Coming Judgment

 There is much to learn from the book of Joel. He opens his message with a future event that has never happened before.

 Joel 1:2. "Hear this, ye old men, and attend, all ye inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing indeed happened in your days or in the days of your fathers?

You cannot turn on your television, pick up a newspaper, or surf the web without knowing we live in an abnormal time. Joel warned the older fathers to tell their children and grandchildren about the evil taking place.

 Joel 1:1. Ye shall tell your sons of it, and your sons their sons, and their sons the next generation. 

Joel used the locust to explain what had taken place to bring such evil into the world.

Joel 1:4. The leavings of the gnawer the multiplier ate, and the leavings of the multiplier the licker ate, and the leavings of the licker the devourer ate." 

Not only to call the hearers' attention to his address but still, more to set forth the event he is about to speak as something unheard of - a thing that has never happened before and therefore is a judgment inflicted by God. The prophet commences with the question addressed to the older men, whose memory went the furthest back, and to all the inhabitants of Judah, whether they had ever experienced anything of the kind, or heard of such a thing from their fathers; and with the command to relate it to their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

(Note: "As he is inquiring concerning the past according to the command of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:7, he asks the old men, who have been taught by long experience, and are accustomed, whenever they see anything unusual, to notice that this is not according to the ordinary course of nature, which they have observed for so many years. And since this existing calamity, caused by the insects named, has lasted longer and pressed more heavily than usual, he admonishes them to carry their memory back to the former days and see whether anything of the kind ever happened naturally before. If no example can be found, the prophet's advice is that they should recognize this as the hand of God from heaven.

I realize Joel's message is directed to the inhabitants of Judah about the judgment of the LORD, but we can learn from this message. What we see today has not happened in our lifetime. God brings judgment in stages until there is nothing left but desolation and destruction.

Let me ask you, have you in your lifetime seen what is happening in America today? I could make a long list of events that have never happened in this country until recently. All we seem to do daily is shake our heads and say the world has gone insane.

 

The message of Joel is a progression of judgment: one swarm of locusts after another has invaded the land and wholly devoured its fruit. The use of several different words and the division of the locusts into four successive swarms, each devours what has been left by its precursor, belong to the rhetorical drapery and individualizing of the thought. The only thing that has any real significance is the number four. The four kinds of punishment in Jeremiah 15:3 and the four destructive judgments in Ezekiel 14:21 clearly show the number four, indicating the spread of the judgment over the whole of Judah in all directions indicate that judgment is worldwide. Four is the number of the earth.

Could you turn with me to Ezekiel 14?

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

21 For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the Sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

For thus saith the Lord God, how much more do you need to change your ways? We have the days of Noah, the prophecies of Daniel, and the story of Job. What more do we need to change our ways?

If the message of the Lord would not be believed given by such good men as those mentioned, for a land that had sinned against him, to whom he only sends someone of the above judgments, either famine, or dangerous beasts, or the Sword, or the pestilence, how much more inflexible and deaf to all entreaties must he be; or if any one of those judgments makes so great a desolation in the land, then how much more significant must that detraction be, when I send my four sore judgments on Jerusalem: or "evil" ones; as they are to men, though righteously inflicted by the Lord; when all these four are sent together, what devastation must they make! namely, the Sword, and the famine, and the, noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast; three of them, it is evident, were sent upon Jerusalem at the time of its siege by Nebuchadnezzar, the Sword, famine, and pestilence; and no doubt the other, even the dangerous beasts; and if not literally, yet figuratively, for Nebuchadnezzar himself is compared to a lion, ( Jeremiah 4:7 ) ( 50:17 )

For the next few minutes, let us look at the insects of judgment.

 Joel 1:4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten, and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten, and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

Joel 1:4. The leavings of the gnawer the multiplier ate, and the leavings of the multiplier the licker ate, and the leavings of the licker the devourer ate." 

The palmerworm-gnawer

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Any hairy caterpillar which appears in great numbers, devouring herbage and wandering about like a palmer. 

2. (n.) In America, the larva of any one of several moths destroys the foliage of fruit and forest trees, which sometimes appear in vast numbers.

The locust-multiplier

locust (family Acrididae) is any group of insects (order Orthoptera) distributed worldwide. The common name generally refers to the group of short-horned grasshoppers that often increase greatly in numbers and migrate long distances in destructive swarms. 

The cankerworm-licker

The spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata) and the fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria) are native pests to the deciduous forest, shade, and ornamental trees of North America. Periodic outbreaks of these pests cause severe defoliation. The habits of these two pests are nearly identical, being named "spring" and "fall" cankerworms because of the season during which each lays its eggs. The larvae of each species are known variously as loopers, geometers, inchworms, or spanworms.

The caterpillar-devourer

In the Old Testament of the Bible, caterpillars are feared as a pest that devours crops. They are part of the "pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust" [37] because of their association with the locust. Thus they are one of the plagues of Egypt. Jeremiah names them as one of the inhabitants of Babylon. The English word caterpillar derives from the old French catepelose (hairy cat) but merged with the piller (pillager). Caterpillars became a symbol for social dependents. Shakespeare's Bolingbroke described King Richard's friends as "The caterpillars of the commonwealth, Which I have sworn to weed and pluck away." In 1790 William Blake referenced this popular image in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell when he attacked priests: "as the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lay his curse on the fairest joys." \

Joel uses this locust plague as both an illustration of their sin and a warning of God's future judgment on their sin.

