated there, went to University there (except for one year at the School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington), went to church there (except for a stint out at Motukarara and another one out at Rangiora), worked there, was married in Cathedral Square, was part of a prophetic intercessors group there and although working away from New Zealand at present I believe there will be revival in Christchurch, then New Zealand and then to the world in the days ahead...

I was on a prophetic intercessors weekend away with Pastor Warren Lyons of Ten Thousand Men in 2001 - mostly older guys - when I was around 30 years old and the word came to Pastor Warren that I was a "Commando" - it was like the Lord was welcoming me into a group of "Commandos" and I wept and wept and wept because I didn't feel worthy to be a "Commando" I knew that I was so sinful on the inside, etc...

The guys tried to stop me from crying but I was only able to stop once the Lord stopped within me...

When I read Ron's word from 1977 my mind was brought directly back to that experience as a confirmation to the truth of that part of Ron's word...

Even before this occured - it began for me in 1991 when I read, "Revival" by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones - the Lord had put revival on my heart...

The first clear word which the Lord gave me was in 1994 regarding New Zealand being "a missionary nation"...

Hi Ron,

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on your prophetic word from 1977 which is why I searched for your site after reading the link that Isca posted on www.johnthebaptisttv.com...

Where do you think we're at right now?

All the best to you both, Love in the Lord, Andrew

Ron McK said...

Isca and Andrew
The Commando Army, was not primarily a prophecy of an economic crisis, but a call by God to his people to form commando units (not individual commandos). The purpose was to prepare people who could cope and be effective for the Lord in any future crisis.

Unfortunately, the call was heard, but not really acted on. Because his people did not get ready, God was not able to proceed with the rest of his plan. The opportunity was largely lost.

Sadly, the church is not much better prepared than it was in 1977. My question is still the same. Where are the commando units?

See also David Pawson’s burden,
Tale of Two Davids
and the Ambush.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ron,

I was greatly encouraged by your word, "Ambush" and also interested to read of David Pawson and David Wilkerson's words which I had not read before...

I am a testimony to these words coming true, I am encouraged to find you and I've found (via www.johnthebaptisttv.com) one other Kiwi who appears to also have this - revival in NZ and then on to the nations of the world - on his heart...

Obviously Pastor Warren Lyons has this on his heart. Do you know Pastor Warren? I haven't been in communication with Pastor Warren for a good few years now but I know that he has this very much on his heart...

I understand the imagery of your "Ambush" word and the reason I've set up my own blogsite is (apart from the fact that the Lord put it on my heart) to link in with others who have the same burden and to loosely - as the Lord leads - form these "Commando Units" of prophetic intercessors who will "take the land" in the spirit (the spiritual realm) and usher in revival to NZ and then on to the nations of the world...

I believe you should be able to see my personal email address on my blogsite if you want to chat further about this "off the air"...

All the best brother, Andrew