Title: Natural disasters
1Natural disasters
2Wave of devastation
- Headline
- Tsunami among world's worst disasters
- Headline BBC online 30 December
- Event
- The massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean has been
described by relief experts as one of the worst
natural disasters in recent history. With a death
toll so far of well over 100,000, the wave is
particularly notable for the extent of its reach,
from Indonesia in the east, to the coast of
Africa, some 7,000km (4,000 miles) away. - The highest death toll from a tsunami until now
happened in 1896, when 27,000 people were drowned
following an earthquake off the coast of Japan,
according to the Guinness Book of Records. - Major Natural Disasters
- 2004 Asian quake disaster - toll so far exceeds
123,000 - 2003 Earthquake in Bam, Iran - official
casualty figure is 26,271 - 1976 Earthquake in Tangshan, China, kills
242,000 - 1970 Cyclone in Bangladesh kills 500,000
- 1923 Tokyo earthquake kills 140,000
- 1887 China's Yellow River breaks its banks in
Huayan Kou killing 900,000 - 1896 Tsunami kills 27,000 in Japan
- 1815 Volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora on
Indonesia's Sumbawa Island kills 90,000 - 1556 Earthquake in China kills an estimated
830,000
3Wave of devastation
- Comment
- Immediately we think of the verse in Luke 2125
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars and upon the earth
distress of nations, with perplexity the sea and
the waves roaring. We have witnessed surely a
great sign that the return of our Lord Jesus is
near. We have shown in the WWW how that the sea
and waves roaring are symbolic of the peoples of
the world in tumult. With the recent elections in
the Ukraine with millions on the streets the
newspapers said it was a sea of people. - But we should also appreciate that these words
are not just symbolic but literal as well. We
have see recently signs in the sun with the
greatest solar flares ever seen this time last
year. And now we see the literal sea and waves
roaring and mens hearts fearing for looking
after those things which are coming on the world. - Using a concordance this morning I have found the
following fascinating link. - Heman was a Kohathite (1 Chron 633). He was one
of the temple singers under David and Solomon. He
played musical instruments including cymbals of
brass (1 Chron 1519). Heman wrote Psalm 88
talking of the judgments of God. He wrote verse 7
thou hast afflicted with all thy waves. So this
man whose job it was to play cymbals of brass
talks of God afflicting with WAVES. So what?? - Consider again Luke 2125 the sea and WAVES
ROARING.. The word roaring (Strongs 2278) is
used one other time in the NT. 1 Cor 131
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as
soundinglt2278gt brass, or a tinkling cymbal. The
link is clear. God judges using waves. Heman who
played brass cymbals said so. The world HAS
become as sounding brass and the waves are
beginning roar God is judging the world.
4Archbishop questions existence of God
- Headline
- Archbishop of Canterbury
This
has made me question God's existenceHeadline DT
2 January - Event
- The Asian tsunami disaster should make all
Christians question the existence of God, Dr
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
writes in The Telegraph today. - In a deeply personal and candid article, he says
"it would be wrong" if faith were not "upset" by
the catastrophe which has already claimed more
than 150,000 lives. - Prayer, he admits, provides no "magical
solutions" and most of the stock Christian
answers to human suffering do not "go very far in
helping us, one week on, with the intolerable
grief and devastation in front of us". - Comment
- Dr Rowan Williams is the head of the Church of
England and represents 70 million Anglicans
around the world. He obviously has no
understanding of the following. The events we
have witnessed are 1) a sign of the nearness of
Christs return, 2) a reminder that the whole
creation groans in travail its out of joint,
and will be until man is reconciled to God, and
3) a wake up call to all who will heed it of the
mighty power of God and our need to repent while
there is time, lest we all likewise perish. - Bible Quote Luke 13 when a tower fell killing 18
people Jesus said - 5 I tell you, Nay but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish.
5Tensions flare in quake countries
- Headline
- Tensions flare in quake countries Headline BBC
online 7 January - Event
- Fresh tensions between government and rebels in
the two
countries worst hit by the tsunami
disaster threaten to undermine aid efforts.
In Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers have warned of
serious consequences if government soldiers are
not withdrawn from welfare camps. They also
continue to complain that little aid has been
sent to rebel areas, despite government denials. - In Indonesia, the government and rebels have
accused each other of attacks. - Comment
- Already we see the beginnings of political
consequences of the Tsunami disaster. Let us not
forget that God flooded the world in the days of
Noah because of the violence. Let us not forget
either that Sri Lanka and Indonesia are 2
extremely violent and corrupt countries. For
nearly 20 years Sri Lanka was scarred by a bitter
civil war arising out of ethnic tensions.
