There have only been a relatively few times that God has intervened in human affairs on a grand scale. Those few interventions have dramatically changed the course of history. First and foremost (so far) was the great Flood. By means of a global deluge, God destroyed an ancient world. Almighty God forced the lustful angels to dissolve their flesh and return to the spirit realm where they reside presently, known as demons and unclean spirits. Tangentially, the collapse of the heavenly ocean that swaddled the planet forever changed Earth’s weather.
The subsequent divine intervention came shortly after the flood waters had receded. Jehovah intervened to prevent Nimrod from establishing a world government. To hamper mankind from collaborating effectively on a scheme to build a mammoth tower with its top in the heavens, Jehovah God hacked the brains of most people. He downloaded a new, previously unspoken language. (Apparently, those who spoke Hebrew were not reprogrammed)
It was not like speaking in tongues, though. In the case of those under Nimrod’s influence, God permanently deleted their previously-spoken language and installed an entirely different vocabulary. No doubt, families were given the same language. So, each clan was reorganized by their common tongue.
About 2,000 years before Christ, God caused fire and sulfur to rain down from heaven, incinerating the iniquitous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, thereby establishing a pattern of the judgment to come.
Several hundred years lapsed, and then Jehovah intervened again to fulfill his promise to Abraham to give his offspring the land of Canaan. The fact that the Israelites were slaves in Egypt presented no problem for God. Through a series of ten plagues, Jehovah forced Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. God then parted the Red Sea and allowed millions to walk on a dry seabed. He then lured Pharaoh and his charioteers in and caused the sea to crash upon them, drowning them all.
Perhaps one of the most astounding interventions was when Joshua ordered the sun and moon to stand still in the sky so that Israel’s enemies could be routed. It is noted that it was the first time in history that God listened to a man. “So the sun stood still and the moon did not move until the nation could take vengeance on its enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to set for about a whole day. There has never been a day like that one, either before it or after it, when Jehovah listened to the voice of a man, for Jehovah was fighting for Israel.” — Joshua 10:13-14
During times of war, on more than one occasion, God fought on behalf of Israel by throwing enemy armies into confusion and panic so that they slaughtered one another.
There have undoubtedly been countless interventions that were not humanly observable and are only knowable by divine revelation. One instance is recorded in the 10th chapter of Daniel when a demon prevented an angel from coming to the prophet’s assistance. Michael, the archangel, intervened and overpowered the demonic prince of Persia.
Jehovah God intervened in other ways, though, that were not supernatural. God commissioned nations to accomplish his purpose. For example, God used Assyria to punish the idolatrous ten tribes of Israel. A century and a half later, Babylon became an instrument in God’s hand to destroy Jerusalem. Then God moved the Medes and Persians to overthrow Babylon and liberate the Jews. In each instance though, Jehovah announced long in advance his intention to use earthly empires to accomplish his work.
The next world-changing intervention was much more subtle. Jehovah miraculously implanted the life of his perfect heavenly son into the womb of a Jewish virgin. Then another miracle took place when Jesus was baptized and anointed with holy spirit. And, of course, Jesus performed countless miracles during the course of his 42-month ministry, which was capped by Jehovah resurrecting Jesus from the tomb and raising him back to heaven. But the miracles did not end.
Ten days after his ascension, 120 disciples were anointed with the holy spirit, the same as Christ had been. Their anointing was dramatized by tongues of fire that rested upon each one’s head. The Christian era had begun.
The Book of Acts records some of the miracles the apostles performed, including bringing the dead back to life and expelling demons. But as the apostles gradually died off —some violently —Christianity became more and more watered-down and corrupt. It was finally absorbed into the Roman Empire and disappeared.
Over many centuries, God has just allowed history to take its course. That is not to say that Jehovah has not used individuals at times. There is simply no way of knowing for sure. Obviously, though, the development of the printing press certainly changed the course of history—the Bible was the first book published with movable type.
Toward the close of the 19th century, God began anointing persons again. No, tongues of fire did not hover over their heads. Even so, it is evident that the miraculous anointing took place, as evidenced by the initiation of a preaching campaign that has extended to the present. Jesus foretold that the good news of the Kingdom would be preached throughout the earth first as a preliminary to the final intervention. The good news is that surviving the next divine intervention will be possible. And what is the next intervention? It is the second coming of Christ. It will involve all of the previous interventions in some shape or form.
First, Michael and his angels will war against Satan and the demonic princes and evict them from Jehovah’s heaven. Satan’s expulsion will create havoc upon the earth, manifesting as war, famine, disease epidemics, civil war, and ultimately, the collapse of civilization. From the collapse will arise the last king, an eighth king.
Ultimately, divine intervention will be necessary to save mankind from extinction. Jesus forewarned that a great tribulation would come upon the entire inhabited earth. The tribulation will be of such severity that no flesh would survive unless Jehovah intervened to cut it short. Given all of the talk recently about war between the nuclear powers, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the demonic princes are determined to drive the nations into a nuclear holocaust.
During the bleakest period in human history, God will insert himself into human affairs on a global scale. To be more correct, after many centuries, Christ will appear on the stage—literally appearing to those who have been called, chosen, and faithful. Christ’s appearance, also known as his presence, manifestation, and revelation, will bring about the miraculous transformation of those to whom he appears. The apostle John, who witnessed the transfiguration vision, wrote concerning this manifestation: “Beloved ones, we are now children of God, but it has not yet been made manifest what we will be. We do know that when he is made manifest we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.” — 1 John 3:2
The revelation of Jesus will then result in the revealing of the sons of God. Christ will live vicariously through them so that the treatment meted out to them will be done to Jesus himself. We know how this form of divine intervention will end. The 11th chapter of Revelation reveals two witnesses who will perform miracles similar to Moses and Elijah for 42 months, the same as Christ’s ministry. Moses and Elijah appeared in the transfiguration vision conversing with the gloried Jesus, which was a foregleam of the parousia. So, the two witnesses represent the body of the chosen ones who will see Christ. That is why they are called “witnesses.” They will give testimony before governors and kings that they have seen Christ in his glory. With what result? “When they have finished their witnessing, the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will wage war with them and conquer them and kill them.”
The beast’s war and conquest of anointed Christians will bring about the last divine intervention at a place called Armageddon.
“And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and they perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. “Look! I am coming as a thief. Happy is the one who stays awake and keeps his outer garments, so that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness.”And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Armageddon.” — Revelation 16:13-16
