Biblical prophecy?

New Jersey, East Coast USA, Weather Report 2011
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

I woke up my husband the other morning by jumping up and down on the bed, saying, "Honey!  We have everything in New Jersey!  Earthquakes!"  Then I exclaimed, "Tropical Storms!" and I squirted him with the squirt gun.  Then I said, "Oh and blizzards! Let me go get some ice."  He laughed the whole time, but at the thought of ice he jumped out of bed and yelled, "NO!"  and chased me a bit. : )

I'm taking a detour from the Proverbs today.  After the hurricane, I called up my Dad and brother to let them know we were ok.  Both of them asked me the same question.  "Isn't this like a Biblical Prophecy or something?"  It's hard because there's some bad stuff in the prophecy, people will die, this earth will end.  My brother asked if God was mad at us and going to part the sea, or turn everything to blood.  So I told him, "No.  That was Pharaoh who tried to be God.  Although Obama might want to cool his jets a little.  This is about the second coming of Christ."

To be honest the Biblical Prophecies have been so misunderstood for so many years.  I usually like to avoid them.  But when I heard my Dad and brother's concerns I thought maybe others would want to know as well.  So I'll do my best with it- there's some bad news and some great news.  The first thing to point out is America isn't mentioned in the Bible.  Russia, the middle east nations, Europe are all there, but not us.  Don't know if that's good or bad.  

This is what Jesus said:
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matt 24:6-14 NKJV

This is one of the most important things Jesus said for us today.  If you hear predictions about the date of Christ's return, don't believe it- it's definitely false.  People have been predicting the return of Christ for centuries.  We just don't know the day of His return.  People thought Hitler was the anti-christ.  He fooled many into thinking he was looking out for the good of people.  Until the horrible truth was revealed.  The swastika is still a symbol of horror to many of us, the broken cross.  We need to really think about leaders who seem too good to be true, so it won't happen again.

36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."
Matt 24:36-37 NKJV

Jesus wants us to keep busy loving others and looking out for each other until He comes.  Of course, there's an urgency to share our faith.  There's some words of warning here for those who would speak or do evil in Jesus' Name.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51 NIV

And the good news!  There is also the hope that we will be raptured as Christians, before the great tribulation happens.  I hope we will be able to skip it.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Revelation 3:10 NIV

11 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! 12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, 13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. 14 He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Titus 2:11-14 THE MESSAGE

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

The heart of the truth about Jesus desire- not to destroy the earth.  But to save the people.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 NKJV

None of us are perfect.  If we claim to be, that would be a sin.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23 NKJV

He wants to forgive us.  He really does.  He's not waiting for us to mess up, He's waiting for us to confess.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NKJV

Some people are saying America is cursed because Obama told Israel to change their borders.  I don't believe that's true.  If these folks would open their eyes to the rest of the world they would notice the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, the famine and drought in Africa, the volcano in Iceland erupting, the typhoons, earthquakes and tornadoes in the US, Australia and New Zealand.  There's a much bigger picture here.  I really don't think America is as important as we think we are.  However, we are a nation of many nationalities, religions, and Christians.   I am very concerned about our country's involvement in the middle-east.  The long term affects concern me.  Some say the US isn't in the Bible because many of us will be raptured.  I hope so, but it could also be that we are considered part of the West, Europe.

I looked up the New Jersey blizzards, earthquakes, and hurricanes on the web and found the first recordings:
1888 Blizzard that knocked out the east coast
1783 Earthquake in New Jersey
21 recorded hurricanes have hit New Jersey

None of this is new.  The strange thing- all that's happened in this particular year.  That's why I look to Heaven and wonder if He's coming soon.  I'll keep waiting and working. 
Matt 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

If you want me to share more or have questions, feel free to leave a comment.  Or if you thought of something else please share it!  This is just scratching the surface.