Indonesia has seen unprecedented turmoil in
recent years, facing first the Asian financial
crisis, then the fall of President Suharto after
32 years in office and bloody inter-ethnic and
religious conflict and unending corruption
scandals.
So we have seen violence and
corruption in these nations and now we see a
flood! - Bible Quote Genesis 6 11 The earth also was
corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
6Northern Europe shaken by storms
- Headline
- Northern Europe shaken by storms Headline BBC
online 10 January - Event
- Countries across northern Europe are recovering
from a battering by storms which left at least 14
people dead. Hundreds of thousands of homes in
Scandinavia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were
left without power. Seven people died in Sweden,
four in Denmark and three in northern England,
where flooding forced thousands to leave their
homes. - Meteorologists say that the storm was the worst
to hit the Baltic states in 40 years. - Airports, rail networks, bridges and roads were
closed and dozens of North Sea ferry routes were
cancelled. - In southern Sweden, two nuclear reactors were
temporarily shut down and 220,000 homes in the
region were without electricity. - Comment
- The worst storms in 40 years. 3 weeks ago we had
the worst earthquake in 40 years. We are nearing
the end of course of the 40 year period when (in
1967) Israel recaptured the whole of Jerusalem
and (I believe) the generation (40 years) who saw
these things will not pass away. See words of
Christ below.
We are fast approaching the
end - Christ will soon return. - Bible Quote Luke 21 32 This generation shall not
pass away, till all be fulfilled.
generation 40 years see Numbers 3213
7Billions affected by disasters
- Headline
- Billions affected by disasters
- Headline BBC online 17 January
- Event
- At least 2.5 billion people have been affected by
natural disasters
over the past 10 years - an increase of
60 over the previous
decade, the UN says. More than 478,000
people were killed
by disasters such as
earthquakes, floods and hurricanes, from 1994 to
2003. - The most vulnerable people are those living in
developing nations, it says. - Comment
- There are about 6 billion people on the planet at
the moment. If 2.5 billion have been affected by
natural disasters this means more than one in
three have been impacted. We are warned by Jesus
that these things would happen. The word
earthquake in the verse below is the Greek word
seismos and it can also mean a tempest. In fact
in Matthew 824 when Jesus is in the boat during
a great storm, the word tempest is this same
word seismos. We should therefore be looking
for diverse earthquakes and great tempests /
storms as well as famines and plagues. All these
things are on the increase. We should be looking
up at this time for our redemption draws near. - Bible Quote Luke 21
- 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers
places, and famines, and pestilences and fearful
sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
8Indonesian death toll rises to 166,000
- Headline
- Indonesia's tsunami deaths soarHeadline BBC
online 19 January - Event
- Indonesia's health ministry has raised the figure
for the number of people killed by the Asian
tsunami disaster to more than 166,000. The latest
figure is more than 50,000 higher than the
previous total issued by the ministry. The
announcement raises the global death toll to
about 220,000. Most of the new tally of deaths
came from the provinces of Aceh and North
Sumatra, which were directly in the tsunami's
path when it hit. About 800,000 people were made
homeless in Aceh and North Sumatra as a result of
the disaster. - Comment
- The epicentre of the greatest earthquake in the
last 40 years causing the Asian tsunami was close
to Aceh a province in Indonesia. Aceh has been
wracked by extreme levels of violence and
corruption in recent years. What many do not
realise is that when the waves struck, Aceh had
been closed to most foreign organizations and the
international media for 18 months. Humans Rights
Watch describe the most horrific accounts of
violence I have ever read. On the 7th December 04
, just weeks before the earthquake, the
Indonesian authorities arrested the governor of
Aceh for alleged involvement in corruption. God
flooded the earth before because of these things. - Bible Quote Genesis 6 11 The earth also was
corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
9Iranian earthquake
- Headline
- Hundreds killed in Iranian quake
- Headline BBC online 22 February
- Event
- A strong earthquake has hit dozens of villages in
southern Iran,
killing at
least 500 people and hurting many more. The
6.4-magnitude quake struck just before 0600 (0230
GMT) and was centred near Zarand in Kerman
province, 740km (460 miles) from the capital,
Tehran. - Some 30,000 people in about 40 villages spread
over a wide, mountainous area have been affected.
