Bill Rea (cctr114@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz) wrote: > His theology clashed with the theology of the > local prophets. It was out of a very deep understanding of the Mosaic > covenant and an actute awareness of international events that Jeremiah > spoke his prophesies. The "judgement prophesies" were deeply loaded with > theological meaning.  > In my opinion, both the Portland earthquake prophesy and the David Wilkerson > "New York will burn" prophesy are froth and bubble compared to the majestic > theological depths of the Jeremiah prophesies.  Perhaps one other thing I should have added is that Jeremiah's prophesies about the coming destruction of Jerusalem would have been understood by the people of that time to be a full frontal assault on their understanding of their relationship with the Lord. Today the if the general populace  hears "prophesies" like the Portland earthquake or New York will burn ones, they are unlikely to see it in the context of their relationship (or lack of it) with the Lord. They are far more likely to think that they are just the result of the fevered imaginations of a religious nutter. That is one reason why I am always deep;y suspicious of bald judgement prophesies without any explanation of the reasons for the judgement. This doesn't have to be long winded. To see a relatively modern example look at Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural speech. The relevant section is below. It is this type of spiritual insight which was missing in both prophesies posted here.  --- Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural speech----  Both read the same Bible, and pray  to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem  strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing  their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not he answered that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. ''Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh" If we shall suppose that American  Slavery is one of those offences which, in the provdence of God, must needs come but which, having  continued through  His appointed time, He now wills to remove and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein an departure from those divine attribute which the believers in a Living God always  ascribe  to Him ? Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray - that this mighty  scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue,  until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of  unrequited  toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn  with  the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three  thousand  years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord,  are true and righteous altogether"   With malice toward none; with charity for all;  with firmness in the right,  as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we  are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have  borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which  may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves,  and with all nations.   --                                                                      ___ Bill Rea                                                            (o o) -------------------------------------------------------------------w--U--w--- | Bill Rea, Computer Services Centre, | E-Mail   b.rea@csc.canterbury.ac.nz | | University of Canterbury,           | or     cctr114@csc.canterbury.ac.nz | | Christchurch, New Zealand           | Phone (03)-642-331 Fax (03)-642-999 |