This is from
Patriarchs and Prophets. What is happening now in Gulf of Mexic is a prophetic anticipation of the events
preceding the end time:
"At this
time immense forests were buried. These have since been changed to coal,
forming the extensive coal beds that now exist, and also yielding large
quantities of oil. The coal and oil frequently ignite and burn beneath the
surface of the earth. Thus rocks are heated, limestone is burned, and iron
ore melted. The action of the water upon the lime adds fury to the intense
heat, and causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and fiery issues. As the fire and
water come in contact with ledges of rock and ore, there are heavy
explosions underground, which sound like muffled thunder. The air is hot
and suffocating. Volcanic eruptions follow; and these often failing to give
sufficient vent to the heated elements, the earth itself is convulsed, the
ground heaves and swells like the waves of the sea, great fissures appear,
and sometimes cities, villages, and burning mountains are swallowed up.
These wonderful manifestations will be more and more frequent and terrible
just before the second coming of Christ and the end of the world, as signs
of its speedy destruction.
The depths of
the earth are the Lord's arsenal, whence were drawn weapons to be employed
in the destruction of the old world. Waters gushing from the earth united
with the waters from heaven to accomplish the work of desolation. Since the
Flood, fire as well as water has been God's agent to destroy very wicked
cities. These judgments are sent that those who lightly regard God's law
and trample upon His authority may be led to tremble before His power and
to confess His just sovereignty. As men have beheld burning mountains
pouring forth fire and flames and torrents of melted ore, drying up rivers,
overwhelming populous cities, and everywhere spreading ruin and desolation,
the stoutest heart has been filled with terror and infidels and blasphemers
have been constrained to acknowledge the infinite power of God.
Said the
prophets of old, referring to scenes like these: "Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down
at Thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the
waters to boil, to make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, that the
nations may tremble at Thy presence! When Thou didst terrible things which
we looked not for, Thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at Thy
presence." Isaiah 64:1-3. "The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind
and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers." Nahum 1:3, 4.
More terrible
manifestations than the world has ever yet beheld, will be witnessed at the
second advent of Christ. "The mountains quake at Him, and the hills
melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that
dwell therein. Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in
the fierceness of His anger?" Nahum 1:5, 6. "Bow Thy heavens, O
Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth
lightning, and scatter them: shoot out Thine arrows, and destroy
them." Psalm 144:5, 6.
"I will
show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapor of smoke." Acts 2:19.
"And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a
great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so might
an earthquake, and so great." "And every island fled away, and
the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of
heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent." Revelation 16:18,
20, 21.
As lightnings
from heaven unite with the fire in the earth, the mountains will burn like
a furnace, and will pour forth terrific streams of lava, overwhelming
gardens and fields, villages and cities. Seething molten masses thrown into
the rivers will cause the waters to boil, sending forth massive rocks with
indescribable violence and scattering their broken fragments upon the land.
Rivers will be dried up. The earth will be convulsed; everywhere there will
be dreadful earthquakes and eruptions.
Thus God will
destroy the wicked from off the earth. But the righteous will be preserved
in the midst of these commotions, as Noah was preserved in the ark. God
will be their refuge, and under His wings shall they trust. Says the
psalmist: "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even
the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee." Psalm
91:9, 10. "In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in
the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me." Psalm 27:5. God's
promise is, "Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I
deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name."
Psalm 91:14."
(Chapter 8 .
After the Flood)
That means the
Gulf event is just a sample from a plethora of end time disasters!
George
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