The Heavens Declare
There is nothing quite like an event in the heavens to get our attention. An eclipse, a comet that we are told is heading for earth, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn!
A solar eclipse is an eerie event, the temperature drops, dairy cows return to the barn, crickets chirp, birds roost or become noisy. The last total eclipse in the UK was August 1999 lasting 90 seconds, the next one is September 2090
Or the SUN sending violent flares towards earth that produces fear and terror to the heart.
One such event at the beginning of September 1859 was recorded by a man called Richard Carrington, an amateur sky watcher in Redhill. On September 1st Carrington was sketching a number of sunspots that he had just seen growing on the sun through his telescope. Suddenly he was blinded by a sudden "white light flare" which lasted about 5 minutes. This flare was a major Coronal Mass Ejection, a burst of magnetised plasma from the sun's upper atmosphere.
In 17 hours the CME travelled 90 million miles(150 million km) to earth unleashing the force of its power on our planet.
This enormous blast caused a geomagnetic storm that had not been known before. It was witnessed across the world, causing telegraph systems to catch light, burning the fingers of the operators, and setting fire to the battery systems, some needed no power to send signals because the atmosphere was alive with magnetism. Auroras were not limited to the poles but the power of this storm touched all latitudes, and other strange phenomena occurred.
This event is know as the Carrington event and lasted several days In 1859 the technology was very minimal, just telegraphs were disrupted, but today, were the same event to happen it would damage transformers on power grids with widespread blackouts, which would take roughly 10 years to repair. Satellites, communication, aviation and all GPS systems would be impacted.
I think we all know the results without too much detail what a world without power would be like, and we never know when the sun will send another Carrington event to earth. These events can be equal to 1000's of nuclear bombs exploding. The last time a small scale eruption happened it was in Quebec March 1989 and brought a 9 hour blackout for 6 million people.
Mankind is very clever, but these events in the heavens reveal just how insignificant we really are, and totally powerless to stop or control them.
We are spectators only.
The events that cause the most panic is when light is withdrawn. This happened when God sent darkness over the land of Egypt as a warning to Pharaoh to let His people go, for three days, it was a darkness that could be felt. (1)
But the greatest intervention of darkness was when Jesus hung on the cross. This darkness lasted three hours, it was not an eclipse, for they only last minutes. The light departed from the sun and darkness covered the whole land. Josephus, the historian of the day recorded it, and noted that it was not limited to Israel, but it was recorded by other writers in different countries that a strange darkness covered their land. This was a supernatural act by Almighty God Himself, when Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the world, that we could go free. (2)
Jesus died in our place, the sinless substitute. He was in the grave 3 days then rose again from the dead, the physical witness that God had accepted the sacrifice, opening the way to heaven for all who would repent of their sins and receive forgiveness, there is no other way we can reach heaven.
He is the Light of the World, and all who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of Life.(3)
But there is another darkness that will come upon this world at the End of the Age, that the Lord God revealed to His prophets in the Old Testament: All the stars of heaven will be dissolved, the skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine. (4)
But was confirmed in the New Testament by Jesus Himself: When the sun would be darkened and the moon would not give its light, and the stars of heaven would fall from heavens and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.(5)
The Apostle John wrote in the Revelation: That there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black and the moon became like blood and the stars fell to the earth like figs.(6)
It is also prophesied that in the Last Days there will be moral and spiritual darkness, which we see and witness today, where truth is suppressed, justice cannot be found and lawlessness prevails, and mankind does what is right in their own eyes.
In the last days perilous times will come, men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful and Godless.(7)
We Have Arrived, the End of all things is at hand, many other prophecies are poised to be fulfilled, because men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. (8)
The door is still open to FLEE and escape the wrath of God that is coming upon this earth to all those who do not repent. Come to Jesus while you still can, without His forgiveness you are totally lost and will not avoid the Tribulation and the Darkness which lasts for all eternity.
So Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts!(9)
For it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the Judgment.(10)
(1) Exodus 10:21-22 (2) Luke 23:44-46 (3) John 8:12 (4) Isaiah 34:4 (5) Matthew 24:29 (6) Revelation 6:12 (7) 1Timothy 3:1-4 (8) John 3:19 (9) Hebrews 3:15 (10) Hebrews 9:27
Welcome to Dunk's Green Free Church
Dunk's Green Evangelical Church is the last remaining independent village church in the Tonbridge and Sevenoaks area. First established in 1838, today's church remains true to its founders' original vision -- to preach the full Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage local people to seek and trust Him alone for their salvation.
Enquiries: epastor@dunkschurch.org