One of the forgotten, if not dismissed, truths from God's word is that this world is on a collision course with Almighty God (Elohim). While it is true that God is a God of love, grace, and even mercy, what people of today may well need is a reminder of the truth that God is a God of justice & judgment.

 The Coming of Judgment – Notice the first two words of verse 2, "Hear this." Almost every translation and paraphrase says the same thing. However, this phrase is more like a "listen up" or "pay attention" as it carries with it the idea, and the message is essential. Judgment is coming & you want to know it so that you can be prepared. He identifies both the leaders and the people to say, "Listen up." There might have been a 'tone' (like the emergency broadcast system) to get attention if it were today.

a. The discernment – Of the many ways there are to discern things, asking rhetorical questions is very effective. Can you hear the inference in the tone of the question of "Has anything like this ever happened?" Considering whom it is asking this question, our minds and souls should be stirred to understand precisely what it is that Jehovah/Yahweh has in mind. But here is the startling truth; Obviously, God has something in mind that is unlike anything this generation sees. When we are reminded of some of the atrocities this generation has witnessed and then think that God will top all of these, we should discern that judgment is on the way.

b. The disclosure – To read verse 3 is to understand that we should disclose the fact as holders of the truth. Truth is not simply when we 'like it, but it is truth-no matter what! Part of the sad situation of the 21st century "Americanize church" is that we have discarded the truth of God concerning His judgment. His proper decision is based on justice.

The devastation: God compares His judgment to four types of locust. Let me say that the picture of the locusts is a picture of destruction. The HCSB uses the terms devouring-swarming-young-destroying to describe these insects. Some think these insects illustrate armies of humans going across the land, while others believe the prophet is speaking of the four stages of a locust's life, and others think it's four different types of bugs. Such are the arguments that make for meaningless talk and a great deal of debate, but let's not miss the truth; the land will be destroyed, and it will be the judgment of God on the wicked land & the wickedness of the land.

2. The Contents of Judgment – What is it that we see in this judgment? What is it that makes up this judgment? Just like we pick up a package of food and read the ingredients, we should look at this judgment's elements.

The aggressiveness of a godless enemy: With the Holy Spirit absent, evil has a new freedom to invade and devour. Look at verse 6 and give some thought to this picture. For a person who is under the judgment of God, we see several frightening word pictures; invaded, powerful, without number, teeth, and even fangs. Every one of these pictures paints a portrait of an unrelenting, vicious, and evil enemy. We can see the beginnings of this picture today in America. Now that God has been removed from daily life, many others are stepping to the forefront to attack this land in numerous and ungodly ways. We can talk of the radical Muslims who killed 3000 people just because they were Americans. We can name Al-Qaeda as one who preys on Americans. We can even name social and political groups in this land that pervert justice like BLM to have their way. However, the great attack is occurring by the people we have elected to lead us, people who should know better. It is getting more pervasive every day.

c. The effects of a great engagement – There is no way to do 'battle' without casualties and costs. When a country goes to war, a couple goes through a divorce, or a church has a fight, the total costs and the casualties are unknown for a long time. When God sends His judgment, the battle waged will be directed at anything perceived as good. Read Verse 7. This gives me a picture of the destruction of everything which God has designed to be good. The grapevine, fig tree, branches, and bark are all laid waste. When will this happen? I don't know. Just don't miss the fact that judgment is coming from God. His determination will be based on justice, truth & right.

3. The Consequences of Judgment – For those who are under God's judgment, let's see how all of this impacts them. Verses 10-12 give us this picture.

a. It destroys their provisions – Verse 10 tells us that everything humanity depends on for life will be destroyed. Frustration will be at an all-time high because nothing man can do to make the land produce. All will be dried up and laid bare. We are big on 'having plenty, but God's judgment will bring about a lack of everything a man needs to survive. Today's rat race will turn into a rat killing of global proportions as the human race wars over things that are believed to be necessary.

b. It disrupts their plans – Verse 11 – 12 gives us a picture of a drought that perplexes the farmers. They plan for a big harvest and for things to go on as usual, while God's judgment brings other plans. There will be a food shortage which makes the food shortage of today pale in comparison. God removes His hand of blessings, and when HIS hand of blessing is removed, nothing will bloom or blossom so that all plans will be laid waste. Perhaps this picture is why Jesus told us not to make plans that we couldn't make good.

c. It dries up their personal joy – The last line of verse 12 is staggering. To think that laughter will be gone, as will peace, hope, happiness, and love. Contextualize it this way; today in America, more people have more 'things' than ever before. We are wealthy people. Yet, we are a miserable people. Deep friendships are at a premium, lasting relationships are all but non-existent, and the culprit is that in our search for happiness, we have abandoned true inner 'joy.' Joy is a fruit of the Spirit! And since more time has been placed on the "I" in this culture, the Holy Spirit has been summarily dismissed. In principle, this is what happens with God's judgment; joy is removed along with the Holy Spirit of God.

