In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 - Jesus is telling the apostles of the oncoming Tribulations of the latter days. He tells of an increase in wars, earthquakes and famines. He also tells of "nations being in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides." (Luke 21:25) On a recent Hal Lindsey broadcast - Mr. Lindsey talks about the increase in Hurricanes, that fits in with the latter days predictions. The following facts on Hurricanes are from Mr. Lindseys broadcast.
Hurricane Alex is one of the latest starts of the Hurricane season record, and the 2004 season has already broken a record. Since 1903 the United States has not been struck by 3 storms in a row. In 2004 the United States has first been struck by Alex, then tropical storm Bonnie, and then Charley. Charley is one of the most destructive Hurricanes on record. Charley rivals storms like Andrew, Floyd and Hugo. Estimates in damage will run well into the billions.
While only 3 hurricanes made landfalls in the United States in the past 3 years, 3 have already hit the States in one month. A lot of people believe there is no increase in frequency or intensity in Hurricanes, if that is true it must be a very long cycle. In researching the last 150 years and starting with 1888, and then working to 1948, there were only 2 major hurricanes. The 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston (a Category 4), approximately 8,000 people died because of a miscalculation and people did not evacuate. In 1935 a Category 5 hurricane hit the Florida Keys with 180 MPH winds. And that was it for that period of 1888 to 1948 - 2 major hurricanes. But then there’s 1948. Remember 1948? That was the year Israel became a nation. And that’s when all of the signs of Christ's return began to appear. Since 1948 there have been over 29 major hurricanes - 19 of them have been either Category 4 or Category 5. In fact there were 7 Category 5 hurricanes, and we can see the intensity of these hurricanes is growing more and more.
A Category 4 hurricane hit Miami in 1950 with 150 MPH winds. In 1958, one had 160 MPH winds. Hurricane Donna that hit Florida had up to 200 MPH winds. In 1988 one hit with constant 200 MPH winds. There is definitely an increase in frequency and intensity. In Matthew 24:8, the Greek word which is commonly translated for sorrows is really the Greek word for birth pains. And Paul reminded us that the creation itself will be delivered from the curse of birth pains (Romans 8:21-22). Birth pains, which include bizarre weather changes, famines, wars, earthquakes, etc., have increased in concert with each other in frequency and intensity.
We know wars have increased. It is estimated more people have died in wars in the last 90 years, then died in all the wars in thousands of years of previous history. Earthquakes have taken a dramatic rise in frequency, and famine and disease make the news almost every day. So why not hurricanes too?
What’s happening with our weather pattern is no fluke - it is exactly what Christ predicted would happen in the latter days. It’s time to take a good look at Luke 21:28 "But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." It’s time to think very seriously about accepting the gift of salvation which Christ has offered you. If you want information on how to receive this gift, read our commentary on April 28, 2004, "Abandonment of Your Will to God (Praying for Salvation)"
Note: Everything written above, I wrote right after hurricane Charley. But before we had chance to put it on the web site, another tropical storm has hit the United States. This one is called Gaston. It centered around Richmond, Va. Fourteen inches of rain fell causing flood waters up to ten feet deep, and at least five people died. The water rose so fast people had to be lifted out of the windows of a marooned bus. This storm surprised the meteorologists who had forecast no more than four inches of rain. Governor Mark Warner made the statement "This truly was an act of God" and would ask Washington to declare a state of emergency.
You all know of hurricane Frances. At this writing, (Sept. 17, 2004) Hurricane Ivan is pushing its way through the southern states with over 20 deaths in the United States alone. Now we have six giant storms hit the United States in a matter of weeks, and another storm, Jeanne, is in the Caribbean. The year 2004 may go down as the deadliest U.S. storm season in more than three decades.
It all started right after 1948, right after Israel became a nation, and when all signs of Christ's return began to appear. In the 1950s and 1960s there were a lot of storms, then few from 1970 to 1994. But the past nine years (1995 - 2004) marked the busiest, most intense nine-year storm period on record, based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations hurricane season index.
Check again what Christ states in Luke 21:28, "But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."
By George Konig
Sept. 19, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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