Locusts are not a judgement
I have great respect for Dr Clifford Hill’s ministry, but I cannot agree that the African countries suffering from the locust plague are under judgement because of their attitude to Israel (‘The day of the Lord’, June/July).
Dr Hill states that the locust plague “is almost exclusively hitting nations that are hostile to Israel”, but the UN map you printed shows that the countries most affected are Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
Ethiopia has always been a deeply Israel-loving nation, even though, under Arab pressure, diplomatic ties were broken between 1977 and 1992. Ethiopians are proud to believe that they are descended from the Queen of Sheba and have a replica of the ark of the covenant in every Orthodox church. They keep many Jewish customs, such as eating unleavened bread at Easter time, circumcising their male children and getting married under a canopy.
Kenya has good diplomatic relations with Israel, so Somalia is the only one of the three that does not have any ties with Israel.
Nor can we blame the locust plagues on abortion or homosexuality policies; both are illegal in Ethiopia and Kenya, while abortion is very limited in Somalia.
We do not know why those countries are suffering so much, but they certainly need our prayers as the coronavirus continues and the locusts devastate their crops.
Ultimately, we know that God loves the people of Africa and they are in his hands.
Lynda Carew-Jones
Margate, Kent
Thoughts and ways
Believers often misapply this passage: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,’ says the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).
God did not mean that his thoughts and ways are so strange that we can’t understand them. Verse 9 gives the context: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD.”
God was actually rebuking the people for NOT thinking and acting like he does! We need to read the Bible to learn about God’s character, then do our best to follow his example. Simple!
Peter Jones
Melrose, Roxburghshire
WholeCounselofGod.com
Biased cover
Your latest cover article (‘Was this judgement?’, June/July) has right-wing bias screaming throughout it. The author might as well be communications director for the Conservative Party.
Dave Borlase makes claims that are opinion but sound like fact. He states that had Labour won the election, they would have blocked the ‘people’s vote’. Since many in the Labour Party were pro-Brexit, this would have been unlikely.
Mr Borlase’s comment about Labour’s anti-Semitism is also highly contentious; the right-wing press made much of it without a lot of solid evidence. (Had it been found to be true, I would not have supported the Labour Party.)
Furthermore, he dismisses the increase of domestic abuse during lockdown with flippant disregard (“Despite reports of increased domestic abuse, God has used this time to strengthen the family”), moving on to state his desire that marriages will be saved.
A Christian publication needs to proclaim the Gospel and God’s love and grace in factual ways that can be related to by people today. This article is more likely to have potential Christians running away, thinking we’re all nutcases.
Paul N Cambell
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
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Bible prophecy unfolding?
I believe that coronavirus has hastened a worldwide financial crash, giving the perfect conditions for the anti-Christ to be revealed, together with the false prophet (2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 13:1-10, 19:20).
The resultant debt of nations and individuals will be impossible to pay off, paving the way for a new ten-nation Europe to rule the world, fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.
The anti-Christ could miraculously stop the virus; he will do many wonders and miracles to fool even the ‘elect’, if that were possible (Matthew 24:24). He would announce a ‘jubilee’, cancelling all public and private debt and introducing Universal Basic Income for everyone, employed or unemployed.
Digital banking would see cash quickly phased out. All people would be chipped on their hand or forehead except for those who faithfully obey the Lord and refuse the ‘mark of the beast’.
A peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians would be signed, and a one-world religion, such as ‘Chrislam’, would be decreed, governed from Rome. (Pope Francis has already welcomed a controversial inter-faith committee.)
All this is foretold in the Bible; the question is whether it happens now, with ideal conditions looming, or is somehow delayed by political action.
But if the ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ viewpoint is correct, we will not be here but with our blessed Saviour in heaven, returning seven years later with his glorious army of angels to bring judgement and to rule with him in Jerusalem for 1,000 years!
Rob Tromans
Craven Arms, Shropshire
Damaging volume
I agree about the need to turn down the volume of some modern music in church (‘Bring back Mission Praise!’, June/July). I love the Graham Kendrick/Stuart Townend genre, but some of the more recent Christian music can be ear-damagingly loud.
The charity Action on Hearing Loss says that loud noise can damage the delicate hair-like receptors in our ears, which can lead to permanent hearing loss. Churches need to keep an eye on this; in future we could have many Christians with impaired hearing.
Ann Wills
Ruislip, Middlesex
Wake up to satanism
Christians need to start publicly talking about satanism and Satanist Ritual Abuse (SRA).
Not talking publicly about it today is like refusing to speak publicly about the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s; it only makes the enemy stronger.
Thus satanists were emboldened to try to march in at least a dozen US cities on 21 June, the summer solstice, openly demanding a one world government.
To find out more, watch this video regarding the satanic agenda:
https://youtu.be/vMrLwPv3sD4
Wilfred Wong
London