4. The Call of Judgment – Let's read verses 13-15 again. To read this is to understand that the coming judgment requires a response from us. As I read these words, four calls come to mind.

a. Remember – We must remember who God is and who we are.

* We are God's creation, His crown creation. If we have a relationship with Him through His Son, we have cause to remember much more. Psalm 137 has a picture of remembrance. (READ vs. 1) If you are a believer today, give thought not to the place but the concept of ZION. For years we have sung, "We're marching to Zion, beautiful Zion. We're marching UPWARD to ZION, that beautiful city of God." Zion is the place where we see, know, and fellowship with the Lord. As a believer, can you remember the time you were closest to Him? Is it today? Or is it in the past? Remember when your heart was hottest, your fellowship was the closest, and faith was the strongest. Revelation 2:5 says, "First, remember how far you have fallen,"

b. Reflect – This is a step that, many times, is overlooked today. Why is it that I have fallen away from sweet fellowship with my Heavenly Father? Is it because of what someone else has done to me? Is it because God loves me less, pursues me less, or am I simply less valuable to Him today than when we first met? Please miss this truth: God went nowhere; He hasn't moved away from one step. "When you say, God seems so far away, who moved?" What caused it, and when was it that you moved away? This requires an honest self-examination & self-examinations can be painful, mainly if done under the watchful eye of the Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

c. Repent – The promise of judgment on this world calls us to remember, reflect, and then repent. Look at all the words that display repentance's need and action; sackcloth, lament, the altar, and offerings. The people were being called to become broken enough to have a change of mind, direction, and heart. If I am not as close to God today as yesterday, it is my fault, and I need to repent before God. The initial call of John the Baptist, Jesus, and even Peter at Pentecost was "Repent." Without repentance, there is no renewal, refreshing, &/or regeneration. There is no heaven on the horizon, no Zion to look for, and there is no hope for tomorrow. Repentance is an essential ingredient and is a call of judgment.

d. Return – Let's read verse 14. Just like the Father in Luke 15 was praying, "Boy, come home," so the Heavenly Father invites us home. In verse 15, we read that the "Day of the Lord" is near, and we need to be close to the Father at home. Judgment is coming, like it or not. Every unconfessed sin will be judged. Judgment is calling, like it or not. It is calling sinners to come home, it is calling the lukewarm to get close to the fire of the Holy Spirit, and it is calling the carnal to return before it's too late. What will you do?

HIS TIME IS SHORT

 Revelation 12:12 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

There has been an aggressive shift in the Biden administration to enforce the shot and the passport in the last few weeks.  Remember when they all said they would never demand forced vaccinations and that the passports were a "conspiracy theory"? Well, guess what? We "conspiracy theorists" were right yet again.  When will people stop listening to the lies coming from this administration?

It used to be it would take several years before a "conspiracy theory" became a reality.  Now is takes only a few weeks or a few months for them to happen.  This suggests to me that the Synagogue of Satan has a timeline that needs to be completed soon.   I sense this winter there will be a significant push of medical tyranny in the US on a scale similar to what is happening right now in Australia, or perhaps worse.  As we see more and more reporting of deaths from the required shots, people will start to push back in more significant numbers.  There are already protests that go unreported to cover up the growing discontent with the loss of liberty.

The double-standard taking place with the mandates is an indication there is something wrong with the injection.  As more vaccinated die, it will prove the so-called vaccines are not safe.  The Synagogue of Satan cannot allow this to happen.  There is no scientific evidence the so-called vaccines are safe in the long term.  Joe Biden said he wanted 70% vaccinated, not he wants 98-100%. His willingness to sacrifice medical personnel, law enforcement, businesses, transportation, and our children to get his way shows the evilness of this man.

The Biden Administration and its corporate partners are now implementing a blitzkrieg against the American public. Biden's vaccine executive orders create a culture of "paper's please" fascism among larger businesses and Big Box retailers. He has recently announced that part of the mandates will include fines against companies that refuse to enforce proof of vaccination on their employees. These fines would range from $70,000 to $700,000, which could destroy a medium-sized company if they had to pay.

Look what is happening in New York. Medical personnel is now being fired from their positions because they have refused to comply with the vax. This is leaving massive gaps in medical response.  Kathy Hochul claims she has the right to give herself dictatorial powers.  In a recent speech at a church in Brooklyn, she claimed that all the "smart people" have taken the vaccines and that the covid jabs are a "gift from God." She asserted that if you defy the vaccine mandates, then you are ignoring God.  I have heard those claiming to be Christian say it is our Christian duty to compline with the mandates.

The actions of people like the governor of New York have a habit of justifying the actions as divine authority.  Hitler did this, at least initially, holding state-sponsored Passion plays and asserting that the Third Reich was the hand of God, until after they had secured an empire and then Hitler attacked Christianity. These types of people tend to use religion as a tool to get what they want, and then they dump it in the gutter when they are finished with it.

Keep in mind that none of these mandates are actual "laws." None of them have been voted on by a legislature or the American people. Furthermore, I have to ask that pesky but logical question once again – If the vaccines work as governments claim, then how are unvaccinated people any threat to vaccinated people?  Why would they need "protection" from us? (The reality is that the covid vax does not work, so there is no reason to take it)  Back to the short time, Satan has to accomplish his total control of the world.  The more people who compile and die, the fewer those who will rise against him.  If the medical, law enforcement, and military are reduced, who will be left to stand against the final take-over?

