The Prophecy
The Gospel in Nature. Part 9
Over the past 8 posts, we’ve seen together how the elements of nature together tell a coherent story of God’s glory, goodness and grace. But how we do know this is really true? Could it all have just been a beautiful coincidence? Have we just been reading something nice or is it factual? Did God really invest in nature or we’re just making imaginary connections? Is the purpose of nature disconnected from the eternal message of God’s grace? Were all the illustrations a narration of the Gospel or are we just making things up?
We know this is true because God’s word said so. The Psalmist was not just making up lyrics when he said “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” He was not just making up nice sounding and relatable words to magnify the Lord. For the most part, he was telling it exactly as it is. This for us means two things: 1) God is awesome to have encoded such truth in nature. 2) Whenever we see these signs, we’re not being overly spiritual to say it is God giving us another reminder.
Matthew 27:51–54 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Something happened when Jesus was on the cross, darkness covered the earth for a period of 3 hours. Day turned to night, the sun no longer gave its light for a moment. I’ve read a few resources around this and there seems to be a consensus around “although it felt like an eclipse, but the duration was unlike any other eclipse.” Whatever the case is, whether it was an actual eclipse or a sign in the heavens to testify of what was really happening as the Son of God hung on the cross, nature continues to give us a reminder about that moment. And that will not be the last of it.
The centurion caught on with what was going on and He declared “Surely he was the Son of God.” I am convinced that yet again, in a not-so-distant future, there will be an alliance of the signs in the sky and the preaching of the Gospel and this time not just one centurion will declare it but nations, tongues and tribes will declare that indeed “Jesus is the Son of God.” The saints we carry the gospel on their shoulder and God will bear witness to it with signs in the heavens.
Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Not only will a mighty revival be ushered in by signs in nature, the present age will also be closed out with signs in the heavens. When the gospel has run its course and the mighty harvest has come in, nature will have served its purpose and the sun will give its light ray of light and leave the stage for the Father of lights to take His place and the Everlasting light. Every dot in God’s word will be fulfilled and then heaven and earth will pass away.
From Mar 31st — Apr 30th 2024, in the pace of 1 month, 4 spectacular events happened.
- Easter: Mar 31st — the commemoration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. This event helps us reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s salvation plan for all of mankind.
- Solar Eclipse: April 8th — a physical sign in nature telling of God’s salvation to mankind as we have explained earlier in this series. It paints a visual picture of the stone being rolled away from the tomb and the light of the world emerging.
- Eid al-Fitr: April 10th — the end of the Islamic Ramadan fast. This is a date determined by the observance of nature elements especially the moon. And by the standards of this series, a misinterpretation of the signs of nature.
- Passover: April 30th — the Judaic commemoration of the end of the 430 years of slavery in Egypt. This is the historical and natural component of the salvation plan of God. Jesus delivers us out of slavery to sin and into liberty of the spirit.
I mention these 4 because there is some sort of a connection and I am convinced there will come a time where, these will overlap again and the light of the Gospel will overshadow these events and many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
More in the Series
- The Gospel in Nature (Part 1)
- A Reflection of God (Part 2)
- God is Faithful (Part 3)
- God is Gracious (Part 4)
- The Nature of Sin (Part 5)
- The Greatest Witness (Part 6)
- The Gospel in Nature (Part 7)
- Like Stars (Part 8)
- The Prophecy (Part 9) (You are here)
- So Will I (Part 10)
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