I’m hearing it proclaimed in the strongest terms that God is judging California and punishing that area with the horrific fire because of the wickedness it embraces. I disagree. I say God is not yet judging, not in the sense that His judgment produces punishment from Heaven.

Indeed, the parts of California that are, as of this writing, being devoured by the fires—fanned by 100 mph winds, in some cases—are the center of wickedness the likes of which might make the people of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah blush.

One observer writes the following in that regard:

There is so much anger about the unprecedented fires that are ravaging the Los Angeles area, because there is a widespread belief that they could have been prevented.  Some are blaming mismanaged forests, some are blaming the extreme incompetence of our leaders, some are blaming “climate change”, and some are blaming budget cuts.  But could it be possible that the real reason why Los Angeles is burning is not related to any of those factors?

What is the one thing that sets Los Angeles apart from any other city in the world?

Needless to say, it is the entertainment industry…

Most people living in the western world consume entertainment that originates from Los Angeles almost every single day.

Most of us are literally opening up our minds and pouring in filth on a regular basis, and that has had absolutely devastating consequences.

Of course much of the filth that the entertainment industry produces openly mocks God and misuses His name.

Sadly, the entertainment industry was even mocking God at the Golden Globe awards just 48 hours before the fires hit.

So they mocked God on Sunday at the Golden Globes, couple days later their houses burn down…

The entire planet has been corrupted by the movies, television shows and music that come out of Los Angeles.  On top of all that, L.A. is the epicenter for the global pornography industry. (“Could There Be A Reason Why Los Angeles Is Burning That Nobody Really Wants To Talk About?” by Michael, End Of The American Dream, January 12, 2025)

President Trump said recently the area destroyed by the fires look as if they’ve been hit by a nuclear attack. It sure seems like the judgment of God is being visited on America’s Pompeii, doesn’t it?

No. I think not. I believe what we see happening—the fiery devastation ravaging one of America’s most desirable place to live in terms of environment—is actually an expression of God’s love.

Now, that seems almost as wrong in reasoning as the woke thinking that comes out of California, that state of upside-down, reprobate insanity!

Here I want to say that we are to have love and concern for the people who are suffering so desperately from these catastrophic fires. And they are catastrophic, with entire neighborhoods across a vast expanse having been completely burned to the ground. Let us reach out in compassion, knowing that, but by the grace of God, we could be in the same circumstances.

That said, I’m of the thinking proffered by my friend Tom Hughes, whose ministry is located in California.

He likened what’s going on there to the terminal health dilemma of someone he once witnessed to about the saving power of Jesus Christ.

The man had only days to live when he went to visit him, Tom said. The man wanted to know that if there was a God, why he was suffering such pain.

Tom lovingly and gently told the cancer patient that God had blessed him all his life with a successful life and wonderful family. Despite all the opportunities to accept Christ, the man had rejected God’s offer. The pain was given to call the man one more time. The pain was necessary as a strong measure because God knew the place the man was going without Christ was many times worse than the pain from cancer he was suffering. In other words, God was using the pain to call him to salvation one last time.

Tom’s words to this terminally ill man might sound harsh, but the Lord sometimes works His love and mercy even through the pain of life.

Thankfully, the man did accept Christ before passing into the Lord’s presence just several days later. (The following is the link to Tom’s recounting of this conversion experience: https://youtu.be/kDvItdgONFM?si=OEvKS0bITAoc0Oj7)

Tom Hughes said:

It’s the same thing I see going on right now in America. You see it in the heart of Hollywood. God is shouting to people, “Hey, you better turn to me.” The Bible tells us what’s coming during the Tribulation period.

Wow, folks. God is screaming to us. He has blessed this country with great things–with so many good things, and instead of turning to the Lord, they are turning from Him. And God is shouting to us, because He knows the pain is coming [when His true wrath must punish those who reject His Son.]

For anybody…if you don’t know the Lord, ask Him to forgive you. He will forgive anybody who will come to Him.

Amen! The fires are a merciful call to repentance–perhaps a last, loving call to accept God’s order, rather than the anti-God way of wokeness and rebellion.

What painful calls to repentance might we expect as the time of the Tribulation grows closer by the hour? Once Jesus calls all believers to Himself in the Rapture, the pain will grow infinitely worse as God’s wrath pours out on God-rejecting humankind.

You don’t want to be part of that wrath and of Antichrist’s unprecedented evil.

Here’s how to accept Christ and be kept from that worst time of human history AND from the eternal, truly horrific fire—the lake of fire—following the final punishment of lost humankind at the great white throne judgment.

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)