A WAKE UP CALL©2005
by Ken Sumrall

When prophets of credibility warn us of judgments on our nation and unprecedented catastrophes coming soon on the whole world, it could very well be a wake up call for the church. In the spring of 2003, Kenneth Hagin, Sr. prophesied that 2005 would be a year of judgment. He died in September of that year. In 2004, Oral Roberts shared a vision of soon coming judgment over the whole world which would begin in New York City. Last year Chuck Pierce prophesied the flood and devastation of New Orleans. Kim Clements, a prophet from South Africa who has ministered in this nation for the last five years, warned of the a horrible hurricane striking New Orleans. They believe this is just the beginning of last-day sorrows. Rick Joyner’s recent Morning Star Prophetic Bulletin speaks of a dark cloud with a silver lining. He had a dream of a low dark cloud which was coming toward us at a rapid speed. When he tried to run to a house of safety, he was so afraid he could not get the key in the lock to enter for safety. It was revealed to him that the coming cloud is a deadly virus which would rise out of Asia. He was warned that his fear could prevent his safety. 
        A few years ago, (1999) I received a message from the Lord of coming troubles on our land. When I wrote an article on it for the Chit Chat, the Lord said not to distribute it because too many people were not yet prepared to receive any message on possible judgment of our land. I tried to preach it in two churches but felt the brakes on from the people. So I have waited—maybe too long. But I think the climate is now ripe to preach on repentance and preparation for judgment.
 God said that judgment is the only cure for the gross sins of homosexuality, abortion, and same sex marriages. When I reminded the Lord that these sins could be forgiven, He said yes they can be forgiven but it is the attitude toward these abominations that cannot be forgiven. The act of homosexuality can be forgiven. But the attitude that the “gay” lifestyle is normal will not be forgiven. Paul assures us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that all kinds of sins can be forgiven and the sinner sanctified. He names fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, the effeminate, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortionist as being unfit for the Kingdom of God. He added that “such were some of you, but you are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” God has the power and the desire to save sinners of all kind. But God cannot endure a mindset in our nation which ignores His word about the sinfulness of these sins. He especially abhors homosexuality. Nor can He overlook 50 million babies whose blood cries to Him from the ground. Though He can forgive a mother who has her baby killed, He is angry with women who make a covenant to kill babies and politicians who cater to their demands. His cup of wrath is filling up fast. Do not be taken in by the false prophets who say that God is love and therefore will not judge men and women who continue in their abominations. He has and He will. (2 Peter 2-3). 
        God is merciful. Judgment is His strange work. (Isaiah 28:21) He does not judge men or nations whenever they deserve it. He waits until there is no other remedy for transgressions. Rick Joyner wrote: “Human problems are now coming to the place where they are beyond human remedy….We do know as we get closer to the end of this age that plagues are going to come. As we see in the book of Revelation that they will kill a third of the people on the earth (which some believe the avian flu could do).”
        Health officials and scientists are stating that it is not a matter of if this deadly flu will break out, but just a matter of when.  They say it could even strike this year and kill millions and millions all over the world. It may be next year or the next but it is coming for sure. Ken Copeland said according to the closeness of the dark cloud overtaking him, it is very near. New Zealand has warned that they expect 1.4 million of their people to contract this flu and at least 300,000 to die from it. It is predicted to be the worst plague to ever hit the earth. In 1918, a great flu epidemic killed hundreds of thousands in the U.S. and many more throughout the world. More of our troops died from the outbreak of flu than were killed in World War I. Avian flu is more dangerous than that epidemic.
        Rick Joyner says: “We are going to be seeing the spiritual contractions coming upon the world like they come upon a woman in labor. Just as the contractions that a mother experiences become more intense and more frequent as she gets closer to the birth, this will be the pattern for the troubles that will come upon the world. Storms will get worse. Earthquakes are going to get worse. Diseases are going to get worse.” It goes without saying that in 2005 the world has experienced just exactly that. Hurricanes of 180 miles an hour in the Gulf; a Tsunami swamped several nations of Asia, severe earthquakes wreaked havoc in Pakistan and other areas of the world. And according to prophecies, the worst are yet to come.

Be Sober But Unafraid

        When Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt led congress to declare war against Japan.  Germany immediately declared war on the United States. Along with my family (I turned 15 in that same month), I listened as the President spoke on the radio to try to calm the fears of this nation. His famous statement “we have nothing to fear but fear itself” was a part of that radio speech. The people of this nation grasped his words. Rather than fear, we were challenged to soberly prepare ourselves to unite and sacrifice in the critical days ahead. We did so. So my purpose in sharing this message is to inspire my readers with the same courage we displayed in those terrible war years.  Let us be sober and prepare for the trouble to come, but do so without fear of the enemy or the coming storms, earthquakes, diseases, or wrath of God. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Whatever else happens in the troublesome days ahead, we know we will not suffer the wrath of God.

WHAT SHALL WE DO TO PREPARE?

1.   The Lord has promised to be with us to the end of the age. The Church shines brightest in dark times. Therefore let’s get ready to shine in every dark place.  Isaiah 60:1-2

2.   Draw close to God by cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts and He will draw close to us. James 4:8

3.   Let us pray for and with our families for our churches and country. God will give us the measure of grace we need to stand and flourish in times of trouble. Mark 13:33

4.   Let us expect a host of souls to come to Jesus as He demonstrates his healing power and supernatural manifestations through His people. Acts 3

5.   Let us claim and live in Psalm  91.

6.   Let us not be downcast. Jesus said: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  Luke 21:28

7.   We need to be in covenant with God’s people and gather often with them, encouraging one another, and much more so as we see the day (of the Lord) approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).  "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:17)