The Day Planet Earth Will Be JOLTED OFF ORBIT!
Planet earth . . . out of orbit? The very thought that the earth could suddenly be jolted out of its orbit sounds like some sort of weird science fiction movie doesn’t it! Who could ever imagine such a thing?
You may be surprised to learn that the ancient Hebrew prophets actually prophesied this unthinkable catastrophe in the Old Testament . . . not once, but several times. The Earth Will One-Day Go Out Of Orbit — “I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of its place.” Isaiah 13:13
“At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved . . . ” Jeremiah 50:46
EARTH OUT OF ORBIT
“The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard . . . ” Isaiah 24:19
These stunning prophesies from Isaiah and Jeremiah were not science fiction nor mere babblings from men who had lost touch with reality. Neither were they lunatics with exaggerated imaginations. Every word of every passage in the Bible was directed by God . . . and these prophecies were given as warnings to all mankind.
It is amazing to me that warnings such as these seem to have fallen on deaf ears and are being totally ignored by the world . . . and even by Bible-believing Christians. I have never heard the verses read in public. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . “ God’s Word is PROFITABLE and not to be ignored. We would be wise to take a closer look at all that God says . . . after all, He doesn’t speak just to fill a book with meaningless words.
I must admit that I first became aware of these sobering words of prophecy many years ago, but I too, put the impact of their warnings on the back burner of my mind. But the more I read the prophetic Scriptures, the more I began to see a scenario of terrible things to come upon the unbelieving world. I no longer can sit in silence about unpleasant things that God has revealed in His Word.
These terrifying predictions about the future of planet earth may shed light on the future horrors of the seven-year judgments known as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” or the “Tribulation.” Such apocalyptic prophecies should also bring many questions to our minds:
1. WHAT will cause the earth to go out of its orbit?
2. WHAT will happen all over the world when the earth begins to stagger through space
like a drunkard?
3. WHEN will this unbelievable catastrophe happen?
4. WHY will the earth go out of orbit?
5. HOW can my family and I prepare for such an awful event?
These questions are deserving of answers . . . and we will try to address each of them in an objective manner by searching the Scriptures and avoiding mere speculation and sensationalism:
1. WHAT will cause the earth to go out of its orbit?
Nuclear Warfare: The prophet Jeremiah was very specific in detailing what will cause the earth to be jolted out of orbit — “At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.” Jeremiah 50:46 “The NOISE of the taking of Babylon” . . . what is that all about you may ask.
First of all, WHO is this “Babylon” referred to in the Bible? It should be noted that ancient Babylon was never destroyed . . . the great kingdom established by King Nebuchadnezzar was taken over by the Medes and Persians when they assassinated Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson Belshazzar. Through the centuries that followed, the kingdom slowly eroded away to nothingness.
The Biblical Description of the End-Time “Daughter of Babylon”
The Bible describes a powerful end-time nation that is referred to as “Babylon” and “The Daughter of Babylon”. Babylon is pictured as the youngest of all the great nations, born from a motherland, and composed of a mixed multitude (a literal melting pot of all nationalities). Babylon is depicted as the most wealthy of nations, a center of inventions, commerce, manufacturing, and agricultural production. Her location is to the west of Jerusalem, “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.” Ancient Babylon was located to the east of Jerusalem in the country now known as Iraq but end-time Babylon will be to the west.
This mighty end-time nation will also be a great consumer of the world’s products with merchant ships filling her many harbors. The land will be fully developed and mapped with many cities. Air travel and military security are some of her greatest assets. In her youth, Babylon and her people were recognized as the “lady of kingdoms.” But in her last days, the Bible declares that the “Daughter of Babylon” will become preoccupied with pleasures and luxuries. One Biblical text even declares that the people are “gone mad over her inventions”. Was the prophet speaking of modern day man and his infatuation with cell phones and video games? Several passage indicate that the people of Babylon will be corrupted by
their higher education. She will become arrogant in her attitude toward the Lord of heaven. She will give herself to drugs, occultic practices and great immorality. Sexual perversion will become an accepted lifestyle. The sins of her national leaders will be exposed for all of the world to see. The rumor of coming terrorism will cause multitudes to flee her cities and seek shelter in their own homelands. The once “glory of kingdoms” will come under the chastening hand of the Lord, Who Himself made her great.
