By Retired pastor Alan Dean
Seventh-day Adventist Church
There is an interesting verse in Amos 3:7 that reads “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets” (NKJV). This verse tells us that before God does anything of importance to (or for) a nation, He will give a clear message through prophets as to what He intends to do. This is especially true if God intends to bring judgment upon a nation. He will send messages of warning first, hoping they will bring about needed changes.
A clear example of this was the message given by Noah before the world-wide flood came upon the earth. For 120 years Noah preached of the coming flood, even as he was building the ark of safety. People were surely warned, though they did not believe.
Other prophets of the Old Testament gave similar messages of warning before God’s judgments fell. Israel never had an excuse for their falling into captivity to their enemies. God had always warned them what the consequences of their unfaithfulness would lead to.
John the Baptist was the chosen messenger of God to prepare people to meet Jesus at His first coming. He warned the Jewish nation by preaching that that they needed the “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3) and predicting that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6). However, most of the Jews, especially the leaders, chose not to truly repent and therefore were not prepared to accept Jesus as the Saviour of the world. Not heeding to the messages of prophets is a serious thing.
How about a Bible warning message pertaining to the 2nd coming of Jesus? One verse especially pertinent is Revelation 14:7 in which John warns us to “fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who has made heaven and earth, the sea, and springs of water.”
Directly following this verse is the description of the end-time events and the 2nd coming of Jesus in Revelation 14:8-20. So, verse 7 is a warning call for us to reverence God and live to honor Him, to be spiritually prepared for God’s coming judgment, and to worship our Creator (in contrast to the many false gods today). Revelation 14:12 describes those who are ready to meet Jesus: “Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.”
We don’t know what this year will bring, but we can trust Him who knows the future. Many people believe today that Jesus’ coming is near. God warns us in advance that we should be prepared by drawing closer to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
