Shabach
June 4th, 2008, 06:45 PM
posted May 30, 2008
Is There A Silent Famine Sweeping the Globe?
A few weeks ago while watching FOX news I was amazed to see where food shortages were occurring in Egypt, Afghanistan and even in small Gulf States. I immediately thought back to a few years ago when my father was in deep, intercessory prayer. He was overwhelmed with a burden and was uncertain the purpose of the spiritual pressure he was sensing. After praying in the Holy Spirit, he arose from his knees and announced, “The Lord has revealed that there is coming a famine, and it will be especially strong in nations that have fought Israel and the Jewish people.”
Dad was so persistent concerning the importance of this warning that I asked him to appear on our Manna-Fest telecast and reveal the warning the Lord had given him. We then told the leaders, especially in the Gulf States and the Arab world, to prepare additional reserves of food that would be needed to help their people.
The Reason for Famine
When one thinks of famine, we think of a traditional famine caused by severe drought and lack of rain. This famine however, has been birthed not just by a lack of rain, but by something strange and somewhat bizarre. Here are some recent statements:
“From India to North Korea to Pakistan, even in New York City, higher grain prices, fertilizer shortages and rising energy costs are combining to spell hunger for millions in what is being characterized as a global “silent famine.”
One of the causes of the famine – bio-fuels or using corn for fuel instead of food!
Recently, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said bio-fuels “posed a real moral problem” and called for a moratorium on using food crops to power cars, trucks, and buses. Jean Zieglar, who is a special reporter for the right to food said, “Producing bio-fuels is a crime against humanity.”
What many American do not know is according to a report in USA Today and articles written by ABC News, the grain reserves in the United States are now at their lowest levels since World War II. America has stockpiled grain for many years. At times this grain would be sold to nations during difficult times. Our stockpiles are going out the door faster than we can make them, in fact 15 times faster than normal.
The reason bio-fuels are to blame is that many U.S. farmers are now using their precious farm land to grow corn used for bio-fuels and not corn used for food. The government is subsidizing the farmers with 51 cent for every gallon. This has caused several problems that were not anticipated at the beginning of the bio-fuel demand, which was pushed upon us by the environmentalist groups and the Washington Politicians.
1. Farmers are growing corn for fuel instead of food, thus creating a shortage of needed food corn.
2. The grain shortage is affecting hay. Some horse lovers are selling horses because they can’t get hay.
3. The politicians apparently never thought about what to do in case a drought hits the farm belt?
4. The shortage of grains is affecting livestock and cattle farmers.
As if this were not enough, in many parts of the nation up to 50% of the honey bees are missing. The scientist researching this strange phenomena list five causes for the honey bee disappearances. This small bee actually pollinates many fruits and vegetables that we enjoy on a weekly basis. In fact one out of every three bites you eat was pollinated by a honey bee! Besides all of this, there have been thousands of independent truck companies (40 trucks or less) that have gone out of business in the past 60 days. They are often hired to deliver food to markets in various areas, including sea food, beef and other items to markets and restaurants.
The Apocalyptic Famine
At the beginning of the tribulation, shortly after the rise of the Antichrist system, there is a horse in the Apocalypse that causes death by hunger (Revelation 6:8) and another horse that introduces food rationing, a measure of wheat for one days full wages (Revelation 6:6). We are in no way at the beginning of the infamous tribulation, but we are however, seeing the early birth pains of the coming events predicted in the Scripture.
While the righteous are told to not worry themselves about what may come tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-33), we also know that in the early church there were prophetic warnings given at times that famines or other difficulties were coming. Instead of saying, ‘Don’t be concerned about it the Lord knows what will happen,” the churches would join together and prepare special offering for those in need and send them with the apostles to fellow believers.
I do not nor will I suggest what a person should do in preparing for possible events in the future. Many people I know are going back to a little more of the old fashioned way of life: learning how to plant their own food, cooking, canning, drying their own meat, discovering water sources in their area and so forth. This is not a bad thing. In fact I believe that the more independent you are and self reliant you are, the better off you are in the long run.
Americans are use to getting what they want when they want it. The generation under 40 has actually never really had to do without anything. It’s just purchased on a credit card. We must learn to live within our means and plan the way the Lord leads each of us individually to prepare. We need the wisdom of Joseph to lead us spiritually and yes, politically. I know a few spiritual Joseph’s but I am having a very difficult time finding one in the political arena.
