Passover: Plagues Pass Over
March 17, 2017
Unpredictable Plagues
Currently, many methods to help us make predictions about the future exist. However, more often than not, we are still caught off guard.
In 2008, after the global financial crisis broke out, Queen Elizabeth asked the economists at the London School of Economics why they could not predict it. The economists honestly confessed, “Financial wizards were guilty of wishful thinking combined with hubris.”Though there are many experts who make detailed analyses, foretelling things which have yet to happen is easier said than done. Despite having resources to track the possible occurrences of disasters, sometimes things happen too quickly to be noticed. We can draw an example from the sudden explosion of a meteor above Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013. At that time, the meteor whizzed towards our earth, undetected.We cannot know what will happen in the future. Yet, we still need predictions. This is so that we can make preparations.
Unheeded Warnings
Warnings give us time to seek solutions which can cushion the negative effects of a catastrophe. However, it is often received unfavourably. This is because nobody likes bad news.
Nearing the end of World War II, before America detonated the two nuclear bombs which would later end the war, they dropped leaflets from airplanes, warning Japanese citizens of the impending calamity. Unfortunately, many ignored the warnings, and, until today, we can still see the effects of the incident still lingering.
Thus, it is important to have the wisdom to distinguish true warnings and to act upon it. There is a perfect prediction which God gave to us—it is the words of the Bible.
Bible’s Warnings
2 Peter 1:19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it …
So far, all the prophecies in the Bible are being fulfilled without missing even the slightest one. We should not ignore the remaining prophecies which are to be fulfilled in our age.
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
The Bible foretells unprecedented plagues, and God warned us with the will to save us.
Can We Save Ourselves?
Today, we can see many news reports or articles about men seeking their own methods to escape plagues, such as building doomsday bunkers, seeking other habitable planets, hiding in nuclear submarines etc.
Regarding this, the Bible prophesied as follows:
Amos 9:2-4 Though they dig down to the depths below, … Though they climb up to the heavens above …Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea … I will keep my eye on themfor harm and not for good.
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath …
Instead of depending on temporary methods to hide from disasters, let us learn the true solution God taught us through the Bible.
The Seal of God
Revelation 7:1-3 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice …“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Revelation 9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
In our age, escaping from disasters fully depends on whether we received the seal of God. What is the seal of God?
John 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man (Jesus) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.
God has put His seal on Jesus. In order to receive the seal (Jesus), we have to become one body with Him. Regarding this, He told us,
John 6:53-56 Jesus said to them, “… Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”
How can we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood then?
Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28 … So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover … Jesus took bread … “… this is my body.” Then he took a cup …“… This is my blood of the covenant …”
When we keep the Passover of the New Covenant, we can become one body with Jesus who is the seal, and thereby, be sealed for redemption from disasters.
Sealed As His Own
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who … set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
God sets His seal on us, marking us to be “His own”.
Isaiah 43:1-3 … “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze …”
Through the seal of the Passover, God makes us His own children, promising to shield us from all disasters.
Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
God gave us predictions of impending disasters and showed us the sure way of protection. Let us have the wisdom to heed the warnings and to act upon it.