People are on the fast track to destruction, and many are asleep or could care less what is taking place. It is time to wake up and see the coming collapse of our nation.

If you have taken the shot, I would tell you to make sure you set your house in order and plan for an end-of-life scenario soon.  When the government stops all anti-vax information, there is something seriously wrong. When the number of those dying from the vaccine is hidden or hard to find, there is something wrong. When a person must be threatened to take the shot, something is wrong.  Could it be that Satan's time is short?

To Friends and Family

In order for the vaccinated to stay alive they are being asked to quarantine over the winter.  It seems the immune system has been compromised by the "vaccine."

World Health Organization European Advisory Group of Experts in Immunization former Vice President Professor Christian Perronne yesterday said that all vaccinated people must quarantine over the winter months or risk serious illness.

Perronne specializes in tropical pathologies and emerging infectious diseases. He was Chairman of the Specialized Committee on Communicable Diseases of the High Council of Public Health.

Confirming the rapidly deteriorating situation in Israel and the UK, the infectious disease expert stated: “Vaccinated people should be put in quarantine, and should be isolated from the society.”

He went on to say: “Unvaccinated people are not dangerous; vaccinated people are dangerous for others. It’s proven in Israel now – I’m in contact with many physicians in Israel – they’re having big problems, severe cases in the hospitals are among vaccinated people, and in UK also, you have the larger vaccination program and also there are problems.”

The current working group on the COVID-19 pandemic in France was reported to be “utterly panicked” on receipt of the news, fearing pandemonium if it follows the guidance of the experts.

Israeli doctor Kobi Haviv told Channel 13 News: “95% of seriously ill patients are vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people account for 85-90% of hospitalizations. We are opening more and more COVID branches. The effectiveness of vaccines is declining or disappearing.”

https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/frontlinenews/immunization-expert-unvaccinated-people-are-not-dangerous-vaccinated-people-are-dangerous-for-others/

Vaccine Passport The Mark of The Beast?

I have heard people and ministers say that the vaccination passport is the Mark of the Beast.  I would disagree that proof of the inoculation is the Mark of Beast  However, I believe that it is conditioning for the Mark.  How easy has it been for many to fall in line with the mandates that require one to subject themselves to an injection that is not working and according to the National Vaccine Information Center over 13k have died from the shot.   That is the low number.  Some say over 50,000 have been killed from the shot.

(https://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?EVENTS=ON&VAX=COVID19&VAXTYPES=COVID-19&DIED=Yes)

In June of this year, Dr. McCullough did a webinar with Dr. Reiner Fuellmich and other experts.  Quoting Dr. McCullough: "We have now a whistleblower inside the CMS (Center for Medicaid), and we have two whistleblowers in the CDC," the doctor revealed. "We think we have 50,000 dead Americans. Fifty thousand deaths. So we actually have more deaths due to the vaccine per day than certainly the viral illness by far. It's basically propagandized bioterrorism by injection."

Some believe employers cannot force employees to get one of those experimental injections under EEOC (Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) rules. Employers can, but there's also 'reasonable accommodation' under their rules. Still, your freedom is limited if you read from their What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws website.

Using the vaccine mandate to require employers to "enforce" the government policies is a way to circumvent the law.  Private businesses are requiring employees to get the shot or lose their job.  Here is what is happening right now.

Illinois has launched Vax Verify, an online COVID jab verification portal for residents. Anyone over 18 can use the portal to check and download their shot records for events and businesses that require it.  Identity authentication on the Vax Verify portal is done using a one-time verification process through the financial credit score company Experian — a decision that suggests the vaccine passport will be connected with financial information in the future.

At the end of July 2021, Thales announced a digital biometric ID wallet designed to help you "access government services from anywhere." Thales admits vaccination passports "will act as a precursor to the rollout of mobile digital IDs." The plan is to collect and join together as much personal information as possible, and there's no reason to think this data won't be shared for control, social engineering, and profit. That's what Google, Facebook, and other platforms have done for years.

The Great Reset ties you to its new social control system through an electronic ID linked to your bank account, health records, and social credit system so that it can then be used to dictate every facet of your life.

The Mark of the Beast will be required to buy and sell.  Here is how close we are to that becoming a reality.  Businesses and restaurants in some of the U.S.'s busiest cities require patrons to provide proof of COVID vaccination before entering. Cities like Philadelphia, Seattle, and Atlanta are seeing a trend in certain businesses and restaurants exercising their legal right to require that everyone who enters the premises be vaccinated.  Though U.S. law prohibits companies from discriminating against patrons based on race, sex, religion, and medical disability, vaccinations are not included on that list. Though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says potential customers are not obligated to tell if they're vaccinated or not, businesses are legally allowed to ask for proof of vaccination without violating HIPPA rights.   So, how much longer will it be before you cannot buy or sell without proof of compliance?

This is not an issue of Christian vs. non-Christian; it is obedience to those in power and compliance with their rule.  Your submission has been acquired through fear of death, retaliation, fear of ridicule, and rejection.  If you cannot stand against mandates which carry no authority, how will you stand against the law that compels you to bow to the power of Satan or die?  My concern is that Christians are so conditioned to accept the path of least resistance that they will receive the Mark of the Beast (whatever that will be) and turn against those who refuse to bow to Satan.   Stop allowing yourself to be conditioned to accept the agenda of the corrupt and evil manipulation of the followers of Satan.  Start putting your faith in the LORD.