(Isaiah chapters 13, 24, 47, Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, Revelation chapter 18)
WHO is end-time Babylon? One cannot be dogmatic about her identity so we will let the Biblical descriptions speak for themselves.
Secondly, what is the “NOISE of the taking of Babylon?”
A careful reading of Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51 along with Revelation chapter 18 reveals that the end-time “daughter of Babylon” will be suddenly attacked from the north and will be totally annihilated . . . in just one hour. The total destruction of an entire nation in one hour was not even possible when the prophets spoke so long ago . . . but that is certainly possible today! “The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her (the daughter of Babylon) shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing . . . for in one hour so great riches are come to nothing . . . For in one hour is she made desolate.” Revelation 18:17, 19
Note that the merchants of the earth will “stand afar off for the fear of her torment” . . . as the wealthy “daughter of Babylon” smolders in what appears to be nuclear ruin — ” . . . every ship master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning . . . ” Revelation 18:17- 19 Verse eleven even tells us why the merchants of the earth shall weep . . . ” . . . for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.” Such heart-felt compassion! They will weep because they are losing their best customer!
The prophet Ezekiel also wrote of this terrible day of death and destruction when he pronounced judgment upon “Gog of the land of Magog” (Russia) — “Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal, And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel. And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel . . . and I will send fire on Magog, AND AMONG THOSE WHO DWELL SECURELY IN THE COASTLANDS (across the sea); and they shall know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 39:1-6
According to Ezekiel chapter 38, sometime, perhaps in the foreseeable future, Russia and a huge army of enraged Muslims are going to attempt to invade the land of Israel and five out of six of their soldiers will be destroyed by the Lord’s mighty intervention. At the same time, the Lord is going to cause “Magog” the Russian homeland to be totally destroyed by fire along with another unnamed nation that lives in security beyond the sea. It would appear that Russia will attack this unsuspecting nation suddenly from the north . . . and the mutual destruction that follows will be beyond comprehension. Without doubt, this is a description of World War 3!
From all of the Biblical references to this horrendous event, it would appear that the two nations will unleash nuclear weapons upon one another . . . and this is probably the force that will cause the earth to be thrown off its precise orbit around the sun as the prophet Isaiah stated — “At the NOISE of the taking of Babylon, the earth is moved . . . “ One can hardly imagine what effect hundreds of nuclear weapons being detonated at the same time would have upon the earth . . . but the Scriptures tell us clearly that “the earth is moved!”
Imagine the panic that will fill the hearts of people all over earth when the world is suddenly thrown out of its orbit! Perhaps this is what Jesus was referring to when He declared — ” . . . men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:26
2. WHAT will happen all over the world when the earth goes off its orbit?
An all out nuclear exchange between two superpowers would bring about death and destruction like the world has never witnessed before. The Scriptures speak of a time when 1/3 of the population of the world will suddenly be annihilated and 1/3 of the surface of the earth will be scorched by fire. One third of the population annihilated . . . that would be over 2 billion people killed . . . in just one hour!
Below is a partial list of the devastation and aftermath of nuclear warfare that seems to be described in the Bible, the Word of God:
a) Nuclear Contamination: An all-out nuclear exchange between northern countries such as Russia and the United States would bring total devastation upon the entire northern hemisphere. After the initial explosions and fires the entire area would become darkened by smoke and debris . . . the sun, moon and stars would no longer be visible. “Behold, the Day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the sinners out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. And I will punish the world for its evil . . . ” Isaiah 13:9-11 (See also Matthew 24:29, Luke 21:25-26, Revelation 8:11-12)
b) Radiation Burns and Nuclear Winter: When the atmosphere is filled with smoke, debris and nuclear radiation, the results will be devastating and will affect the entire planet. Isaiah seemed to speak of this when he was directed by God to write: “Behold, they shall be like stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou has labored, even thy merchants, from thy youth; they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.” Isaiah 47:14-15 After the initial hour of devastation, the survivors will suffer the most.
