I have recently become hyper-focused on the spirit of Deception as I clearly discern we are entering the Last Days. I understand that I have no idea how long it will be until the Lord returns, and that God's timeline is different than ours. But I've been given "eyes to see and ears to hear", as well as a spirit capable of receiving God's messages, whether through the Word, or what He communicates through the events of this world.
I am sensitive to the the headlines that cross our TVs and computer screens; discerning between those that are hyperbole, obvious propaganda, outright lies, and those that actually suggest a modicum of truth that we maybe ought to take a closer look at. One such topic that caught my attention a couple of months ago was regarding the abundant energy resources necessary to support the fierce competition for AI escalation in the global economies ... specifically the resources of oil, water, land, and gas [both natural and diesel]. It's only been two months since God tapped me on the shoulder and pointed me to that information, and just this past weekend, the seriousness of His counsel went from a gentle tap on the shoulder, to a shaking of Biblical proportions. The headline read, EIGHT WEEKS TO EMPTY SHELVES. SIXTY DAYS TO FAMINE.
If this substack by Mark A. Shryock doesn't make you sit up and pay attention, then you need to make note of Proverbs 6:9 ... How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? So, how and why does Mr. Shryock come to his ominous prognostication? His article is really long, but I suggest you read it in its entirety, because I truly believe [as he explains it] your life and the lives of your loved ones may depend on it. Please, just take the time to read it, and you will see why I find it so important. [NOTE: His information on the energy and food shortages we are facing seem well-documented, and I find them credible. But I will warn you that towards the end of his article, he presents a clear political bias regarding this Iran War and the current administration. That is not what I'm addressing in today's blog, and I'm not interested in either supporting or opposing his viewpoint. I simply want to focus on the similarities to the warnings that appear in End Times Biblical prophecy].
And because it is such a long and detailed article, I will try to give you the high points and then share the Scripture with you that God emphasized to me. We all connect Iran and the Middle East with the world's oil supplies and exports. That's why the spotlight is on Iran in conjunction with the Global economies. We are all experiencing higher prices at the gas pump, largely assigned to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But there is so much more that is happening with this event.
Consider this information that Mr. Shryock revealed in his article: On May 3, [just 9 days ago from when this article was written], a Hong Kong-flagged tanker called the New Corolla docked at the Port of Long Beach, California. It was carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil loaded at the Port of Basra on February 24, four days before the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed. That tanker was the last one. The last oil shipment from the Middle East to reach American shores. It arrived, it unloaded, and now it is gone.
So, to be abundantly clear, we are no longer in a price crisis. We are entering a physical shortage. A point where fuel stops being available at any price because there is none left to sell.
I could give you lots of facts about the U.S. commercial petroleum inventories; production and consumption; strategic reserves; the costs and time needed to build new refineries, etc. All that is in the article. But for the purpose of this blog, I want to show you the cascading connections that lead to the dire warnings of an economic collapse.The first thing we need to understand is that Diesel runs out first. And when there's no diesel, America comes to a standstill. Here are the facts: 70% of all agricultural and food items are transported by truck. Think of every truck, every tractor, every combine harvester, every refrigerator trailer that keeps food cold on the way to your local grocery store, and every freight train hauling grain cars ... they all run on diesel.
When trucks stop moving because there's no diesel, food rots on the farms, never arrives at the processing plants or driven to the distribution centers. Your grocery store shelves are empty. And that takes only eight weeks to accomplish! But diesel is not the only fuel that we are in jeopardy of being without. Shipments of Petroleum products are stalled as Gulf exports are collapsing. This affects the raw material for plastics, solvents, and industrial chemicals. This will affect plastic packaging, medical supplies, fertilizer components, and heating fuel for homes that use propane. Can you see the beginning of crumbling supply chains?
And finally, we cannot take our eye off the importance of water in this equation. We all know that we cannot afford droughts when it comes to providing the foods that we still need to get into the supply chain! Besides droughts, we now see another water crisis we are facing. Those data centers, which are such an important component of the afore-mentioned AI escalation, need water [for cooling] to keep all the heat that is generated by thousands of servers in a controlled environment. And the use of fresh water is surging, raising not only environmental justice concerns, but straining the aquifers that serve our communities.
So, taking all this into account, is there Scripture that we can turn to in order to see God's perspective and how this could have an impact on the survival of man? God pointed out Jeremiah 14 to me, titled Famine, Sword, and Pestilence, and I hope you will take the time to hear the voice of God through His Word:
"The Word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads. Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass. The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.
Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O, you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O LORD are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.
Thus says the LORD concerning this people: They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins."
The LORD said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence."
Lying Prophets
Then I said, "Ah, LORD GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.' " And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and word, with none to bury them -- them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.
"You shall say to them this word: 'Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land and have no knowledge.' "
Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.
What I have written today is just a small picture of how the world is going to impact every man, woman, and child on the earth. I just wanted you to understand that things are beginning to happen very fast, and we must be diligent to seek the Lord for His instruction on how we are to discern the times and how to stand as a representative of God's power and authority; a witness to testify that Jesus Christ's Kingdom on earth is alive and active, and it will exist for eternity.
So, my friends, remember this: The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The things He spoke to Jeremiah, in his day, about the sins and iniquities of His people, He still speaks and upholds today for us. He also withholds rain; He brings the sword, and He brings pestilence when the people deserve judgment. When the lying prophets misrepresent Him, He will cast them out from His presence and His mercy. And I believe He has been showing us since the dawn of this century that Jesus's prophecy of wars and rumors of wars, famine, and pestilence are coming. Pray and ask Him for wisdom and counsel; for strength and peace; and for protection from the Lawlessness coming upon the earth.We serve a Mighty God and praise His Holy Name! We will be Saved from our Enemy!
Jeremiah 23:20. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.
