A warning sign to the nation.

Carillion’s collapse is not only a disaster for its 43,000 employees but a blow to the whole national economy, with up to 30,000 businesses affected in Carillion’s wider network. Of course, all our politicians have gone into ‘blame game’ mode.

The only MPs who can claim to be guiltless of the policy that led to this Private Finance Initiative (PFI) are those on the far left who opposed this dangerous venture into the state trying to get its public services on the cheap.

The short answer is – it is not possible! There is no such thing as free money.

PFI was an idea generated in John Major’s Government but implemented when Gordon Brown was in charge of the Treasury in Tony Blair’s New Labour Government. So, both our main political parties have egg on their faces for the monstrous folly that has put millions of pounds into the pockets of venture capitalists at the expense of the British taxpayer.

Reckless Debt

At a time when interest rates were high and the Government wished to keep borrowing to a minimum it must have seemed attractive to let private investors put up the capital for big construction projects and to delay purchase of the assets over a period of many years. But buying anything on the ‘never-never’ only delays the pain. We are now told that projects valued at £60 billion are costing the British taxpayer £199 billion.

Both our main political parties have egg on their faces for this monstrous folly

It seems almost beyond belief that our politicians could be so incredibly naive to put our hospitals and schools in the hands of these greedy rogues, who have lined their own pockets at public expense. In simple terms, the Government handed out contracts for the building of hospitals and schools paid for largely by foreign investors, who have leased them back to the Government at exorbitant rates of interest in conditions that make vast profits for the investors.

Even after Carillion had issued ‘profits warnings’ indicating that it was in financial difficulties, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling awarded them a contract on part of the High-Speed Rail (HS2) construction.

Carillion have been in trouble for a long time but instead of following a policy of clearing their debts on each project before moving onto the next, they recklessly increased their debts in a kind of commercial Ponzi scheme, by taking on more contracts to help pay off the interest on earlier commitments. Eventually the point was reached where their debt mountain became so massive, and the profits had all been squirrelled away by greedy management, that it became impossible to pay off the debts and the banks would not lend any more.

Day of Reckoning

This has all the feel of the darker side of capitalism and was probably the kind of operation that Marx had in mind when he said that capitalism contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. I’m not making a case for Marxism, but simply pointing out that there were some things that he got right.

The fundamental weakness of Marxism lies in its dogma of ‘economic determinism’ which sees all human beings as products of their environment. All thought thereby becomes conditioned by matter, because it is a product of matter in motion, which philosophically sets aside the whole notion of human accountability.

It is beyond belief that our politicians put our hospitals and schools in the hands of these greedy rogues, who have lined their own pockets at public expense.

It was this conviction of human accountability to God that was the driving force behind the ministry exercised by the prophets of Israel recorded in the Bible. Listen to this from the Prophet Amos:

You hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth. You trample on the poor…You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. (Amos 5:10-12)

Amos then goes on to tell the leaders of the nation who are eagerly awaiting the Day of the Lord that it will be a day of darkness not light, because God is a God of truth and justice who holds human beings accountable for their actions.

It is this accountability to a higher authority that is missing in our secular humanist society today. The very existence of these concepts of truth and justice depend upon our recognition of the God of Creation who built these values into the fabric of the universe. When we take God out of the equation we actually destroy the whole structure of society because there are no ultimate values or accountability. Without God we human beings are on our own to make up our own rules that suit our particular needs at the time.

The Underlying Problem

But we live in a moral universe that we ignore at our peril, as the Carillion debacle vividly portrays. The big question now is whether or not our political masters will have the courage not only to take responsibility for clearing up the mess of the disastrous policy of former Governments, but to recognise the reason why the nation is having to bear the huge cost of this folly.

We live in a moral universe that we ignore at our peril.

Will we recognise that by departing from the ‘gold standard’ of the word of God we have brought all this trouble upon ourselves? And will we come humbly before God seeking his ways that lead to blessing and prosperity?