One cannot imagine the horror of nuclear contamination and radiation burns . . . and as remarkable as it may seem, the Scriptures appear to even detail that — “And every man’s heart shall melt; and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain like a woman that travaileth. They shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.” Isaiah 13:7-8 The unfortunate survivors of a nuclear war will suddenly be thrust into darkness and the chill of nuclear winter and they will not have electricity or gas to keep themselves warm. All of this was prophesied in the Scriptures — ” . . . there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it . . .” Isaiah 47:7
c) Famines shall inflict the earth as a result of the radiation, the contaminated atmosphere, and nuclear winter as the earth moves out of its orbit: Weather world-wide would be greatly altered . . . either too hot or too cold depending upon the distance from the sun. One can hardly imagine such devastation. Jesus spoke of famines being present during the time of the Tribulation and nothing in today’s world can even compare to the suffering and death that will come upon mankind. (Matthew 24:7, 21-22)
Huge land masses slide into the sea . . . is this just Hollywood imagination?
d) Earthquakes, mountains, and islands will be moved: The center of the earth is liquid in the form of molten lava. The aftermath of a devastating nuclear exchange will cause incredible earthquakes as the earth is jolted and goes wobbling through space. The idea of large cities and even mountains slipping into the sea is certainly possible and predictable.
The Scriptures actually speak of such horrendous, earth-shaking events: “And great earthquakes shall be in different places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21:11 The Apostle John added to the scene of mega earthquakes when he was directed by God to write — “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Revelation 16:20 Hollywood’s depiction of the entire western coast sliding into the ocean may become a reality and be much worse than man’s wildest imagination! Tsunami waves that destroy entire cities.
e) World-wide Tsunamis: Who would ever dream of extreme ocean tsunamis that could wipe out entire cities? Yet Jesus spoke of those very types of things: ” . . . upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear . . .” Luke 21:25-26 Jeremiah gives us even greater details of the future destruction of the “daughter of Babylon” by tsunami type events when he prophesied . . .. “The sea is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of its waves. Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, and land in which no man dwelleth.” Jeremiah 51:42-43
Nothing more needs to be said for all of us to get the picture of the awful catastrophe that is coming upon an unsuspecting world!
I know that these things are not easy to read about and they certainly are not a pleasant things to write about. But God presented these things in the Bible for a reason. Like Jeremiah who was called the weeping prophet, the prophet Ezekiel also spoke of future days of judgment and destruction that people need to be warned about . . . God instructed him to write — “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel . . . give them warning from Me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 3:17-19
As we become aware of these dreadful things that are someday coming upon this sinful earth, WE ARE ALL TO BE WATCHMEN ON THE WALL!
THE WRATH OF MAN:
It is noteworthy that these calamities prophesied in the Scriptures and described briefly above, are NOT the wrath of God . . . but appear to be the WRATH OF MAN UPON MANKIND. This paints a picture of the first three and one half years of the Tribulation as described by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation chapter 6.
Some may object and point out that the first rider was upon a white horse with a bow but no arrows . . . and we all agree that this speaks of a time of artificial peace led by one known as the antichrist. We should observe, however, that the advent of this false man of peace appears to be at the same time or just after a TERRIBLE STORM . . . “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were, the NOISE OF THUNDER, one of the four living saying, Come. And I saw and, behold, a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
The sound of thunder is not only a warning of an approaching storm but it is an indication that the storm is already underway!
WHY would this deceptive world leader have a bow and no arrows? It is either a description of his false promise of peace to the unsuspecting world . . . or the fact that all of the arrows may have already been used . . . shot in the form of nuclear weapons. The details of prophecy are always easier to understand after the fulfillment . . . so time will tell.
3. WHEN will the earth go off its orbit?
My study of the prophetic Scriptures has convinced me that this cataclysmic event of nuclear warfare causing the earth to leave its orbit is at the beginning of an event known as the
“Day of the LORD.” The “Battle of Gog and Magog” described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 is NOT the Battle of Armageddon which occurs at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns in power and great glory. The Battle of Gog and Magog appears to be at the onset of the
“Day of the LORD” as we read in the prophecies of Isaiah — “Wail; for the Day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.” Isaiah 13:6 The prophet Joel also spoke of this beginning of the Day of the LORD: “Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Joel 2:15
Further reading in Joel chapter 2 reveals that the beasts of the earth groan and are perplexed because
“they have no pasture” . . . “for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field . . . the rivers of water are dried up . . . ”
PEACE OR PANIC:
The first century Christians in the city of Thessalonica began to panic when they received a phony letter, supposedly from the Apostle Paul. This bogus letter stated that they had been LEFT BEHIND and that the Day of the LORD had already begun. These believers knew full well that the Day of the LORD would be incredibly terrible . . . but Paul wrote the entire second letter to the Thessalonians to assure them that true believers will NOT BE LEFT BEHIND. More of this will be addressed below.