- Casualties are expected to rise in the province
and heavy rain is hampering rescue work. - Comment
- Another earthquake in Iran. We saw in October
2003 a major earthquake in Bam killing 30,000
people. Then in May 2004 there was another
earthquake in northern Iran. Now this week yet
another earthquake in southern Iran killing over
500. We know that Iran is being stirred up
(Isaiah 1317) and will join Gog in invading
Israel. Maybe these earthquakes are part of Gods
plan to stir up Iran. God says (in relation to
Israel see verse below) that when people defile
themselves the land eventually vomits out her
inhabitants. The physical land in Iran is
restless. The people too are restless. The
leaders in Iran want the destruction of Israel.
Ezekiel 38 makes clear, Persia (Iran) will invade
Israel. - Bible Quote Leviticus 18 25 And the land is
defiled therefore I do visit the iniquity
thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out
her inhabitants.
10Devastation of Amazon rainforest
- Headline
- Destruction of Amazon rainforest at 10-year high
- Headline DT May 20
- Event
- The destruction of the Amazon rainforest reached
its highest level for a decade last year, with
the equivalent of six football pitches being
flattened every day. - The destruction was nearly six per cent higher
than the previous year, according to figures
released by the Brazilian government. - Satellite photographs showed that ranchers,
soybean farmers and loggers burned and cut down
more than 10,000 square miles of rainforest in
the 12 months to August 2004. - Comment
- The loss of 26,000 sq km means almost a fifth of
the entire Amazon has now been cleared. The
Amazon accounts for more than half of the world's
remaining rainforests. - They are thought to limit the greenhouse effect
of global warming by storing carbon and hence
reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. We
see mankind destroying the physical and the
spiritual in these last days. - Bible Quote Revelation 11 18 thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be
judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto
thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and
them that fear thy name, small and great and
shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
11Tornado in Birmingham
- Headline
- TORNADO And this is in Birmingham!
- Headline Daily Mail July 29
- Event
- A tornado has hit Birmingham injuring 19 people -
three seriously.
It lasted for just four
minutes but wreaked havoc across Small Heath,
Hall Green, Sparkbrook and Kings Heath areas of
the city. It destroyed part of a supermarket,
uprooted trees and damaged more than a hundred
homes. Weather experts believe it's one of the
worst ever to hit Britain. - Comment
- 4 minutes does not sound very long, but I imagine
for those caught up in 130mph winds it seemed a
lot longer. Following the terror attacks in
Britain a few weeks ago things have changed.
Britain has changed. There is growing sense of
unease and fear. The newspapers are full of this.
There is an enemy within. What has this tornado
to do with this time of fear and terror? Well
these things are connected. Not by me but by
Jesus himself. He speaks in Luke 21 of a time
when mens hearts would fail them for fear. He
also says that the powers of heaven shall be
shaken. The word shaken according to a
concordance is a motion produced by wind, storms
and waves. And so at the very time we have fear
in Britain we see one of the largest tornados
ever seen in the UK. We all need to take heed of
the verse that follows verse 26 below. - Bible Quote Luke 2126 Mens hearts failing them
for fear....looking after those things which are
coming on the earth for the powers of heaven
shall be shaken.
12Forest fires and floods - Europe
- Headline
- Forest fires and floods sweep across Europe
- Headline DT August 24
- Event
- As thousands of firemen and soldiers fought
dozens of wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula,
more than 20 people were reported to have been
killed in central and south-eastern Europe after
days of torrential rain. - Emergency services from Portugal to Bulgaria were
over-stretched as they struggled to save lives
threatened by freak summer rains that caused
widespread flooding and landslides, and arsonists
exploiting parched countryside. - Aircraft from several European countries helped
to fight Portugals worst forest fires on record.
At least 14 people have been killed in the fires. - Comment
- Europe plagued by fire and flood simultaneously.
Floods have caused havoc in Germany, Switzerland
and Austria. It has been so severe in Bulgaria
that the storms are threatening their national
economy. At least 18 people have been killed
there alone in floods and lightening strikes.
Both fire and storm are mentioned in Psalm 83.
The Psalmist is calling on God to judge those who
want to destroy Israel. See v 4. We know that
Europe (the beast) will try to destroy Israel one
day. We know as well that the beast and the false
prophet will symbolically be destroyed by fire.
Rev 1920 - Bible Quote Psalm 83 14 as the flame setteth
the mountains on fire So persecute them with thy
tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
See context!
