Chilling.

The world watched in horror as allegations of Russia’s war crimes began to surface—rape, torture, murder. Civilian areas targeted by bombs. Mass graves. Deportations of thousands Genocide.

Many Americans say, “This is not our war—stay out of it.”

Last Friday, U.K.’s Boris Johnson made a second visit to Kyiv and wrote in the Times that Putin was “trying to grind down Ukraine by sheer brutality.”

It’s not Great Britain’s war either. Why does he care?

On Monday, according to Independent, the U.K.’s Army Chief wrote, “We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again.” In other words, the Brits think Russia is coming—that war is upon them. Imminent war.

If our strongest ally is at war, it’s also upon us.

Does Bible prophecy tell the outcome?

Some 2,700 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel spoke of the “four disastrous acts of judgment.” He said they would happen to Jerusalem. God had taken as much evil as He could stand from His faithless people.

And happen they did. Not centuries later. The four disastrous acts of judgment occurred within a handful of years.

Does God look at us with the same eyes—seeing a faithless nation? Why wouldn’t He.

Here are the “four disastrous acts of judgment”—ask yourself if the prophecy has already begun.

Pestilence. “…I send a pestilence into the land…” Ezekiel 14:19

What is “pestilence”? That’s not a common word, however the synonym in Oxford Languages is quite familiar: Pandemic.

Chilling.

Can anyone forget the sight of New York City in March, 2020? No sign of life.

The heavy hand of contagious disease spread rapidly and remains upon us. Many Americans have returned to masking as new disease threatens to infect the nation.

“…I send a pestilence into the land…” Ezekiel 14:19

What is another of the four acts of disastrous judgment?

God said, “When a land sins against me by acting faithlessly…I will break its supply of bread.”

We’re seeing the beginning of food shortages and more have been promised. Can we begin to imagine a world without food?

Here is another of the four disastrous acts of judgment.

God said, “…I cause wild beasts to pass through the land…so that no one may pass through because of the beasts…” Ezekiel 14:15

According to the Washington Post, thus far in 2022 there have been over 250 mass shootings, defined as when four or more are injured or killed. On average, they occur once a day in cities across this nation.

You’ll never know where. Your store? Your school? Your church? Your job? Your hospital?

God said, “…I cause wild beasts to pass through the land…so that no one may pass through because of the beasts…” Ezekiel 14:15

The fourth disastrous act of judgment against Jerusalem was the worst.  God sent a “… sword upon that land…” Ezekiel 14:17

If you read about the vicious siege and conquest of Jerusalem, it’s nearly impossible to believe. Chilling.

Like allegations against Russia.

The fourth disastrous act of judgment: God sent a “… sword upon that land…”

Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning the disastrous acts is only five paragraphs long. God says in that small space that “even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in (Jerusalem)…they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 14:20

In other words, righteous men would be saved, but nothing was going to save the rest. It echoes back to Sodom some 1,400 years earlier. Remember that God told Abraham that God would not destroy the city if there were ten righteous people there. Genesis 18:32

But the Lord makes clear that this is not true for Jerusalem. Noah, Daniel, and Job would be saved, but no one else.

As I’ve said before, Ezekiel was special to God. The Lord called him “son of man” over 90 times. Words of endearment.

Ezekiel preached repentance, just as you see during the life of Christ and after His death. Turn from evil and hold onto God.

But we live at a time when evil isn’t considered evil at all. It’s merely a choice. The church is utterly infected by this unfaithfulness, even as the temple was in Ezekiel’s day.

Is his chilling prophecy upon us?

Decide who you are.

Every day you must decide: Either for God and His holiness or against Him.

The Rev. Mathews is the author of “Reaching to God.” Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com.

Copyright ©2022 R.A. Mathews.  All rights reserved.