Katrina ~ Rita ~ Wilma - God’s Retribution Upon America?

Katrina ~ Rita ~ Wilma

God’s Retribution Upon America?

By: Nancye Sims

Author of Light for Today (http://www.lightfortoday.com)

Focus on Jerusalem, in its continuing endeavor to make available interesting, timely and doctrinally sound articles associated with Bible Prophecy is pleased to present this scripturally sound narrative dealing with the recent outbreak of hurricanes in America. In the Last Days, the Bible indicates that perilous times shall come, and that the nations will become distressed over the plight of portending events in the world. Luke says the powers of heaven will be shaken, and the sea and the waves will become volatile, causing immense dilemma for the world’s political structure. This article, extolling the backslidden condition of a once Christian nation is worthy of intense consideration. It is written by Nancye Sims of the Light for Today Christian website Ministry. I take great pleasure in offering this insightful article on the FOJ Library. If you haven’t visited the Light for today website, and are interested in more Christian writings from a spiritually gifted writer, then I encourage you to contact Nancye Sims through her website. (11-01-05…..Darrell G. Young)

If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn away from their wicked ways;

then I will hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

There’s no denying it. America is taking a beating. Before we can begin to recover from one devastating Hurricane, we are mercilessly savaged by another, and yet another. How many more can we take? What is happening? More importantly, why is this happening? Are these Hurricanes tantamount to God’s punishment upon America? Only God knows for sure. However there are many clues in scripture that leads me to believe it is, and that only a fool could think otherwise. As God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; it only stands to reason that God’s ways and methods of dealing with people and nations has not changed, any more than He or His statutes have changed.

In times past when people and nations lived in wickedness, failed to acknowledge God, failed to follow his commands, worshipped false idols and gods, they provoked the only true God of Heaven and Earth to anger. And he gave place to His righteous anger and punished them in various ways, often using the forces of nature to wreck havoc upon their land and lives. Saying: Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, AND WILL RECOMPENSE (pay back) thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will RECOMPENSE thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. (Ezekiel &:8:9) Many who know nothing about God, or don’t believe in God, as well as some who do, may shake their head in blind amazement and ask; “why on earth would God want to punish America? Unfortunately the list is long and is growing every day.

For starters I want to make you aware of one of these reasons. It was a little mentioned fact in the news concerning Katrina and New Orleans. But before I go further I first of all want to say that my heart truly breaks for all the innocent victims affected by the Hurricane. Personall, like the rest of the nation, it was hard for me to watch the devastating scenes and pain without crying. And today as I write this message there is a sadness and heaviness in my heart concerning them. But I would be in error if I did not point out an important fact. Only God knows whether this has any bearing on the events that took place there or not, but in my heart I am convinced it does. On the day Katrina hit, New Orleans was to host what is famously known as Southern Decadence Celebration. Actually it is a perfect picture of America’s Decadence as a nation. The word decadence means deterioration; decline, to make worse, to impair, degenerate. The falling from a higher to a lower level as in quality, character, or the like. If this is not a perfect description of what is happening in America today then there’s not a word to describe it. Here are some quotes concerning Southern Decadence Celebration.

“No one knows exactly how many will show up, but recent years have seen the numbers grow into the tens of thousands. By around noon traffic will have to slow down or detour because Royal Street will be overflowing with marchers mostly costumed in drag, scare, and traditional drag, and every kind of rig they can conjure up from their imaginations. And don’t forget all those gorgeous men and women, most scantily clad. You will see the playful, the whimiscal, the pretty, the ugly, the satricial, the wity, and the obsence. But whatever you see, IT WILL ALWAYS BE TOTALLY DECADENT”.

A note in regard to the Mayor’s Welcome to the event read as follows:

“Due to the significance of Southern Decadence’s importance to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, and the millions of dollars in economic impact, the past three Mayors of the city of New Orleans (including current Mayor C. Ray Nagin) have issued an official proclamation welcoming visitors to Southern Decadence.”