13Hurricane Katrina (event)
- Headline
- (1) New Orleans 'swept back to Stone Age
- (2) Anarchy in the USA gunfights and
looting on streets of New Orleans - (3) Hurricane hits just before homosexual event
- Headlines DT August 31 Sept 2
- Event
- (1)The people of New Orleans were warned last
night that the destructive fury of Hurricane
Katrina and its terrifying aftermath could change
their city for ever. - Katrina tore through the area, submerging entire
neighbourhoods and leaving many dead. And yet,
ominously, every hour that passed suggested that
the worst was yet to come. The city's
infrastructure - its power, water supplies and
sewage - have been almost totally wrecked. The
area will be uninhabitable for months. - (2) The New Orleans Convention Centre was meant
to be a refuge. Instead, it was another branch of
hell. The street outside, narrowly above the
flood waters that have drowned New Orleans, smelt
of urine and faeces. It was choked with soiled
nappies, old bottles and rubbish. At least seven
bodies were scattered along the roadside. - (3) Hurricane Katrina walloped New Orleans just
two days before the annual homosexual "Southern
Decadence" festival was to begin in the town.
Southern Decadence has a history of "filling the
French Quarters section of the city with drunken
homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public
streets and bars," says a statement from the
Philadelphia Christian organization.. This year's
festival, which drew 125,000 revelers last year,
was set to begin today in the Big Easy and run
through Monday.
14Hurricane Katrina (comment)
- Comment
- Reports have said that this is the worst natural
disaster in Americas history. Coming only months
after the tsunami another immense natural
disaster never seen before. - It has astounded many that this mighty nation,
with so much wealth at its disposal seemed so
helpless before and after Katrinas destructive
forces. Anarchy, lawlessness, rape have followed.
We have witnessed terrible things. Let us not
forget though that man has brought much of this
upon himself both literally and symbolically. - New Orleans established by the French in the
early 1700s was a city built many feet below sea
level, between a great lake and a huge river. To
protect the city great levy's were built. It was
madness to build there, just as it is for those
cities built on active fault lines! But so often
it is mans greed that overcomes all logic. - On top of this folly we also see a city in the
grip of depraved sin. Is it not absolutely
amazing that this city was about to celebrate a
festival of DECADENCE!! The dictionary definition
of decadence is A process, condition, or period
of deterioration or decline, as in morals or art
decay. In previous years at this festival
homosexuals publicly engaged in sex acts. This
surely brings to mind Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus
tells us clearly Luke 1729 that it will be like
this just before he returns. He tells us clearly
that the sea and waves would roar just before he
returned. And then as if to confirm these things
are divinely appointed we read in our readings on
the very day the hurricane struck the words below
in Jeremiah. - As the world looks on stupefied in horror - let
us now look up - our redemption is near. - Bible Quote Jeremiah 5116 "When he uttereth his
voice, there is a multitude of waters in the
heavens and he causeth the vapours to ascend
from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnings
with rain, and bringeth for the wind out of his
treasures."
15Hard times for the Big Easy
- Headline
- Hard times for the Big Easy
- Headline The Times September 2
- Event
- New Orleans holds a unique place in the American
imagination because, in truth, it is a place
apart from America. In a country inclined to
puritanism, the Big Easy is the almost
Mediterranean enclave where America came to drink
and eat too much, to stay up late and behave
badly. - People who dont fit with the rest of America
gravitate here. This city is the flagrant vice
capital of the civilised world, declares
Ignatius J. Reilly in John Kennedy Tooles
Confederacy of Dunces. This city is famous for
its gamblers, prostitutes, exhibitionists,
anti-Christs, alcoholics, sodomites, drug
addicts, fetishists, onanists, pornographers,
frauds, jades, litterbugs and lesbians, all of
whom are only too well protected by graft. No
doubt, even now, some Bible-thumpers will be
hailing divine retribution for decades of
decadence, as Sodom-by-Sea is swamped. - Comment
- Sin City as New Orleans is known is now empty.