4. WHY will the earth go out of its orbit?
God was very clear in telling us why such a cataclysmic event will one day come upon planet earth — “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease . . . I will make a man more rare than fine gold . . . I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of its place.” Isaiah 13:11-13
The pride and arrogancy of man is a stench in the nostrils of the Holy God . . . and we should be aware that He will one day enter into righteous judgment upon those who defy and reject Him and His Word.
Just as God destroyed the perverted cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He will one day bring devastation upon those who spurn His offer of grace and forgiveness, choosing rather to ignore His warnings of coming judgment and continue in their sinful ways. “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” Isaiah 13:19
5. HOW can my family and I prepare for such an awful event?
Psalm 46 seems to speak of all these horrific events in great detail. The entire Psalm is prophetic in nature . . . and speaks of the Messiah who will one day “make wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he will break the bow, and cut the spear in sunder; He will burn the chariot in the fire.” Psalm 46:9
Verses 2 and 3 of Psalm 46 speak of the terrible things destined to come upon earth — ” . . . the earth will be removed . . . the mountains will be carried into the midst of the sea . . . the waters of the sea shall roar and be troubled . . . and the mountains will shake with the swelling thereof.” Note that the moving of the earth is listed first . . . perhaps this is an actual Biblical sequence of the tragedies to come.
What are we to do with such calamities coming upon planet earth? The first part of the Psalm offers incredible comfort to those who will seek safety by placing their faith in the LORD — “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, WE WILL NOT FEAR, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Psalm 46:1-3
We don’t believe that the writer of Psalm 46 was just trying to list the worse possible things that he could think of when he declared ” . . . therefore, we will not fear . . . ” This prophetic psalm gives us a clear outline of terrible things coming upon mankind . . . but it also offers us the hope and assurance that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble . . . “
HOW CAN YOU BE READY?
The apostle Paul wrote the second letter to the believers in Thessalonica because of their panic . . . they had been deceived into believing that the Lord had come and they had been left behind. Paul’s subject in the second chapter is the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him.” Paul pleaded with the believers “not to be shaken in mind, or be troubled . . . ” 2 Thessalonians 2:2
Then Paul assured the believers that the Day of the Lord shall not come except there come “the departure first.” It is interesting how modern translations of the Greek word “apostasia” is “falling away” and thought to mean moral or doctrinal departure (falling away).
However, it is also interesting how “apostasia” was translated by all of the early English Bibles before the King James Version. The Geneva Bible, William Tyndale New Testament, Wycliffe Bible and others all taught that “apostasia” was to be understood as “the departure” and that it was referring to THE departure or “our gathering unto Christ.” That would be an affirmative text for a pre-tribulation rapture.
Paul then went on in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 to assure the believers that the antichrist cannot be revealed until the “restrainer of sin” is removed. The Holy Spirit is the “restrainer of sin” and He will not abandon planet earth without taking us with Him! Paul even emphasized that “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation (deliverance) . . . ” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 The context of this entire passage is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to gather His people . . . the rapture.
If you are already a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are already ready! Remember what God said to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 — “For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and THEY shall not escape. BUT YOU, BRETHREN, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light, and sons of the day; we are not of the night, nor the darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober minded.”
If you have not yet trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are NOT READY . . . for the time of calamity coming upon earth . . . or for eternity.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31 “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
Jesus Was Crucified Between Two Criminals: One of the dying thieves who hung on a cross beside the Lord Jesus Christ when He was crucified, apparently understood Who Jesus was . . . he must have heard Him speak or perhaps someone told him that Jesus was the Son of God Who came to die as our substitute and God’s sacrifice for our sins. When the thief called upon Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom, Jesus said — “Today, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.”
That dying criminal KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING after he died! What a great thing to know! YOU can have this assurance as well if you believe that Jesus died in your place, paid the penalty for your sins, confess that you are a sinner and ask Him to save you. Call upon Him today! John 1:12
I want to encourage you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord . . . don’t hesitate . . . ask Jesus to save you from your sins . . . DO IT RIGHT NOW! (John 3:16, John 1:12, John 3:36, John 5:24, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10)
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