Another quote: “A former homosexual describes the festival as being “replete with tens of thousands of men and women engaged in public nudity, prostitution, illegal drug use and destructive sex".

So you can see, and judge for yourself, the wickedness of this event I am providing a link here to their official website. www.southerndecadence.com

As disturbing as this is, equally disturbing is that even after the devastation and heartbreak caused by Hurricane Katrina, the people there STILL followed the wicked lusts of their heart as witnessed by this September 6 note: Despite the devastation and on going suffering by thousands of Hurricane Katrina, homosexuals paraded on Bourbon Street in New Orleans over the weekend and have rescheduled their Southern Decadence event for tomorrow. It’s New Orleans man: “We’re going to celebrate” one young musician said. In an article concerning New Orleans working to rekindle a sense of normalcy, the article read as follows: They swept the streets of the French Quarter and even organized a mini GAY PRIDE march to replace the huge Southern Decadence parade normally held this time of year. In reading about the history of this event I learned that it has been held for the past 32 years (since 1972). Oh the mercy God has shown for 32 years. I’m amazed that He has with held his fury this long. While he completely destroyed Sodom and Gormorrah, he has not yet done so with this city, but its future is clearly uncertain. Another whirlwind of destruction could come at any time according to the word of God. “Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked." (Jeremiah 30:23)

Money worshipping America has allowed such ungodly and repulsive to God events to take place while prayer is banned in schools. The Ten Commandments are forcibly being removed from walls across this land. (Terrorists are being treated better than they are!) Thousands, perhaps millions of unborn babies are legally being murdered each year. Gays are being allowed to marry and parade their sins in public and even worse, being sanctioned by churches themselves to stand behind a pulpit and preach. There’s a liquor store on every corner, pornography and indecency on every street. The nation’s airwaves are saturated with sex, violence, cursing and immorality. Rock music blasts loud that while cursing God, glorifies Satan, murder, violence, and every sin under the sun.

And in the name of inclusion, tolerance, and love, America now embraces every religion as being equal and acceptable, at the same time, being careful not to offend anyone by identifying itself a Christian nation, and in fact, to appease those who hate the Lord Jesus Christ, avoids holding His name up in public or office. America is more interested in being acceptable to man and not offending them, than they are interested in the things of God.

Additionally, but no less important, America was once God’s beloved Israel’s strongest ally. But under pressure from nations that do not believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the son of God and Savior of the world, and who want their religion to cover the world, and who want to destroy Israel, the United States is gradually withdrawing support of Israel, and not only this, but arm twisting them to force them to give up parts of God’s beloved land which He says shall not be parted, and to force his beloved people to be uprooted from their land, homeless, and scattered like sheep without a pasture. God cannot be pleased. Ironically, or perhaps not, this situation occurred while Katrina was brewing in oceans. It would not surprise me in the least if this too, perhaps, is part of reason why God Almighty unleashed His fury upon our nation. For in Genesis 12:3 God says: "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee." Clearly we are not blessing Israel by aiding its enemy in its destruction. Clearly the devastation caused by Katrina and the other hurricanes is not a blessing toward us from God, but recompense for our sins.

This ONCE upon a time Christian nation has turned its back on God and DECADENCE has taken over. We are becoming more and more like heathen nations and because of our backsliding ways, Almighty God has lifted his hand of protection and as such, America is beginning to experience catastrophes like they’ve never seen. More than one Emergency Management Personnel said of Katrina; “what has happened here is unprecedented in America. America has never had a catastrophe of this magnitude and because of this we weren’t prepared and didn’t know how to handle it. A victim of Katrina said “God came at us with a vengeance”.