Deserted and destroyed. I had not realised the
reputation of this city until I began to read
about it. I know all cities are godless but this
one seemed to have a reputation for the
glorification of sin. It was a place for good
times for living today for tomorrow we die. It
is surely a warning to the world that the end of
all things is nigh. Will they take heed? - Bible Quote Matt 24 38 before the flood they
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered into
the ark,
16Gaza Katrina
- Headline
- (1) Did God send Katrina as revenge over
Gaza?Headlines Israelinationalnews.com September
7 - (2) Eerie silence descends on New Orleans
- Headlines BBC online September 4
- Event
- (1) "Katrina is a consequence of the destruction
of Gaza's Gush Katif slate of Jewish
communities with America's urging and
encouragement," Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Lewin,
executive director of the Rabbinic Congress for
Peace, told WND. "The U.S. should have
discouraged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
from implementing the Gaza evacuation rather than
pushing for it and pressuring Israel into
concessions." - The Gaza withdrawal was backed by the U.S.
government. Some Middle East analysts and senior
Israeli politicians entirely attributed the
evacuation plan to pressure coming from the
American establishment. "I welcome the
disengagement plan," stated Bush immediately
following the announcement of the Gaza
evacuation. "These steps will mark real progress
toward realizing the vision I set forth in June
2002 of two states living side by side in peace
and security." - (2)The street outside New Orleans convention
centre is littered with the debris of thousands
of people now evacuated from the city. Chairs,
overflowing bin liners, empty plastic water
bottles, barbeque grills, sandbags and stained
mattresses line the street for hundreds of
metres. They tell a grim story of how people were
living until very recently in a city where
lawlessness is rife.
17Gaza Katrina
- Comment
- As I watched the handcuffed people being taken
from New Orleans this week it began to ring bells
in my mind. Almost déjà vu. Wasnt this similar
in some ways to what we had seen only one week
before with Israel dragging out unwilling Jews
from the West Bank and Gaza. The more you stop
and think about it the more similarities there
are. We need to remember that it was America that
pushed Israel into withdrawal from the parts of
Israel. It was, according to Bush, going to bring
peace and security And then 7 days after the
pullout Katrina hit the US. - Consider these remarkable coincidences.
- Close to 10,000 Jews were expelled from their
homes in the Gaza Strip and parts of northern
Samaria. Katrina's death toll is now expected to
reach about 10,000. - Gaza's Jewish communities were located in
Israel's southern coastal region America's
southern coastal region now lies in ruins. - The U.S. government called on Louisiana residents
to evacuate their homes ahead of the storm. The
Israeli government, backed by statements from
U.S. officials, demanded Gaza residents evacuate
their homes. - Similarity in scenes Many residents of Jewish
Gaza climbed to their rooftops to escape the
threat of expulsion, while residents of the Gulf
Coast climbed on their own rooftops to protect
themselves from the rising waters - The day Katrina hit, Israel began carrying out
what was termed the most controversial aspect of
the Gaza withdrawal the uprooting of bodies
from the area's Jewish cemetery. There have been
media reports of corpses floating around in
flooded New Orleans regions. - Bible Quote Numbers 33 53 for I have given you
the land to possess it.
18Sunspots threaten satellites
- Headline
- Sunspots on the horizon threaten to cripple
satellites - Headline The Times September 13
- Event
- A sunspot that at its peak has been five times
larger than Earth is likely to release fresh
solar flares this week that could cripple
satellites and black out radio communications.
Sunspot 798 has already fired seven enormous
X-class eruptions of radiation at Earth since
September 7, including one monstrous flare on
Wednesday that was measured as the fourth largest
on record. - A new analysis shows that the Sun is more active
now than it has been at anytime in the previous
1,000 years. - Comment
- Is it a coincidence that we see huge activity in
the sun itself at this time? A time that Jesus
describes below as when the nations are
distressed and in perplexity. A time when sea and
waves are roaring. We surely see these things
happening in the earth. And now just as we see
physical signs in the sea and waves (Tsunami
disaster and Katrina) we now see physical signs
of monstrous flares in the sun. The physical
normally precedes the spiritual. Maybe the time
of the symbolic sea and waves (people) and the
symbolic sun (rulers of the earth) to also roar
and produce monstrous effects is near. The day
is surely at hand. - Bible Quote Luke 21 25 And there shall be signs
in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars
and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity
19Exodus from Texas
- Headline
- Hurricane Rita roars through Texas
- Headlines DT September 24
- Event
- Hurricane Rita has hit Texas and Louisiana, with
winds of up to 120mph pounding the city and
torrential rain. The storm swept in from the Gulf
of Mexico early on Saturday, coming ashore near
the Texas-Louisiana border, with the eye hitting
near to the Sabine Pass, in Texas, around 10
miles off the coast. - Roofs, trees and homes have been ripped up by the
storm, there have been serious fires, and a large
area is without power. It is thought that more
than 2 million people have fled Texas and
Louisiana, after a mass evacuation before the
storm hit. - Comment
- Another incredible hurricane in a matter of
weeks. Another one of the largest on record. The
Bible talks of whirlwinds. It talks below of
destruction coming as a whirlwind because of
unbelief. This whirlwind should warn mankind
judgement is nigh. Jeremiah 2532 says that a
whirlwind will be raised up from the coasts of
the earth. However it goes on to say that the
slain of the LORD shall be that day from one end
of the earth even unto the other end of the
earth Now is the time to seek the LORD. - Bible Quote Proverbs 1 27 .. your destruction
cometh as a whirlwind when distress and anguish
cometh upon you.28 Then shall they call upon me,
but I will not answer they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me29 For that they
hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of
the LORD
20Floodwaters rise again in New Orleans
- Headline
- Floodwaters rise again in New Orleans
- Headlines DT September 24
- Event
- The Industrial Canal gave way without fanfare.
