On Aug. 21, 2017, there was a total solar eclipse over the U.S. and because God used darkness to warn Pharaoh to repent and to let His people go (Ex. 10:21-29), some Jewish Rabbis believe the eclipse was a warning to the U.S. for its citizens to repent of their sins.

The eclipse reached its maximum coverage of the sun over the U.S. in an area of southern Illinois called “Little Egypt.” That area is called “Little Egypt” partly because it has a river system that is much like the Nile Valley in Egypt.

Egypt subjected the children of Israel to slavery. And during the Civil War, there was illegal slavery in southern Illinois.

Several cities (Karnak, Cairo and Thebes) and some businesses (King Tut’s Gas Station) in “Little Egypt” have Egyptian names.

A second total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. on Apr. 8, 2024. It will also reach its maximum coverage of the sun over “Little Egypt.”

This brings up a question: Why did God choose “Little Egypt” to receive the first dose of maximum darkness and why did He choose it to receive a second dose about seven years from now?

If darkness in Egypt was a warning to Pharaoh to repent, is darkness in “Little Egypt” a warning to the U.S. for its citizens to repent?

Without question, repentance is needed and it is a good thing. But some question any connection between the eclipse and repentance in the U.S. so I suggest that we look at some interesting facts.

Just know that God loves people, but He loves their souls more. Know that God brings good out of everything and He uses problems to draw people to Him before they perish or have even greater problems.

Know that more people in Texas, Louisiana and Florida have probably talked to God longer and harder since the eclipse than they did before. Know that many have a greater understanding of the power of God. Know that many now realize that they were taking God and their blessings for granted.

Many people are suffering and they will suffer more, but if just one person got saved that soul is worth more than all the property damage that occurred.

The eclipse didn’t last three days, but three days after the eclipse tropical storm Harvey became a hurricane. It struck the Texas Coast a few hours later.

The first Plague in Egypt was water turned into blood, dead fish, stinking and unsanitary water (Ex. 7:14-25). During the flooding in Texas and Louisiana, raw sewage and chemicals got into the water. In some places, strong contamination caused the water to stink and receding water left behind dead fish and animals that quickly started to stink.

The third Plague in Egypt was lice (The root word means gnats or mosquitoes).

Health officials in Texas and Louisiana warned that stagnant water will provide millions of places for mosquitoes to breed. They called for aerial spraying to control mosquitoes that spread diseases (Zika, Cholera, etc.).

The fifth plague in Egypt was the death of the cattle, horses, camels, donkeys and sheep (Ex. 9:1-7). Hurricane Harvey killed many animals.

The seventh Plague in Egypt was hail (Ex. 9:13-35). God said hail would fall unlike anything that has ever happened before or anything that will ever happen again. Some did not believe God’s warning because Egypt is a very dry country with less than one inch of rain per year.

Because of the warm temperatures, Florida rarely gets hail, but it does happen. In fact, on Sept. 10, 2017, it was reported that hail had fallen in Tampa and Miami during hurricane Irma.

The ninth Plague in Egypt was darkness (Ex. 10:21-29). Although it was a different matter, the Dept. of Homeland Security said at its peak on Sept. 11, 2017, about 15 million Floridians were without electricity. Three-fourths of the state was in darkness. In an amazing turn around, the electricity (and light) was restored to about 10 million homes in just 2 days.

The tenth Plague in Egypt was the death of the first-born son and animals (Ex. 11:1-12:30). Following the death of multitudes, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night. He ordered the Jews to leave Egypt. “And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men” (Ex. 12:33).

As Hurricane Irma approached, everyone that could was urged to leave Florida. The roads were jammed.

When the Israelites left Israel, Pharaoh pursued them (Ex. 14:1-31). Pharaoh thought he had them trapped against the Red Sea. The Israelites were afraid, but Moses said, “The Lord shall fight for you.” God told Moses to lift his rod and stretch it over the Red Sea and divide it. Moses did and God sent a strong east wind that made the waters go back so that the Israelites could cross on dry ground.

Many skeptics deny that this happened. Some suggest the Jews crossed in shallow water, an earthquake or a landslide dried up the water, etc.

The Bible says the Lord did it. And many conservative theologians and preachers accept it as a historical fact. Some things in the Bible may not make sense to us.

But it is wrong to question the Bible.

At Tampa Bay, Florida, strong winds from the northeast blew the water out of the Bay. People walked on land that is usually under water. It proves that God could send a strong east wind to divide the Red Sea and let the Jews cross on dry ground if He wanted to (Ex. 14:21-22). A similar event also happened in the Bahamas.

Also, at Tampa Bay, two Manatees got stranded on dry ground because the water receded so fast. People put the Manatees on tarps and drug them 100 yds. back to the water.