I am not telling you to stop seeking medical treatment, or ignore your immune system.   I am asking you to examine what is happening and why?  Are people dying from this manufactured bioweapon?  Yes!  Are people dying from inoculation?  Yes!  What is the truth about all that is happening?  You must decide who you will believe and base your decisions on that information.  If you have taken the shot and carry your "proof of vaccine," it does not mean you have taken the Mark of the Beast or that your salvation is in question.  

A Short History Lesson on Vaccine

 Back in the 1950s, polio spread across the U.S., and everyone was afraid that their children would be the next to get the disease.  Dr.Salk came up with a polio vaccine that would save thousands of children.  Things were on track to eliminate the deadly disease.  Cutter Laboratories was approved to start the production of the vaccine.

Cutter Laboratories was a family-owned pharmaceutical company located in Berkeley, California, founded by Edward Ahern Cutter in 1897. Cutter's early products included anthrax vaccine, hog cholera (swine fever), anti-hog cholera serum—and eventually a hog cholera vaccine. The hog cholera vaccine was the first tissue culture vaccine, human or veterinary, ever produced. The company expanded considerably during World War II due to government contracts for blood plasma and penicillin. After Edward Cutter's death, his three sons—Dr. Robert K. Cutter (president), Edward "Ted" A. Cutter Jr. (vice-president), and Frederick A. Cutter—ran the company. In the next generation, Robert's son David followed his father as president of the company. The Bayer pharmaceutical company bought Cutter Laboratories in 1974.

On April 12, 1955, following the announcement of the success of the polio vaccine trial, Cutter Laboratories became one of several companies that were recommended to be given a license by the United States government to produce Salk's polio vaccine. In anticipation of the demand for vaccines, the companies had already produced stocks of the vaccine, and these were issued once the licenses were signed.

In what became known as the Cutter incident, some lots of the Cutter vaccine—despite passing required safety tests—contained live poliovirus in what was supposed to be an inactivated-virus vaccine. Cutter withdrew its vaccine from the market fifteen days later, on April 27, after vaccine-associated cases were reported.

The mistake produced 120,000 doses of polio vaccine that contained live poliovirus. Of children who received the vaccine, 40,000 developed abortive poliomyelitis (a form of the disease that does not involve the central nervous system), 56 developed paralytic poliomyelitis—and of these, five children died from polio. The exposures led to an epidemic of polio in the families and communities of the affected children, resulting in a further 113 people being paralyzed and five deaths. The director of the microbiology institute lost his job, as did the equivalent of the assistant secretary for health. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Oveta Culp Hobby stepped down. Dr. William H. Sebrell Jr, the director of the NIH, resigned.

Surgeon General Scheele sent Drs. William Tripp and Karl Habel from the NIH to inspect Cutter's Berkeley facilities, question workers, and examine records. After a thorough investigation, they found nothing wrong with Cutter's production methods. A congressional hearing in June 1955 concluded that the problem was primarily the lack of scrutiny from the NIH Laboratory of Biologics Control (and its excessive trust in the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis reports).

Several civil lawsuits were filed against Cutter Laboratories in subsequent years, the first of which was Gottsdanker v. Cutter Laboratories. The jury found Cutter not negligent but liable for breach of an implied warranty and awarded the plaintiffs monetary damages. This set a precedent for later lawsuits. All five companies that produced the Salk vaccine in 1955—Eli Lilly, Parke-Davis, Wyeth, Pitman-Moore, and Cutter—had difficulty completely inactivating the poliovirus. Three companies other than Cutter were sued, but the cases settled out of court.

The Cutter incident was one of the worst pharmaceutical disasters in U.S. history and exposed several thousand children to live poliovirus on vaccination. The NIH Laboratory of Biologics Control, which had certified the Cutter polio vaccine, had received advanced warnings of problems: in 1954, staff member Dr. Bernice Eddy reported to her superiors that some inoculated monkeys had become paralyzed provided photographs. William Sebrell, the director of NIH, rejected the report.

For a brief period, the "Cutter Incident" shut down the ambitious vaccination program and threatened to scuttle the effort that ultimately eliminated polio from the United States. The accidental paralysis of those healthy children is now all but forgotten. Still, University of Pennsylvania pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit called it "one of the worst pharmaceutical disasters in U.S. history."

So, with this page from history, is there anything wrong with someone questioning the experimental vaccine that has killed more than ten people and thousands of people who have had adverse reactions that have changed them for life.  At least Cutter stopped what they were doing before hundreds were killed.  I find a significant contrast between what happened then and what is happening now.  The director of the microbiology institute lost his job, as did the equivalent of the assistant secretary for health. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Oveta Culp Hobby stepped down. Dr. William H. Sebrell Jr, the director of the NIH, resigned.  Even after questions of safety, Johnson and Johnson's vaccine is still on the market.  The FDA announced a very slight risk that people getting the vaccine could develop Guillain-Barre syndrome. It's a neurological issue that can lead to muscle weakness, sometimes paralysis. And it's not good, but it is very rare. About 100 cases have been reported to the CDC.  Rather than taking it off the market, it was allowed to continue.  Even after all the problems in the past with vaccines, you would think the FDA would be more proactive in stopping unsafe vaccines. 

