I listened with interest to the comment by a Sydney Radio compere this week that, as a Christian, he wondered why God allows such things (as Hurricane Katrina) to happen. This is a question that others in the community are asking, and it is good for us to be ready with an answer.
May I suggest that there are at least three possible lines of thought to consider: 1. It is part of the natural process of God’s creation; 2. It is part of the ‘End Time’ catastrophic events predicted by Jesus; and 3. It is a judgement from God on man’s wickedness.
1. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” That is, the forces of ‘nature’ are indiscriminate in their effect on all people.
Hurricanes of varying intensity have been occurring from before the beginning of human history, and some, like the one that hit Galveston in Texas at the beginning of last Century, have caused terrible damage. According to some reports, scientists have been warning for years that such an event as “Katrina” was likely, but authorities did very little to prepare. If proper precautions had been taken then much of the tragedy may have been avoided. It is not fair to blame God for human failure.
2. Jesus warned that, before the end of this age there will be “fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11) This is part of a cataclysmic end to a heaven and earth that is passing away and a reminder that our true future lies in the Kingdom of God.
3. A number of prophetic people have noted that, two days after ‘Katrina’ hit, there was due to be a gathering in New Orleans of thousands of homosexuals, called “Southern Decadence,” with unspeakable public immorality. It was for just such behaviour that God destroyed the city of Sodom. (Gen 19) As Rick Joyner noted, ‘Katrina’ means ‘cleansing.’
LISTENING TO THE PROPHETS
In Amos 3:7 we read “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” It is coming to light that numbers of prophetic people were given warnings of ‘Katrina’ beforehand, but, like the scientific warnings, no-one took them seriously. Perhaps the most dramatic prophecy I have come across was given in January this year to John Mark Poole in the USA:
“This morning I heard the abundance of a mighty earthquake having just occurred in the heavenlies. A major shift is taking place in God’s realm of the spiritual and the supernatural. Yet again, I was overwhelmed that I felt He impressed during this time that our country will experience soon what I saw in the spiritual—major earthquakes and extreme flooding. Flooding was seen in the central and the Southern United States. I saw New Orleans literally 20 feet underwater across the main downtown area. At this time of flooding in New Orleans, I saw it as a sewer full of debris and every form of garbage floating around and swirling in the flood. The French Quarter will be wiped out in the flood. Bourbon Street will be abandoned. Alligators will be swimming where dens of iniquity once abounded.
Sin’s investors will let go of the territory. They reside in other areas and will be seeing this as a place of unstable investment for future plans of sin. God’s Kingdom investors will step in and be allowed to bid on properties abandoned by the sin investors. Then the superdome will be available to purchase for 1/10th of a cent on the dollar! This will one day be called the "Glory Dome" as a move of God will be based out of it and make it a "Healing and Restoration Center" grabbing worldwide attention. This Glory Dome will go on continually on a 24/7 basis. ("9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts." Haggai 2:9 KJV.)”
Also, in the same prophecy was the message: “Now is a banner year of growing, new birth, new alignments from God’s Compass and new increase in every area. You should be excited to be a part of something so majestic as God’s green light of growth and expansion preparing us for a Major Move of God as has never been experienced in America before!…”
“There is a season on its way, however that is a season that comes from destruction in our land. This is a setup for our country, America, to again become aware that God is Jehovah, and He alone is able to bring shaking, earthquakes, and thick clouds of smoke, lightening and leveling winds with accompanying torrential floods. Yet He is Jehovah God, and He can in the same instant, if the people repent, calm the raging sea, stay the wind and rain, stop the lightening in mid-strike and bring peace for His creation. They will again behold Him in all His glory as we become still and know that He is God!” You can read the full prophecy at: www.wordtotheworldministries.org/new_page_1.htm
Let us be alert to what God is saying to us in these days.