There are other fascinating things:

One, the rod of Moses turned into a snake (Ex. 7:8-12) and there were snakes in the flood waters in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Two, the children of Israel complained about their need for drinking water on at least two different occasions (Ex. 17:1-7; Num. 20:9-12) and some of the flood victims complained about a lack of water.

Three, hurricane Jose looked like it was going to strike the Caribbean, but it turned away and wandered around in the southwest Atlantic for several days; and the children of Israel looked like they were going to enter the Promised Land, but they turned away and wandered around in the wilderness for forty years.

Even though the citizens of Florida were urged to evacuate, some decided to stay and have a “hurricane party.” Menu favorites included cold beer and hot wings. Some lifted their drinks in the air and shouted, “Happy Hurricane.”

Concerning His return, Jesus said, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:37-39).

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. that He sent Ten Plagues on Egypt?

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. we have been taking our blessings for granted and He can take them away anytime He wants to do it?

Did God choose “Little Egypt” to remind the U.S. that He is in control and no nation has enough wealth, weapons or whatever to resist Him?

Has God sent or allowed birth pang like disasters (increasing in frequency and strength) to remind the U.S. of an important sign of our Lord’s return?

Understand that as bad as it was, the flooding in Texas, Louisiana and Florida was a little puddle compared to the great Flood in Noah’s day and what our nation has gone through is nothing compared to what will happen in the Tribulation period.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com

 

What does it all mean? In the U.S., a total solar eclipse coast to coast, monstrous hurricanes, two great hurricanes in less than three weeks, 17 million U.S. citizens under a hurricane warning, millions fleeing, towns and cities under water, widespread destruction more costly than ever, fifty-two inches of rain, one-thousand year flood, dams on the verge of breaking, a new U.S. lake the size of Lake Michigan, dozens of people killed, hundreds of people injured, thousands of animals drowned, thousands of acres of crops destroyed, store shelves empty, ships from foreign countries delivering fuel to Florida, an earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park and another earthquake swarm in Idaho.

What does it all mean? Flooding in Asia that impacted more than 40 million people, two powerful solar flares several times the size of planet earth on the same day, islands that may no longer be inhabitable, a once in a century earthquake off the coast of Mexico and a hurricane striking that same nation one day later, an upcoming once-in-the-history-of-the-world wonder in the heavens, Jerusalem under siege, a wild man testing hydrogen bombs and threatening to nuke the U.S.; Russia and Iran moving troops to mountains of Israel.

Are these birth pangs? You know, indications that the day of the Lord is at hand; signs that the Tribulation period is drawing near. Is God reminding the world of a future time when people will faint, be sorrowful, be in travail and be amazed; a future time when God’s wrath and fierce anger will be poured out to make areas desolate and punish the world for sin (Isaiah 13:6-11)?

Is the time of Jacob’s trouble near? You know, that great day when God will break the Gentile yoke off Israel’s neck so the Jews can possess all of the land that He gave to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants forever (Jeremiah 30:1-9; Gen. 17:7-8).

Is God shaking the heavens and the earth? You know, in times past He shook the earth, but in the future He won’t shake the heavens and the earth (Heb. 12:26; also see Hag. 2:6-7, 21-22). Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote, “God is going to shake everything to let all His created universe know that there are some things which are unshakeable, and one of those things is living faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Rock that we rest upon, and He cannot be shaken (Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. V; pg. 609).

Do you think that is impossible? Do you know that some experts said the winds of hurricanes Harvey and Irma shook the trees so hard and the waves crashed on the beaches so hard that they caused the ground to shake enough for seismometers to pick up the vibrations?

Is it the fulfillment of Daniel 9:26? You know, the end thereof shall be with a flood. It seems more likely that God is referring to a flood of overwhelming disasters, wars, problems, etc., but God is not opposed to saying things like this.

Is it the fulfillment of Luke 21:25? You know, Jesus was talking about His Second Coming when He said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars (perhaps an eclipse, or solar flares, or the alignment of constellations such as is in the Revelation 12 sign); and upon the earth distress of nations (perhaps North Korea, Islamic terrorism or economic problems); with perplexity (perhaps not knowing what to do about North Korea, Islamic terrorism, etc.); the sea and the waves roaring” (perhaps strong winds, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.).

Is God warning the nations to repent? You know, God told King Solomon, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:13-14).

If God is warning nations to repent it is grace. It means He wants people to give up their sins and be saved before He deals more harshly with the wickedness on earth.

He wants people to acknowledge Jesus and be saved so they can go in the Rapture and not be left behind to enter the Tribulation period.

The world doesn’t have to have hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and the like. God will stop those things if people will repent, pray, abandon their sins and trust in Jesus.

He sent the Great Flood, shut the door on the Ark, drowned Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea and more. What the U.S. has experienced is nothing compared to what He can do.

The world is accountable to God for what is going on. His judgment doesn’t have to fall, at least not right now. Repenting and acknowledging Jesus will stop it. Continuing in wickedness and rebellion will make it worse.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com