Shalom from Zion

One word seems to confront us on a regular basis these days. Recently, the Lord spoke this word after the following incident. Chuck was waiting for a ride to the airport for a time of ministry in Scotland. It was just before 1 AM local Israeli time.

Suddenly, blood came pouring out of his nose and for the next 10-15 minutes flowed so freely that Karen considered calling an ambulance. The bleeding finally stopped. A shaken Chuck took leave of a shaken Karen to fly off.

Landing in Frankfurt later that morning for a plane change, he calmed down enough to ask the Lord what that was all about and very distinctly heard the word, "Suddenly!"

Immediately, he thought of a tsunami suddenly rising out of the sea, a horde of tornadoes ravaging America's Midwest, Middle East [ME] uprisings and US President Obama changing national policy towards Israel in the blink of an eye.

The word "suddenly" in scripture,

means just that - quickly, unexpectedly. At times it indicates a good thing, but often it is something God warns us about.

• At times, God's judgments can descend suddenly:

  [Canaanites left in the land] will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods. Then the LORD's anger will be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.

  Deut. 7:4

  …[A proud, wicked person's] calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

  Prov. 6:15; 29:1

  I have declared the former things from the beginning… I showed them. I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

  Isa. 48:3

• God's beneficial acts might also occur suddenly.

  When the day of Pentecost/Shavuot was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

  Acts 2:1-2

  At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God… Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

  Acts 16:25-26

  Also see Mal.. 3:1; Luke 2:13-14; Acts 9:3.

• God's righteous judgments in the Day of the Lord and the return of Messiah Yeshua are said to happen suddenly, yet those who watch and pray and trust need not be afraid:

  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes. For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.

  Prov. 3:25-26

  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master returns …or else coming suddenly he finds you sleeping. What I say to you I say unto all, Watch.

  Mark 13:35-37

  …the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them… and they shall not escape.

  1 Thes. 5:1-3

  Surely I come quickly ['suddenly'].

  Rev. 22:20

  Also see Eccl. 9:12; Matt. 24:27.

• The great harlot Babylon, that final global religion-civilization, will be destroyed suddenly.

  Therefore shall [Babylon's] plagues come in one day, death, mourning, and famine…

  Rev. 18:8; cp. Isa. 47:9

  The kings of the earth [say]… Alas, alas, that great city Babylon… For in one hour is your judgment come.

  Rev. 18:9-10; also see verses 15-19 and note in one hour twice; cp. Jer. 51:8