Mankind naturally likes to congregate in large numbers. Man builds cities for himself, and engineers an impressive infrastructure to support some beautiful architecture. City planners take great pride in their home environment.

     But there’s a price to pay. The cities of the world breed disease and crime. The harmful fumes in the air, the unwholesome atmosphere, the lack of daily communion with creation’s variety of plants and animals, along with the general spirit of “getting ahead” has crippled the ability of many to feel comfortable living outside of its surroundings. I had a friend in New York City who said that if he ever went camping in the woods he would have a nervous breakdown. Although this is an extreme example it shows the hold that city life has over people.

     Among the supreme dangers is how city populations are totally reliant on the government and business for water, electricity, foods and goods for their continued daily living. And should an interruption take place, and food be denied, it has been shown that the average American who goes without two meals and doesn’t know when the next meal is will become homicidal.

     During the Great Depression of the 30’s those who lived in the cities and who lost their jobs suffered greatly. The spirit of mostly quiet desperation afflicted all. Suicides were common. Long food lines with a bleak diet. And life-support was minimal. But outside the cities there were many whose daily schedule was not interfered with in the slightest. They included the Amish, the Mennonite, the Quaker, and the farmer. For they had their essential life-support in place, with food, water, shelter, and neighborly kindness.

     As the noose keeps tightening around the neck of Americans due to government’s inept handling of everything from the EPA, FDA, DHS, to FEMA, the VA and the Department of the Treasury, the cities are progressively becoming a more and more dangerous place to be. With the fragile system of provision, where corporations store a mere three days supply of goods, should any tragedy occur to cut off life-support provisions the people will be forced into mob rule. And the psychology of man’s character is such that man will do the most inhumane deeds in large numbers what he would never do if he were standing alone. History shows repeatedly that the corporate spirit of the rioters and mobs is demonic and robs from them the ability to work calmly to settle the needs at hand, and work efficiently to meet everyone’s essential needs.

     In the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 the loss of life all concentrated in the cities. The residents were told to leave the cities. Most refused, and were slaughtered by the mobs whose insanity knew no bounds. But those outside of the cities went through the ordeal unscathed and lived to help rebuild the nation. This is one of many lessons where one’s safety may be found outside of the densely populated areas.

     Then there’s the contrast between the victims of hurricane Katrina and the flood victims of Iowa. In both disasters a tremendous threat of life took place. In New Orleans there was mayhem, theft, murder and discomfiture. While in Iowa there was a calm handling of the disaster because there was essential life-support already in place for them. This allowed for the quiet unified work of the people to deal with the tragedy.

     The Bible provides lessons and prophecies on this subject. GOD, being All-Sovereign, bears all responsibility for everything that takes place in this world. This is why our Father sent “his only begotten Son” to rescue the human race from all that threatens and afflicts, “especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal.6:10. When studying the judgments of GOD against the wickedness of men, it is always seen that man’s inhumanity to his fellow man lies at the heart of GOD’S judgments against sin. If men were to treat their fellow man with benevolent love there would be no wars or locks on doors. But history repeatedly affirms that men will never follow this counsel. Therefore, we are called to understand the Bible’s lessons and prophecies that we can anticipate with wisdom the lessons of history that are always repeated and due to be seen again in our day.

     And one lesson that is most common deals with concentrated populations in cities. The sins that are indulged, the pride that turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the suffering, these are the reasons the Bible gives prophecy of the destruction of the cities on the Earth that usher the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ.

     The history of Jerusalem exemplifies the danger of city life when turmoil and death threaten the population. Example: Israel's continued hardheartedness against GOD and men eventually led Titus of Rome in 70 A.D. to obliterate Jerusalem and its temple. The historian Josephus recorded that at the time of the siege, the most devout orthodox Jews were gathered at Jerusalem for the feast. Josephus recorded the desperate measures to which people would go to preserve their lives. Mothers ate the flesh of their babies. Children ate the flesh of their parents. The wealthy would torture the poor to gain the little food and water they had stored, just to add to their already abundant reserves. There were warring factions within the walls of Jerusalem struggling against each other for the supremacy of authority, each sabotaging one another’s provisions. Attacked from within and without! This lesson, which has been repeated on more than one occasion (read the book of Lamentations) is a microcosm of what is to be carried out at the end of earth’s present history: “All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” I Cor.10:11.

     The history of man is the history of his character. And the extremes of indecency men have gone to gain and to hold power demonstrates the base metal of the human condition. In summation, man is of a metal that bends under the slightest load; brittle to the sudden strike; melts under the slightest heat; and is even unpleasant to the eye. This is why it is important to understand GOD’S purpose in allowing the deplorable aspects of sinful humanity to continue, that man’s self-aggrandizement may be seen for what it is and not for what has been fictionalized through man’s continual flattery of himself. Nothing proves this more than the study of history. Industry and technology change but man’s base passions haven’t. “There is nothing new under the sun.”

     These words of history will be repeated in our day: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein.” Jer.44:2

“I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.” Zeph.3:6

     When man reaches the apex of sin’s expression “the seven plagues” will come upon the inhabitants of the Earth. And at their close the prophecy will be fulfilled, as every prophecy given by GOD will be fulfilled. “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Rev.16:19.

     Let the words of the Apostle Paul be taken to heart: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” Eph.5:15