Earlier this spring, there were contamination issues for Johnson and Johnson at their Baltimore factory. In April, a rare blood clotting disorder caused the vaccine to be put on pause. This is one vaccine supplier.  There have been significant issues with all the vaccines, which I might add vaccines are in the experimental stage and not approved by the FDA as a safe vaccine.  There is not one vaccine on the market that will keep you from getting COVID.  The CDC is not tracking the "breakthrough" cases, so they have no idea how many vaccinated people have died from COVID.  Even the vaccinated people are carriers of COVID and can infect even the vaccinated.

If someone does not wish to take the vaccine, those who have taken the vaccine should respect their choice of not taking the vaccine.  I find it interesting that those who have taken the vaccine and discover the long-term dangers of the vaccine are now having "buyer's regret." I have listened to people bemoan the fact they took the vaccine.  They wish they had done more research on the long-term effects on their health.  With more than 70% of those over six-five having taken the vaccine.  In some areas, 100% of those over sixty-five are vaccinated.  What will be the adverse effects on older people in the next few years? 

A Lost Generation

 After God led the Israelites out of Egypt, open the Red Sea, delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh, and then gave them the Ten Great Commandments, do you suppose they got their children up every morning, washed their faces, fed them breakfast, got them dressed, put a sack lunch in their hands and then sent them back to Egypt to be trained? And we wonder why the Church is in such a weak position. The tragedy of the Church is we failed the last generation in teaching them how to stand for the Truth.  

The American culture sometimes acts as a barrier to understanding the Scripture, which was written in the context of Eastern culture. There are many aspects of Eastern culture that American Christians misunderstand and is understood by those to whom the Scripture was written. The passage in Psalms 78:5-8 is an excellent example of the confusion between American culture and Eastern culture.   

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.  

The testimony and law that the Psalmist is talking about are not the Bill of Rights or the U.S. Constitution that they should make known to their children. The Eastern people understood that testimony and law were contained in the Scriptures. The Hebrew mind took for granted that this was from the book of Deuteronomy. This portion of Scripture was called the Shema, which means to hear. The Israelites knew it was of the utmost importance to hear and obey this commandment.  

Often the American Christians will disregard the LORD's commandments as written only to the Israelites and not apply them to their lives.  

Several years ago, I was asked to make a presentation at a Christian Education Conference on the decline of the Sunday School and its impact on society. Here is some of what I presented.  

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 NKJV  

Over the past two generations, society has slipped into a mold of complacency and self-indulgence. Prosperity, hope, and noble ideals were replaced with an "If it feels good, do it" attitude. We became worshipers of self, while our culture has gone morally bankrupt. The present youth generation is at significant emotional, social, and spiritual risk. Young people are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than the youth of twenty years ago, and today's youth account for almost one-third of all abortions. Is there a way to change?  

Yes, there is, and today's problems can be traced to the previous generation's choices. In the scripture reading, we have an account of a nation that forgot to teach its children the ways of God. We can look in retrospect at the Hebrews. We can trace the present crisis back to the root cause of the problem. We can look at the factors which contributed to a generation that did not know God. We can see the parallels which exist between a culture that lived about 1100 B.C. and our present-day culture, and oddly enough, the contributing factor to the moral and spiritual downfall of the early Hebrews is the same contributing factor to the current day decline in morals and religious values---Christian education is no longer critical. The Church was too busy seeking respect from the world that it slowly shifted from the absolutes of God's Word to the world's standards. Now the Church's youth have absorbed the values of the more extensive youth culture of the world.  

Why has all of this happened? Looking at the example given us in God's Word, an entire generation of children were not taught the teachings of the Lord God Jehovah. Parents, priests, and leaders failed to instruct their children in the ways of God. They were facing a moral decline. Their children did not know about the great deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the wanderings in the wilderness, and the victories over the kings of Canaan. They were ignorant of their spiritual heritage. Now they must survive in a culture that will soon absorb them into idolatrous pagans. How could this happen?  

Before we can understand the present generation, we must look at the preceding generations. During the time of Moses, while wandering in the wilderness, the Hebrews based their moral standards on the Law of God. Certain things were right and wrong, and the people knew why they were right and wrong. Even with the rise of Korah and his band, the foundation of hope lay with trusting and believing God. This generation passed the message of the Law --- obedience to their children. They taught their children the precepts with the more essential principles behind them. But they didn't take the time to explain the why's of the Law.  

During the time of Joshua, the next generation grew up believing certain things were right and wrong because God says so--somewhere in the Law. They existed with a biblical morality: an ethic initially based on the Law but had long since lost its spiritual meaning.  

The next generation concluded that certain things were right and wrong, but they didn't know why. They were moral people, but their morality was not founded on clear teachings, even though they may have memorized portions of the Law. They were unable to explain why they believed; they just knew it was what good people do. The opinion of their neighbors was more important than what God thought of them.  

The generation following Joshua knew certain things were right and wrong, but they didn't care! They broke away from the rules of the previous generation. They abandoned their God. The lack of connection with the moral Law was part of their rebellion. This led to moral degeneration. How could this happen?  

