As many of you are aware, there's been a major disruption in Europe this past week, extending here into the weekend and probably into next week. A small volcano in Iceland called Eyjafjallajokull (try pronouncing THAT one!) had erupted. Now this is by no means a devastating, sudden volcano that dumped mountains of ash and lava on neighboring towns like the one that instantly killed the people of Pompeii in AD 79 (Mount Vesuvius). Instead, this little ol' volcano is wreaking havoc on the travelers in Europe because planes can't fly. The large and constant ash plume that billows into the air is so thick because the volcano is below a glacial layer of ice. When the hot magma and steam push through, the cooling of the magma/melting of the ice is creating a big plume of smoke and ash. Some of that ash, grit and rock that explodes into the air with the smoke can get caught in the airplane jet engines and cause failure. It's extremely risky, and therefore those countries that are caught in the drift of the ash clouds had to halt all air traffic and cancel flights.
Now it appeared to most of the authorities and scientists that the ash cloud would begin waning on Friday, but as a stunner to many, activity actually increased over night. Pair that up with a stagnant low-pressure air mass over much of Europe, and the grim forecast is that this thing is not going anywhere. In fact, even if the volcano stops erupting, no one really knows how long the hazardous cloud cover will linger.
By the way, have you ever read the book Earth Winter by Richard Moran? If not, get your hands on a copy. It's hard to find, but I have it and have read it several times. The plot is about a volcano that spews a significant amount of ash over Europe, and life is completely changed. It alters the atmosphere and ecosystems, and lowers the temperature of the northern hemisphere, altering the growing seasons and disrupting food sources. Essentially, a permanent winter sets in over much of the world.
Now it's not like that severe with this volcano, but certainly this is nothing to ignore. I don't think scientists know anything at this point -- not when it will end, or how it will affect our climate, or when air transportation will get back on track. It's possible that if this goes on for a week or so, fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries to countries in Europe could be halted as well. And if it goes on longer... well, things could get ugly. I think first and foremost, we all need to remember that man is NOT the most powerful being on the planet. There's a false sense of security that humans can contain and fix any problem that occurs in our world. It's simply not true. If this volcano goes away with nothing more than a few days worth of annoying flight cancellations, then I think everyone over there needs to count their blessings.
Is it a sign? I'm a Christian, and I believe that there are many signs these days. The increase in earthquakes... the rising tensions between Israel and Iran... the economic collapse of the United States... all of these things are slowly building up to a crescendo. I would be very, very surprised if something else "unusual" or even devastating doesn't occur in the next six months. The Bible tells us the End Times are like birth pains -- getting closer together and more intense.
Jesus explained what to look for in our world in the End Times:
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:10-11)
"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." (Luke 21:25-26)
Obviously the signs signaling the beginning of the End Times will be natural ones: earthquakes, famines, roaring of the sea, fearful sights from Heaven. On one of the news-boards discussing the volcano, a person commented underneath, "Mother Nature is pissed!"
Sorry, but they have it wrong. There's no such thing as "Mother Nature." That's just a cutesy name that non-believers gave to natural things that occur on this earth. But we Christians know that God is in control of everything, most especially the weather and natural elements. All throughout the Bible He used fire and floods and earthquakes and plagues for various purposes. It's no different now.
If you think this is just harmless, coincidental science, stay tuned. I'm sure there will be several more events in the near future to convince you otherwise...
The Day of the LORD
"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.
(Joel 2:28-32)
Anyone else in the world think that it's just more than mere coincidence that most of what was known as the old "Roman Empire" will be covered in dark, sulfurous ash cloud on Tuesday, when Israel will be celebrating their Independence Day?
Scoff all you want, my friends. God is not something to mock and laugh at. I assure you this is real. If you're not abiding in Christ and on his side, you'd better get there in a hurry.
(Click HERE to read more about the possible disruptions in food and medicine across the European continent.)
More articles about the eruption disruption:
CNN: European Air Travel Paralyzed...
Experts: No End to Volcano Ash In Sight
Let me assure you that it's no coincidence that I very recently had to write a post called Why Are There So Many Earthquakes Lately?
With that in mind, I strongly urge you to read these posts I wrote a while back:
In These Times We Must Prepare, Part 1
In These Times We Must Prepare, Part 2
