Tornado Prophecy FULFILLED: Four Churches Destroyed

“But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. Now if you say to yourselves, ‘How can we tell that a message is not from the Lord?’ – whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NET)

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On June 21, 2015, I delivered a live prophecy: “Tornadoes Are Coming: Get To Low Ground.” (see video above)

This message foretold the judgment coming to the Church, specifically the destruction of the “high, exalted” places, traditions, and positions of leadership in the Body.

On June 22, 2015— the next day— a widespread line of storms called a derecho swept through the US, causing numerous destructive tornadoes all over the map, many in places that don’t normally experience tornadoes.

In an even more specifically targeted fulfillment of this prophecy, four churches in Portland, Michigan, were destroyed in this tornadic outbreak, literally bringing steeples to the ground in a dramatic illustration of what God has purposed to do in the Body of Christ.

God is speaking to His people. He is moving now.

Are you listening?

The Message

The full prophecy is available here.

In short, God is judging America, and he is starting with His house.

“Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you… For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God.” 1 Peter 4:12, 17a (NET)

Specifically, God is judging the leaders in the Body of Christ, and this is His message:

Tornadoes are coming— get to low ground.

This is a tornado warning. 

• A Tornado Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

• A Tornado Warning, however, is issued when a tornado has been sighted. That’s when you hear the sirens go off.

When a tornado warning is issued, it’s time to stop what you’re doing, grab your loved ones, and take cover…in the lowest place you can find.

If you’re in a multi-storied building, you go to the ground floor.

If you’re on top of a hill, you get down to the valley.

If you’re out in the open, you duck in a ditch.

In the best case scenario, you go underground— the basement is the safest place to be.

In the same way that a tornado or a bolt of lightning targets everything that is exalted, God is targeting the leadership in the church.

The only place of safety is a low position, so it’s time to humble yourselves and get to low ground.

“A voice cries out, ‘In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; construct in the desert a road for our God. Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled.

The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.

The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.” Isaiah 40:3-5 (NET)

This is what God is doing: He is leveling the mountains and the hills, putting everyone on an equal plain at the foot of His throne.

If you are in an exalted position in the Church, God is going to take you down.

Your leaders may be prophesying “Peace and prosperity”, but that word is not from the Lord.

Peace and prosperity? No! A storm and a whirlwind 

“But just watch! The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm!

Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.” Jeremiah 23:19 (NET)

“For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.” Matthew 21:43-46 (NET)

Contrary to conventional religious wisdom, God has determined to tear down the institutions we’ve built in His name. Along with them, our temples, traditions, religious pride, church positions, denominations, and divisions will fall. 

“Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, ‘As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!’” Luke 21:5-6 (NET)

What will be left is the purified gold of the faithful people of God. An organic Body, moving in love and unity, with Jesus as its Head.

 

Tornadoes Did Come

The June 22 derecho with its numerous, destructive tornadoes— hitting the very day after the message was spoken— is an immediate, literal fulfillment of the Tornado Prophecy.

Specifically, the NOAA reported 25 tornados in the U.S on June 22, 2015.

Let’s take a look.

• The Weather Channel| June 23, 2015: Derecho, Tornadoes Leave Damage In Midwest; Tornado Destroys Homes In Coal City, Illinois

Severe weather marched into the High Plains and Midwest Monday (June 22, 2015) with powerful straight-line winds and tornadoes, causing significant damage to a town in northeastern Illinois…

A long-lived squall line known as a derecho ripped across a swath from South Dakota to Wisconsin Monday morning, leaving widespread damage in a path that also included northern Iowa and parts of southern Minnesota. A second round of thunderstorms erupted in the afternoon and evening hours across parts of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan, bringing several reports of tornadoes.

• ABC News | June 23, 2015:  Tornado Causes Heavy Damage in Coal City, Illinois

• National Weather Service | June 23, 1015: June 22, 2015: Numerous Tornadoes Strike

• The Weather Channel | June 24,2015: 48 Hours of Storms in 6 Weather Images: Midwest Derecho, Tornadoes and Northeast Severe Thunderstorms

•  The Weather Channel | June 23, 2015: Tornadoes hit Michigan; ‘We should be dead’

• RT | June 23, 2015: Tornados & storms wreak havoc in US Mid-West, Great Lakes area (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

• USA Today | June 23, 2015: Derecho, tornadoes roar across Midwest

 

Confirmed tornadoes on Monday, June 22, 2015. Only tornadoes rated EF1 or stronger on the Enhanced Fujita Scale are shown.

