Severe drought grips roughly one third of the United States—primarily the Southern Plains, due to increasingly hot, dry weather and below-average rainfall—threatening many areas of the country with what weather experts say could be America’s worst summer water shortage since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.

“Withering fields in Texas, the largest U.S. grower, led Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican presidential candidate and the son of a cotton farmer, to ask supporters to pray for rain to end a ‘monster drought’ shrinking cattle herds and killing crops” (Bloomberg, August 29).

While some may say drought is a natural occurrence and that the U.S. has always had droughts, what makes the present situation so unique is how widespread it is and long-lasting it has been. What’s more, severe droughts today can have greater consequences than droughts in the past. During the Dust Bowl drought, the U.S. population was 123 million. Today, with the population well over 310 million, water demand has multiplied.

“Natural” disasters such as floods and hurricanes are anticipated by disaster planners. Drought is not prepared for in the same manner because of the gradual nature of its arrival. Nevertheless, because droughts are generally more widespread and last longer, the damage caused is greater.

And it is not only the U.S. under the curse of drought. In recent years we have seen parts of Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central Asia, China, South and Central America, and Canada plagued by severe water shortages.

What is needed on this Earth is rainfall in the right places, at the right times and in the proper amount. But that is going to be increasingly rare in the years just ahead—and for reasons most people would not expect.

The Real Cause

Over the years, meteorologists have gained better understanding of the physical factors involved in producing weather patterns. Yet they admit they don’t know why major global-impacting weather forces, such as high-altitude jet streams or powerful ocean currents, shift as they do.

In our scientifically and technologically advanced age, many forget that there is a Being in heaven who reigns supreme. Millions go about their lives with little or no concern for what the Creator of the universe is doing and what His purposes are for mankind.

The Bible plainly reveals that God has set spiritual and physical laws in motion. At present, God is allowing humans to develop their own ways of living, which are contrary to His laws, and to reap the natural consequences that result from those ways—including weather upsets.

Normally, God sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). But sometimes, He intervenes through the weather to extend both blessings and correction (Job 37:11-13)—or to warn nations of their mounting sins: “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour [clouds]; stormy wind fulfilling his word” (Psalm 148:8).

Weathermen and news reporters don’t tell you that. They don’t explain that wrong ways of living—wrong lifestyles, morality and thinking—and chaotic weather are related. The Trumpet has stood out as one of the few voices proclaiming this fact.

The truth is, one of the ways God punishes nations is to shut off their water supplies: “Take heed [lest] the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly …” (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

Repeatedly and eloquently Scripture reveals the spiritual reasons why many droughts and weather disasters are allowed to occur. Long ago, God foretold that because of society’s mounting sins—crime, divorce, plummeting moral standards and total ingratitude to Him for the blessings bestowed upon our nations (including pure, abundant water)—we will see the day when the taps run dry (Amos 4:6-8).

To a rebellious and self-willed people, God thunders, “[T]hou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain …” (Jeremiah 3:2-3; also Isaiah 5:2, 6).

God, in His great purpose, may also allow Satan—the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)—to have a role in producing catastrophic weather, for man’s ultimate learning (see Job 1).

In the June 1995 issue of the Trumpet, editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote, “Satan is … going to cause what most people call ‘natural disasters.’ On top of all that, God is against us (Ezekiel 5:8). … Why all these disasters? They are a warning from God to repent. The disasters will keep coming until we repent. That is our only hope.”

Extreme weather upsets (Amos 4:7), crop blight (verse 9) and destructive insects and animals (Deuteronomy 28:39, 42) will result in ruined harvests on a massive scale (Ezekiel 5:16). The land will be stripped of its life-giving humus and rich topsoil. God says the heaven above us will be as iron and the earth as brass (Leviticus 26:19).

“[Y]our land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. And if ye walk contrary unto me [still], and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins …. And I will bring a sword upon you …” (Leviticus 26:20-21, 25). Invasion—destruction by biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism—will follow the drought and pestilence.

Not only will U.S. citizens be affected, so too will all human beings on this planet—but the modern nations of Israel most of all. (Request a free copy of our publications The United States and Britain in Prophecy and Why ‘Natural’ Disasters? for details.)

But understand this: With God, such punishment is correction for our good—not revenge (Ezekiel 33:11). God desires that humans live in health and prosperity (John 10:10; 3 John 2). He longs to see us repent and obey Him so He may deliver us. He yearns to bring about worldwide peace, safety and health. God wants to lavish greater prosperity and blessings upon His people than ever before—and ultimately offer us spiritual salvation and eternal life.

Our merciful Creator promises to provide blessings, including rain, to those who obey Him: “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3-4).

Some are convinced that biblical passages such as these are merely recorded history or poetic imagery. But you can prove that these are in fact living prophecies for this “last hour”—and for the soon-coming World Tomorrow. They will come to pass.

Forecast: No More Drought

God promises sweeping reforms everywhere in the utopian age He says will soon erupt on this Earth.

When God sends Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom over all nations, one of the top priorities of God’s perfect government will be to completely redevelop and shape the Earth into an Eden-like paradise.

Imagine it!

As the nations learn to submit to God’s government, they will no longer be cursed with drought. Gentle rains will fall in the appropriate seasons (Ezekiel 34:26) and in the right balance (Psalm 65:9-13). Accessible, pure water will abound. Complicated man-made irrigation systems and huge dams will become obsolete. Water wars will cease.

To many, this would sound like some unattainable pipe dream. And it absolutely is—in the hands of man. With Almighty God, however, nothing is impossible.

Look what God promises: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains [artesian wells] in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water” (Isaiah 41:17-18).

Thank God that someday soon our drought problems—in fact, all our problems—will at last be solved!