Perry Stone
voefeedback@voe.org
Is There A Silent Famine Sweeping the Globe?
A few weeks ago while watching FOX news I was amazed to see where food shortages were occurring in Egypt, Afghanistan and even in small Gulf States. I immediately thought back to a few years ago when my father was in deep, intercessory prayer. He was overwhelmed with a burden and was uncertain the purpose of the spiritual pressure he was sensing. After praying in the Holy Spirit, he arose from his knees and announced, “The Lord has revealed that there is coming a famine, and it will be especially strong in nations that have fought Israel and the Jewish people.”
Dad was so persistent concerning the importance of this warning that I asked him to appear on our Manna-Fest telecast and reveal the warning the Lord had given him. We then told the leaders, especially in the Gulf States and the Arab world, to prepare additional reserves of food that would be needed to help their people.
The Reason for Famine
When one thinks of famine, we think of a traditional famine caused by severe drought and lack of rain. This famine however, has been birthed not just by a lack of rain, but by something strange and somewhat bizarre. Here are some recent statements:
“From India to North Korea to Pakistan, even in New York City, higher grain prices, fertilizer shortages and rising energy costs are combining to spell hunger for millions in what is being characterized as a global “silent famine.”
One of the causes of the famine – bio-fuels or using corn for fuel instead of food!
Recently, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said bio-fuels “posed a real moral problem” and called for a moratorium on using food crops to power cars, trucks, and buses. Jean Zieglar, who is a special reporter for the right to food said, “Producing bio-fuels is a crime against humanity.”
What many American do not know is according to a report in USA Today and articles written by ABC News, the grain reserves in the United States are now at their lowest levels since World War II. America has stockpiled grain for many years. At times this grain would be sold to nations during difficult times. Our stockpiles are going out the door faster than we can make them, in fact 15 times faster than normal.
The reason bio-fuels are to blame is that many U.S. farmers are now using their precious farm land to grow corn used for bio-fuels and not corn used for food. The government is subsidizing the farmers with 51 cent for every gallon. This has caused several problems that were not anticipated at the beginning of the bio-fuel demand, which was pushed upon us by the environmentalist groups and the Washington Politicians.
1. Farmers are growing corn for fuel instead of food, thus creating a shortage of needed food corn.
2. The grain shortage is affecting hay. Some horse lovers are selling horses because they can’t get hay.
3. The politicians apparently never thought about what to do in case a drought hits the farm belt?
4. The shortage of grains is affecting livestock and cattle farmers.
As if this were not enough, in many parts of the nation up to 50% of the honey bees are missing. The scientist researching this strange phenomena list five causes for the honey bee disappearances. This small bee actually pollinates many fruits and vegetables that we enjoy on a weekly basis. In fact one out of every three bites you eat was pollinated by a honey bee! Besides all of this, there have been thousands of independent truck companies (40 trucks or less) that have gone out of business in the past 60 days. They are often hired to deliver food to markets in various areas, including sea food, beef and other items to markets and restaurants.
The Apocalyptic Famine
At the beginning of the tribulation, shortly after the rise of the Antichrist system, there is a horse in the Apocalypse that causes death by hunger (Revelation 6:8) and another horse that introduces food rationing, a measure of wheat for one days full wages (Revelation 6:6). We are in no way at the beginning of the infamous tribulation, but we are however, seeing the early birth pains of the coming events predicted in the Scripture.
While the righteous are told to not worry themselves about what may come tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-33), we also know that in the early church there were prophetic warnings given at times that famines or other difficulties were coming. Instead of saying, ‘Don’t be concerned about it the Lord knows what will happen,” the churches would join together and prepare special offering for those in need and send them with the apostles to fellow believers.
I do not nor will I suggest what a person should do in preparing for possible events in the future. Many people I know are going back to a little more of the old fashioned way of life: learning how to plant their own food, cooking, canning, drying their own meat, discovering water sources in their area and so forth. This is not a bad thing. In fact I believe that the more independent you are and self reliant you are, the better off you are in the long run.
Americans are use to getting what they want when they want it. The generation under 40 has actually never really had to do without anything. It’s just purchased on a credit card. We must learn to live within our means and plan the way the Lord leads each of us individually to prepare. We need the wisdom of Joseph to lead us spiritually and yes, politically. I know a few spiritual Joseph’s but I am having a very difficult time finding one in the political arena.
Perry Stone
voefeedback@voe.org