Hello:)~~
Now, there are so many disasters everywhere in the world: wars between nations, ethnic conflicts, terrors, famines, earthquakes, and deadly cold or heat or flood caused by changes in weather patterns. Whenever such things occur, people tremble with fear, not knowing who or what they should set their hearts on.
The Bible already prophesied about the coming disasters and what people would do in the day of such disasters.
Am 9:2-9 "Though they dig down to the depths of the grave, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens, ... Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, ... Though they hide from me at the bottom of the sea, ... "
As described in the above prophecy, people desperately try to hide themselves anywhere, because they come to face terrible disasters which men cannot endure. The above prophecy is not about what happened in the days of Amos the prophet about 2,800 years ago, but what will occur in the great and dreadful day of the LORD, at the Last Judgment.
Men cannot escape the last plagues by their own methods
Modern people, who live in the age of the high-tech science, feel fear about the coming disasters and the end of mankind, and they try to find various ways to escape from the disasters. They make every effort to find refuge underground or at the bottom of the sea or on a planet outside the earth so that they may escape the threat of nuclear weapons capable of annihilating all life on earth many times over. An atomic submarine for hiding themselves at the bottom of the sea, a spaceship for climbing up to the heavens, ... , such various methods are being discussed. According to a press report, America has constructed a large bunker beneath the White House at Mount Weather; and there is said to be ninety-nine underground cities in various places, as a provision for emergency.
However, the Bible clearly says that even by using the modern scientific methods, no one can escape God's fierce anger. It also says that the last disaster will come upon all the earth, not just upon parts of it.
Lk 21:35 "For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. "
Isa 24:3-13 "The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. ... So will it be on the earth and among the nations, ... "
Now, let's see how the disaster comes upon every nation all over the world.
2 Pe 3:7-10 "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. ... But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."
The Bible says that God will use fire for His judgment. So the disaster, which will come upon the whole world, is fire. When the day comes, the heavens will be destroyed by fire and all things will be burnt up and melt in the heat. The day will be a day of distress; even the warriors will tremble with fear and cry out bitterly.
However, God has prepared a way to escape the disaster when such dreadful day comes. He has made the way-the good news of salvation-known to us. We can get it only through the Bible, not through any high-tech equipment developed by scientists.
Passover is the way to escape the disaster
Let's take a careful look at God's word of promise to let us escape any disaster.
Ex 12:11-14 "... it is the LORD's Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals ... The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. ... "
At the time of the Exodus, when the plague of destroying every firstborn was brought upon Egypt, no plague befell to the Israeli houses which kept the Passover. In other words, the plague passed over them. Thus, Passover (pascha in Greek, pesach in Hebrew) implies "Plagues pass over."
Such a history was written as a warning for us. Faithless Israel didn't believe in the power of the Passover. However, Judah regarded the Passover as important and celebrated it. Through the history of Israel and of Judah, we come to realize how truly important the Passover is.
Hezekiah king of Judah read all the words of the covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD when it was being repaired and restored. He realized the covenant of God and sent couriers to all Judah and Israel so that they might celebrate the Passover which had not been kept for a long time. When the couriers delivered the king's command to "come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover," Israel scorned and ridiculed them, and several years later it fell to Assyria (2 Ki 18:9-12). However, Judah celebrated the Passover holy and could repulse the attack of powerful Assyria with God's mighty power (2 Ch 30:1-27; 2 Ki 18:13-19:37).
In thes