What can Christians expect from the coming times of volatility - and how can we prepare?

As was announced last week, we at Prophecy Today believe that God will not now hold back from shaking Britain. For many years his warning signs have not been heeded - signs of the very same nature that Amos highlighted when he warned Israel of their departure from the ways of God (Amos 4).

In Britain there has been a long-standing expectation of a severe economic shaking - even in secular circles. This financial shaking will surely be more severe than that which accompanied the hurricane which hit the south of England in 1987, impacting the markets in the following days.

One might have thought the recession of 2007, seen as the greatest since the Great Depression of the 1930s, was the severe shaking that we were expecting. Now it seems that even this was a warning shock pointing to something much more severe ahead.

God’s Shakings Are Immense

The Book of Revelation predicts the fall of all the cities of the nations (Rev 16:19) and some see in Revelation 18 the foretelling of a total, global financial collapse in the space of just an hour (Rev 18) – a phenomenon which would not have been possible just a few decades ago, but which today could happen very easily. Whatever shaking is coming to Britain in the near future will likely be a precursor of this, though not the final woe that impacts the world.

In Britain, even in secular circles, there has been a long-standing expectation of a severe economic shaking.

God’s shakings are immense, nevertheless. Clifford Hill, in last week’s editorial, took us back to the times of Jeremiah to liken what is happening in Britain to the judgment that was about to fall on Judah. Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem just as Jesus did around 600 years later, when he prophesied its fall under the Romans, including the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

The return of Israel to God following this major shaking and her second exile into diaspora is still not complete.

So let’s take the fallout of an imminent shaking in Britain very seriously. If Jerusalem was not preserved, who are we to say that a dramatic collapse could not occur to once-protected Britain?

Obvious Weaknesses

A financial recession or collapse would, of course, impact incomes, savings, businesses and investments, with enormous consequences. People would fall on hard times. But there is a possibility here of even greater fallout: a breakdown of law and order.

There is already an atmosphere of discontent with and distrust of authority enveloping the country, especially among young people. This could easily turn into resentment, and violence could erupt on our streets.

A brief perusal of the political scene in Britain reveals a landscape ripe for volatility: a perceived weak Conservative Government appearing to fail with Brexit (or even appearing to succeed!), Government failure to fulfil election promises, health and care systems on the brink of collapse. There is also the possibility of another general election and the Labour Party led by Corbyn coming to power, which itself could dramatically fail, further dampening the hopes of many. The weaknesses are many and obvious, with tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire brewing up to a fervour problems that have already been bubbling away for some time.

Yet, for the Church, this is not an entirely negative picture. We must see it as a day of opportunity for the Gospel. But how will it be to minister in such troubled times?

Prepare!

Consider the interval between Malachi’s prophecies and the coming of Jesus – the 400 ‘silent years’ when God seemed to be inactive. We know that by the time Jesus came to minister to the poor and proclaim the Kingdom, many were demonised and many were sick with incurable diseases. Surely we will find the same when God opens the door for the Church to minister to the needy in Britain, during and after the coming shaking.

A brief perusal of the political scene in Britain reveals a volatile landscape – but this is not an entirely negative picture.

Already we see many people in our nation falling for the temptations of satan and living – or merely existing - outside of the protection of God. Family life is disintegrating, as in the time of Malachi, as a sign of this. The consequences are already telling on many lives, just as in the days of Jesus.

It will not simply be a case of food banks and extra financial support. We will need to be ready with the full scope of spiritual ministries at the time designated by God for a call to repentance that many may yet heed. For the events ahead will lie completely within the redemptive purposes of God.

We may have just a short time to consider this and so the word for the Church today, in this context, surely must be "PREPARE"!

But How?

I would suggest that the first part of our preparation be in our attitude. For those of us who have warned of the decline in our nation for so long, it is all too easy to have the judgmental attitude of Jonah who was sent to Ninevah. We should instead have the attitude of Jeremiah and Jesus who wept over the fall of Judah. When did we last weep for the people of our nation?

We must seek to understand the mindset of this generation, especially amongst young people. Why do they believe what they believe and do what they do? Through understanding and sympathy we will be more ready and able to help when doors of opportunity open.

Secondly, we must turn to prayer. The strategy of prayer triplets was very successful for the evangelistic ministry of Billy Graham (called Mission England) in the 1980s. What strategy for prayer will the Holy Spirit give us for the coming days of ministry in our nation?

We will need to be ready with the full scope of spiritual ministries at the time designated by God for a call to repentance that many may yet heed.

Thirdly, let us fan up the flames of the ministries in our churches. How will we deal with someone needing deliverance or healing as they make steps towards acceptance of the Gospel? How will we minister to those who will emerge with confusion and fear?

Let us be honest: if our spiritual life has dried up leaving a lifeless religiosity in its place, now is the time to seek God for personal revival and re-commissioning for the days ahead. Through watching and praying we must seek to understand the times we are in and the subtle tactics of our spiritual adversary who finds ways of deceiving Christians as well as unbelievers.

Fourthly, of course, we must prepare prayerfully for the practical helps that will be needed when this nation is shaken.

Being Ready

Some years ago, when I lived in Gorseinon close to where the 1904 Welsh Revival broke out, I asked an elderly neighbour about her experience of the revival. I had the following answer: “Oh dear no, that was in the chapels. It passed the churches by”.

Let us be sure that we are ready to serve and participate when the day of harvest comes to us. We do not want to let the opportunity pass us by.