 

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down

An even more dramatic picture of this prophecy emerges as we zoom in on Portland, Michigan, where on the same night, four churches in one town were destroyed by a tornado: Epic Community, First Congregational, United Methodist, and First Baptist Church.

At least two of these churches were historic buildings, on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Notably, their steeples – powerful symbols of faith and tradition— were destroyed as a result of the tornado.

Ironically, First Congregational Church (est. 1853) had just completed a $125,000 renovation of the church’s steeple, which housed the church’s

historic cast iron bell, itself built in 1906.

In fact, they put the finishing touches on the new steeple that very day. The last lights were installed two hours before the tornado struck.

No one ever saw it lit.

With no regard for its historic and emotional significance, the twister picked up the bell and the steeple, and dropped them squarely in the middle of the sanctuary. Third pew, to be exact.

 

First of Portland’s historic churches demolished after tornado, bell recovered

 

The steeple of First Baptist Church, on the other hand, was shifted by the tornado, prompting the city to order it to be demolished due to safety regulations. The steeple did not come down easily. It took a lot of effort and heavy equipment.

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First Baptist celebrated its 175th anniversary this year. Tears and emotional outbursts could be heard as congregants perused the damage, and later watched as the steeple came crashing to the ground, pummeled by a crane.

Pastor Gary Coleman said, “A lot of history going down. In many ways our congregation’s going to go through the grieving process, its such a devastating loss.”

“A lot of memories are in there,” said one member. And another, ‘The devastation is terrible. But God is still good.’”

Pastor Coleman, who was in the church basement when the tornado struck, said, “It just was suddenly like the building was under attack. I knew what was happening.”

In regards to the difficult task of demolishing the compromised tower, he mused, “I think the tower was saying, ‘The tornado’s not going to take me down, man’s going to have a problem taking me down too.'”

Pastor Coleman could not know the prophetic significance of his statement.

That steeple did not want to come down.

But make no mistake about it, ladies and gentlemen— it did come down.

The building was under attack. Just as the temple in Jesus’ day came under attack the moment He uttered God’s judgment against it, so He is also judging His Church.

Yes, the high places will fight this message, but they cannot resist the arm of the Lord. They, like the steeple, will come crashing down, and nothing can be done to stop it.

 

A Sign For Those Who See

“…but now he has promised, ‘I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.’ Now this phrase ‘once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire.” Hebrews 12:26b-28 (NET)

Pastor Marilyn Danielson of First Congregational said it’s not clear what God is trying to tell them, but “one of the themes of our faith is resurrection, and I believe that we will resurrect.”

Through prophecy, God is making clear what He is trying to tell us.

Brothers and sisters, God is giving you a sign. A signature to show this prophecy is real.

And why? So that you will have ears to hear the message, and know that when all of the trappings you have built around your faith are falling, God is in control. If you know God’s plan, you will see your future through the dust and debris, and you will not fall away.

“‘Even if the mountains are removed and the hills displaced, my devotion will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of friendship be displaced,’ says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NET)

When asked if any part of the building could be salvaged, in an eerily prophetic statement, the groundskeeper of  First Congregational shook his head and said,

“I don’t see…other than the foundation.”

That, brothers and sisters is exactly what God is doing. He is tearing us down, to our one true foundation. He is showing us what is truly important, and lasting, about our faith— by removing everything that isn’t.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-17 (NET)

 

In essence, God gives you the warning in order to give you hope.

And he gives you a sign to make you sit up and pay attention.

The fact that there were no reports of death or serious injury in Portland (and other hard-hit areas like Coal City) is a testimony to God’s mercy. Though He is judging our high places— within and without—it’s His desire to save us, cleanse us, and bring us together. Even His refining fire is accompanied with mercy and protection.

The members of these churches had a common sentiment, repeated time and again in comments and interviews.

They said that though they will miss their churches, the church is not a building.

The Church is people.

And so the four churches, in fact, made arrangements to share not only a common meeting space, but a common message as they recovered from the damage.

Do you see what happened?

Four groups of people from different denominations with different styles of worship found common ground in the ruins of their histories.

You see, when God tears down the walls we build up around our tradition to define our faith, He also tears down the walls that separate us from other Christians.

So take heart. Don’t be afraid. We are in a battle against our own kingdoms.

But God is with us. And we will win.

 

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