For hours water had been trickling through cracks
in the makeshift repairs hastily erected a few
weeks ago. - Then early in the morning a row of sandbags was
swept aside, the trickles became streams, the
streams became a torrent, and within minutes
millions of gallons of dark soupy water was
greedily recapturing territory it only abandoned
a week or so ago."It started in a small area and
then it just broke loose," said an awestruck
Lloyd Randall, the first emergency worker on the
scene. "And it's coming up faster and faster.
Watching from a bridge 100 yards away as the
waters enveloped tens of thousands of houses gave
an extraordinary insight into the ordeal of its
residents when the "Big Easy" first flooded after
Hurricane Katrina swept through. - Comment
- I can not help thinking about the foolish man who
built his house upon the sand. It was a
ridiculous place to build a house but it summed
him up spiritually. Sin City was foolishly
built below sea level. It foolishly worshipped
sin and great is its fall. - Bible Quote Matthew 7 26 And every one that
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them
not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which
built his house upon the sand27 And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house and it fell and
great was the fall of it.
21Earthquake shakes Israel
- Headline
- Earthquake shakes Israel
- Headlines Jerusalem Newswire October 3
- Event
- Israelis preparing to see out the old year and
welcome in the new
with the sound of shofar
blowing Monday felt their country shaking as a
4.3 scale earthquake struck the region.
Originating just after 7 AM near the northern
Jordan Valley town of Bet She'an, the quake shook
beds and buildings, momentarily frightening
people before subsiding as quickly as it had
begun. - According to the Geophysical Institute of Israel,
the tremor was felt in Nahariya, Haifa, Tel Aviv
and Rehovot. People in Jerusalem told Jerusalem
Newswire they had felt the quake too. The Knesset
annually debates the lack of readiness in Israel
for a major temblor that is anticipated sometime
in the next few years. - Bible readers know that a number of major
earthquakes are prophesied to hit Israel,
including one in which will split Jerusalems
Mount of Olives in two when the Messiah comes to
establish His reign on the earth. - Comment
- Another earthquake in Israel. It struck on the
equivalent to the Jews New Years Eve this week.
It is another warning of a far greater earthquake
to come. What will this new Jewish year bring for
the Jews? Perhaps the earthquake coming on the
last day of the year is a sign of things to come.
The article above talks of the earthquake
mentioned in Zechariah 14. We know it will happen
one day when Christ returns. - Bible Quote Zechariah 14 4 And his feet shall
stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which
is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of
Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward
the east and toward the west,
22Earthquake rocks South Asia
- Headline
- Hundreds die in South Asia quake
- Headlines BBC online October 8
- Event
- Pakistan says more than 1,000 people may have
died in a powerful quake that also hit north
India and Afghanistan. The quake with a magnitude
of at least 7.6 had the epicentre 80km (50 miles)
north-east of Islamabad. At least 500 died in
North-West Frontier province in Pakistan and
1,700 were injured. In Indian-administered
Kashmir, 200 are confirmed dead. Rescuers are
trying to reach dozens of residents feared
trapped in a building that collapsed in
Islamabad. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf,
who was visiting the site, said the quake was a
"test of the nation". - Comment
- Another earthquake! In a diverse place. Jesus
describes below a time of nation rising against
nation. Great earthquakes in diverse places,
famines, pestilences and fearful sights. This
surely describes the world in which we live. We
know the earth will be as a woman in labour pains
giving birth at the time of the end. The
contractions begin gradually and get more severe
and closer together. We see this happening.
