WBC is no stranger to lawless, violent mobs. We’ve encountered them from sea to shining sea, and it’s nothing to be proud of, america.
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Every week or two, the Lord shows us a new way that He has determined to make sure that the message of Westboro Baptist Church will be preached all across the world. This week, it was due to the actions of a lawless, violent mob in Moore, Oklahoma. On May 20, 2013, God sent a tornado to Moore, OK, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds. We warned them that God sent that tornado because of their disobedience, and to repent or perish. God says: “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind [or, tornado]; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.” Proverbs 1:25-27. Predictably, the citizens of Moore hated that message, and came up with a plan to silence it. Also predictably, the exact opposite happened and the message is currently being talked about all across the world. Once again proving that “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:21.
WBC is no stranger to lawless, violent mobs. We’ve encountered them from sea to shining sea, and it’s nothing to be proud of, america. You’re following in the footsteps of those wicked men who have persecuted the saints of God throughout history. There are plenty of passages to consider in the Old Testament, including those about Lot, Moses, Jeremiah, etc. But let’s focus on Matthew 10:22-24 – “ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” If you are the one persecuting and causing the disciples of Christ to flee from your city, you are on the wrong side, my friend. In his exposition of this passage, Matthew Henry says “Thus reject them who reject you and your doctrine, and try whether others will not receive you and it. Thus shift for your own safety. Note, in case of imminent peril, the disciples of Christ may and must secure themselves by flight, when God, in His Providence, opens to them a door of escape. He that flies may fight again.”
In addition to the howling mob demanding that he be crucified, Jesus had plenty of experience dealing with the lawless rabble and escaping from their violent hands, and I’ll give you a couple examples. Luke 4:28-30 – “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way.” The men of Nazareth ran Jesus out of town because they hated what He preached! John 7:1 – “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.”
Jesus, knowing that His disciples would face the same thing gave them a command: “when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” Note that He doesn’t say “flee and go hide and stop preaching.” He says “flee from the one city, and go preach in another city.” These so-called “Christians” of the modern day look at this commandment slack jawed, unable to understand what it’s even talking about. It’s a foreign concept to them that preaching could enrage an entire city to the point that the preacher would have to flee for his own safety! They haven’t been given the blessing of being counted worthy to suffer that shame for the name of Christ, and haven’t been able to experience the rejoicing that comes from it. But the disciples in the Bible understood, and so do we, and here are a few verses showing the disciples of Christ following this commandment:
“But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.” Acts 9:24-25.
“But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 13:50-52.
“And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use themdespitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about.” Acts 14:5-6.
Remember, Moore, OK, “he that toucheth [one of God’s little ones] toucheth the apple of His eye” Zechariah 2:8. “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind [the tornado] and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Nahum 1:2-3. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19. It’s time for you to repent, or you will perish like those 24 did on May 20, 2013.
Amen.