Physical Disturbances and Their Meaning
On September 7, a series of thirty earthquake shocks was felt at Martinique. This place was visited not so long ago with serious shocks of this kind. These earthquakes in Martinique would not be so remarkable if they were isolated cases, but earthquake shocks are coming to be a very common occurrence in all parts of the world. Not only are they felt in places that have been considered in the “earthquake zone,” but they are felt in unusual localities. And not alone do we have the earthquake, but there is the tornado, and storms of various kinds and characters, that are producing havoc in so many parts of the world. Men are taking note of these things; and regardless of the assurances from some of our scientists that such phenomena do not mean anything alarming, yet they are spreading terror into many hearts. Please read carefully the following scripture, which is very much to the point, and see if it will not help you to understand the meaning of these unusual occurrences in this time: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty men shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zeph. 1:14-18. Observe from the foregoing scripture that the day of the Lord is a time of “trouble and distress”; it is “a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” And finally, God will bring distress upon men until they shall walk like blind men, and all because they have sinned against the Lord. And their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in that great day. The unusual things that are occurring in this time will continue to increase in violent force as the days come and go. But these conditions need not alarm us if we know what they signify, and if we know the hand that is holding the helm. Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air,” and the Book tells us that he will come down with great wrath when he knows that his time is short. But God will not permit him to overthrow, or fill with despair, those who are trusting in the divine promises. These things are made very clear in the word of God, and we need to know them for ourselves, and to rest in the joys of God’s salvation, so that we may not be filled with any of the terrors that will be incident to the great day of the Lord, which is near and hasting greatly. In this connection, please read the following beautiful statements and promises: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation: there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Ps. 91:1-11. The foregoing text tells of the pestilence and the destruction that will be wasting the10land. It tells of the thousands that will be falling. But at the same time, it says that those who are dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty shall not be afraid. What a wonderful promise! What a wonderful citadel of power and of joy! Do you know these promises? Are you trusting in them in this time?