Wall Street dipped more than 2 percent on Tuesday. The Dow slipped more than 400 points in afternoon trading. All three major U.S. indexes are now reporting losses for the year.
“We haven't see this kind of volatility in a while,” Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities, told Reuters. “It reminds me of the one we saw during the 2008-2009 crisis.”
That's not the kind of sign or wonder I want to see. The question is, what caused this? From a natural perspective, it was weak data from China mixed with growing fears that a stall in the world's second-largest economy will hamper global growth.
But could there be something else at work behind the scenes? There's certainly no lack of speculation about a financial collapse in September and the first day of the month didn't disappoint the speculators—be they economic analysts warning about America's unsustainable debt or prophetic voices pointing to God's judgment.
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Indeed, as USA Today reporter Adam Shell noted, the first day of trading in September looked a lot like the “abysmal” trading action in August, which was the worst month for the Dow since May 2010 and the stock market's first 10 percent correction in four years.
Is Wall Street bowing to the Shemitah? The Shemitah, or Sabbath year, is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the land of Israel. Understanding this seven-year pattern is essential for understanding the prophecies and mysteries of the Bible that are still applicable today.
Jonathan Cahn, author of The Mystery of the Shemitah, has said he believes a great shaking is coming to America and the world: “A shaking that will involve a financial and economic collapse, and yet a shaking not limited to those realms. I believe it is wise to be ready—physically, emotionally, morally, and most of all spiritually.”
In The Mystery of the Shemitah, Cahn reveals his research on patterns throughout the history of America that line up with the Shemitah, including the Great Depression, 9/11, and the rise—and possibly the fall—of America.
So, I'll ask again, is Wall Street bowing to the Shemitah? There is no lack of discussion around the topic, but ultimately only God knows.
“Whether a financial crisis hits us on or around Yom Kippur this year or not isn't the real issue for me,” Jonathan Bernis, a Messianic Rabbi and president and CEO of Jewish Voice Ministries International, told Charisma News.
“What is clear is that God is speaking, He is warning us of what is ahead. He is giving us an opportunity to respond, to prepare, and we must do our part-we must take action,” Bernis said. “Whether judgment is three weeks off or three years off, things are going to get worse. Much worse. Now is the time to seek His face and draw near to Him.”
I hope things don't get worse but I do believe it will get darker before the next great move of God. And here's what I absolutely know: Wall Street may not bow to the Shemitah, but every knee in this Babylonian system must bow at the name of Christ. We'd be wise to do the same, putting all that we have and all that we are under His lordship and making an appeal to heaven for spiritual awakening in this nation.
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. She is the co-founder of AwakeningTV.com and a leader in the New Breed Revivalists Network. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and on Periscope @propheticbooks.
