Signs of God's Impending Judgment (1)

What are the signs that judgment is to fall upon the people of God?
(Sign 1) ‘This and that have I done,’ said the Lord, 'and yet you have not returned to me' (Amos 4:6, 7). There are declines before the ruin of a house. Lesser judgments make way for greater. Where less afflictions prevail not, there cannot but be an expectation of greater.
(Sign 2) Usually before some great calamity God takes away worthy men, 'the counsellor, and the captain, and the man of war' (Isa. 3:2, 3). This is a fearful warning that God threatens some future destruction, for they are the pillars of the church and the strength of the nation. They are those that make the times and places good wherein they live; for they keep away evil and do good by their example and by their prayers. A good man is a common good. The city thrives the better for a righteous man (Prov. 11:10, 11; Eccles. 9:15). Therefore, we have cause to rejoice in them and it is a sign of pending judgment when such are removed.
(Sign 3) God usually visits a people when some horrible sins reign among them. Sins such as atheism. Beloved, God stands upon his prerogative then, when he is scarce known in the world; when they say, 'Where is God? God sees us not.' Also, when idolatry prevails. This is a breach of covenant with God. Also, when divisions grow among people. Union is a preserver. Where there is dissension of judgment there will soon be dissension of affections. For the most part, ecclesiastical dissensions end in civil dissension. Before the destruction of Jerusalem, what a world of schisms and divisions were amongst the Jews. It was the ruin of the ten tribes at length, the rent that Jeroboam caused in religion. It is a fearful sign of some great judgment to fall upon a church when dissensions are not stopped. They may be easily stopped at first, as waters in the beginning; but when they are once gotten into the very vital parts of the church and commonwealth, we may see the mischief, but it is remedied with difficulty.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Church's Visitation, Works, vol. 1, p. 379
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.