It may be that God has allowed the Carillion economic disaster to come upon us as a warning sign to the nation that all is not well; and that unless we face up to the bigger moral and spiritual problems in the nation we will never get the economy right or solve the nation’s social problems.

How disastrous events can have more than one prophetic theme.

This article is a brief follow-up comment on last week’s two lead articles. One was by Clifford Hill in the wake of the hurricane in Texas (also reminding us of the 1987 hurricane in the south of England). The other was by Charles Gardner, looking behind the sad death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

This is a further reflection on interpreting signs, a process which takes time, patience and a willingness to look at events from multiple points, in order to achieve a balanced understanding.

Good Can Come from Disaster

When we prayerfully consider events in the world around us, we are often alerted to other perspectives on them that expand our thinking.

For instance, in relation to the recent storms and floods in Texas, the Caribbean and around the world, it is too simplistic to see these events as God dealing a hammer blow of judgment to punish a particular community. Indeed, great good is stirred up when disaster falls.

Back in 1987 when trees were ripped up in the south-east of England, blocking roads and damaging property, I recall many encouraging stories of how people immediately worked together to clear the debris and get life going again. Chainsaws were brought out from garden sheds and soon roads were unblocked as communities came together in common cause. This was surely pleasing to God, even though he had allowed the storm to bring general devastation to warn against corruption in society.

It is too simplistic to see events like the recent hurricanes as God dealing a hammer blow of judgment to punish a particular community.

Many indications of such a God-pleasing response to the Texas emergency have been shared in the news and on social media, as help for people and animals affected by Hurricane Harvey has arrived from all corners of the US and from further afield.¹ As one ministry leader put it, “Today…all of America are Texans”.² Such a prompt and earnest desire to assist will have been widespread across the States. Surely, again, God is pleased with this.

It seems that God’s signs, whilst carrying warnings and sometimes judgments, also stir up the best in us. Such responses were also seen in the Grenfell Tower disaster and after the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. Surely there would have been similar care for neighbours after the collapse of the Tower of Siloam in Jesus’ day.

What then of the warnings that are the reason for God taking away his protection and allowing such shocks to strike communities in the first place, devastating so many? How do we read the signs when we are caught up in a shaking from God?

Fashion, Diana and the 1987 Storm

Madonna and Cyndi Lauper - two 1980s style icons. See Photo Credits.

By coincidence, as last week’s Prophecy Today articles were being finalised for publication, the BBC ran a programme on Radio 4 entitled ‘The Reunion’, which looked back at the development of the UK fashion industry in the 1980s. I found this to be a useful behind-the-scenes look at an example of what God was intending to say to our nation at the time of the 1987 hurricane.

In summary, the fashion world of the 1980s was gaining immense momentum as favourable exchange rates with the USA fostered trans-Atlantic trade. From a human perspective, Britain seemed to be a success story, its burgeoning pop culture generating huge revenues as an obsession with celebrity and fashion overtook the nation.

Those of us who were watching this at the time may recall becoming concerned as image-building became a high priority for many (particularly young) people and pop stars became worshipped as icons, their outlandish clothing and behaviour attracting cult followings. If this worried us, we can be sure it was also of concern to God.

God’s signs, whilst carrying warnings and sometimes judgments, also stir up the best in us.

Diana's famous Travolta dress. Of course, Princess Diana became a focus of the fashion industry. Her dresses were dazzling and she wore them like a model, being presented by the media as a sort of fairy princess from a Disney film – even a goddess. In her case, the media helped raise her up and in the end were partly responsible for her tragic death, although the greed and ambition of the fashion houses may also have had a part to play.

Somehow in all this there was a sense that things were getting out of control and contributing to the nation’s departure from the ways of God. Prior to the 1987 storm and financial shaking there were some warning signs in the financial markets because of some strain in the dollar/sterling exchange rate. When the hurricane hit and the financial markets reeled, the fashion industry slumped just as did, no doubt, many other areas of the business world.