First, let me say, knowing where we are going is very important, but knowing where we are is just as important. As we read and study the life of the early Hebrews, we tend to be critical of their disregard for God. We must keep in mind that we can look in retrospect over several centuries of their culture. It is effortless to sit back and find fault with their actions. Yet, we are in the same position that Israel found itself after entering the Land of Canaan.  

Looking back to the nineteenth century, we can find the foundation for the significant problems facing the world today: environmental pollution, materialism on a large scale, racism, political terrorism, the alienation of the individual, bureaucratic dominance, drug wars, moral decay, religious intolerance, and spiritual apathy.  

The resentment that many in the Third World now feel toward western Europe and the United States stems from the nineteenth century. It is useless to comprehend China, African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern attitudes without understanding the effects of Western Europe and the United States' dominance on the world in the nineteenth century. It is just as useless to try and understand the social and cultural problems of today without understanding the past.  

The conquest of Canaan was not an act but a process. This process involved change. Having spent four hundred years as slaves and forty years as shepherds in the wilderness, Israel is now rapidly changing into a different culture. Many dangers were confronting them.  

The first danger was the possibility of extermination.  

The twelve tribes had deliberately come among hostile foes who now surrounded them. Between the Hebrews and the eastern desert lay the Arameans (north), the Ammonites (center), and the Moabites (south). The Edomite (southeast) and the Amalekites (southwest) lay off from the southern land. Between them and the sea lay two powerful peoples, the Philistines (south) and the Canaanites (center and north). The Hebrews were in a do-or-die situation. They must stake roots and grow till their neighbors are pushed off the map, or they will cease to exist. 

 

 The second danger lay in the change in an occupation that the conquest made necessary and the consequent adjustment to new conditions of life.  

Before, they had been nomads and shepherds; now, they must become farmers, vinedressers, artisans, and trade folks. It was a question if they could stop roving and master the complex art of developing the land into a viable way of life. Could they give up their tents and live huddled together in unhealthy stone villages and survive new forms of disease. The change was a challenge to their intelligence, courage, persistence, and faith in God. Some tribes would not meet the test; Simeon reverted to a nomadic life, the half-tribe of Manasseh, east of Jordan, was absorbed by Arameans, The Moabites swallowed up Ruben, and Asher changed the plow and ox goad for a set of oars, becoming practically Phoenician.  

The third danger was political. 

The Hebrews were, from the earliest days, thoroughly democratic. All tribes were on the same level of rights and opportunities, with special privileges for none. For two generations, they have confirmed their love for democratic life and institutions. They now came into close contact with the hostile Canaanites and Amorites, whose type of government was an autocracy in which the ruling family owned all the inhabitants as mere vassals and used them to defend or extend their power. As the Hebrews watched these kings grow in strength and success in war, it became a powerful incentive to drop their loose tribal form of government and copy the nations around them. Later during the time of Samuel, they did just that. 

 

The fourth danger was the greatest---the realm of religion. 

Coming fresh from the desert with enthusiasm still burning for the God who had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, brought them through the wilderness, given their victory at Jericho, and aided them in the conquest of the new land, they had one bond that made them different from their Canaanite neighbors---they worship Jehovah. But they had come into land over which Jehovah was believed to have no jurisdiction. They were in the area of Baal. Jehovah was the shepherd's God to be worshiped by the firstborn of the flock; Baal was a farmer's God to be honored with the first fruits of the soil. Being no longer shepherds and in a foreign land, many Hebrews felt they were no longer under any practical necessity to be loyal to Jehovah. This generation knew certain things were right and wrong, but they didn't care.  

Suppose a Hebrew claims a portion of land in a hollow to the south of Bethel and begins to toil the soil. He buys his seed from a Canaanite neighbor, sows it by guess, and sits back and waits for the harvest. It never came; the seed rotted in the soil. He goes to his neighbor, who sold him the seed, to find out what happened. The Canaanite asks, "Did you make a sacrifice to Baal, who owns the field and lives in the big tree at the end of it?" The Hebrew confesses that since he was brought up to worship Jehovah, he did not. At which point, he is told he will never have a crop until he sacrifices to Baal. Not being rich enough to survive a second loss, he takes the advice of the Canaanite, who shows him how to make a sacrifice to Baal and happens to teach him the correct method of when to sow and how to take care of his field. Next year he has a bumper crop.  

This episode makes the danger of Canaan real. Every feature of the new life was connected to the Canaanite religion. In those days, religion was not a separate function but a vital part of everyone's life. Everyone passionately believed that all calamities came to men because of some slight to one of the gods. It was wise for everybody to keep on the best terms with all divinities---which meant that every Hebrew must become an idolater. He must worship the local gods of whatever part of the land he occupied, as well as the more significant gods, the sun, the moon, and stars.  

The danger lies in just this---there was nothing left to distinguish the Hebrew from his neighbors. His morals, influenced by the example of his neighbors and by the debasing rites with which Baal was worshiped, will become corrupt. In three generations, there will be no Hebrews who worship the Lord God Jehovah.  