Personally, I’m afraid this is only the beginning of God’s wrath being poured out upon us for our sinfulness. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13) Four years ago we experienced 9/11 where thousands were killed. While estimates for Katrina’s death toll at 10,000 were not fulfilled, what is next, and what will the numbers be, if America does not repent and seek God’s face and forgiveness? Only God knows.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18)

Many people who might read this writing may scoff at its message and call it garbage. Scoff at it in the same way others scoffed at Noah when he tried in vain to warn them of the coming flood. It was the same with Sodom and Gomorrah. Those who are proud and ungodly, those who desire to go their own ways and enjoy the temporary pleasures of this world, and those who totally reject God, will say the warning is unneeded, has no merit, and even ridiculous. They are wrong. Only a fool says in his heart there is no God, (Psalm 14:1) and only a foolish person or nation ignores God and his commands. There is such a misguided and deceiving spirit at work in America today. If God is mentioned at all it is that He is a loving God. And God is a loving God. But He is EQUALLY a Righteous Judge who HATES SIN, and who PASSES JUDGMENT upon it much like a judge in the courtrooms across America today. And as criminals must pay for their crimes, God punishes people and nations for their sins.

Therefore I have poured out mine indignation upon them, I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the LORD GOD. (Ezekiel 22:31)

From Genesis through Revelation we see example after example of God’s judgement and punishment for individual sin, and for a nations sin. How did God often punish (recompense) nations for their sins? By way of great floods. Drought, Earthquakes, Famine, Pestilence, Fires, and Plagues. It was my intention at this point to provide a link here providing scripture verses of times and ways God has given free rein to his fury, and recompensed nations and people for their wickedness, but there are countless verses that tell of this, and it would take pages of writing for me to include them here, and so due to time constraints, I instead just encourage you strongly to get a good Bible concordance or Bible Study Program (I prefer the KJV Bible), and look up the words wrath, vengeance, recompense, punishment, fury, anger, and see and learn for yourself about God concerning these things. I promise you it will be an eye-opener! As I read them my heart was greatly troubled and great fear filled my heart for America. These truths cannot be and should not be ignored. People and nations do so at their own peril.

Sadly America as well as other nations are guilty of this. THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT. THEY REJECT THE TRUTH. They insist upon being their own god, going their own ways, and doing every sinful wicked thing their heart desires. And in their blindness and lost condition, see absolutely nothing wrong with it. They don’t worry a bit about possible consequences, but instead live arrogantly, and shamelessly, as if there is no God. But there is, and God Almighty vows He will not be mocked.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

But America, as evidenced by its sins, and the things it has allowed to exist, has been mocking God for a good many years now. As such, its harvest is starting to bring forth bitter fruit. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regardeth; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whosoever hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:24:33)

Even as I write this message, behind me in my bookcase is an old book. The title of it is “The Hope of A Nation”. It tells of an America that once looked to God as its hope for health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. And upon this America God indeed shed his grace from sea to shining sea. But what has America done with God’s favor and blessing? We have stomped all over it. We have disgraced Him and His holy name. Shunned his holy word. America is no longer an apple of God’s eye.

In Proverbs 7:2:3 we read: “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."

America isn’t doing this anymore, and as a divine consequence, God’s wrath is being poured out on us. But there is still hope. Hasn’t God said:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall HUMBLE themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14).

God is merciful. In times past when God destroyed peoples and lands, once they humbled themselves, repented of their sins, and ask God for forgiveness, then He restored their lands and healed them of all diseases and such. The key word is HUMBLED. This word means to not be proud, or assertive, lowly. To bring low; to reduce the power or exaltation of; to lower. Not pretentious, Unassuming . Lacking in pride, or self sufficiency. Self-depreciation. Meek. Submissive. Lack of boastfulness or show of conceit.

Oh that America would seek God’s face once again. That it would look into the mirror of God’s holy word and see how very, very far it has fallen. See how decadent it has become. See the disgrace it has become in God’s eyes. As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and wept over his beloved Jerusalem who did not know Him, and did not accept him as their Lord and King, nor see their coming destruction, I feel in my soul that God too weeps over America for the very same reasons.