Putting On a Biblical Mindset

As I watched the BBC’s account of this one industry at the time of the 1987 crash, and became aware of how it overlapped with both of last week’s lead articles, it made me think again about interpreting the signs that came from the severe weather of both 1987 and 2017, which were of course on my mind as well. It was interesting to hear this secular presentation on fashion and filter it through a biblical and prophetically-inclined mindset – something every prayerful believer can do.

By looking in detail at what happened in this one area, I have this week become aware that the Lord allowed the storm to make us think through and turn back from what was not pleasing in His eyes – which undoubtedly included the growth of a fashion-conscious, celebrity-obsessed culture.

I believe the Lord allowed the storm to make us think through and turn back from what was not pleasing in His eyes – which undoubtedly included the growth of a celebrity-obsessed culture.

This does not mean that good did not also come from the storm, as communities rose up to help one another in ordinary, everyday ways. But more broadly, this prophetic sign was sadly not heeded; the industry found ways to pick up and move on, remaining quite deaf to what the Lord was saying.

Understand the Heart and Purposes of God

Surely there are aspects of the Texas hurricane that speak of corruption in US society, whilst God will also be pleased with those helping victims recover. It is ‘both/and’, not ‘either/or’ – and by balancing these different aspects of the disaster we can understand the heart and purposes of God better.

Will the prophetic word to the US get out in such a way that the nation emerges better off than it was before? Human beings have the ability to deafen themselves to the word of God, pick themselves up and carry on in defiance, which can only lead to further shaking.

Similarly, we have written in Prophecy Today for some time that further shaking will come to the UK. From time to time we hear of warning signs from within our financial institutions (see, for example, here). In anticipation of greater shaking ahead, let us continue to become mature in the reading of the signs. Our Bible reference is Hebrews 12:26:

Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Now this “yet once more” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Therein is the balance.

References

1 Even the President has not hesitated to join the fray, serving meals to victims at a relief centre in Houston - read more here.

2 Pastor John Looper, Restoration Fellowship International. Email to supporters.

Clifford Hill looks at questions of trust surrounding the recent Russian plane crash, noting similarities between today's threats and life in the time of Jeremiah.

The human tragedies behind the crash of the Russian passenger airliner over the Sinai Desert are incalculable. The loss of all 224 people on board plunged the whole city of St Petersburg into mourning as most of the returning holidaymakers came from there.

Tourists Stranded

The knock-on effect in the cancellation of returning flights for British tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh is a small inconvenience in comparison with the terrible loss of life suffered by the Russian people.

Was the British Government right in suspending flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh? The Egyptian Government was understandably furious because of the effect upon its tourism industry, which is the strongest part of its economy. But any government's first commitment is to the safety of its own citizens, so the UK has surely been right in taking steps to ensure the safety of flights home for the thousands of British holidaymakers who were potentially at risk.

Questions of Trust

Tributes outside Pulkovo airport, St Petersburg.All of this raises major questions of trust. We all put our trust in others every time we leave our own home. If we are travelling by bus or train or boarding an aircraft, we put our trust in the driver or the pilot. But even when we drive our own car on the road we are dependent upon other motorists obeying the rules and not endangering our lives. We have to trust other people every day in a multitude of circumstances.

We all also know that there are risks involved in travelling today. If terrorists are determined to get a bomb on board an aeroplane they will find a way of doing it - even if it is simply paying a crooked bag-handler working at the airport.

Trust is at the heart of all our human relationships; from travelling in safety to business transactions. Businessmen need to be able to trust the word of those with whom they are signing contracts or the whole economic activity of society would be impaired. Even in simple everyday things there has to be trust. If we cannot trust the shopkeeper to sell us healthy food or trustworthy goods, life would come to a standstill.

