March 14, 2011
Tsunami
Japan’s earthquake and tsunami has me pondering various Biblical references and examples. Although this tragedy is not the great white throne judgment, for me there is a profound image of people being sucked into sea and then their dead bodies washing back to shore. “The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.” (Rev 20:13 NIV
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Gail;
-----Earthquakes are normal occurrences, and they have left clear marks upon both the archeological record and the pages of current history. But we’ve had several more major earthquakes recently than usual. I presume some may be tempted to see the marks of The Tribulation in these. However, the understanding of The Tribulation by the Book of Revelations comes with clear and definite marks of its own. Jesus said, “...there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven...And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Luke 21:11, and 25-26)
-----When I have taught Revelation in Sunday school, I liked to say that if The Tribulation were a dinner served to the world we could definitely see it is not yet on the table. But it is simmering on the stove. A seeming increase in great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, terrors (economic doom, and whether or not real: global warming and eco-disasters) is joined by a couple interesting signs in the sky to portend the end of wickedness draws near. Several months ago Hubble photographed the debris of an asteroid collision. At the head of its solar-wind blown tail the rubble formed a cross. The cross itself combined with lines in the tail to form the Star of David. It was a comforting sight. Then I have heard that in December, 2012 the cross of the division of the earth’s East/West North/South quadrants will align with the great cross of the East/West North/South lines of the celestial quadrants.
-----I believe little meaning about actual dates can be taken from these things. But great meaning can about time running out on this current wicked age. The stirrings of the Muslim world add to the portents. “Democracy,” they are called. But so has been called the socio-political movements that placed many freakish, collectivist, tyrannical governments into power. I would not hold my breath for anything from this trouble resembling the consideration of every individual’s right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness as being granted by God. This Middle-Eastern sea of people are driving turbulent waves through the very areas of anti-Israeli animus which Ezekiel 38 finds attacking God’s people at the end of the age. I find two things very interesting when taken in combination: 1) As the turkey goes into the oven long before the potatoes are boiled, such beasts as Robespierre, Stalin, Hitler, and many other recent indignitaries have immerged from similar waves of anti-individualist, global-governing, utopian “democracy” long before the Tribulation has been served. With all promise of utopia, much humanistic clamor is still being made over a “democratic” global government. And: 2) the beast of Revelation rises from the sea.
-----But all that aside, as well as the given places from where the dead are gathered, note the number of these places Rev 20:13 presents: three - the number of the One who plays the mess of this world into His corrective hands. That is comforting.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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