Events getting more severe / more disasters and
coming more frequently. Jesus will come.. - Bible Quote Luke 21 10 Then said he unto them,
Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom11 And great earthquakes shall
be in divers places, and famines, and
pestilences and fearful sights and great signs
shall there be from heaven.
23Pakistan earthquake toll 38,000
- Headline
- (1) Pakistan earthquake toll '38,000'
- (2) Unusual quake activity increasing
- Headline BBC Online WorldNetDaily.com October
15 - Event
- Pakistan's government has said it now believes
more than
38,000 of its people were killed by the
earthquake a week ago. - The U.S. Geological Survey data indicates
earthquake occurrences are increasing. In 2000,
there were 22,256 recorded earthquakes worldwide.
That number has steadily increased to 31,199
earthquakes in 2004. - Comment
- The earthquake last Saturday has turned out to be
Pakistans worst ever disaster according to its
President. There are still hundreds of villages
that have not been entered yet since the
earthquake and the number of deaths is still
expected to rise. - Note as well the statement above from the US
Geological survey who show that the number of
earthquakes in the world are on the rise. - The table in top right hand corner shows the top
10 killer earthquakes in the last 100 years.
Notice how 5 of them have occurred in the last 5
years. As we said last week the contractions in
respect of the labour pains of the world are
getting closer together and more severe. It
heralds Christs return. - Bible Quote Isaiah 13 8 And they shall be
afraid pangs and sorrows shall take hold of
them they shall be in pain as a woman that
travaileth Isaiah 26 17 Like as a woman with
child, that draweth near the time of her
delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her
pangs so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
24Bird flu raises EU fears
- Headline
- Avian Flu Death Threat
- Headline Time Magazine October 11
- Event
- h5n1, is a deadly avian-flu virus that has
ravaged Southeast Asia's poultry
flocks and infected over 100
people since the end of 2003. If h5n1
became established among
migratory species, it would raise the risk that
the virus could be spread across oceans and
continents. Understanding just how the viral
transmission belt operates "is urgent work for
the entire world," Guan told Time recently,
speaking in his office at the University of Hong
Kong (H.K.U.). "The virus could go to Europe, and
from there to India. These questions are critical
not just for science, but for humankind." - If that sounds like an alarmist's hype, it's not.
For some time, health experts have warned of a
worldwide bird-flu pandemic that could kill
millions of people and wreck the global economy.
"The most serious known health threat facing the
world is avian flu," said who director general
Dr. Lee Jong-wook earlier this year. - Comment
- Even as I write this WWW the BBC has just
reported that this virus has just been confirmed
to be found in Europe (Romania) for the first
time. It is the same lethal strain found in Asia.
We live in a time of earthquake and pestilence
(plague). - Bible Quote Matthew 24 7 and there shall be
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in
divers places. Pestilence also means plague
25Hurricane Wilma
- Headline
- Mexico reels under force of Wilma
- Headline BBC Online October 22
- Event
- Storm surges are reaching as high as the third
storey of some hotels as Hurricane Wilma batters
Mexico's popular Cancun resort area. The
"extremely dangerous" hurricane is "relentlessly
pounding" Cancun and Cozumel, the US hurricane
agency said. - Local governor Felix Gonzales said winds of
140mph (225km/h) had damaged buildings considered
hurricane-proof. Hotel windows on the resort
island of Cozumel have been shattered, trees and
roofs torn down and streets flooded. - Comment
- This year is now equal to the worst hurricane
season on record and there is still a month to
go. Americas southern coastal region is being
devastated. We have noted in the WWW how this has
corresponded with Americas encouragement of
Israels withdrawal from its coastal region ie
Gaza. As Israel completed its Gaza evacuation on
August 22 a tropical depression began to form
near the Bahamas on August 23 this became
Hurricane Katrina which hit southeast Florida
August 26. President Bush renews his vow that
there will be a Palestinian State and calls for
Israel to stop building in the West Bank and the
most powerful hurricane ever recorded forms and
relentlessly pounds the US. Coincidence or Gods
mighty hand at work? We know! - Bible Quote Isaiah 17 12 The nations shall rush
like the rushing of many waters but God shall
rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and
shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains
before the wind, and like a rolling thing before
the whirlwind.
26Earthquake strikes central China
- Headline
- Earthquake strikes central China
- Headline BBC online November 26
- Event
- An earthquake has killed at least 14 people and
destroyed thousands of homes in central China.
