Two strong earthquakes belted Japan this week, the first being a magnitude 6.5 quake that was followed up 5 days later by an even stronger 7.1 magnitude jolt. By comparison, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 1995 killed 6,400 people, so these are powerful movements of the earth.
Bad weather is hitting the Asian world as well, where over a million people in China have been forced to evacuate as typhoon Morakot is leveling houses, hotels, and other inhabitable buildings. In India, monsoon rains caused a landslide that has buried at least 43 people alive. Following a landslide in Taiwan, 600 people are missing. In Indonesia, the powerful Krakatoa volcano, which once killed 36,500 people during an eruption, has show signs of springing back to life.
Even the east coast of the United States was hit with an earthquake this week when a relatively minor 3.2 magnitude shaker was felt in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Among other signs Jesus gave so that we would know when His return is near, He mentioned earthquakes (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11) and violent storms coming from the seas (Luke 21:25). There are also passages of Scripture that could indicate the effects of massive volcanic eruptions (Joel 2; Revelation 6 & 8, among others).
An incredible storm struck Beijing, China today, causing it to be as dark as night even though it was 11:30 in the morning. Look at this picture from ABC News:
For the second day in a row we have what sounds like a description from Joel 2:30-31, which says, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”
An eye-catching story comes to us from NewScientist.com, via FoxNews:
A team of scientists say they have evidence that a “super volcano” may be brewing underneath Mount St. Helens, NewScientist.com reports.
Researchers say indicators suggest Mount St. Helens and other northwest volcanoes are plugged into a huge subterranean pool of magma that could one day burst to the surface in a “super” eruption.
Could “super volcanos” be described in Joel 2:30-31, which tells of “fire and pillars of smoke” that darken the sun? Possibly, though this passage is generally seen as referring to nuclear weapon usage.
The number of deaths from the cyclone that hit India and Bangladesh earlier this week has reached at least 180, and sadly the number is climbing. Around 180,000 homes have been destroyed. These folks need our prayers and support.
Jesus, speaking in Luke 21:25, said the last days would find, “The sea and the waves roaring.”
The sun has hit a 100-year low in sunspot activity, with 50+ year lows in solar wind pressure and radio emissions. According to the linked article, when the sun has a “quiet” phase, it is followed up by a very active phase.
With that in mind, it is intriguing that the sun is becoming increasingly silent. This could mean that it is about to erupt in fury. In Revelation 16:8-9, the fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, causing the inhabitants of earth to be “scorched with great heat.” Soon the sun will be reign down fire on this planet. Thank God we Christians will be kept “out of” the great wrath that is coming upon the earth (Revelation 3:10; Luke 21:36)!
