Words of the Prophet

Words of the Prophet

As we start a new year, both domestic and international news are gloomy, including the entertainment world.  There is no sign of abating either between Israel and Hamas or between Russia and Ukraine.

The number of people infected with the virus is on the rise. While there are many concerns about the first practical use of mRNA vaccines, Japan has built a self-replicating mRNA vaccine (replicon) factory in Japan and has begun manufacturing and selling it.

In Japan, 30 years of deflation have caused income to stagnate while prices are skyrocketing.  National tax revenue is at an all-time high. This means that the burden on the people is increasing.

All countries are concerned about the chaotic and disorderly international society and are shifting in a direction to produce their own agricultural products, but Japan is treating farmers poorly and relying more and more on imports.

In the Saturday morning prayer meeting, we are currently reading the passage from the Book of Isaiah in Yasuo Enomoto's One Chapter a Day of the Old Testament.

Isaiah is a prophet who lived in almost the same era as the prophet Jeremiah.

The issues about Japan which are discussed are not that different from those of 50 years ago.  The difference between Japan then and Japan now is whether it was in a period of high economic growth or a period of decline.  Japan was in a period of high economic growth, when people still had hopes and dreams, but now we are in a situation where we can no longer have those hopes and dreams. Back then, there was a universal middle-class consciousness, but now there is a gap between rich and poor.

Jeremiah is warning the nation of Judah that if they continue to disregard God (the Lord of hosts) and pursue the path of evil, the nation will be destroyed by sword, famine, and plague.

I do not think that these prophetic words are anachronistic and I am deeply convinced that we too need to pay attention to God's warning.  (Pastor)