God is the only hope for America. After 9/11 attack, President Bush formed what is now known as “Homeland Security”. Its main purpose is to keep America safe from terrorist attacks and harm. But the truth is that, Homeland Security, nor any other power on earth, can keep America safe from the wrath of God when He is displeased with us. The bottom line is this: No God. No Homeland Security. What shall we say to these things: If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) If America is to have true peace and security it must come from God. O that America would recognize this truth and look to Him for all that it needs. O that it would uphold Him as our forefathers did, as the God of our land so He would bless us again with His love, approval, and PROTECTION. We will never, ever, be safe from the wrath of God until we do what He requires of us. If we want to be safe as a nation, then we must be close to Him and keep his commandments and honor him as Lord of our land.

As I write this article I wonder WHAT ELSE other than these hurricanes is it going to take for America to repent and turn back to God? Within the past four years, God has more than once tried to get our attention. After 9/11 there was a brief spiritual awakening, but when the danger had passed, God was put back in the closet and ignored as America returned to it’s old habits and ways. Now Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma have roared into America and once again people (and yet far too few) are seeking God for help and comfort. But in time, the devastation will be cleared away. People will mistakenly feel safe again, and feel no need of God. But while hurricanes come and go, and the effects may be erased away in time, GOD’S WORD STILL REMAINS AND HIS COMMANDS REMAIN UNSHAKEABLE.

Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:33:34)

Though the Hurricanes pass and serenity returns, it is a major mistake for America to feel safe once again. As long as America is forsaking the God of Earth and Heaven, and living in wickedness, it will never be safe from destruction. Every day we will be subject to the wrath of God, and only He knows what form He will use to unleash his fury upon us once again if we have not taken heed of our ways, sought his face, repented, and turned from our ways.

Were Katrina, Rita, and Wilma God’s retribution upon America? If you will read the verses provided about the wrath of God, I think you too will conclude as I have, that the answer is yes. As I said earlier, as I read verses about God’s wrath, my heart trembled in fear. I am afraid for America. And I am praying that we will wake up and seek God before it’s too late. God has destroyed entire nations before. He can do it again. But he has been longsuffering toward America and I believe it is because America was founded as a Christian nation, and there remains a remnant faithful to him. But the signs (9/11, Katrina, Rita, Wilma) are clear. His patience is running out. It seems that America pays more attention when terrorist threaten its shores than when God does. When a terrorist threatens America, America goes on its highest level of alert, and hundred’s of security measures are taken and enforced. But our biggest enemy is within America itself and we are not only doing nothing to stop it, we are aiding it. God may allow terrorists to strike America once again, or perhaps even more devastating hurricanes or disasters. We don’t know what God will allow to happen, but this we can be sure, more tragedy is on its way if we continue on the path of destruction we are on.

Last night on the news I listened as an expert weather scientist was being interviewed about the unusual hurricane season we are experiencing. In a highly unusual admission he admitted that scientists were totally baffled, and without answers or explanations to explain it, and he said “We have come to the end of science. We can’t explain it.” No sooner were these words out of his mouth when I was reminded of this scripture verse:

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. I Corinthians 3:19).

When bad things happen in America, America is quick to call upon its anti-God secular “experts” for answers and solutions. America doesn’t look to or call upon God for them. Yet only God has the answers and and only God can save America from destruction. GOD NEVER REACHES THE END OF HIS WISDOM BECAUSE THERE IS NO END! WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NO GREAT MYSTERY TO HIM AT ALL! PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GREATNESS!!!

The limited “experts” can’t not only not save us, they are only leading us farther along the path of destruction. America doesn’t want to hear this but I must still say it. There’s only ONE WAY we can be safe and prosper as a nation, and that is through God’s Blessing. He blesses us as a nation when we bless Him. We aren’t doing that anymore, and as the Hurricane Katrina victim said, “God is coming at us with a vengeance.” America is taking a beating from God. Will we take heed and change our ways, or will we fall, and fall, and fall until we are no more?

By Nancye Sims

The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made:

in the net they hid is their own foot taken.

The LORD is known by the judgement which he executeth:

the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

The wicked shall be turned into hell,

AND ALL THE NATIONS THAT FORGET GOD.

(Psalm 9:15-17)

Now consider this ye that forget God,

lest I tear you in pieces,

and there be none to deliver.

(Psalms 50:22)