Tsunami
Sparks End of World Worry

There shall be Earthquakes .....

by Rev. Andrew JJ Paton

When Krakatau volcano erupted in 1883, the explosion was so loud that it was heard over 8% of the earth's surface. The resultant earthquake caused giant waves that hurled coral blocks weighing up to 600 tons onto surrounding shorelines.

When the full implication of the disaster dawned on the earth’s population preachers immediately began using the facts to predict the end of the world.

Jesus near the end of his ministry predicted the utter destruction of the ornate temple at Jerusalem. His disciples immediately asked him: "When will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming (to reign in power) and when will this age end?" Jesus answered their questions and ever since there have been disciples looking for the event of His promised 2nd coming by evaluating the current world events in the light of the signs He gave.

Krakatau’s giant sea waves killed about 36,000 people. 165 coastal villages were destroyed.

Preachers sagely nodded and quoted Jesus: "There will be earthquakes and famines in various places."

He also said that the sun and moon’s light would be dimmed. Did that happen in 1883? Fine ash and aerosol, erupted about 25 miles up into the stratosphere. Within13 days it had gone right around the earth. The dust was so thick that it blanketed the sun’s rays causing the earth’s temperature to drop for about 5 years. So, yes, the light of the sun and moon were dimmed.

Jesus gave a large list of signs of His coming. They will happen all at the same time so let’s not have another rash of year Y2K tremblings at the latest horrific quake that will make Krakatau seem minor.

In answer to the 1st of the disciple’s 3 questions Jesus predicted that invaders would surround Jerusalem and the temple would be sacked and, note this, He said there would not be one stone left upon another. In 70AD General Titus surrounded the city to starve the rebels into submission. He ordered that the temple be preserved but in the chaos of the final storming of Jerusalem it caught fire and was so badly marred that the Romans pushed every one of its enormous stone blocks Westward off the Temple Mount.

In answer to the next 2 questions Jesus said a time would come when the following things would converge: earthquakes and famines, dimming of the sun and moon’s light, many cult religions, wars of international and territorial sizes all at once, wide-spread persecution of His followers, false prophetic predictions, a large increase in love for wickedness, a drastic reduction in the love many have for God and yet the Gospel will be preached in the whole world.

The point is no individual sign is grounds enough to claim personal knowledge that His coming is going to happen in 2005.

On the other hand that last sign hasn’t been possible until the tool of satellite TV and the Internet gave the church access to the whole world.

This earthquake of 9.0 proportions is a time for sacrificial giving rather than speculative guessing.

In Sri Lanka walls of water roared ashore with speeds of 500 miles per hour. The death toll has passed 12,000.

In Indonesia the waves swallowed whole villages, with 5,000 people reported dead. India has more than 3,000 dead and 2,500 missing.

The small town of Cuddalore had a mass burial on the 2nd day for 150 of their children.

Other countries affected are Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, and Bangladesh. Millions are displaced from their homes and thousands are still missing.

If this is indeed a sign of Christ’s coming let it find you busy caring.

Address your check to "Tidal Wave Relief ACM1762" and place it in the offering this Sunday. Start praying every day for the rescue workers – their task is overwhelming.

You can ask me via our contact form in a few days for further details of what you can do.