We have been warned

<Corruptio Optimi Pessima>

(Corruption in its best is the worst corruption)

Jeremiah was the last prophet to speak for God before Jerusalem's complete destruction in 586 B.C., Judah's problem was not the worship of idols on the surrounding mountains tops or the selling of graven images in Jerusalem. The root problem was the degenerate and rebellious condition of every heart. One would think that a faithful prophet and a dedicated king could make a big difference, but Judah was beyond the point of recovery. God even assured Jeremiah that He would spare Jerusalem if he could find one righteous soul! (Jer 5:1). - The reforms initiated by Josiah to bring the people back to God, away from the worship of idols and gross sin did not change the hearts or attitudes of Jerusalem's citizens. Even more, Jeremiah's preaching did not change one heart.

Failure of these endeavors left God with no other option than to totally destroy Jerusalem. Jesus said to Jeremiah, "My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good." (Jer 4:22).

It seems incredible that God's people degenerated to such a base condition; It is a fact of human life that each generation sets a lower moral stage for the next (even though most people deny this). Each succeeding generation sees itself "no worse" than the standards it inherited and justifies its degenerate ways. But when you compare decadent behavior to "God's unchanging standard of righteousness," the gulf is very great.

There is very little difference between the spiritual condition of Judah then, and the United States today. God's wrath fell on the northern kingdom of Israel first in 722 B.C. then on Judah in 605 B.C. and again in 70 A.D.

The warning about the destruction of Jerusalem was given over a period of about 250 years, when time for destruction came, the armies of Nebuchadnezzar appeared in one day. Even though God repeatedly warned His people through His servants the prophets, there was no "heart" change.

Even though God was willing to relent of His wrath, Israel and Judah scorned their Benefactor. If God's own people would not change, what is the likelihood of a religiously diverse nation and world, repenting from their sins if warned of coming judgments?

History tells us that is not possible; For this reason the coming judgments of God will commence without warning on one day in the very near future. "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 The 5:3).

Scripture clearly tells us that advance warnings from God did not change decadent behavior in Noah's day or Jeremiah's day, and sadly our generation is no different today. We have been given warning after warning and the reply has been the same as it was to the prophets of the Old Testament, mocked even by those today who consider themselves "religious".