April-June
The last four months of 2017 have left its mark in history, especially in North America. Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate are the four most recent hurricanes that made landfall in the United States. These events brought much suffering, sorrow and anguish to thousands who lost their loved ones and their material possessions by these natural disasters.
The simultaneous formation of three hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, which occured with Irma, José, and Katia, is a rarity. José and Irma were both classified as category 4 hurricanes at the same time. This simultaneity of hurricanes, with such intensity, had only occurred twice before in the year 1935 and 2010.
Hurricane Harvey, the eighth storm in 2017, caused about 71 deaths—one in Guyana and 70 in the United States. William Brock Long, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), called it the “worst disaster in the history of Texas,” and he estimates the recovery will take years. Preliminary estimates of economic losses range from $70 to $190 billion.
Even before hurricane Harvey dissipated, Irma was already under way in the Caribbean. On September 5, it became a category 5 hurricane reaching winds of 185 mph (298 km/h). This made it the second largest hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean in terms of wind speed, only surpassed by hurricane Allen in 1980. Hurricane Irma caused over 90 deaths in the Caribbean and Florida. The damages attributed to it are estimated to be over $10 billion.
On September 20, Maria hit Puerto Rico leaving nearly all the state without electricty. Maria became a category 5 hurricane and killed 64 people, while the actual death toll may be 1,052. It was the worst storm to hit the land in almost 90 years, turning streets into rivers full of debris, damaging buildings, cutting off electricity and killing at least 33 people in the Caribbean.
While some states in the southern United States were flooded from the hurricanes, northern California was on fire. On October 2, a fire of alarming proportions began in the wine region of Napa Valley. Entire neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, a city 56 miles north of San Francisco, were reduced to ashes. In Sonoma alone, more than 25,000 people had to evacuate. About 5,000 took refuge in temporary shelters. More than 5,000 homes and businesses had been destroyed, including vineyards in Sonoma and Napa—the heartland of the state’s wine industry. More than 40 people had lost their lives, and property damage is estimated at billions of dollars.
As of December 2017, completely past the fire season, fires are destroying hundreds of homes, mansions, and businesses in Ventura County, Southern California. Thousands of firefighters worked tirelessly to try to contain the flames from advancing. Witnesses describe how “fireballs” seemed to be falling from the heavens above the mansions. Thousands of people are being evacuated, leaving behind their homes, cars, and belongings.
The same week that fires began in Northern California, on Sunday night, October 2, there was a mass shooting in Las Vegas. Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old millionaire, fired his guns from the windows of the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Casino at a crowd of thousands attending the Country Music concert in front of the casino. Fifty-eight people were killed in this tragedy, which is considered the greatest shooting in our country’s history. The authorities and the people in general questioned: what motivated that millionaire to take the lives of men and women? No matter how hard they tried to find out his motives, they found more questions than answers.
Other bloody shootings also occurred within that same period, such as the attack on the First Baptist Church in Texas leaving 27 dead. But the largest gunfire occurred in November in a mosque in Arish in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing over 300 people.
In September, Mexico was struck twice by two major earthquakes killing more than 300 people. The first one occured on September 7 in the southern part of the country, and a second one hit central Mexico with a magnitude of 7.1. The earthquake occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the country’s worst earthquake that left 10,000 dead in 1985.
How can we explain so many natural disasters and violent shootings happening with such intensity in such a short time? This is the question thousands of people, who don’t know the prophecies ask. But we thank God for the light He has sent to us through the gift of prophecy. All these events are described as accurately as if the writers were present when they occurred. We are so grateful that God, in His infinite mercy, reveals to us where we are in our journey to our heavenly home. He guides us in our preparation, not only to face these final events, but also to be prepared to meet Him at His soon coming.
“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; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” [Emphasis added.] (Luke 21:25–27).
“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. . . .
“The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.” [Emphasis added.]—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11.
Here we have the answer sought by the authorities concerning the motivation that led the shooters to take hundreds of human lives: “Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children.”
“The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently, these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.” [Emphasis added.] —Prophets and Kings, p. 277.
From these words of inspiration, it is evident that all these natural catastrophes are not unpredictable and disorganized forces of nature, but they are instruments by which the Lord seeks to awaken all, but especially His people that His coming is at the door.
“Not long ago a very impressive scene passed before me. I saw an immense ball of fire falling among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard someone say, ‘We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon.’ Others said, ‘You knew? Why then did you not tell us? We did not know.’ On every side I heard such words spoken.”—The Review and Herald, November 24, 1904.
“Last Friday morning, just before I awoke, a very impressive scene was presented before me. I seemed to awake from sleep but was not in my home. From the windows I could behold a terrible conflagration. Great balls of fire were falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every direction. It was impossible to check the fires that were kindled, and many places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable. After a time, I awoke and found myself at home.”—Welfare Ministry, pp. 136, 137.
The evidence is clear that the angels of God are loosening their grasp on the four winds of strive (Revelation 7:1). What should we as Seventh Day Adventists doing in such times? Today, God is looking for a people who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). He wants to affix on them His seal. The Lord isn’t waiting for more calamities or more destruction. He is waiting for a people who will accept wholeheartedly, live genuinely, and preach passionately the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14:6–12.
1. Believe in Christ as your personal Saviour
Develop a relationship with Jesus by daily studying His Word, praying, obeying and gaining new victories daily.
“The very best preparation you can have for Christ’s second appearing is to rest with firm faith in the great salvation brought to us at His first coming. You must believe in Christ as your personal Saviour.” [Emphasis added.] —Our High Calling, p. 368.
2. Ask, “What do you want me to do?”
“Are they [those waiting for Christ’s return] daily inquiring, ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’ (Acts 9:6). Are they practicing self-denial, as did Jesus? Are they deeply stirred, their hearts drawn out in prayer to God that they may be receiving of His grace, the Holy Spirit of God . . . to save souls that are perishing out of Christ?”—The Review and Herald, May 16, 1893.
3. Be a witness for Jesus and His coming. (Matthew 24:14.) “Let us persuade men and women everywhere to repent and flee from the wrath to come. Let us arouse them to immediate preparation.”—My Life Today, p. 343.
“We must not rest until we see many souls converted to the blessed hope of the Lord’s return.” [Emphasis added.] —God’s Amazing Grace, p. 353.
As a people acquainted with the prophecies, we have the sacred duty to bring to the world the last message of mercy to prepare them for the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing the fulfillment of all these signs, we are saddened by the loss of so many human lives, but on the other hand, we are certain that very soon Jesus will come, and if we are faithful, He will take us to our heavenly home. In His prophetic sermon Jesus invites us: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).