Now let's look at our present-day society. As a "Baby-boomer," I have contact with primary historical sources. I can or have talked with individuals who lived in the nineteenth century (1893), my grandparents, and those who live in the twentieth century, my parents (1924) and those who live in the twenty-first century (2021), my children and grandchildren. I can personally cover four to five generations of history for 128 years. Do you understand the responsibility that I have for the future of this world? Do you know the responsibility that I have to preserve the spiritual heritage of my family? Do you know my responsibility to maintain what is right, honest, just, and righteous? Do you know the responsibility that I have to correct the mistakes of my grandfathers? Do you understand that if there is to be a spiritual recovery, it is my generation that has been given the means to accomplish the task?  

Fifty years ago, Sunday school was the place to be on Sunday morning in America. There seemed to be no end in sight to the booming growth this arm of the Church had been enjoying for more than a decade.  

By 1980, Sunday school attendance had dropped dramatically. Christian educators began to turn their attention from theory to the very practical question of how the educational task of the Church could be accomplished in an era when the Sunday school was in severe decline.  

Today, things still appear to be going poorly for Sunday school, and the question remains, what are we going to do about it? How did we arrive at such a depressing situation in our Christian educational process?  

Over the past two generations, society has slipped into a mold of complacency and self-indulgence. Prosperity, hope, and noble ideals were replaced with an "If it feels good, do it" attitude. We became worshipers of self, while our culture has gone morally bankrupt. The present youth generation is at significant emotional, social, and spiritual risk. Young people are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than the youth of twenty years ago, and today's youth account for almost one-third of all abortions. Is there a way to change? There can be a change made, but we must first do things to see those changes happen.  

We must stop allowing the philosophy of exposure to the secular world to dominate our youth. Let me explain. We live in a time where our children are exposed to all kinds of ideas. Often, we are unaware of the concepts they are exposed to in their daily lives from school, movies, the Internet, books, peers, and adults in their lives. However, the One who created you and your children. The One who gives you life, the One who says that someday you will stand in His presence giving an account for every thought you had, every word you spoke, and every deed you have ever done, has commanded you to separate yourself from the exposure to evil. He said I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Rom.16:19    

The verse should put to rest the idea that we need to expose our children to both good and evil. You cannot allow your children to make up their minds about what they prefer in life. You are the parent. You have the responsibility to control what they are exposed to daily. That is why there are so many confused children today. Our children are given so many choices that they do not have the wisdom or understanding of what to choose. Why do you think there is such confusion among our youth about their gender? The confusion originated with Satan. 

We have been studying the armor of God and how vital that armor is to shield us from the evil of Satan. Have we ever stopped to think of how important it is to train our children in the use of armor? When will we stop focusing on ourselves and start protecting our most precious possessions from the garbage destroying this generation? Just how much do you need to know or be exposed to evil for it to be simple? Absolutely nothing! That is what God proclaims in His Word.   

The lie that you will hear even from people who profess to be Christian is children need to be exposed to the real world. Why do we want our children exposed to verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and ridicule and shame for being different? Why do you want to put your child in harm's way of drugs, alcohol, and even death? Yet, every day, children are exposed to evil that they should not know about.  

In Proverbs 19:22, the LORD says, Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err. He used the imperative form of a sentence. This is a command, not a suggestion.    

Let me give you an example of an imperative statement when the drill instruction knocks on the door of those in boot camp to wake them up. He does not gently tap on the door, saying, Gentlemen, breakfast is now being served in the mess hall. Wake up. No, he kicks the door open yells at the top of his voice, Get out of those bunks. Get dressed! Five minutes to roll call. Get moving now.  

That is an imperative statement. The LORD gives another statement just as strong. Thus, saith the LORD, Learn not the ways of the heathen. This command came from the King of Kings, the LORD of Lord, so you had better listen and obey on the double.  

Today, a generation does not know about the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Golden Rule, respect for others, authority, honesty, kindness, and a host of other moral values once taught in public school. They are ignorant of their spiritual heritage. Now they must survive in a culture that will soon absorb them into materialistic, self-indulging reprobates.  

 Some would have us believe that teaching these moral values is not the responsibility of the school. I would ask then whose responsibility is it? The home? The Church? If it is the responsibility of the home, where do parents learn to train their children in these values? The Church? Then why doesn't the Church seriously engage in a responsible training of these moral values and principles? Why is spiritual education left to telling Bible stories, singing choruses, and playing games? Why doesn't the Church feel the importance of making a difference in our society? Why isn't Sunday School the primary arm of training, equipping, and evangelism?  

 Are we so different from the early Hebrews? Are we so blind to the present that we will not see the inevitable fate that awaits us? In the early 1800s, there was a Biblical morality. Certain things were right and wrong, and they knew why. By the late 1950's we see morality based on secular culture, certain things were right and wrong, but they were not sure why. In the late 1970s, our society had become immoral, certain things were right and wrong, but they didn't care. Today, we live in a society with a total disregard for God. There is no such thing as right and wrong. Every man does what is right in his own eyes.  

 We have arrived at where the early Hebrews found themselves, a generation that does not know God. It has taken us less time than the Hebrews to raise a generation that is ignorant of God. 

 

 We need to cry out to the Lord in humility seeking his forgiveness and setting the present generation on the correct course by teaching them the ways of God as directed by the Holy Scriptures. We need to help our youth put on the armor of God.