- The Final Settlement

John has been able to give us some indication of conditions and events that will take place on the earth as the hour of final settlement begins. He makes it clear that the visitation of judgment upon the earth will involve an invasion of supernatural powers. There will be fearsome creatures loosed upon the earth, and great segments of the population will not only suffer but will be slain in the process. Think together with me about the supernatural events.

I will have to confess that I am among those who have been consistently skeptical of the stories of “flying saucers. “Likewise, I have never believed the tales people have told of sighting monstrous sea serpents. Although I have heard the legends concerning the diminutive leprechauns, I have never accepted the notion of their existence. But I do believe that the supernatural is a part of God’s being and eternal existence. I am convinced that when the living Lord of Creation, the Almighty God, begins to bring this rebel world back into the divine orbit, there will be an invasion from the world above as well as from the world below. And once the trumpets have sounded, sinful men and women will have no recourse. Neither will they have questions as to the origin of the judgment. There will be no need for a governmental inquiry or investigation. All will know that they have come to the time of God’s judgment throughout the world. As God sends these strange, punishing creatures upon the earth, there will be two human reactions. Some people will attempt suicide—only to discover that suicide is impossible: “They will long to die, but death will elude them” (Revelation 9:6). Some will continue stubbornly in their sinful practices: “They still did not repent; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols, nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21). The God of heaven and earth, as He makes His just claims, will be saying to a rebellious, lost race: “You speak of the great‘ natural’ forces you have experienced. You know about the release of nuclear power and boast of your intelligence in discovering the secrets of fusion and fission. But as your Creator, I am forewarning you that you have not seen anything at all. Although you have become used to living in the midst of sin and violence in a tear-stained and terror-filled world, you have not seen anything to compare with the blood and fire and devastation and death that will signal the end of My grace and mercy!”