Trust Breakdown

If trust breaks down the whole life of the community breaks down. But that was the situation in Jerusalem in the time of the prophet Jeremiah (around 600 BC, a turbulent period in history). In chapter 9 he describes the breakdown of trust. He says,

Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth (Jer 9:4-5).

Jeremiah warns the citizens of Jerusalem: "You live in the midst of deception". The dire scene that he describes has some similarity to the situation facing us today. On the international front there was a growing threat of terrorism and at home there had been a catastrophic collapse of faith and morality.

Jeremiah describes a scene much like our own today, with a domestic collapse of faith and an international threat of terrorism.

The Assyrian Empire based at Nineveh (which today is called Mosul and is the capital of the Islamic State) had just been overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar (609 BC), the ruthless dictator of the rising Babylonian Empire. The Assyrians had been a byword for cruelty and the Babylonians were already outdoing them. Their army was on the move through Syria and threatening the tiny state of Judah and its capital Jerusalem.

Both the political and religious authorities assured the people that there was nothing to worry about because God was on their side! They said that as long as the Temple stood in Jerusalem, God would never allow an enemy to enter the gates of the City because it was his special shrine. Jeremiah could see everywhere lies and deception, greed and corruption, immorality and injustice. He publicly proclaimed that God would not defend the City so long as it was full of evil and faithlessness. He said,

From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain, prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace', 'Peace', they say, when there is no peace. (Jer 8:10).

In Jeremiah's time, the authorities assured the people that God would protect them – but Jeremiah proclaimed that they were deceiving themselves.

Urgent Warnings

As the Babylonian merciless murderers drew closer, burning and raping cities and even destroying the countryside on their way towards Jerusalem, Jeremiah's warnings became even more urgent. He told the people that they were putting their trust in a building created by human hands instead of the God of Creation who had made a covenant with their forefathers which they were now breaking. As anxiety increased among the people, instead of turning to God in repentance, they turned to different forms of idolatry and divination.

Recent research shows that less than half the population in Britain now believe in Jesus and only about 10% are regular churchgoers.¹ This means that we are not only abandoning our heritage of Christian faith that has protected this nation for hundreds of years, but it means that there are fewer people of faith praying for the nation and ensuring a covering of protection over the land at the very time when the threat of terrorism is rising.

In modern Britain, our Christian heritage is being abandoned, leaving less and less people to pray for the protection of the nation.

In Jeremiah's day his warnings went unheeded. In 587 BC the army of terrorists broke through the walls of Jerusalem and ran amok through the City tearing down the Temple and all the great buildings, slaughtering the people as they went from street to street. An eyewitness wrote,

The Kings of the earth did not believe nor did any of the world's people, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous (Lam 4:12).

Real Wisdom

This should be a strong warning to us. Where do we put our trust? Is it in politicians; or bankers and brokers; or social reformers; or educationalists; or philosophers? But these are just fallible human beings and what we are facing are no less than demonic spiritual forces that cannot be overcome with physical force or human wisdom.

The threats we face today cannot be overcome with physical force or human wisdom. So in what - or whom - will we place our trust?

As Jeremiah said of the people in Jerusalem, "Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?" (8:9) In Britain today we face a similar question – what kind of wisdom do we have as we face the rising tide of destruction that threatens us? If God would allow it to happen to Jerusalem, why do we think it cannot happen to us in Britain? Surely our only hope is to re-discover the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whom as a nation we have so wilfully and stupidly abandoned.

Weighed in the Balance

The warning signs are everywhere to be seen. The writing is on the wall for Britain and the nations of Europe that have despised their great Christian heritage. We are being weighed in the balance as God is slowly withdrawing his covering of protection. The midnight hour approaches for Britain and Europe.

Will there be repentance and turning before catastrophe strikes? That is still a question. We may not have long to wait for the answer. But what are we doing to warn our families and friends and others to help save our nation?

References

1 Jesus 'not a real person' many believe. BBC News, 31 October 2015.