The tremor had a magnitude of 5.7 and its
epicentre was near the city of Ruichang in
Jiangxi province. - Hundreds of people are reported to have been
injured in the quake, which also hit the
neighbouring province of Hubei. - In the Ruichang area a total of 420,000 people
left their homes, fearing aftershocks, according
to the state-run Xinhua news agency. - Comment
- Another earthquake in a diverse place. This time
in China. Reports are only just coming in as I
write this and perhaps many more have been killed
than has been reported so far. It has (as the
report says above) destroyed 1000s of homes. - China has been in the news this week as well
because of the terrible toxic leak into Songhua
river. About 100 metric tons of toxic chemicals
entered the river as a result of the blast at a
Chinese chemical plant on November 13th in Jilin,
and the leak is now passing through the city of
Harbin. - Many people ask me where China with its huge
population is mentioned in the Bible. I am not
sure it is. The Bible only deals with those
nations that directly effect Israel Gods land.
In saying that though the Bible is clear that ALL
nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle.
I would expect this communistic state to side
with Russia and the Arabs if it does enter the
final conflict. - Bible Quote Luke 21 11 And great earthquakes
shall be in divers places, and famines, and
pestilences and fearful sights and great signs
shall there be from heaven.
27Costliest year for insurers
- Headline
- Costliest year yet for insurers
- Headline BBC Online December 20
- Event
- Insurers had their costliest year yet in 2005 as
a deluge of natural disasters saw total insured
losses of about 80bn (45bn), says Swiss Re. - August's Hurricane Katrina in the US alone is
expected to cost 45bn in claims, the world's
second-biggest reinsurance company said. This
will make it the most expensive insured single
event in history. - Total economic losses caused by hurricanes,
earthquakes and floods in 2005 reached 225bn in
2005, it said. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was
previously the most expensive single catastrophe,
causing losses of 22bn, Swiss Re said. This was
followed by the 11 September 2001 attacks on the
US, costing nearly 21bn. - Two other expensive storms in the US came in the
wake of Katrina. Hurricane Rita cost 10bn in
insured losses and Wilma claimed 8bn. "The
ongoing warm phase that has been measurable since
the 1990s and the recent high hurricane frequency
inspire little hope of the trend being reversed
any time soon," Swiss Re warned. - Comment
- a deluge of natural disasters. The verse below
links hurricanes, earthquakes and floods with
something else Ariel - another name for
Jerusalem. As the worlds attention focuss more
and more on Gods Holy City, so earthquake, storm
and tempest will increase. We are being warned
with these events that the day is at hand. - Bible Quote Isaiah 29 6 Thou shalt be visited of
the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with
earthquake, and great noise, with storm and
tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. 7 And
the multitude of all the nations that fight
against Ariel
282005 review
- Comment
- And so another year draws to a close. But what a
remarkable year in terms of prophecy fulfilled! - At the beginning of each World Watch it says that
time and again the following would keep cropping
up as we journey towards the coming kingdom. - Israel Middle East the growing conflict
- This year has seen Israel become ever more the
focus of the worlds attention. Iran has called
for Israel to be wiped off the map. Israel has
withdrawn from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. A
wall almost surrounds the entire nation now. - Europe the developing union / political and
religious - A new Pope is elected Cardinal Ratzinger. He
named himself Benedict after the patron saint of
Europe. He is calling for Christian Unity! In his
Christmas speech he called for Middle East peace.
He means Israel should give up East Jerusalem.
This will bring war. Europe has rejected the
constitution but continues to hang together as
divided nations exactly as Revelation 17 and
Daniel 2 show us. - Russia continued turning back to anti west ways
- Russia is increasingly in the news for doing arms
deals with those the US considers to be the Axis
of Evil i.e. Syria and Iran. Under Putin the free
press has been shut down, nuclear programmes have
been developed and a new Cold War may have
started. - The development of King of South US UK
- Tarshish and her young lions continue to be
locked in a war in Iraq. This area of ancient
Babylon where sin and death entered the world and
the first kingdom of men began is a scene of
death and destruction. Remember Abraham was
called out of this area. - Declining moral standards and increasing
violence. - The UK introduces gay marriage. Violence
increases remember the scenes in France! We
have seen unprecedented natural disasters with
Tsunami, hurricanes and earthquakes. Let us pray
that 2006 finally brings relief with the return
of our King. - Revelation 22 20 Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.